The good news for Kent State is that there’s really nowhere for the program to go but up. The bad news is that the Golden Flashes are on a 21-game losing streak and haven’t won a game since Sept. 16, 2023. They haven’t won a MAC game since 2022. They went 0-12 last season and had an average margin of defeat of 29 points.
Kent State will look to end that losing streak with interim head coach Mark Carney, who stepped into his role after the university fired Kenni Burns in April. Carney spent 2024 as KSU’s offensive coordinator and was the tight ends coach in 2023. The school announced it still plans to conduct a national head coaching search following the 2025 season.
From the outside, it seems that Carney has done a good job of rallying the program together. It will be impressive if he’s able to win just a couple games despite the obstacles the program has gone through the past few years.
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Kent State Football’s MAC Title Betting Odds
Kent State’s odds to win the MAC are +20000, via BetMGM.
Kent State Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- Kent State’s win total Over/Under is 1.5.
- Over 1.5 is at -185.
- Under 1.5 is at +150.
Kent State Football’s 2025 Schedule
Aug. 30 vs. Merrimack
Sept. 6 at Texas Tech
Sept. 13 vs. Buffalo
Sept. 20 at Florida State
Oct. 4 at Oklahoma
Oct. 11 vs UMass
Oct. 18 at Toledo
Oct. 25 vs. Bowling Green
Nov. 5 at Ball State
Nov. 11 at Akron
Nov. 19 vs. Central Michigan
Nov. 28 at Northern Illinois
Bold indicates MAC contests
Key Kent State Football Returners
2024 All-MAC Third Team
KR/WR Dashawn Martin
Others
OL Dustyn Morell
S Tevin Tucker
LB Mason Woods
LB Canaan Williams
Kent State Football Season Preview
Kent State Returns Key Defenders
While we can expect a few transfers to come in and make an impact for this defense, the Golden Flashes return some notable defensive pieces. Behind that familiarity and continuity, they should have a chance to perform better than last year’s squad which allowed 44 points and 516 yards per game. Both numbers ranked last in the FBS. A trio of returning linebackers should be the strength of the defense.
Woods finished second on the roster last season with 68 total tackles and added 3.5 tackles for loss while starting six games. Williams and sophomore Nylan Brown should return at the other linebacker spots. Williams started nine games and had 46 tackles and three TFLs while Brown registered 20 tackles in 11 games last season.
Underclassmen To Fill Kent State’s Secondary
Tucker will be the leader of a young and inexperienced secondary that should feature freshmen and sophomores handling most of the snaps. He finished third on the team with 65 tackles and started eight of the 10 games he appeared in. Sophomore cornerback Jaire Rawlison started two games and had 21 tackles and one pass breakup.
The defensive line lost most of its production to the transfer portal, which is where this season’s production is likely to come from. Southern Illinois transfer Jamond Mathis could be a guy to watch in this group after he finished with 30 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and three sacks for the Salukis last year as a redshirt freshman.
CJ Montes Likely To Lead Kent State Offense
Tommy Ulatowski had some great flashes and showed plenty of potential while quarterbacking Kent State last season. However, Ulatowski transferred to Kennesaw State which left the Golden Flashes searching for a new QB. Montes looks like the next man up after transferring in from Fordham where he was a second-team All-Patriot League selection in 2023 after passing for 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns to just one interception.
At running back, Gavin Garcia will return after missing the 2024 campaign. He started three games in 2023 and will likely compete with Minnesota transfer Jordan Nubin for the starting job.
Kent State’s receivers were a lone bright spot last season and featured two all-conference selections in Luke Floriea and Chrishon McCray. But both are gone, and the new receiving corps will be an inexperienced group. Martin and Jay Jay Ethridge should get plenty of targets. Ethridge finished with 137 yards and one TD in 10 games while Martin had 108 yards.
Morell will be the anchor for this offensive line that will consist primarily of transfers. He started 11 games last year and has plenty of experience as an interior lineman. Jamarcus Hill should be a starter at one of the tackle spots after transferring from Southeast Missouri where he started 12 games over the last two years.
Kent State Football Season Prediction
I don’t predict Kent State to reach a bowl game or win the MAC, but I think the Golden Flashes snap their losing streak in Week 1 against Merrimack and maybe even pick up one more win later in the season.
