| Year: | 1974 |
| Team: | Kent State Golden Flashes |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-American Conference |
| Short Conf: | MAC |
| Record: | 7–4 |
| Conf Record: | 2–3 |
| Head Coach: | Don James |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Off Coach: | Dick Scesniak |
| Oc Year: | 4th |
| Def Coach: | Dennis Fitzgerald |
| Dc Year: | 4th |
| Stadium: | Dix Stadium |
The 1974 Kent State Golden Flashes football team was an American football team that represented Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Don James, the Golden Flashes compiled a 7–4 record (2–3 against MAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the MAC, and outscored all opponents 254 to 161.[1] [2]
The team's statistical leaders included Larry Poole with 1,070 rushing yards, Greg Kokal with 1,265 passing yards, and Ken Dooner with 451 receiving yards.[3] [4] Six Kent State players were selected as first-team All-MAC players: defensive back Cedric Brown, tight end Ken Dooner, defensive end Marvin Elliott, defensive lineman Larry Faulk, running back Larry Poole, and center Henry Waszczuk.[5]
After the season on December 23, James resigned and departed for the University of Washington in Seattle.[6] [7] He was credited with turning a "mediocre" Kent State program into a MAC power in four years;[8] their 9–2 record in 1973 was the best in program history.[9]