The 2025 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represented Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Flashes were led by head coach Mark Carney. The Golden Flashes played home games at Dix Stadium, located in Kent, Ohio. Carney, who was the team's offensive coordinator, was appointed interim head coach after Kenni Burns, who had led the team in 2023 and 2024, was fired in April 2025. Carney was named the 24th head coach of Kent State football on October 30, 2025.
Schedule
Preseason The MAC Football Kickoff was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan from 9:00 am EDT to 1:30 pm EDT.
Preseason MAC poll On July 24, Kent State was picked to finished last out of the conference's 13 teams in the MAC's preseason coaches poll.
Game summaries Merrimack (FCS)
Statistics MRMK KENT First downs 17 15 Plays–yards 66–340 56–305 Rushes–yards 35–164 37–96 Passing yards 176 209 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15-31–0 12-19–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 31:31 28:29 Team Category Player StatisticsMerrimack Passing Ayden Pereira 15/31, 176 yards, TD Rushing Ayden Pereira 19 carries, 103 yards Receiving Seth Sweitzer 3 receptions, 59 yards, TDKent State Passing Dru DeShields 6/10, 118 yards, TD Rushing Gavin Garcia 15 carries, 49 yards Receiving Cade Wolford 2 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TD
at No. 24 Texas Tech
Statistics KENTTTU First downs 10 27 Plays–yards 59–228 80–601 Rushes–yards 34–63 42–230 Passing yards 165 371 Passing: comp–att–int 11–25–1 27–38–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 29:57 30:03 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 7/15, 116 yards, TD Rushing Gavin Garcia 12 carries, 25 yards Receiving Ardell Banks 2 receptions, 49 yardsTexas Tech Passing Behren Morton 18/26, 258 yards, 3 TD Rushing Adam Hill 16 carries, 127 yards Receiving Coy Eakin 3 receptions, 59 yards, TD
Buffalo
Statistics BUFF KENT First downs 23 20 Plays–yards 69–457 77–423 Rushes–yards 29–139 44–144 Passing yards 318 279 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–40–1 22-33–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 22:38 37:22 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing Ta'Quan Roberson 28/40, 318 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 15 carries, 75 yards, TD Receiving Nik McMillan 7 receptions, 117 yards, TDKent State Passing Dru DeShields 22/33, 279 yards, 2 TD Rushing Gavin Garcia 18 carries, 61 yards Receiving Cade Wolford 3 receptions, 95 yards, TD
at No. 7 Florida State
Statistics KENT FSU First downs 12 37 Plays–yards 55–206 78–775 Rushes–yards 28–43 54–498 Passing yards 163 277 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–27–1 16–24–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 25:29 34:31 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 9/18, 129 yards, TD, INT Rushing Gavin Garcia 14 carries, 40 yards Receiving DaShawn Martin 3 receptions, 94 yards, TDFlorida State Passing Tommy Castellanos 10/13, 205 yards, INT Rushing Gavin Sawchuk 11 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD Receiving Micahi Danzy 2 receptions, 112 yards
at No. 5 Oklahoma
Statistics KENTOU First downs 7 23 Plays–yards 52–135 68–355 Rushes–yards 33–17 41–185 Passing yards 118 170 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–19–1 15–27–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 28:58 31:02 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Devin Kargman 8/16, 74 yards, INT Rushing Jordan Nubin 7 carries, 18 yards Receiving Wayne Harris 3 receptions, 18 yards Oklahoma Passing Michael Hawkins Jr. 14/24, 162 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tory Blaylock 15 carries, 78 yards Receiving Isaiah Sategna III 4 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TD
UMass
Statistics MASS KENT First downs 21 17 Plays–yards 82–271 62–330 Rushes–yards 33–44 42–151 Passing yards 227 179 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–49–2 12–20–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 30:31 29:29 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing AJ Hairston 26/48, 227 yards, INT Rushing Brandon Hood 10 carries, 36 yards Receiving Jake McConnachie 7 receptions, 67 yardsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 10/18, 148 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jordan Nubin 15 carries, 80 yards, TD Receiving Dashawn Martin 3 receptions, 42 yards, TD
at Toledo
Statistics KENT TOL First downs 9 29 Plays–yards 50–224 72–552 Rushes–yards 26–65 40–178 Passing yards 159 374 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–24–1 25–32–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 26:12 33:48 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 12/23, 159 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jordan Nubin 13 carries, 61 yards Receiving Cade Wolford 3 receptions, 87 yards, TDToledo Passing Tucker Gleason 21/28, 294 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kenji Christian 16 carries, 113 yards Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 5 receptions, 119 yards, TD
Bowling Green (Anniversary Award)
Statistics BGSU KENT First downs 22 14 Plays–yards 78–379 51–294 Rushes–yards 50–207 28–122 Passing yards 172 172 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–28–0 14–23–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 36:52 23:08 Team Category Player StatisticsBowling Green Passing Baron May 12/22, 142 yards, TD Rushing Austyn Dendy 20 carries, 93 yards, TD Receiving Jyrin Johnson 3 receptions, 53 yardsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 13/22, 160 yards, TD Rushing Gavin Garcia 6 carries, 55 yards, TD Receiving Cade Wolford 2 receptions, 66 yards, TD
at Ball State
Statistics KENT BALL First downs 14 15 Plays–yards 61–301 62–238 Rushes–yards 33–89 33–65 Passing yards 212 173 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–28–1 17–29–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:42 32:18 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 15/27, 212 yards Rushing Gavin Garcia 12 carries, 59 yards Receiving Wayne Harris 5 receptions, 87 yardsBall State Passing Kiael Kelly 17/29, 173 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kiael Kelly 21 carries, 53 yards Receiving Kameron Anthony 2 receptions, 39 yards, TD
at Akron (Wagon Wheel)
Statistics KENT AKR First downs 13 33 Plays–yards 47–374 95–530 Rushes–yards 22–57 36–106 Passing yards 317 424 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–25–0 32–59–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 21:20 38:40 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 17/25, 317 yards, 5 TD Rushing Gavin Garcia 7 carries, 39 yards, TD Receiving DaShawn Martin 4 receptions, 71 yards, TDAkron Passing Ben Finley 32/59, 424 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jordan Gant 22 carries, 96 yards, TD Receiving Marcel Williams 14 receptions, 206 yards, 2 TD
Central Michigan
Statistics CMU KENT First downs 16 20 Plays–yards 65–297 64–274 Rushes–yards 43–174 36–89 Passing yards 123 185 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12-22-1 14-28-0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:21 26:39 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 11/20, 121 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Nahree Biggins 12 carries, 61 yards Receiving Decorion Temple 3 receptions, 34 yardsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 14/28, 185 yards Rushing Gavin Garcia 15 carries, 77 yards Receiving Wayne Harris 3 receptions, 56 yards
at Northern Illinois
Statistics KENT NIU First downs 20 21 Plays–yards 58–438 68–334 Rushes–yards 36–231 58–307 Passing yards 207 27 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–22—1 5–10–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 28:09 31:51 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Dru DeShiels 11/22, 207 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Gavin Garcia 24 carries, 151 yards, TD Receiving Da'Shawn Martin 3 receptions, 91 yards, TDNorthern Illinois Passing Jalen Macon 5/10, 27 yards Rushing Chavon Wright 30 carries, 185 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jason Fowler 2 receptions, 14 yards
References