For the second time in 2025, the Kent State football team finds itself the betting favorite to win a game, this one coming on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against UMass. This will also be the first time since 2022 against Ohio that the Flashes are favored to win a game against a Mid-American Conference opponent.
“[We’re] excited to put the non-conference schedule behind us and focus our attention on MAC play,” coach Carney said.
The Minutemen are riding a five-game losing streak to open this season, after dropping a game to FCS Bryant, 27-26. In its last game, UMass lost 21-3 at home against Western Michigan, punting six times in the loss.
“[UMass] is very disciplined in their scheme defensively,” Carney said. “I know they haven’t won a game to this point, but we’ve been there, and we understand what those feelings are like in that locker room. This is a hungry group.”
KSU is also coming off a woeful offensive performance in week six, as the team was shutout against the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners. The Flashes struggled to get anything going against coach Brent Venables’ vaunted defense, as every drive ended in a punt or interception.
Redshirt freshman Dru DeShields will be returning to the lineup after being a healthy scratch against the Sooners. In his last start against a MAC opponent, DeShields nearly led the Flashes to a major upset against the Buffalo Bulls, completing 22 of 32 passes for 279 yards and scoring three total touchdowns.
“Hamstring issue with Dru, he’s day-to-day right now,” Carney said. “If anyone knows how to attack rehab it’s Dru DeShields.”
The Flashes running back room is still finding its footing, as the Flashes put up less than 40 rushing yards for the second time in three games. The Minutemen have allowed an average of roughly 192 yards on the ground per game, so Carney could look to energize his running game with the return of redshirt senior Minnesota transfer Jordan Nubin.
“Running back’s a position where you need more than one,” Carney said. “To get Jordan Nubin back going was helpful for us, that two-headed monster is going to be something special to deal with here as we get going for MAC play.”
Redshirt freshman receiver Cade Wolford, who got off to a blazing hot start in the first three games of 2025, has cooled down in the Flashes last two games. However, the Minutemen have allowed 24 total touchdowns in its first five games, so Wolford and other receivers could be a big-play target for DeShields.
On defense, the Flashes joined the likes of Michigan and Auburn by allowing just two touchdowns against Oklahoma in the first half. KSU forced three sacks while freshman defensive back Derrick Jackson III led the team in total tackles with eight.
“Coach Key and the defensive staff had a great gameplan,” Carney said. “I thought the defensive staff did a great job of preparing the guys, playing the guys the way they did and affecting the quarterback.”
Mason Woods, the redshirt senior linebacker out of Virginia, leads the Flashes in tackles this season with 32. Woods is another key player for the Flashes against UMass, as in his last conference game, he put up seven total tackles and came up with a fumble recovery against Buffalo.
The Minutemen have also been prone to turning the ball over, as UMass quarterbacks have combined for four interceptions across five games. Redshirt sophomore defensive back CJ Young is tied for the team lead in interceptions with one and leads the team in interception return yards with 32.
On defense, UMass has struggled to keep opponents under 30 points, as opposing teams average roughly 36 points a game. The Minutemen have had troubles with the pass game in particular, allowing roughly 250 passing yards per game and 14 touchdowns against teams such as Iowa and Temple that are not known for prolific passing attacks.
The presence of DeShields in the lineup for the Flashes emboldens KSU’s status as odds on favorite against UMass, especially against a team that struggles to keep the air attack under wraps. If the Flashes can get Wolford and redshirt freshman Wayne Harris open for big plays, the Minutemen may find itself in a 0-6 hole.
“Anytime you get a start to homecoming and kind of end non-conference play and transition to conference play, it’s exciting,” Carney said. “There’s an energy and excitement in our locker room.”
Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X.
