In the first of two matchups against highly-ranked blue blood opponents, the Kent State football team was absolutely trounced against No. 7 Florida State on the road by a final score of 66-10. 

Following the loss against the Seminoles, the Flashes will have to square off against the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners, fresh off a victory against the No. 22 Auburn Tigers. 

The Flashes are now 1-3 (0-1) on the year heading into the final weekend of September. The Seminoles, embarking on a rebound year after a dodgy 2024 season, move to 3-0 (0-0) in 2025. 

In the first quarter, both teams got off to a fast start with three total touchdowns, two of which were scored within 11 seconds. The latter of which was KSU’s lone touchdown of the day, a 75-yard bomb to sophomore wide receiver Da’Shawn Martin. 

Florida State’s offense was humming on a different vibration than the Flashes’ defense could lock on to, scoring 35-points in the first quarter. 12 different Seminoles carried the ball for FSU against KSU, amassing nearly 500-rushing yards and eight-rushing touchdowns. 

The stat sheet was stuffed full of highlights for Florida State, as the team put up a whopping 775-yards of offense and nine-touchdowns. Freshman FSU wide receiver Micahi Danzy led the Seminoles in receiving yards, catching two-passes for 102-yards, his longest of the day for 65-yards. 

Although the Flashes defense was ravaged by the Seminole rushing attack, credit is deserved for Flashes’ senior linebacker Mason Woods who brought in eight-tackles. 

The Flashes’ passing attack continued to show improvements from a year ago, as redshirt freshman quarterback Dru DeShields threw for 129-passing yards and a score against a top-tier defense. 

KSU will sit idle this upcoming weekend, before taking on No. 11 Oklahoma in Norman October 4. 

Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X.