The 2024 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represented Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Flashes were led by Kenni Burns in his second year as the head coach. The Golden Flashes played home games at Dix Stadium, located in Kent, Ohio.
The Golden Flashes finished 0–12 and were the first winless team in a full season since the 2019 Akron Zips. The Golden Flashes' offense scored an average of 13.9 points per game, next-to-last in the FBS, and averaged 233.3 offensive yards per game, which was last in the FBS; the team's defense allowed 44.1 points per game and gave up an average of 516 yards per game, both last in the FBS.
Some lowlights of the season were a 24-55 blowout loss to Pittsburgh to start the season, a loss to FCS Saint Francis (PA), and a 0-71 obliteration against Tennessee. The team would also fail to hold a lead over any opponent until Week 13 against Akron.
Preseason Preseason poll On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Kent State was picked to finish last out of 12 teams in the conference. The Golden Flashes received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.
Schedule
Game summaries at Pittsburgh
Statistics KENT PITT First downs 15 31 Total yards 212 560 Rushing yards 31 191 Passing yards 181 369 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–28–1 34–48–1 Time of possession 32:26 27:34 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Devin Kargman 14/28, 181 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ky Thomas 18 carries, 40 yards Receiving Luke Floriea 6 receptions, 104 yards, TDPittsburgh Passing Eli Holstein 30/40, 336 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Desmond Reid 14 carries, 145 yards, TD Receiving Kenny Johnson 7 receptions, 105 yards, TD
Saint Francis (PA) (FCS)
Statistics SFPA KENT First downs 16 16 Total yards 402 280 Rushing yards 207 78 Passing yards 195 202 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–22–0 23–39–1 Time of possession 34:24 25:36 Team Category Player StatisticsSaint Francis (PA) Passing Jeff Hoenstine 11/22, 195 yards, TD Rushing DeMarcus McElroy 20 carries, 81 yards Receiving Gavin Thomson 5 receptions, 124 yards, TDKent State Passing Devin Kargman 22/38, 193 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ky Thomas 11 carries, 39 yards Receiving Luke Floriea 6 receptions, 92 yards, TD
at No. 7 Tennessee
Statistics KENTTENN First downs 8 32 Total yards 112 740 Rushing yards 54 456 Passing yards 58 284 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–16–0 16–25–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 28:10 31:50 Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Devin Kargman 9/15, 58 yards Rushing JD Sherrod 7 carries, 56 yards Receiving Chrishon McCray 3 receptions, 27 yards Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 10/16, 173 yards, TD Rushing Dylan Sampson 13 carries, 101 yards, 4 TD Receiving Dont'e Thornton Jr. 2 receptions, 64 yards
at No. 10 Penn State
Statistics KENT PSU First downs 6 40 Total yards 67 718 Rushing yards 49 309 Passing yards 18 409 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 2–13–0 24–31–1 Time of possession 24:19 35:41 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing JD Sherrod 2/6, 18 yards Rushing Ayden Harris 10 carries, 20 yards Receiving Ardell Banks 1 reception, 13 yardsPenn State Passing Drew Allar 17/21, 309 yards, 3 TD Rushing Nicholas Singleton 11 carries, 81 yards Receiving Omari Evans 4 receptions, 116 yards, TD
Eastern Michigan
Statistics EMU KENT First downs 30 19 Total yards 486 422 Rushing yards 273 77 Passing yards 213 345 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–33–0 15–28–1 Time of possession 33:55 26:05 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Michigan Passing Cole Snyder 26/33, 213 yards, TD Rushing Delbert Mimms III 23 carries, 145 yards, 2 TD Receiving Terry Lockett Jr. 8 receptions, 75 yardsKent State Passing Tommy Ulatowski 15/28, 345 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ayden Harris 14 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving Chrishon McCray 5 receptions, 188 yards, 2 TD
Golden Flashes quarterback Tommy Ulatowski threw for a career-high 345 yards and three touchdowns in a homecoming loss. Despite being tied with the Eagles 21–21 in the third quarter, Kent State has still not led a game through five games.
Ball State
Statistics BALL KENT First downs 24 20 Total yards 406 461 Rushing yards 191 67 Passing yards 215 394 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–34–0 17–36–1 Time of possession 33:11 26:49 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Kadin Semonza 21/34, 215 yards, TD Rushing Braedon Sloan 22 carries, 76 yards, 2 TD Receiving Malcolm Gillie 2 receptions, 61 yardsKent State Passing Tommy Ulatowski 17/36, 394 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Ky Thomas 17 carries, 67 yards, TD Receiving Chrishon McCray 8 receptions, 213 yards, 3 TD
Golden Flashes wide receiver Chrishon McCray hauled in a career-high 213 receiving yards on eight receptions and three touchdowns. For his performance, he was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week. For the second consecutive week, quarterback Tommy Ulatowski threw for a career-high 394 yards and four touchdowns while completing 17 of 36 attempts.
at Bowling Green (Anniversary Award)
Statistics KENT BGSU First downs 11 25 Total yards 204 444 Rushing yards 126 131 Passing yards 78 313 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 7–29–3 23–27–0 Time of possession 22:31 37:29 Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Tommy Ulatowski 7/27, 78 yards, 2 INT Rushing Ky Thomas 14 carries, 121 yards Receiving Luke Floriea 2 receptions, 35 yards Bowling Green Passing Connor Bazelak 23/27, 313 yards, 2 TD Rushing Terion Stewart 25 carries, 134 yards Receiving Harold Fannin Jr. 10 receptions, 171 yards
at Western Michigan
Statistics KENT WMU First downs 19 23 Total yards 250 579 Rushing yards 136 358 Passing yards 114 221 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–25–2 17–24–1 Time of possession 30:15 29:45 Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Tommy Ulatowski 12/24, 114 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Ky Thomas 15 carries, 62 yards Receiving Luke Floriea 3 receptions, 43 yards, TD Western Michigan Passing Hayden Wolff 15/21, 208 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jaden Nixon 8 carries, 135 yards, TD Receiving Kenneth Womack 2 receptions, 68 yards
Ohio
Statistics OHIO KENT First downs 22 7 Total yards 411 114 Rushing yards 262 52 Passing yards 149 62 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–25–0 8–18–1 Time of possession 33:18 26:42 Team Category Player Statistics Ohio Passing Parker Navarro 14/24, 142 yards Rushing Anthony Tyus III 14 carries, 84 yards, TD Receiving Coleman Owen 4 receptions, 61 yards Kent State Passing Ruel Tomlinson 8/18, 62 yards, INT Rushing Ky Thomas 15 carries, 50 yards Receiving Chrishon McCray 3 receptions, 28 yards
at Miami (OH)
Statistics KENT M-OH First downs 15 19 Total yards 61–183 61–479 Rushing yards 37–101 39–277 Passing yards 82 202 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–24–1 10–22–0 Time of possession 27:23 32:37 Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Tommy Ulatowski 10/21, 82 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ky Thomas 15 carries, 58 yards Receiving Luke Floriea 4 receptions, 32 yards Miami (OH) Passing Brett Gabbert 10/22, 202 yards, 2 TD Rushing Keyon Mozee 19 carries, 196 yards, TD Receiving Reggie Virgil 2 receptions, 88 yards, TD
Akron (Wagon Wheel)
Statistics AKR KENT First downs 28 9 Total yards 527 281 Rushing yards 277 52 Passing yards 250 229 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–31–0 12–20–1 Time of possession 36:32 23:28 Team Category Player Statistics Akron Passing Ben Finley 14/29, 250 yards, TD Rushing Jordan Simmons 11 carries, 113 yards Receiving Adrian Norton 5 receptions, 107 yards Kent State Passing Tommy Ulatowski 12/20, 229 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ky Thomas 13 carries, 52 yards Receiving Luke Floriea 3 receptions, 103 yards, TD
at Buffalo
Statistics KENT UB First downs 10 26 Total yards 208 446 Rushing yards 106 253 Passing yards 102 193 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–18–1 14–22–1 Time of possession 28:41 31:19 Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Tommy Ulatowski 7/12, 91 yards, TD Rushing Jahzae Kimbrough 14 carries, 65 yards Receiving Jay Jay Etheridge 6 receptions, 64 yards Buffalo Passing C. J. Ogbonna 14/22, 193 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 30 carries, 185 yards, TD Receiving Victor Snow 8 receptions, 99 yards, TD
References