2024 Kent State Golden Flashes football team explained
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 are 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.[1]
The Golden Flashes finished 0–12 and were the first winless team in a full season since the 2019 Akron Zips.[2] [3] 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.[4]
Preseason polls
Coaches Poll
On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Kent State was picked to finish last in the conference. They received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.[5] [6]
| MAC Coaches poll |
| 1 | Miami | 119 (9) |
| 2 | Toledo | 109 (3) |
| T3 | Bowling Green | 92 |
| T3 | Northern Illinois | 92 |
| 5 | Ohio | 81 |
| 6 | Eastern Michigan | 64 |
| 7 | Western Michigan | 60 |
| 8 | Central Michigan | 59 |
| 9 | Ball State | 42 |
| 10 | Buffalo | 37 |
| 11 | Akron | 24 |
| 12 | Kent State | 13 | |
| Coaches poll (MAC Championship) |
| 1 | Miami | 10 |
| 2 | Toledo | 2 | |
Schedule
[7]
Game summaries
at Pittsburgh
See also: 2024 Pittsburgh Panthers football team.
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Kent 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, TD |
| Pittsburgh | Passing | | 30/40, 336 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | | 14 carries, 145 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 105 yards, TD | |
Saint Francis (PA) (FCS)
See also: 2024 Saint Francis Red Flash football team.
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Saint Francis (PA) | Passing | Jeff Hoenstine | 11/22, 195 yards, TD |
| Rushing | DeMarcus McElroy | 20 carries, 81 yards |
| Receiving | Gavin Thomson | 5 receptions, 124 yards, TD |
| Kent 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
See also: 2024 Tennessee Volunteers football team.
| Statistics | KENT | TENN |
|---|
| 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 | | 10/16, 173 yards, TD |
| Rushing | | 13 carries, 101 yards, 4 TD |
| Receiving | | 2 receptions, 64 yards | |
at No. 10 Penn State
See also: 2024 Penn State Nittany Lions football team.
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Kent State | Passing | JD Sherrod | 2/6, 18 yards |
| Rushing | Ayden Harris | 10 carries, 20 yards |
| Receiving | Ardell Banks | 1 reception, 13 yards |
| Penn State | Passing | | 17/21, 309 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | | 11 carries, 81 yards |
| Receiving | Omari Evans | 4 receptions, 116 yards, TD | |
Eastern Michigan
See also: 2024 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team.
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Eastern Michigan | Passing | | 26/33, 213 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Delbert Mimms | 23 carries, 145 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Terry Lockett Jr. | 8 receptions, 75 yards |
| Kent 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.[8] Despite being tied with the Eagles 21–21 in the third quarter, Kent State has still not led a game through five games.[9]
Ball State
See also: 2024 Ball State Cardinals football team.
| 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 | Statistics |
|---|
| Ball State | Passing | Kadin Semonza | 21/34, 215 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Braedon Sloan | 22 carries, 76 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Malcolm Gillie | 2 receptions, 61 yards |
| Kent 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.[10] 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)
See also: 2024 Bowling Green Falcons football team and 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 | | 23/27, 313 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | | 25 carries, 134 yards |
| Receiving | | 10 receptions, 171 yards | |
at Western Michigan
See also: 2024 Western Michigan Broncos football team.
| Statistics | KENT | WMU |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kent State | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| Western Michigan | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
Ohio
See also: 2024 Ohio Bobcats football team.
| 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)
See also: 2024 Miami RedHawks football team.
| 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 | | 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)
See also: 2024 Akron Zips football team and Wagon Wheel (trophy).
| 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 | | 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
See also: 2024 Buffalo Bulls football team.
| 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 | |
Notes and References
- Web site: 2023 Football Coaching Staff . Kent State Golden Flashes . February 1, 2024.
- Web site: November 27, 2024 . College Football Bettor Loses Dumbest Bet Thanks to Kent State’s Winless Year . November 27, 2024 . Sports Illustrated.
- News: . Myerberg . Paul . Kent State nears worst college football season this century . November 26, 2024 . November 28, 2024.
- Web site: . Willhite . Lindsey . Kent State Did All Kinds of Losing in 2024: What's Next for Golden Flashes? . November 27, 2024 . November 28, 2024.
- Web site: Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll. July 19, 2024. July 19, 2024. getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference.
- Web site: MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd. July 19, 2024. July 19, 2024. wtol.com. WTOL 11.
- Web site: 2024 Kent State Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . 1 February 2024.
- Web site: Ulatowski and McCray's Big Days Not Enough on Soggy Homecoming Saturday . September 28, 2024 .
- Web site: Ball State football views upcoming Kent State game as a must-win . October 10, 2024 .
- Web site: MAC Announces Week 7 Football Players of the Week. October 14, 2024. October 14, 2024. getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference.
