Kent State Golden Flashes

Kent State opened with a 57-0 loss at South Carolina and a 59-3 loss at Ohio State, games in which the Flashes were outscored 116-3 and clearly overmatched against SEC and Big Ten talent. However, in between those blowouts, they handled FCS Wofford 36-15 and then opened MAC play with a 26-13 win over Ball State. The two Power Five losses were expected, but the way Kent State competed in MAC games, including a 13-10 loss to Ohio and a 38-7 setback at Western Michigan, shows this team is far more competitive than the group that went 1-23 over the previous two seasons. At 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the MAC, the Flashes have already matched their win total from last season and have been within a score in two of their three conference games.

Quarterback Dru DeShields was the primary reason for optimism entering the season after throwing 18 touchdowns and only three interceptions in 2025. He has continued to produce with his arm and legs, throwing for 248 yards and rushing for 74 in the win over Wofford, and accounting for three total touchdowns in the Ball State victory. However, his interception problem has resurfaced: he threw two first-half picks against Wofford, two more in the loss to Ohio, and another at Western Michigan. Through seven games, DeShields has already thrown multiple interceptions in three separate contests, a stark contrast to his careful 2025 campaign. His backyard-football style still creates explosive plays, but the turnovers have often put the defense in tough spots and stalled drives. If Kent State is to make a run at a bowl game, DeShields must rediscover his ball security.

After finishing 125th in FBS in total defense last season and allowing 57 points to South Carolina in the opener, Kent State's defense looked like a liability. But the unit turned a corner in the second half against Wofford, pitching a shutout and holding the Terriers to 67 total yards after halftime. That carried over into MAC play, where the Flashes held Ball State to 13 points and Ohio to 13 points, both season lows for opponents. The return of safeties Derrick Jackson III and Joel Cordoba, along with nickel DJ Barnes, stabilized the back end, and the corners improved. However, the defense reverted to old habits at Western Michigan, allowing 38 points and failing to contain the Broncos' passing attack. The challenge for defensive coordinator Cherokee Valeria is to recapture the form that frustrated MAC opponents for a three-game stretch.

One of the biggest preseason questions was at running back, where Cincinnati transfer Jakorion Caffey, Illinois State transfer Mason King, Brandon White, and Donovan Delaney Jr. were all competing for carries. Caffey showed promise with a 5-yard touchdown run against Wofford and a solid outing against Ball State, but since MAC play began, the ground game has largely disappeared. Against Ohio, Mason King's 1-yard plunge was the only rushing score, and at Western Michigan, the backs were an afterthought as DeShields threw 35-plus times. Without a reliable run game, Kent State has become one-dimensional, allowing defenses to tee off on DeShields and the passing attack. The offensive line, which had holes to fill, has struggled to generate consistent push against conference fronts. Finding a semblance of balance will be crucial for the offense to sustain drives.

At 2-5, Kent State's margin for error is slim, but the remaining schedule is far more forgiving than the first seven games. The Flashes have already faced two Power Five opponents and a South Florida team on the road; their final five games are all against MAC competition, beginning with a home date against Akron (1-6). Kent State has shown it can compete with MAC peers, having beaten Ball State and taken Ohio to the wire. However, the team must eliminate the turnovers and defensive lapses that have plagued them. With winnable games remaining, a .500 conference record and a shot at a bowl game are still within reach, but only if DeShields protects the ball and the defense plays with the consistency it showed in Weeks 2 through 4. The next few weeks will define whether this season is a step forward or a missed opportunity.