Kent State beats Wofford 36-15

Team pages: Wofford · Kent State

Wofford2-115
Kent State1-136Final
Sat, Sep 12 · Dix Stadium, Kent, Ohio · Crowd 7,887ESPN+

Kent State beat Wofford 36-15.

We had Kent State favored. It won.

Next: Wofford lost to Chattanooga 41-7, Sat Sep 19

Next: Kent State lost to Ohio State 59-3, Sat Sep 19

How it swung

The turning point: Terrero 63-yd interception return TD, Kent State goes ahead 14-12 (Q2, 1:50). Kent State went from 51% to 76% to win.

Before kickoff, our ratings gave Kent State a 58% chance, and the closing betting line (Kent State was a 10-point favorite) put it at 79%.

Favored the whole way: Kent State never fell below 50%.

Wofford never had better than a 49% chance.

SafetyWofford · Q2 3:04Pick-sixKent State · Q2 1:50
FinalKent State 36-15 WoffordKent State wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.At the airport: 0.2 in of rain
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q466% at halfKent StateWon36-1512+25+16ScoresSafety0.01 in per 10 minutes, the peakRain
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q466% at halfKent StateWon36-1512ScoresSafety0.01 in per 10 minutes, the peakRain
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q434% at halfKent StateLowest 0%Lost15-3612−25−16ScoresSafety0.01 in per 10 minutes, the peakRain
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q434% at halfKent StateLowest 0%Lost15-3612ScoresSafety0.01 in per 10 minutes, the peakRain

The two plays that swung it

  1. 1Q2 1:50InterceptionTerrero 63-yd interception return TD, Kent State goes ahead 14-12Kent State 51% → 76% (+25)
  2. 2Q4 14:21Caffey 5-yd TD run, Kent State goes ahead 22-15Kent State 74% → 90% (+16)

The two plays that swung it

  1. 1Q2 1:50InterceptionTerrero 63-yd interception return TD, Kent State goes ahead 14-12Wofford 49% → 24% (−25)
  2. 2Q4 14:21Caffey 5-yd TD run, Kent State goes ahead 22-15Wofford 26% → 10% (−16)
Kent State’s chance to win after every play.
How to read this chartStarts from the pregame line (Kent State -10), at 83% for Kent State (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores. Outlined diamonds mark rare plays.
The blue strip under the chart is the weather at the airport. 0.2 in of rain by radar over the stadium, heaviest in the first quarter. Measured at Ravenna airport, 5.9 miles away. Full conditions below.

Every drive

Kent State scored on 4 of its 12 drives; Wofford on 3 of its 14.

Kent State’s drives are teal, Wofford’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.

own goalgoal lineQ1Kent State: Touchdown, from 83 yards out to 0TouchdownWofford: Punt, from 75 yards out to 78PuntKent State: Punt, from 58 yards out to 52PuntWofford: Punt, from 85 yards out to 67PuntWofford: Field goal, from 24 yards out to 10Field goalKent State: Turned over on downs, from 69 yards out to 39DownsQ2Wofford: Punt, from 61 yards out to 62PuntKent State: Interception, from 98 yards out to 67InterceptionWofford: Touchdown, from 36 yards out to 0TouchdownKent State: Punt, from 76 yards out to 59PuntWofford: Punt, from 75 yards out to 75PuntKent State: Safety, from 99 yards out to 100SafetyWofford: Interception returned for a touchdown, from 35 yards out to 37Interception TDWofford: Field goal, from 75 yards out to 31Field goalQ3Wofford: Interception, from 78 yards out to 72InterceptionKent State: Interception, from 33 yards out to 30InterceptionWofford: Punt, from 80 yards out to 46PuntKent State: Missed field goal, from 91 yards out to 26Missed FGWofford: Punt, from 74 yards out to 45PuntKent State: Touchdown, from 85 yards out to 0TouchdownQ4Wofford: Punt, from 75 yards out to 81PuntKent State: Touchdown, from 68 yards out to 0TouchdownWofford: Punt, from 75 yards out to 72PuntKent State: Touchdown, from 57 yards out to 0TouchdownWofford: Punt, from 75 yards out to 84PuntKent State: End of game, from 68 yards out to 59End of game

From Wofford’s side

Wofford’s best moment: Stoeckel run for a 18-yd loss, fumbles, safety, Wofford leads 12-7 (Q2 3:04). It lifted Wofford’s win chance by 12 points.

Box score

Kent State 36, Wofford 15

Kent State covered −10 by 11. The total, 51, went over 45.5.

WoffordKent StateTotal yardsWofford 173Kent State 448173448Passing yardsWofford 115Kent State 253115253Rushing yardsWofford 58Kent State 19558195First downsWofford 10Kent State 211021TurnoversWofford 2Kent State 323Time of possessionWofford 22:38Kent State 37:2222:3837:22
Team totalsWoffordKent State
Total yards173448
Passing13 of 27, 115 yds17 of 28, 253 yds
Rushing26 for 58 yds44 for 195 yds
First downs1021
Third down0 of 1211 of 19
Fourth down0 of 00 of 3
Turnovers23
Penalties9 for 70 yds8 for 55 yds
Time of possession22:3837:22

Wofford leaders

  • Passing Ethan Drumm 9 of 16, 100 yds, 2 INT
  • Rushing Gerald Modest 14 for 56 yds, 1 TD; Davis Penn 1 for 6 yds
  • Receiving Isaiah Scott 3 for 47 yds; Terrance Honeywood 1 for 27 yds

Kent State leaders

  • Passing Dru Deshields 16 of 25, 248 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
  • Rushing Dru Deshields 10 for 74 yds, 2 TD; Mason Blakemore 9 for 68 yds
  • Receiving Da'Realyst Clark 5 for 90 yds; Wayne Harris 3 for 78 yds, 1 TD

Rain through most of the game

68° at kickoff · 0.2 in of rain by radar over the stadium

Game-day temperatures at Dix Stadium

Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Kent State favoredWofford favored100%Win chanceKent StateRaininches per 10 min0.1 inWindmph, average and gusts20 mph40 mphHourly wind only at this airportThunder reported
Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Kent State favoredWofford favoredRain · inches per 10 min0.1 inWind · miles per hour2040Hourly wind only at this airportThunder reported

Drag along the chart, or step through the game.

Second quarter, 1:50 left1:29 p.m.
Wofford 12, Kent State 14 · Kent State 76% to win
no rain · 68°
Terrero 63-yd interception return TD, Kent State goes ahead 14-12

Jump to

Where this weather comes fromMeasured at Ravenna airport, 5.9 miles away. The paler thunder bar is thunder reported in the vicinity of an airport. Rain is NOAA's radar-and-gauge estimate at the stadium and wind is an airport reading; neither is measured on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet; rain radar from NOAA MRMS, through Iowa State University. Field direction from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Before kickoff

Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.

Recent games

Last two games

Wofford · 2-0

Rated 196th in our preseason ratings, 194th now.

Two straight wins — but still hunting a ranked opponent.

W 17-13 vs Gardner-Webb #204 of 668

won by 4 as an 8.5-point favorite

Wofford won 17-13 vs Gardner-Webb. Chance to win started at 88%, low 73%, high 96%.

W 42-14 vs The Citadel #210 of 668

won by 28 as a 7.5-point favorite

Wofford won 42-14 vs The Citadel. Chance to win started at 80%, low 71%, high better than 99%.

Last three games · 2025 season

Kent State · 5-7

Rated 122nd in our preseason ratings, 114th now.

2-1 in its last three, capped by a 4-point win over Northern Illinois as a 5.5-point underdog.

W 35-31 @ Northern Illinois #201 of 667

won by 4 as a 5.5-point underdog

Kent State won 35-31 at Northern Illinois. Chance to win started at 34%, low 8%, high 94%.

L 16-28 vs Central Michigan #94 of 667

lost by 12 as a 7.5-point underdog

Kent State lost 16-28 vs Central Michigan. Chance to win started at 40%, low 1%, high 40%.

W 42-35 @ Akron #170 of 667

won by 7 as a 7.5-point underdog

Kent State won 42-35 at Akron. Chance to win started at 22%, low 16%, high better than 99%.

L 13-17 @ Ball State #189 of 667

lost by 4 as a 3.5-point underdog

Kent State lost 13-17 at Ball State. Chance to win started at 32%, low 3%, high 72%.

W 24-21 vs Bowling Green #130 of 667

won by 3 as a 7.5-point underdog

Kent State won 24-21 vs Bowling Green. Chance to win started at 38%, low 3%, high better than 99%.

L 10-45 @ Toledo #46 of 667

lost by 35 as a 25.5-point underdog

Kent State lost 10-45 at Toledo. Chance to win started at 10%, low under 1%, high 27%.

W 42-6 vs Massachusetts #232 of 667

won by 36 as a 1.5-point favorite

Kent State won 42-6 vs Massachusetts. Chance to win started at 83%, low 75%, high better than 99%.

L 0-44 @ OklahomaTop 25 #14 of 667

lost by 44 as a 46.5-point underdog

Kent State lost 0-44 at Oklahoma. Never had a real chance.

L 10-66 @ Florida StateTop 25 #28 of 667

lost by 56 as a 45.5-point underdog

Kent State lost 10-66 at Florida State. Never had a real chance.

L 28-31 vs Buffalo #94 of 667

lost by 3 as a 24.5-point underdog

Kent State lost 28-31 vs Buffalo. Chance to win started at 7%, low under 1%, high 61%.

L 14-62 @ Texas TechTop 25 #33 of 667

lost by 48 as a 47.5-point underdog

Kent State lost 14-62 at Texas Tech. Never had a real chance.

W 21-17 vs Merrimack #199 of 667

won by 4 as a 5.5-point favorite

Week by week

Kent State

  • Wk 1Lat South Carolina0-57

Wofford

Wk 1: W 42-14 vs The Citadel▲28The CitadelWk 1: W 17-13 vs Gardner-Webb▲4Gardner-Webb
  • Wk 1Wvs The Citadel42-14
  • Wk 1Wvs Gardner-Webb17-13

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

Our model and the betting line don’t fully agree on Kent State’s chances here.

50-50Model · 58%Line · 79%WoffordKent State

Kent State favored by 10 · Total 45.5

How games like this usually go

Kent State by 10, and it went to form

50%90%Q1Q2Q3Q450%90%Q1Q2Q3Q4

Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game

The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 385 games since 2025 with a favorite of 7.5 to 14.5 points.

The market

The spread moved 1.5 points toward Wofford.

opened −11.5now −10

The total fell 2 points.

opened 47.5now 45.5

Spread: −11.5 → −10 · Total: 47.5 → 45.5

The books’ cut: 4.2%, the margin built into the odds

Home field

Kent State is worth +10.0 points (±4.3) more at home than on the road since 2018 — top tenth of FBS, 100th percentile.

45% at home, 18% on the road against FBS opponents (15-18 home, 10-45 away).

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads +5.1 at home vs. away over 94 games — inside the ±5.6 noise, so the flat number is the honest one here.

The visitors travel about 428 miles to get here.

Where next