Kent State at Ohio State - 2026 Matchup Preview

Kent State Golden Flashes at Ohio State Buckeyes

Saturday, September 19th 2026 (12:00 PM EDT)
Ohio Stadium - Columbus, OH

Golden Flashes (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Mark Carney (5 - 7)
Avg Score : 21 - 34 (18 - 43 on Road)
Record Prediction: 0 - 0 (#1)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

KENT coming off BYE
Our Line: Ohio State -49.5 (SP+ OSU -49)
Projected Score: KENT: 1 - OSU: 51 (52)
OSU Win prob: 100% | Cover: 29%
KENT Travel: 119 miles

Buckeyes (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Ryan Day (82 - 12)
Avg Score : 33 - 9 (42 - 7 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 0 - 0 (#1)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
KENT Players
OSU Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Kent State's 2026 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/5	Kent State at South Carolina	+29
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/19	Kent State at Ohio State	+49.5

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Kent State's Schedule

Ohio State's 2026 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/5	Ohio State vs Ball State	-53.5
Sat 9/12	Ohio State at Texas	-5.5
Sat 9/19	Ohio State vs Kent State	-49.5
Sat 9/26	Ohio State vs Illinois	-21
Sat 10/3	Ohio State at Iowa	-13.5
Sat 10/10	Ohio State vs Maryland	-30
Sat 10/17	Ohio State at Indiana	+2
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/31	Ohio State at USC	-6
Sat 11/7	Ohio State vs Oregon	-6.5
Sat 11/14	Ohio State vs Northwestern	-28.5
Sat 11/21	Ohio State at Nebraska	-21.5
Sat 11/28	Ohio State vs Michigan	-16.5

Important Stats (2025)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
KENT	#112 (.09)	36% (126)	21.3	36% (130)	2.54 (129)	98	38% (111)	197	3.42 (98)	#93 (.19)	43% (86)	33.6	44% (90)	43% (77)	4.29 (123)	48.8	1.1	0.8
OSU	#10 (.31)	52% (2)	33.4	45% (47)	2.99 (61)	155	58% (1)	268	4.83 (5)	#3 (-.02)	34% (6)	9.3	31% (3)	38% (32)	2.64 (8)	38.5	0.8	1

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
KENT		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
OSU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2025

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
KENT Offense	12	21.3	17.7	36.4%	3.42	1.1	14	295	98	197	3	52%	46%	36%	38%	18%	.09
OSU Defense	14	9.3	7.4	34.4%	2.64	1	-	-	-	-	-	48%	50%	31%	38%	16%	-.02

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
KENT Defense	12	33.6	42.9	42.9%	4.29	0.8	-	-	-	-	-	51%	47%	44%	43%	14%	.19
OSU Offense	14	33.4	41.6	51.7%	4.83	0.8	23	423	155	268	4.6	48%	51%	45%	58%	11%	.31

Additional Stats 2025

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Kent State	12	27:44	14.3	28%	47%	6.1	48.8	1.1	0.8	5.8	2	3	28.4
Ohio State	14	33:00	22.6	53%	67%	4.1	38.5	0.8	1	5.6	2.5	1	29

Run Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
KENT Offense	12	52% (45)	36% (130)	32.9	98.3	3	10 (132)	-.02 (127)	2.54 (129)	63% (117)	13% (129)	0.89 (103)
OSU Defense	14	48% (50)	31% (3)	-	-	-	-	-.09 (4)	2.5 (10)	59% (9)	11% (17)	0.82 (7)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
KENT Defense	12	51% (89)	44% (90)	-	-	-	-	.16 (104)	2.95 (78)	67% (37)	9% (80)	1.02 (99)
OSU Offense	14	48% (80)	45% (47)	33.6	154.8	4.6	25 (60)	.08 (89)	2.99 (61)	73% (61)	7% (14)	0.78 (133)

Pass Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
KENT Offense	12	46% (94)	38% (111)	13.6	24.4	197.1	8.1	14.5	20 (61)	6 (34)	.29 (49)	1.9 (4)	35% (121)	24% (129)	.15 (120)	5% (35)	2.2 (17)
OSU Defense	14	50% (89)	38% (32)	-	-	-	-	-	-	8 (100)	.05 (5)	1.2 (1)	36% (12)	23% (5)	.08 (5)	5% (108)	1.7 (7)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
KENT Defense	12	47% (51)	43% (77)	-	-	-	-	-	-	6 (75)	.26 (77)	1.6 (83)	32% (63)	34% (122)	.35 (97)	5% (122)	1.9 (43)
OSU Offense	14	51% (54)	58% (1)	22.4	29.1	268.2	9.2	12	33 (22)	8 (20)	.54 (3)	1.4 (117)	24% (2)	39% (7)	.5 (12)	4% (17)	1.9 (90)

Kent State's Power Ratings
Kent State's Power Rating: -15.20 #118
Kent State's Offense Rating: 3.03 #116
Kent State's Defense Rating: 23.23 #113
2026 Talent Rating: 540.00 #103
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #24
Kent State's 2026 Expected Record: 0.0 - 0.0
Kent State's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: -19.3 #130
Kent State's Offense SP+ Rating: 17.0 #125
Kent State's Defense SP+ Rating: 34.9 #120

Average Talent
Average Mid-American Talent Rating is 524.17
Average Power Five Talent: 885.22
Average FBS Talent: 707.18

Power Ratings Matchup
Kent State: -15.20 Ohio State: 32.03

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Kent State: -19.3 Ohio State: 30.1

Ohio State's Power Ratings
Ohio State's Power Rating: 32.03 #3
Ohio State's Offense Rating: 29.91 #3
Ohio State's Defense Rating: -2.53 #1
2026 Talent Rating: 1070.00 #6
Blue Chip Ratio: 0 #24
Ohio State's 2026 Expected Record: 0.0 - 0.0
Ohio State's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: 30.1 #2
Ohio State's Offense SP+ Rating: 37.6 #13
Ohio State's Defense SP+ Rating: 7.7 #1

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 896.78
Average Power Five Talent: 885.22
Average FBS Talent: 707.18

Kent State Scoring
Offense: 21.3 PPG
Offense on Road: 17.7
Defense: 33.6 PPG
Defense on Road: 42.9

Kent State's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
Ohio State 51
Kent State 1

Projected Total Points: 52

Ohio State Scoring
Offense: 33.4 PPG
Offense at Home: 41.6
Defense: 9.3 PPG
Defense at Home: 7.4

Ohio State's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total
2014	09/13	Ohio State	66	Kent State	0	Ohio State -26.5	Ohio State	0
2007	10/13	Ohio State	48	Kent State	3
2002	09/07	Ohio State	51	Kent State	17

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Ohio State	3	1	0 Overs
Kent State	0	0	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	3 - 0	1 - 0	1 - 0	0 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 3	0 - 1	0 - 0	0 - 1

(#118) KENT at (#3) OSU

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	KENT	OSU
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#118	#3
SP+SP+	#130	#2
Perf GradeGrade	NR	NR
OffenseOff	NR	NR
DefenseDef	NR	NR
Spec TeamsST	NR	NR
TalentTal	#103	#6
Blue ChipsBC%	#24	#24

Kent State Injury Report

Ohio State Injury Report

Kent State on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 46%, Run: 52%
CategoryCat	KENT Off	OSU Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	#126	#6
ExplosiveExp	#12	#2
PPAPPA	#112	#3
PowerPwr	#116	#1
SP+SP+	#125	#1
Pts POPPO	#98	#8
HavocHav	#117	#57

Kent State Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 46%, Run: 52%
CategoryCat	KENT Off	OSU Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#130	#3
Run ExplRExp	#103	#7
PPAExp	#127	#4
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	#129	#10
Stuff RateStuff	#110	#14
TackleTak	-	NR

Kent State Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 46%, Run: 52%
CategoryCat	KENT Off	OSU Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#111	#32
Pass ExplPExl	#4	#1
PPAExp	#49	#5
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	#129	#17
DB HavocDB	#35	#108

Ohio State on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	OSU Off	KENT Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	#2	#86
ExplosiveExp	#124	#88
PPAPPA	#10	#93
PowerPwr	#3	#113
SP+SP+	#13	#120
Pts POPPO	#5	#123
HavocHav	#6	#107

Ohio State Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	OSU Off	KENT Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#47	#90
Run ExplRExp	#133	#99
PPAExp	#89	#104
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	#61	#78
Stuff RateStuff	#73	#82
TackleTak	-	NR

Ohio State Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	OSU Off	KENT Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#1	#77
Pass ExplPExl	#117	#83
PPAExp	#3	#77
Pass Block/RushP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	#14	#80
DB HavocDB	#17	#122

Program Comparison
OSU 5 Year Profile: Consistent CFB Elites
'26 Profile: Remains CFB Elites

KENT 5 Year Profile: Consistent Poor G5
'26 Profile: Remains Poor G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Ohio Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

No Matchups Past 4 Years

KENT's OC Clay Patterson (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Dru Deshields	136	240	57%	2030	18	3	8.5
Devin Kargman	8	17	47%	74	0	1	4.4

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Jahzae Kimbrough	39	97	0	2.5	12
Dru Deshields	61	38	3	0.6	15
Maurice Stephens	1	31	1	31.0	31
Marques Hicks	4	18	0	4.5	14

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Wayne Harris	35	383	1	10.9	42
Ardell Banks	12	205	2	17.1	38
Terik Mulder	19	198	4	10.4	50
Da'Realyst Clark	3	108	1	36.0	89

View Kent State's Full Roster

KENT's DC Cherokee Valeria (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
CJ Young	89	8	3	2	3
Joel Cordoba	66	2	0	1	1
Derrick Jackson	48	1	0	0	2
Sayed Abuhamdeh	39	2	1	0	2

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
CJ Young	89	8	3	2	3
Thomas Aden	24	4	2	1	0
Darian Blachewicz	19	5	2	0	1
Jaihien Roy	15	3	2	2	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
CJ Young	89	8	3	2	3
Derrick Jackson	48	1	0	0	2
Sayed Abuhamdeh	39	2	1	0	2

OSU's OC Arthur Smith (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Julian Sayin	301	391	77%	3610	32	8	9.2
Tavien St. Clair	0	2	0%	0	0	0	0.0

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Bo Jackson	179	1090	6	6.1	64
Isaiah West	59	310	2	5.3	38
Ja'Kobi Jackson (Tr)	27	98	0	3.6	27
Jeremiah Smith	3	21	1	7.0	17

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Jeremiah Smith	87	1243	12	14.3	87
Devin Mccuin (Tr)	65	726	8	11.2	52
Kyle Parker (Tr)	31	330	4	10.6	43
Hunter Welcing (Tr)	28	296	2	10.6	36

View Ohio State's Full Roster

OSU's DC Matt Patricia (in his second season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PD
Earl Little II	76	2	0	2
Jaylen McClain	53	0	0	3
Christian Alliegro (Tr)	48	8	4	1
Payton Pierce	44	2	0	0

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Kenyatta Jackson	28	11	7	2	2
Christian Alliegro (Tr)	48	8	4	0	1
Eddrick Houston	21	4	3	1	0
James Smith (Tr)	26	7	3	2	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PD
Dominick Kelly (Tr)	3	0	3
Jaylen McClain	53	0	3
Earl Little II	76	2	2