2identity shift
Kent State: the fanbase's identity shifting.
Mark Carney's 5-7 turnaround capped by reclaiming the Wagon Wheel from Akron offers a rare spark for a program mired in a 1-23 slide across 2023-2024.
Kent State5-7The model has Kent State at #133 — the fanbase hasn't weighed in yet.
Fanbase belief
Quiet
signal pending this week
The model
#133
CFB Zeitgeist · -9.4
✓ measured2Hope-Doping·Offseason
Kent State went 1-23 across two seasons, fired its coach, and turned to the guy already on staff -- who won five games in one year and took the Wagon Wheel back from Akron in overtime to prove it.
Standard GapThe Dustin Crum era (2019-2021, first-ever bowl win, three straight .500…
Kent State fans have watched the program get written off as a MAC afterthought during the 1-23 stretch -- and answered with a coach promoted from the same staff that presided over it, turning the rost…
offseason · quiet
Roster Reload - Kent State
2026 snapshot - 2026-08-06Returning Production11%Low continuity / heavy reload
Talent Composite#128 nationally247 composite 456.2
Portal Additions11Primary repair: LB
Portal Losses15Primary pressure: OT
Draft Loss0No NFL Draft departures recorded
Recruiting Reload#122Depth class
LBin 4 - Nate Gregoryout 2 - Nylan BrownNeed Filled
current room: 214 lbs avg (2025 roster)
RBin 3 - Jakorion Caffeyout 1 - Gavin GarciaNeed Filled
current room: 198 lbs avg (2025 roster)
WRin 1 - Javier Willisout 2 - Cade WolfordDowngrade
current room: 172 lbs avg (2025 roster)
CBin 1 - Davion Pritchardout 2 - Jaire RawlinsonDowngrade
current room: 177 lbs avg (2025 roster)
QBin 1 - Ethan Thanthanavongout 2 - CJ MontesDowngrade
current room: 204 lbs avg (2025 roster)
OTin 0out 2 - Junior DialloStarter Risk
Belief EKG
WinLoss · hover for score
Approaching
30 days
until kickoff · at South Carolina · Sat Sep 5 · 16:45 UTC
The experience
Kent State went 1-23 across 2023-2024, fired Kenni Burns in April 2025, and turned to interim-then-permanent head coach Mark Carney -- who led a 5-7 turnaround with more wins in one season than the previous two combined, capped by reclaiming the Wagon Wheel from Akron in an overtime thriller.
Offense: PoorTempo: Explosive, big-playDefense: Poor
Kent State faces significant roster turnover and recruiting challenges in 2026
With only 11% of returning players and a #122 recruiting rank, Kent State's 2026 season hinges on integrating 11 transfer additions while addressing key position needs.
- Roster reloadKent State has only 11% of its roster returning, with 15 transfers leaving and 11 new transfers joining, creating a heavy reload scenario.
- RecruitingKent State holds the #122 recruiting rank and has a recruiting score of 162.2, indicating limited talent acquisition in recent cycles.
- ScheduleKent State's 2026 season begins with a challenging matchup against South Carolina on September 5, as part of a schedule with known opponents.
Data as of 2026-08-04
·
Validated against program evidence
Flash is circling, waiting to strike.
Kent State · the story right now
6 storylines developing
What Kent State's offseason is really about
the open questionwhere does it go from here?
program_outlookthis cycle~readnew
Kent State enters 2026 — the 5-7 record and bottom-quintile returning production highlight the steep climb ahead for Mark Carney in his first season at the helm.
what happenedKent State enters 2026 rated No. 130 in 2025 SP+ (-19.3). ✓ fact
the contextbottom-quintile returning production — heavy turnover entering the season
narrative tension · our read
identitythis cycle~readnew
Mark Carney's 5-7 turnaround capped by reclaiming the Wagon Wheel from Akron offers a rare spark for a program mired in a 1-23 slide across 2023-2024.
what happenedKent State: the fanbase's identity shifting. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
garbage timethis cycle~attributednew
Gavin Garcia does NOT see a usage spike in garbage time -- his workload holds steady regardless of score.
narrative tension · our read
program_outlookthis cycle~readnew
Kent State enters 2025 at No. 130 in SP+ — Mark Carney's first season faces bottom-quintile production returning and a 5-7 record as the baseline.
what happenedKent State enters 2025 rated No. 130 in SP+ (-19.3). ✓ fact
the contextbottom-quintile returning production — heavy turnover entering the season
narrative tension · our read
coordinatorsthis cycle✓ factnew
Kent State: coordinator change reshaping a unit.
narrative tension · our read
coachingthis cycle~readnew
Carney, who led a 5-7 turnaround at Kent State, inherits an 11% production return and a program that’s been through three coaches in five years — the churn defines the challenge, not his credentials.
what happenedMark Carney took over as Kent State's head coach, replacing Kenni Burns. ✓ fact
the contextthe program's third head coach in five seasons
narrative tension · our read
How past storylines here turned out
AnsweredKent State's head-coaching hire held for another season.
Died downKent State's defensive coordinator change has died down — no clear next chapter yet.
ReplacedKent State's offensive coordinator spot turned over again the following season. See who's next →
The story
The Offseason Ledger · Kent State
1 verified update · portal · recruiting · staff · news- News
Stephen Daley returns to Indiana football
Daley's injunction win sends him back to Bloomington — Kent State loses a blocking anchor from a depth class already ranked #122 nationally and sweating OT pressure heading into 2026.
Transfer portal snapshot
-14.7 net portal points
(raw ledger: -14.8 — unweighted, no position adjustment)OT-6.7
starter risk
LB+6.3
need not filled
WR-4.4
IOL-3.6
low confidence
CB-3.6
EDGE-3.4
low confidence
QB-3.4
S+3.2
low confidence
RB+2.8
need not filled
K-1.0
low confidence
P-1.0
low confidence
Top 3 commits
2026 class
★★★☆☆
Daiveon Taylor
#1474 national
★★★☆☆
Lennox Lemon
#1654 national
★★★☆☆
Zymir Reed
#1846 national
Profiles like a typical incoming wide receiver — 12 of his 25 closest recruiting profiles since 2018 shared the Possession Receiver archetype.~our read · projection from recruiting profile — no college snaps yet
Fan vs. market↑
61st
Fan percentile
(FBS mood rank)
(FBS mood rank)
3.5
Vegas O/U wins
(1st among FBS)
(1st among FBS)
Fans 60pp more bullish than market implies
Win total consensus · 3 books
Market outlook
Season expectations
Win total3 booksO/U 3.5
CFP championship#138 in field+100000
MAC title#10 in market+3000
Sportsbook consensus · best odds across multiple books · 2026-08-06
Kent State · Next-Season Outcome Band
Kent State · Next-Season Outcome BandFloor / Base / Ceiling
Floor 2-10
Base 4-8
Ceiling 7-6
floor2-10No postseason.
base4-8No postseason.
ceiling7-6Bowl game.
Final-season-aware projection: floor / base / ceiling include conference title and CFP games where the model supports them, so a ceiling can exceed a 12-game regular season.
How the room reacted
Following now · Kent State · Season outlook Confidence
Kent State is near the bottom of the model. The math is the story.
Kent State enters 2026 rated No. 130 in 2025 SP+ (-19.3). It is bottom-quintile returning production — heavy turnover entering the season. SP+ describes what the program HAS done, not what it will do. The season is the field test. The preview consensus leans in — but preseason ratings reward the recent past, not the season ahead.
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
Kent State enters 2026 — the 5-7 record and bottom-quintile returning production highlight the steep climb ahead for Mark Carney in his first season at the helm.
Next · what to watch
The non-obvious read on this rating isn't the number — it's the schedule. A team at this level has 2-3 games where the model says they're overmatched, and those are the games that define the narrative. Watch whether the model holds through the first month of the schedule. The boards are already there — one thread raises exactly this.
Source of record: Kent State enters 2026 rated No. 130 in 2025 SP+ (-19.3) — bottom-quintile returning production — heavy turnover entering the season.
How each room is reacting — tap to expand
📣Believers2 bullish items -- the case it's working.›
The 'the projection is underselling us' read -- fans betting the season beats the preview number.
“Carney, DeShields Headline Resurgent Kent State Football Team at 2026 MAC Kickoff”
KentStater · 2026-07-24 · read ↗
“Kent State Earns WBCA Academic Special Mention”
Kent State Golden Flashes · 2026-07-23 · read ↗
“Golden Flashes Open Fall Camp With Eyes on Continuity, Communication”
kentstatesports.com · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
🧐SkepticsNo prominent dissent — the coverage runs one way.›
The 'the model has seen the tape' counter -- efficiency ratings reward what a program has actually done, not hope.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
💬The boards2 board mentions — too thin to call a stance.›
Only 2 of 8 board posts mention it — below our floor to call a community stance. Shown as texture, not a verdict.
"I know this game isn't over. But I'm happy with Kent's season. 4 wins with an interim coach and a roster that was considered to be the worst in FBS. And we got the wagon wheel back"
r/CFB ~ fan take
"He's had a lot of injuries. I think that's one of the reasons people could go after him if he enters the portal. For the record I assume any player that does well tries entering th"
r/CFB ~ fan take
The boards ≠ the fanbase: a vocal, self-selected slice.
Following now · Kent State · Developing Confidence
Kent State: the fanbase's identity shifting.
Kent State: the fanbase's identity shifting.
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
Mark Carney's 5-7 turnaround capped by reclaiming the Wagon Wheel from Akron offers a rare spark for a program mired in a 1-23 slide across 2023-2024.
Source of record: Kent State: the fanbase's identity shifting.
How each room is reacting — tap to expand
📣Believers2 bullish items -- the case it's working.›
The optimistic read: momentum, and the 'this is real' takes.
“Carney, DeShields Headline Resurgent Kent State Football Team at 2026 MAC Kickoff”
KentStater · 2026-07-24 · read ↗
“Kent State Earns WBCA Academic Special Mention”
Kent State Golden Flashes · 2026-07-23 · read ↗
“Golden Flashes Open Fall Camp With Eyes on Continuity, Communication”
kentstatesports.com · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
🧐SkepticsNo prominent dissent — the coverage runs one way.›
The analytical counter: rankings, results, and 'the hype is ahead of the tape' takes.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
💬The boards2 board mentions — too thin to call a stance.›
Only 2 of 8 board posts mention it — below our floor to call a community stance. Shown as texture, not a verdict.
"I know this game isn't over. But I'm happy with Kent's season. 4 wins with an interim coach and a roster that was considered to be the worst in FBS. And we got the wagon wheel back"
r/CFB ~ fan take
"He's had a lot of injuries. I think that's one of the reasons people could go after him if he enters the portal. For the record I assume any player that does well tries entering th"
r/CFB ~ fan take
The boards ≠ the fanbase: a vocal, self-selected slice.
Recent Form · last 10 games
Mixed
Three of five. Trending up, not yet hot.
Streak W1Last 5 · 3-2Last 10 · 4-6
The forecast
Opens Sep 5
vs South Carolina · away
Season line3.5 winsover -105
PoorExplosive, big-playPoor
✓ fact on line · ~ our read on style
Rival pulse
Akron
Uneasy-20
Wagon Wheel
Fan mood index · most recent r/cfb data
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
18
OH · 13PA · 2IN · 1MD · 1MO · 1
OH leads the 2026 class with 13 commits. National footprint reaching 5 states.
Where they recruit · 2023-2026
79 signees across 14 states, 2023-2026. OH leads the pull.
r/cfb this year
[Postgame Thread] Kent State Defeats Merrimack 21-17
[Postgame Thread] Kent State Defeats UMass 42-6
[Postgame Thread] Buffalo Defeats Kent State 31-28
Top community posts · last 12 months · r/cfb
National spotlight
8 games with TV coverage: 4 cable, 2 conference network, 2 streaming
Kickoff windows: 3 noon, 2 afternoon, 3 primetime
Fumble luck
Recovering 36% of the fumbles they've forced — running cold vs. the ~49% league rate.
4 of 11 forced fumbles recovered; 10 of 16 own fumbles recovered themselves, 2025 only.
Takeaway conversion
Converting 16% of pass disruptions into takeaways — right in line with the ~19% league rate.
6 interceptions of 38 disrupted passes (32 deflected, 6 intercepted), 2025 only.
Penalty battle
Winning the penalty battle: 73 penalties committed vs. 68 drawn on opponents, a 58-yard edge.
585 penalty yards committed vs. 643 drawn on opponents, 2025 season total.
The Pulse on Kent State
—
Flash is circling, waiting to strike.
What moved it — fall camp · last 14 days
Camp
Fall camp open — install + scrimmage cycle
ongoing
Kickoff
Season opener in 16 days
kickoff
"Kent State"
— Kent State fanbase · recurring line
13 mentions · awaiting signal
The Fever Year
Position = mood · width = volume · color = the kind of feeling
Belief checklow signal
~ our readNot enough Kent State chatter this week to read the room.
We read 4 Kent State posts this week — not enough to call the room. Check back during the season.
Fanbase Health Index · Kent State · medium confidence
Fanbase Health Index · Kent State · medium confidenceGrowing (57)
DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 5-7 (42% win rate)61
Volume — 13 effective signal-N52
Key stats — 2025 — FBS rank
Points/game#110 / 138 · 21st pct21.2
Pts allowed/game#126 / 138 · 9th pct33.6
Total yards/gm#129 / 136 · 6th pct295.4
Rush yards/gm#131 / 136 · 4th pct98.3
Pass yards/gm#107 / 136 · 22nd pct197.1
Yards allowed/gm#103 / 136 · 25th pct428.2
Rush yds allowed/gm#113 / 136 · 18th pct192.2
Sacks#76 / 136 · 45th pct24
Interceptions#105 / 136 · 24th pct6
3rd-down conv#135 / 136 · 1st pct27.6%
All 98 stats
Offense / Defense
Total yards
Team3545295.4/gm5.15/play#129 / 136 · 6th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp5139428.2/gm5.82/play#103 / 136 · 25th pct#59 / 70 · 17th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Rush yards
Team118098.3/gm1.72/play#131 / 136 · 4th pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp2307192.2/gm2.61/play#113 / 136 · 18th pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Rush carries
Team39532.9/gm#110 / 136 · 20th pct#58 / 70 · 19th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp49441.2/gm#114 / 136 · 17th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Rush TDs
Team100.8/gm#120 / 136 · 12th pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp221.8/gm#88 / 136 · 36th pct#55 / 70 · 23rd pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Net pass yards
Team2365197.1/gm3.44/play#107 / 136 · 22nd pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp2832236.0/gm3.21/play#74 / 136 · 46th pct#41 / 70 · 43rd pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Pass attempts
Team29324.4/gm#125 / 136 · 9th pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp38932.4/gm#66 / 136 · 52nd pct#32 / 70 · 56th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Completions
Team16313.6/gm#129 / 136 · 6th pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp23219.3/gm#57 / 136 · 59th pct#26 / 70 · 64th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Pass TDs
Team201.7/gm#57 / 136 · 59th pct#33 / 70 · 54th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Opp252.1/gm#120 / 136 · 12th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Passer rating
Team141.9141.9#42 / 136 · 70th pct#30 / 70 · 59th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Opp138.9138.9#96 / 136 · 30th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Interceptions thrown
Team60.5/gm#115 / 136 · 16th pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp60.5/gm#21 / 136 · 85th pct#14 / 70 · 81st pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Sacks (def)
Team242.0/gm#76 / 136 · 45th pct#45 / 70 · 37th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct#4 / 10 · 70th pct
Opp272.2/gm#87 / 136 · 37th pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#3 / 10 · 80th pct
Tackles for loss
Team705.8/gm#61 / 136 · 56th pct#34 / 70 · 53rd pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct#4 / 10 · 70th pct
Opp736.1/gm#98 / 136 · 29th pct#54 / 70 · 24th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct#2 / 10 · 90th pct
First downs
Team17114.2/gm#135 / 136 · 1st pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp28423.7/gm#118 / 136 · 14th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
3rd-down conv
Team433.6/gm#135 / 136 · 1st pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp786.5/gm#122 / 136 · 11th pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
3rd-down att
Team15613.0/gm#121 / 136 · 12th pct#58 / 70 · 19th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp17514.6/gm#62 / 136 · 55th pct#30 / 70 · 59th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
4th-down conv
Team141.2/gm#60 / 136 · 57th pct#35 / 70 · 51st pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Opp100.8/gm#22 / 136 · 85th pct#9 / 70 · 89th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
4th-down att
Team302.5/gm#43 / 136 · 69th pct#23 / 70 · 69th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Opp221.8/gm#39 / 136 · 72nd pct#20 / 70 · 73rd pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Time of possession
Team332:5427:44/gm#129 / 136 · 6th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp387:0632:16/gm#84 / 136 · 39th pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Kicking & Punting
Field goals#81 / 135 · 41st pct6/8 (75.0%)
Extra points30/30
Punting#131 / 136 · 4th pct39.6 avg · 60 punts
Turnovers & special teams
Turnovers
Team131.1/gm#103 / 136 · 25th pct#49 / 70 · 31st pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp100.8/gm#15 / 136 · 90th pct#8 / 70 · 90th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Fumbles lost
Team70.6/gm#51 / 136 · 63rd pct#22 / 70 · 70th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp40.3/gm#19 / 136 · 87th pct#11 / 70 · 86th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
INT return TDs
Team00.0/gm#76 / 135 · 44th pct#39 / 70 · 46th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#3 / 10 · 80th pct
Opp10.1/gm#61 / 136 · 56th pct#30 / 70 · 59th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#4 / 10 · 70th pct
INT return yards
Team1099.1/gm#72 / 136 · 48th pct#37 / 70 · 49th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#4 / 11 · 73rd pct
Opp564.7/gm#31 / 136 · 78th pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Punt ret yds
Team21117.6/gm#37 / 136 · 74th pct#25 / 70 · 66th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Opp20016.7/gm#113 / 136 · 18th pct#58 / 70 · 19th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Punt ret TDs
Team10.1/gm#14 / 135 · 90th pct#11 / 70 · 86th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct#1 / 10 · 100th pct
Opp10.1/gm#97 / 135 · 29th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct#7 / 10 · 40th pct
Kick ret yds
Team62251.8/gm#22 / 136 · 85th pct#9 / 70 · 89th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp32527.1/gm#45 / 136 · 68th pct#30 / 70 · 59th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Kick ret TDs
Team20.2/gm#1 / 136 · 100th pct#1 / 70 · 100th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct#1 / 9 · 100th pct
Opp00.0/gm#1 / 135 · 100th pct#1 / 70 · 100th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct#1 / 11 · 100th pct
Penalty yards
Team58548.8/gm#104 / 136 · 24th pct#48 / 70 · 33rd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp64353.6/gm#59 / 136 · 57th pct#36 / 70 · 50th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Other
Passes intercepted opponent#9 / 136 · 94th pct#5 / 70 · 94th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct60.5/gm
Kick returns#10 / 136 · 93rd pct#3 / 70 · 97th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct322.7/gm
Fourth down go rate#12 / 138 · 92nd pct#5 / 70 · 94th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct0.50.0/gm
Penalties (opp)#42 / 136 · 70th pct#25 / 70 · 66th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct685.7/gm
H2 epa per play opponent#46 / 143 · 69th pct#29 / 70 · 60th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct0.10.0/gm
Kick ret (opp)#47 / 136 · 66th pct#31 / 70 · 57th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct171.4/gm
H2 epa per play#62 / 142 · 57th pct#33 / 70 · 54th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct0.20.0/gm
Punt returns#68 / 136 · 51st pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct161.3/gm
Fumbles rec (def)#71 / 136 · 49th pct#44 / 70 · 39th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct70.6/gm
Penalties#80 / 136 · 42nd pct#35 / 70 · 51st pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct736.1/gm
Red zone pass rate#84 / 154 · 46th pct#39 / 70 · 46th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct0.40.0/gm
Recruiting rating#93 / 138 · 33rd pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#4 / 13 · 77th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct155.412.9/gm
Interceptions (def)#105 / 136 · 24th pct#49 / 70 · 31st pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct60.5/gm
Fumbles recovered#109 / 136 · 21st pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct40.3/gm
H1 epa per play#113 / 162 · 31st pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct0.10.0/gm
Punt ret (opp)#116 / 136 · 15th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct221.8/gm
H1 epa per play opponent#126 / 167 · 25th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct0.30.0/gm
First down pass rate#167 / 215 · 23rd pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#10 / 13 · 31st pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct0.40.0/gm
Situational
3rd-down conversion
Off27.6%#135 / 136 · 1st pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Def44.6%#121 / 136 · 12th pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
4th-down conversion
Off46.7%#105 / 136 · 24th pct#59 / 70 · 17th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Def45.5%#35 / 136 · 75th pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Turnover margin#86 / 136 · 38th pct#46 / 70 · 36th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct-0.25/gm
Sack rate (def)#85 / 136 · 38th pct#50 / 70 · 30th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct#6 / 10 · 50th pct6.2%
Red Zone & Drive Efficiency (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Red zone trips
Team231.9/gm#134 / 167 · 20th pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp504.2/gm#141 / 166 · 16th pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Red zone score %
Team69.6%69.6%#130 / 167 · 23rd pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp82.0%82.0%#109 / 166 · 35th pct#53 / 70 · 26th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Points / drive
Team1.40.1/gm#128 / 167 · 24th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp2.40.2/gm#121 / 166 · 28th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Yards / drive
Team31.42.6/gm#146 / 167 · 13th pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp43.23.6/gm#120 / 166 · 28th pct#56 / 70 · 21st pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Plays / drive
Team5.60.5/gm#158 / 167 · 6th pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp6.80.6/gm#120 / 166 · 28th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Three-and-out rate
Team14.5%14.5%#98 / 167 · 42nd pct#51 / 70 · 29th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp9.6%9.6%#130 / 166 · 22nd pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Scheme Identity (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Rush rate over expected#35 / 145 · 77th pct#9 / 70 · 89th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct+4.1%+4.1%
Havoc rate
Team13.6%13.6%#113 / 140 · 20th pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp18.4%18.4%#122 / 140 · 14th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Standard-downs success
Team43.1%43.1%#127 / 154 · 18th pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp47.4%47.4%#74 / 172 · 58th pct#38 / 70 · 47th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Passing-downs success
Team23.2%23.2%#140 / 153 · 9th pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp35.5%35.5%#132 / 149 · 12th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Line yards / carry
Team2.52.5#133 / 143 · 8th pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp2.92.9#80 / 155 · 49th pct#46 / 70 · 36th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Stuff rate
Team21.2%21.2%#113 / 143 · 22nd pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp18.0%18.0%#83 / 155 · 47th pct#45 / 70 · 37th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Power success rate
Team64.9%64.9%#100 / 137 · 28th pct#54 / 70 · 24th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp68.1%68.1%#56 / 141 · 61st pct#27 / 70 · 63rd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Efficiency
Completion %
Off55.6%#126 / 136 · 8th pct#70 / 70 · 1st pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Def59.6%#38 / 136 · 73rd pct#18 / 70 · 76th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Yards / attempt
Off8.1#31 / 136 · 78th pct#20 / 70 · 73rd pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Def7.3#80 / 136 · 42nd pct#49 / 70 · 31st pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Yards / completion
Off14.5#6 / 136 · 96th pct#2 / 70 · 99th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Def12.2#104 / 136 · 24th pct#59 / 70 · 17th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Yards / carry#130 / 136 · 5th pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct3.0
Yards / play#110 / 136 · 20th pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct5.15
Scoring margin#124 / 136 · 10th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct#5 / 11 · 64th pct-12.3/gm
FBS rankings · 2025 season · all stats vs 136 FBS programs
Player stats — 2025 season
Quarterbacks
| Player | # | G | Cmp/Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | QBR | Adj ANY/A | Sack% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical Passer · +0.23 EPA/play | 12 | 11 | 136 / 240 | 56.7 | 2030 | 8.5 | 18 #49 FBS | 3 | 150.0 | 40.4 | 8.6 | 5.1 | |
Yards by week → Vertical PasserElite arm talent, pushing downfield. Completion rate is the variable. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 9 of 183 QBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / attempt8.6 80th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts INT rate1.2% 86th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like View Dru DeShields's full player page | |||||||||||||
| -0.16 EPA/play | 7 | 2 | 10 / 19 | 52.6 | 140 | 7.4 | 1 | 1 | 121.4 | 12.8 | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
| +0.01 EPA/play | 15 | 2 | 8 / 17 | 47.1 | 74 | 4.4 | 0 | 1 | 71.9 | 7.7 | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
| -0.79 EPA/play | 2 | 2 | 5 / 10 | 50 | 38 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 | 81.9 | 13.7 | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
Running Backs
| Player | # | G | Car | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Stuff% | 10+% | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Back · +0.05 EPA/play | 5 | 12 | 146 | 647 | 4.4 | 3 | 45 | 13.4 | 13.2 | 14.8 | 7.7 | — | |
Yards by week → Balanced BackPlays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 186 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / carry4.6 bottom 26th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Receiving share2.7% bottom 8th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Plays like View Gavin Garcia's full player page | |||||||||||||
| Balanced Back · -0.05 EPA/play | 27 | 8 | 79 | 253 | 3.2 | 1 | 25 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 23.7 | 6.6 | — | |
Yards by week → Balanced BackPlays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 186 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / carry3.6 bottom 4th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Receiving share3.7% bottom 11th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Plays like View Jordan Nubin's full player page | |||||||||||||
| -0.29 EPA/play | 84 | 10 | 39 | 97 | 2.5 | 0 | 12 | 6.6 | 10 | — | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
Receivers
| Player | # | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Possession Receiver · +0.66 EPA/play | 1 | 11 | 33 | 507 | 15.4 | 4 | 75 | 9.4 | 7.7 | 17.5% (45/257) | |
Yards by week → Possession Receiver· Boom-or-bustReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine 332 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception16.2 78th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions EPA / play (adj)0.7 78th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score moved from the 0th to 56th percentile among FBS WRs | |||||||||||
| Possession Receiver · -0.11 EPA/play | 6 | 12 | 35 | 383 | 10.9 | 1 | 42 | 8.5 | 11 | 24.9% (64/257) | |
Yards by week → Possession Receiver· Return threatReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. a house-call threat every time he fields it 332 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception11.8 bottom 35th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions EPA / play (adj)-0.1 bottom 2th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint View Wayne Harris's full player page | |||||||||||
| Deep Threat · +0.57 EPA/play | 13 | 9 | 12 | 205 | 17.1 | 2 | 38 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 6.6% (17/257) | |
Yards by week → Deep Threat· Money-downStretches the field vertically. Every snap is a potential big play. lives on the sticks and moves the chains 100 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception17.1 85th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions TD rate16.7% 91th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Ardell Banks's full player page | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · +0.79 EPA/play | 89 | 9 | 19 | 198 | 10.4 | 4 | 50 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 8.6% (22/257) | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. 177 of 223 TEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception12.0 62th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions TD rate21.1% 94th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Terik Mulder's full player page | |||||||||||
| Possession Receiver · +0.22 EPA/play | 85 | 8 | 12 | 148 | 12.3 | 1 | 36 | 4.5 | 6.4 | 8.2% (21/257) | |
Yards by week → Possession ReceiverReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. The most common profile in its group this season — 332 of 558 classified this way. Played in 8 of 21 games this season · senior View Sebastian Brown's full player page | |||||||||||
| +1.57 EPA/play | 11 | 6 | 6 | 93 | 15.5 | 0 | 21 | 5.1 | 1.1 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| +0.24 EPA/play | 18 | 4 | 5 | 38 | 7.6 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3.4 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
Defensive Line
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | TFL | Sack | Hur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 4 | 11 | 28 | 17 | 8 | 6 #74 FBS | 6 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate28.6% 93th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Jamond Mathis's full player page | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 95 | 9 | 24 | 11 | 4 | 2.5 | 4 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate16.7% 58th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Jelani Davis's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 5 | 9 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate16.7% 58th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Thomas Aden's full player page | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 11 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 4.5 | 2 | 1 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate23.7% 83th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score now sits at the 34th percentile among FBS IDLs, up from the 5th | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 17 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate7.9% bottom 24th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Mattheus Carroll's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 94 | 10 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate10.5% bottom 33th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Amon Williams's full player page | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 58 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 1.5 | 0 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate26.3% 89th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Darian Blachewicz's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 55 | 8 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate6.7% bottom 20th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Josue Cordoba's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 33 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate16.7% 58th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Jaihien Roy's full player page | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 6 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 1.5 | 1 | 2 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate10.7% bottom 34th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Mason Maddox's full player page | |||||||
| Nose Anchor | 52 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nose AnchorThe heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. 152 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight305 lb 78th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Aiden Burgess's full player page | |||||||
| 44 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | |
Linebackers
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sack | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Linebacker | — | 12 | 94 | 35 | 59 | 11 #74 FBS | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume94 94th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate1.1% bottom 30th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score went from the 40th percentile among FBS LBs to the 79th | |||||||||
| Coverage 'Backer | 15 | 12 | 39 | 24 | 15 | 2 | 0.5 | 2 | 0 |
Coverage 'BackerCarries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage. 99 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate5.1% 82th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles TFL rate5.1% bottom 28th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Sayed Abuhamdeh's full player page | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 8 | 8 | 37 | 20 | 17 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume37 bottom 31th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate0.0% bottom 18th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Nylan Brown's full player page | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 10 | 9 | 36 | 15 | 21 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume36 bottom 30th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles TFL rate1.4% bottom 13th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Canaan Williams's full player page | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 2 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume16 bottom 11th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles TFL rate0.0% bottom 10th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Semaj Cross's full player page | |||||||||
| 32 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Defensive Backs
| Player | # | G | Tot | PD | INT | TFL | Sack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Safety | 3 | 11 | 89 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 2.5 |
Box SafetyLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume89 99th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like our readUnranked recruit — top-quartile production against his own recruiting profile our readReinvented: changed shape entirely — Hybrid Nickel to Box Safety, his CFB Index score moved from the 54th to 98th percentile among FBS Ss | |||||||
| Box Safety | 21 | 11 | 66 | 1 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 |
Box SafetyLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume66 87th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Joel Cordoba's full player page | |||||||
| Perimeter Tackler | 22 | 10 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0.5 |
Perimeter TacklerTargeted often and asked to tackle in space on the perimeter. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 42 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume52 95th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Jaire Rawlison's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 31 | 11 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 419 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate4.2% bottom 30th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Derrick Jackson's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 13 | 10 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. The most common profile in its group this season — 419 of 801 classified this way. Played in 10 of 21 games this season · sophomore View Tevin Tucker's full player page | |||||||
| Cover Corner | 18 | 9 | 30 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. The most common profile in its group this season — 141 of 270 classified this way. Played in 9 of 21 games this season · senior our readUnranked recruit — top-quartile production against his own recruiting profile | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 19 | 10 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. 419 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate0.0% bottom 14th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View DJ Barnes's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 1 | 7 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. The most common profile in its group this season — 419 of 801 classified this way. Played in 7 of 21 games this season · junior View A'tiq Muhammad's full player page | |||||||
| 12 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 7 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Kicking
| Player | # | G | FG M/A | FG% | XP M/A | Pts | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 10 | 6/8 | 75 | 30/30 | 48 | 38 |
Punting
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | Long | In20 | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | 61 | 10 | 48 | 1973 | 41.1 | 63 | 13 | 2 |
| 97 | 3 | 9 | 282 | 31.3 | 47 | 3 | 0 |
Net average is unavailable — CFBD's punting feed carries gross yards only, with no return-yardage or touchback deduction.
Kick Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +1.16 EPA/play | 30 | 10 | 16 | 452 | 28.3 | 2 | 100 |
| +0.79 EPA/play | 21 | 11 | 6 | 53 | 8.8 | 0 | 19 |
Punt Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Possession Receiver · -0.11 EPA/play | 6 | 12 | 16 | 211 | 13.2 | 1 | 59 |
2025 stat leaders
final
2025 stat leaders
1.
Mason Woods
LB
94.0 tot (def)
2.
CJ Young
DB
89.0 tot (def)
3.
Joel Cordoba
DB
66.0 tot (def)
4.
Jaire Rawlison
CB
52.0 tot (def)
5.
Dru Deshields
QB
2,030 yds (pass)
Roster
2025
29
players carry a qualified CFB Index Score this season.
CJ Young
S
#13 of 544
Jamond Mathis
EDGE
#91 of 420
Terrell Miller
CB
#85 of 364
Mason Woods
LB
#136 of 583
Joel Cordoba
S
#257 of 544
Dashawn Martin
WR
#243 of 485
+23 more
Kent State · 2025 schedule & results5-7Brutal slateAverage opponent win rate 44% · 3 AP top-25 opponents on the schedule.
| Wk | Date | Us | Opp | Line | Opponent | Result | Record | Conf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 30 | #264 | #199 | -5.5 | Merrimack | W 21–17 55 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| 2 | Sep 6 | #251 | #27 | +47.5 | @Texas Tech | L 14–62 139 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| 3 | Sep 13 | #245 | #59 | +24 | Buffalo | L 28–31 146 | 1-2 | 0-1 |
| 4 | Sep 20 | #233 | #77 | +45.5 | @Florida State | L 10–66 133 | 1-3 | 0-1 |
| 6 | Oct 4 | #257 | #17 | +46.5 | @Oklahoma | L 0–44 120 | 1-4 | 0-1 |
| 7 | Oct 11 | #244 | #198 | -1.5 | Massachusetts | W 42–6 141 | 2-4 | 1-1 |
| 8 | Oct 18 | #220 | #42 | +25.5 | @Toledo | L 10–45 122 | 2-5 | 1-2 |
| 9 | Oct 25 | #227 | #134 | +7.5 | Bowling Green | W 24–21 129 | 3-5 | 2-2 |
| 11 | Nov 6 | #228 | #206 | +3 | @Ball State | L 13–17 123 | 3-6 | 2-3 |
| 12 | Nov 12 | #227 | #148 | +7.5 | @Akron | W 42–35 142 | 4-6 | 3-3 |
| 13 | Nov 20 | #213 | #81 | +7.5 | Central Michigan | L 16–28 129 | 4-7 | 3-4 |
| 14 | Nov 28 | #210 | #186 | +5.5 | @Northern Illinois | W 35–31 126 | 5-7 | 3-4 |
Advanced box score (EPA, success rate, explosiveness)▼
| Date | Opp | Result | Yds | TO | TOP | EPA/play | Success% | Explosive% | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 28 | @Northern Illinois | W 35–31 | 438 | 2 | 28:09 | +0.344 | 48.3% | 129.7% | Season-high EPA/play |
| Nov 20 | Central Michigan | L 16–28 | 276 | 1 | 26:39 | +0.066 | 35.8% | 123.2% | |
| Nov 12 | @Akron | W 42–35 | 374 | 1 | 21:20 | +0.338 | 39.6% | 189.5% | Most explosive |
| Nov 6 | @Ball State | L 13–17 | 301 | 1 | 27:42 | -0.145 | 30.2% | 134.7% | One-score loss |
| Oct 25 | Bowling Green | W 24–21 | 294 | 0 | 23:08 | +0.213 | 42.6% | 138.8% | One-score win |
| Oct 18 | @Toledo | L 10–45 | 224 | 1 | 26:12 | +0.029 | 30.6% | 143.8% | Blowout loss |
| Oct 11 | Massachusetts | W 42–6 | 337 | 0 | 29:29 | +0.154 | 49.1% | 92.8% | Best success rate |
| Oct 4 | @Oklahoma | L 0–44 | 135 | 2 | 28:58 | -0.326 | 15.4% | 129.4% | Season-low EPA/play |
| Sep 20 | @Florida State | L 10–66 | 206 | 1 | 25:29 | -0.136 | 25.9% | 124.7% | Defense's roughest night |
| Sep 13 | Buffalo | L 28–31 | 423 | 1 | 37:22 | +0.274 | 38.4% | 148.2% | One-score loss |
| Sep 6 | @Texas Tech | L 14–62 | 229 | 2 | 29:57 | -0.180 | 22.0% | 171.7% | Blowout loss |
| Aug 30 | Merrimack | W 21–17 | 308 | 1 | 28:29 | +0.125 | 35.7% | 131.8% | One-score win |
| Season average (12 games) | 295 | 1.1 | +0.063 | 34.5% | 138.2% | ||||
How They Play · 2025
How They Play · 2025Kent State fields a struggling explosive, big-play offense behind a porous defense.
Opponent-adjusted percentiles vs all FBS. Bar = where this team ranks — right is better.
Team identity · competitive snaps only
How Kent State actually scores
21st percentile quality, 86th percentile boom-dependency. Garbage time excluded from both axes — the same correction that changes the Q4 story below.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Quality percentile | Boom-share percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 86th | 11th |
| Akron | 12th | 89th |
| Alabama | 58th | 17th |
| App State | 35th | 47th |
| Arizona | 64th | 37th |
| Arizona State | 41st | 62nd |
| Arkansas | 90th | 12th |
| Arkansas State | 17th | 66th |
| Army | 57th | 43rd |
| Auburn | 47th | 53rd |
| BYU | 78th | 19th |
| Baylor | 69th | 25th |
| Boise State | 66th | 20th |
| Boston College | 37th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 2nd | 98th |
| Buffalo | 11th | 88th |
| California | 28th | 48th |
| Central Michigan | 52nd | 64th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 16th |
| Clemson | 51st | 48th |
| Coastal Carolina | 17th | 83rd |
| Colorado | 18th | 84th |
| Colorado State | 16th | 83rd |
| Delaware | 38th | 58th |
| Duke | 80th | 14th |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 36th |
| Eastern Michigan | 49th | 42nd |
| Florida | 30th | 67th |
| Florida Atlantic | 62nd | 59th |
| Florida International | 42nd | 50th |
| Florida State | 83rd | 32nd |
| Fresno State | 26th | 73rd |
| Georgia | 81st | 3rd |
| Georgia Southern | 73rd | 21st |
| Georgia State | 36th | 70th |
| Georgia Tech | 84th | 5th |
| Hawai'i | 64th | 41st |
| Houston | 27th | 65th |
| Illinois | 75th | 26th |
| Indiana | 95th | 1st |
| Iowa | 44th | 40th |
| Iowa State | 68th | 22nd |
| Jacksonville State | 54th | 38th |
| James Madison | 65th | 44th |
| Kansas | 85th | 28th |
| Kansas State | 71st | 49th |
| Kennesaw State | 56th | 30th |
| Kent State | 21st | 86th |
| Kentucky | 15th | 85th |
| LSU | 14th | 81st |
| Liberty | 43rd | 56th |
| Louisiana | 19th | 73rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 39th | 61st |
| Louisville | 48th | 64th |
| Marshall | 55th | 39th |
| Maryland | 30th | 74th |
| Memphis | 80th | 24th |
| Miami | 76th | 5th |
| Miami (OH) | 34th | 67th |
| Michigan | 67th | 33rd |
| Michigan State | 27th | 75th |
| Middle Tennessee | 39th | 52nd |
| Minnesota | 29th | 77th |
| Mississippi State | 22nd | 77th |
| Missouri | 61st | 30th |
| Missouri State | 55th | 46th |
| NC State | 86th | 23rd |
| Navy | 94th | 17th |
| Nebraska | 48th | 57th |
| Nevada | 3rd | 97th |
| New Mexico | 58th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 9th | 87th |
| North Carolina | 13th | 89th |
| North Texas | 98th | 7th |
| Northern Illinois | 8th | 92nd |
| Northwestern | 52nd | 36th |
| Notre Dame | 99th | 20th |
| Ohio | 67th | 18th |
| Ohio State | 93rd | 4th |
| Oklahoma | 20th | 80th |
| Oklahoma State | 5th | 95th |
| Old Dominion | 83rd | 45th |
| Ole Miss | 89th | 2nd |
| Oregon | 91st | 10th |
| Oregon State | 2nd | 98th |
| Penn State | 73rd | 33rd |
| Pittsburgh | 60th | 39th |
| Purdue | 25th | 78th |
| Rice | 6th | 94th |
| Rutgers | 70th | 27th |
| SMU | 74th | 42nd |
| Sam Houston | 4th | 96th |
| San Diego State | 24th | 76th |
| San José State | 45th | 69th |
| South Alabama | 36th | 58th |
| South Carolina | 23rd | 86th |
| South Florida | 87th | 23rd |
| Southern Miss | 40th | 55th |
| Stanford | 10th | 90th |
| Syracuse | 5th | 95th |
| TCU | 72nd | 35th |
| Temple | 70th | 34th |
| Tennessee | 96th | 11th |
| Texas | 45th | 55th |
| Texas A&M | 82nd | 14th |
| Texas State | 92nd | 8th |
| Texas Tech | 77th | 31st |
| Toledo | 50th | 61st |
| Troy | 14th | 80th |
| Tulane | 79th | 15th |
| Tulsa | 20th | 70th |
| UAB | 61st | 45th |
| UCF | 33rd | 82nd |
| UCLA | 23rd | 79th |
| UConn | 95th | 13th |
| UL Monroe | 11th | 92nd |
| UNLV | 88th | 9th |
| USC | 98th | 2nd |
| UTEP | 1st | 99th |
| UTSA | 77th | 51st |
| Utah | 97th | 6th |
| Utah State | 46th | 63rd |
| Vanderbilt | 100th | 0th |
| Virginia | 59th | 27th |
| Virginia Tech | 32nd | 71st |
| Wake Forest | 42nd | 72nd |
| Washington | 92nd | 8th |
| Washington State | 33rd | 52nd |
| West Virginia | 7th | 93rd |
| Western Kentucky | 53rd | 29th |
| Western Michigan | 31st | 68th |
| Wisconsin | 0th | 100th |
| Wyoming | 8th | 91st |
Fourth-quarter reliability, corrected
Kent State's 4th-quarter offense, before and after garbage time
Raw Q4 EPA/play ranks 34th percentile in FBS. Strip out snaps taken with a blowout margin and it climbs to the 43rd — the correction is the finding, not a footnote.
Standard downs vs. passing downs
Does Kent State hold up once the down-and-distance turns against them?
15th percentile success on standard downs, 5th on passing downs — little dropoff between the two — a schedule-independent identity.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Standard-downs percentile | Passing-downs percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 82nd | 69th |
| Akron | 20th | 36th |
| Alabama | 47th | 76th |
| App State | 41st | 80th |
| Arizona | 54th | 54th |
| Arizona State | 40th | 37th |
| Arkansas | 90th | 97th |
| Arkansas State | 51st | 40th |
| Army | 37th | 44th |
| Auburn | 73rd | 24th |
| Austin Peay | 56th | 13th |
| BYU | 91st | 46th |
| Ball State | 5th | 3rd |
| Baylor | 70th | 77th |
| Boise State | 42nd | 63rd |
| Boston College | 56th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 10th | 17th |
| Bryant | 7th | 2nd |
| Buffalo | 29th | 20th |
| California | 25th | 66th |
| Central Michigan | 57th | 11th |
| Charlotte | 7th | 7th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 65th |
| Clemson | 49th | 34th |
| Coastal Carolina | 16th | 22nd |
| Colorado | 8th | 48th |
| Colorado State | 29th | 35th |
| Delaware | 66th | 31st |
| Duke | 82nd | 63rd |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 91st |
| Eastern Michigan | 46th | 67th |
| Florida | 52nd | 45th |
| Florida Atlantic | 44th | 61st |
| Florida International | 50th | 26th |
| Florida State | 65th | 90th |
| Fresno State | 22nd | 71st |
| Georgia | 95th | 69th |
| Georgia Southern | 64th | 84th |
| Georgia State | 22nd | 75th |
| Georgia Tech | 92nd | 89th |
| Hawai'i | 33rd | 87th |
| Houston | 61st | 29th |
| Idaho | 30th | 78th |
| Idaho State | 93rd | 14th |
| Illinois | 79th | 95th |
| Indiana | 97th | 98th |
| Iowa | 74th | 19th |
| Iowa State | 80th | 58th |
| Jacksonville State | 59th | 56th |
| James Madison | 77th | 52nd |
| Kansas | 99th | 82nd |
| Kansas State | 37th | 59th |
| Kennesaw State | 44th | 67th |
| Kent State | 15th | 5th |
| Kentucky | 62nd | 29th |
| LSU | 18th | 52nd |
| Lafayette | 0th | 12th |
| Liberty | 65th | 53rd |
| Lindenwood | 4th | 1st |
| Long Island University | 24th | 78th |
| Louisiana | 24th | 23rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 41st | 24th |
| Louisville | 84th | 32nd |
| Maine | 3rd | 18th |
| Marshall | 71st | 62nd |
| Maryland | 11th | 86th |
| Massachusetts | 5th | 9th |
| Memphis | 75th | 68th |
| Merrimack | 1st | 83rd |
| Miami | 80th | 64th |
| Miami (OH) | 33rd | 39th |
| Michigan | 73rd | 74th |
| Michigan State | 48th | 39th |
| Middle Tennessee | 69th | 47th |
| Minnesota | 35th | 33rd |
| Mississippi State | 52nd | 35th |
| Missouri | 76th | 50th |
| Missouri State | 32nd | 50th |
| Murray State | 1st | 6th |
| NC State | 58th | 71st |
| Navy | 95th | 72nd |
| Nebraska | 78th | 51st |
| Nevada | 17th | 16th |
| New Mexico | 38th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 16th | 33rd |
| North Carolina | 14th | 30th |
| North Texas | 100th | 97th |
| Northern Illinois | 9th | 5th |
| Northwestern | 48th | 88th |
| Notre Dame | 88th | 99th |
| Ohio | 69th | 76th |
| Ohio State | 99th | 99th |
| Oklahoma | 39th | 41st |
| Oklahoma State | 14th | 7th |
| Old Dominion | 72nd | 79th |
| Ole Miss | 83rd | 95th |
| Oregon | 93rd | 55th |
| Oregon State | 54th | 25th |
| Penn State | 76th | 73rd |
| Pittsburgh | 35th | 56th |
| Purdue | 46th | 88th |
| Rice | 20th | 0th |
| Rutgers | 71st | 84th |
| SMU | 50th | 57th |
| Sam Houston | 26th | 4th |
| San Diego State | 84th | 1st |
| San José State | 68th | 70th |
| South Alabama | 53rd | 28th |
| South Carolina | 31st | 8th |
| South Carolina State | 10th | 3rd |
| South Florida | 86th | 46th |
| Southern Miss | 27th | 38th |
| Stanford | 12th | 12th |
| Syracuse | 19th | 10th |
| TCU | 63rd | 82nd |
| Temple | 85th | 22nd |
| Tennessee | 97th | 81st |
| Texas | 27th | 61st |
| Texas A&M | 88th | 59th |
| Texas State | 60th | 93rd |
| Texas Tech | 45th | 65th |
| Toledo | 67th | 42nd |
| Troy | 18th | 27th |
| Tulane | 81st | 86th |
| Tulsa | 43rd | 43rd |
| UAB | 34th | 94th |
| UCF | 39th | 20th |
| UCLA | 28th | 48th |
| UConn | 96th | 37th |
| UL Monroe | 13th | 14th |
| UNLV | 78th | 85th |
| USC | 94th | 90th |
| UT Martin | 2nd | 41st |
| UTEP | 3rd | 10th |
| UTSA | 67th | 92nd |
| Utah | 87th | 96th |
| Utah State | 31st | 49th |
| Vanderbilt | 90th | 100th |
| Virginia | 36th | 73rd |
| Virginia Tech | 59th | 21st |
| Wake Forest | 21st | 31st |
| Washington | 98th | 93rd |
| Washington State | 61st | 44th |
| West Virginia | 12th | 18th |
| Western Kentucky | 55th | 80th |
| Western Michigan | 86th | 16th |
| Wisconsin | 6th | 27th |
| Wyoming | 23rd | 15th |
Halftime identity
Kent State by half
1st-half offense ranks 31st percentile in FBS; 2nd-half, 57th — competitive snaps only, garbage time excluded from both halves.
Schedule mirage
How much of Kent State's number is the schedule?
Raw EPA/play through week 21 is 0.06; 48th percentile once opponent strength is stripped out, it's 0.03. The widest gap came in week 1: 0.13 raw vs. 0.00 adjusted.
Kent State reads strongest in explosive plays (top 9%) and passing epa (top 48%); the crux lives in rushing epa, where Kent State sits at the 4th percentile.
offense · strengths lead
defense · higher bar = harder to play against
hidden math · special situations
ELITE · 90+STRONG · 70+AVERAGE · 40-70CONCERN · 10-40BOTTOM · <10
Most Similar Programs · Kent State
Most Similar Programs · Kent StateReads Like
AkronTier 3 · Prestige T3 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontApp StateTier 3 · Prestige T3 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontArkansasTier 3 · Prestige T3 · Similarly-sized rosters up front
Static-attribute similarity across tier, archetype, conference, and voice. Not a prediction — a calibration.
Home-Field Advantage · Kent State · 2018-present
Elite
51% home win rate vs 19% on the road. margin runs +22.9 better at home. Dix Stadium seats 25,319, averaging 42% full (10,553 attendance, 19 games reported).
Home19-18Away10-41
Positional competition · WR/TE room
The targets are split. The job isn’t.
Wayne Harris (WR) and Terik Mulder (TE) split the targets (64/85 vs 21/85) -- but the job isn't split the same way.
Wayne HarrisTerik Mulder
Targets
the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50
3rd-down targets
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Garbage-time share
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Top-5-catch share
concentration alone -- EPA/target doesn't corroborate, read with caution
Screened 3 claims, 0 survived, 3 falsified
What changed
Kent State’s play-calling, before and after the change
Offense: co-Clay Patterson / Mark Carney (2024) → Clay Patterson (2025)
The biggest shift: red-zone pass rate moved down 16 points. The rest held closer to steady.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
Defense: Kody Morgan (2024) → Cherokee Valeria (2025)
The biggest shift: red-zone pass rate moved down 16 points. The rest held closer to steady.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
Defensive identity · pass zones
What this defense gives up, by zone.
On short passes, Kent State’s defense allows a completion rate below the FBS mean (62.6% vs 65.9% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 119-play sample) — mid-pack, 14 of 133 qualifying defenses.
We won’t show a deep-ball leaderboard here: at the defense level, most teams face well under 30 rich-feed deep targets all season — too thin to tell a real tendency from noise, so we won’t guess.
Screened 133 claims, 133 survived · 2025 only, in the 399 games with the detailed play-text feed; n=119 short-zone plays faced, raw rate 58.8%
Venue texture
57°F average kickoff temp; 23% of games had measurable precipitation; 7 mph average wind.
Based on 60 home games with weather data.
The CFP Era
12 seasons inside the CFP era, no bids yet — the era the program is still trying to break into.
TRAJECTORY · quality-score line · AP rank dotted · CFP bids marked · coach regimes ribboned
Program Quality
AP Rank (inverted)
CFP Appearance
Kent State's 2014–2025 record is 40-97. The era is still being written; the CFP line is the one the program is arguing for.
All-Time Record
233-478-5
since 1904 · 67 seasons · .325 win rate
HOME
145-182-4
AWAY
87-291-1
NEUTRAL
1-5
1900s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
The program, in full — read the essay
Kent State won one game combined across two seasons. A year later, the guy who was already on staff had the Golden Flashes at 5-7 and reclaiming their oldest rivalry trophy in overtime.
1-23. That's what Kenni Burns left behind across 2023 and 2024, and it's about as low as the MAC gets. Kent State fired him in April 2025 and did the unglamorous thing — promoted offensive coordinator Mark Carney to interim, watched him steady the program, and made it official on October 30, 2025.
The results showed up fast. Carney's Golden Flashes went 5-7 (4-4 in the MAC) — more wins in one season than the previous two combined — and the signature moment came in Akron: a 42-35 overtime win that took back the Wagon Wheel trophy after Akron had run away with it 38-17 the year before. The Wagon Wheel is old — the rivalry dates to 1923, ten miles separating two campuses that have played for that trophy every year since the postwar era resumed it — and getting it back in overtime, mid-turnaround, is the kind of win a fanbase needed after two years like that.
Kent State's national name recognition, for what it's worth, runs almost entirely through one guy who never played for this era: Julian Edelman started at quarterback from 2006 to 2008, threw for nearly 5,000 yards, then went on to twelve years with the New England Patriots, three Super Bowl rings, and Super Bowl LIII MVP. He's in the Kent State Hall of Fame and, as of 2025, the Patriots Hall of Fame too — proof that a MAC program's ceiling, at least for one player, went all the way to the top of the sport. The program's actual on-field peak was more recent and more modest: Dustin Crum's 2019-2021 stretch, the first bowl win in school history and three straight .500-or-better seasons. That's the bar Mark Carney is trying to get back to, one turnaround season in.
How they play
A program mid-rebuild under a first-full-year head coach — the 2025 identity was resilience and a signature road win in overtime more than any settled scheme, with the real on-field identity still being written as Carney's staff gets a full offseason to install its system.
Steady
Kent State 2016–2025. Holding the line. The 10-year slope (-0.03 rungs / yr) doesn't tilt either way — the program lives at roughly Tier 2.
CFP Era · Kent State
12 seasons on file
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
down middle peak CFP year
Season Standing · 2025 · 5-7
Season Standing · 2025 · 5-7FBS sub-.500
Kent State: Below .500 in FBS play. The rebuild bar.
R0R1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9
Sub-FBSBuildingBowlRankedContenderPlayoff
Mid-American Standing · 2025
9th in the Mid-American
Kent State is 9th of 13 in the Mid-American at 3-4. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on bowl access and rivalry wins.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Michigan | 7-1 |
| 2 | Ohio | 5-2 |
| 3 | Toledo | 5-2 |
| 4 | Central Michigan | 5-3 |
| 5 | Miami (OH) | 5-3 |
| 6 | Akron | 4-4 |
| 7 | Buffalo | 4-4 |
| 8 | Ball State | 3-4 |
| 9 | Kent State | 3-4 |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan | 2-5 |
| 11 | Bowling Green | 2-6 |
| 12 | Sacramento State | 0-0 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 0-7 |
Coaching Era · Kent State
Coaching Era · Kent StateMark Carney
Mark Carney in year 2 of the rebuild. The methodology is taking shape.
Era Mark Carney · 2025–presentPrev: Kenni Burns (2023–2024)OC: Clay PattersonPrev OC: co-Clay Patterson / Mark Carney (2024)DC: Cherokee ValeriaPrev DC: Kody Morgan (2024)
2
years · era
Rituals
Three gameday rituals — the ones outsiders never quite catch.
The Wagon Wheel vs. Akron
since 1923
Kent State and Akron, ten miles apart, have played for the Wagon Wheel trophy since the rivalry resumed after World War II. Akron won the 2024 meeting 38-17; Kent State reclaimed the trophy in 2025 with a 42-35 overtime win in Akron -- the signature moment of Mark Carney's turnaround season.
Julian Edelman's Kent State Roots
since 2006
Julian Edelman started at quarterback for Kent State from 2006-2008, throwing for almost 5,000 yards, before going on to a 12-year New England Patriots career, three Super Bowl rings, and Super Bowl LIII MVP honors. He was inducted into the Kent State Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2025 -- the program's most famous alumnus by a wide margin.
The 2025 Turnaround Under Mark Carney
since 2025
After a 1-23 record across 2023-2024 under Kenni Burns, who was fired in April 2025, offensive coordinator Mark Carney took over as interim head coach and was promoted to the full-time job on October 30, 2025. His 2025 team went 5-7 (4-4 MAC) -- more wins in one season than the previous two years combined.
Program memory
What this program never forgets
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
2019
First-ever bowl win
Kent State wins its first bowl game in program history under Dustin Crum
2024
1-23 collapse
Kenni Burns's tenure bottoms out at a combined 1-23 across 2023-2024, leading to his April 2025 firing
Wound
2025
Wagon Wheel reclaimed in overtime
Kent State beats Akron 42-35 in overtime to take back the Wagon Wheel trophy, the signature moment of Mark Carney's turnaround season
Moment of the Year · Kent State · 2025
Moment of the Year · Kent State · 2025Lost 0-44 at Oklahoma
Week 6 of 2025. A reckoning loss — the data point the next season must answer.
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
Bowl / Postseason LedgerRecent postseason (2019-2021): 1-1
Most recent: 2021 — loss 52-38 (away). Last 5 postseason: 1-1.
20212019
Unit lineage
Kent State’s offense and defense, by coordinator
FBS-relative efficiency percentile per season (2014–2025), same population as the Coordinator Mirror board. Dashed vertical lines mark a coordinator change.
Offense2014–2025
2014 · Brian Rock2015–2017 · Don Treadwell2018–2022 · Andrew Sowder2023 · co-Matt Limegrover / Matt Johnson2024 · co-Clay Patterson / Mark Carney2025 (ongoing) · Clay Patterson
Defense2014–2025
2014–2015 · Brian George2016 · co-Ben Needham2017 · co-Ben Needham / co-Jeff Burrow2018–2021 · Tom Kaufman2022 · Jeremiah Johnson2023 · David Duggan2024 · Kody Morgan2025 (ongoing) · Cherokee Valeria
Elite (≥70th pct)AveragePoor (≤30th pct)
Chronicle Visuals
A heavy-turnover 2025: 11% returning (below average), with the offense the biggest question.
The portal upgraded the LB room but opened a hole at CB.
Kent State converts recruit talent into draft picks better than its class rank suggests.
r/cfb moments
660
[Postgame Thread] Buffalo Defeats Kent State 70-41
439
[Postgame Thread] UCF Defeats Kent State 56-6
390
[Postgame Thread] Kent State Defeats Merrimack 21-17
172
[Postgame Thread] Kent State Defeats UMass 42-6
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