The 2026 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represents Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference for the upcoming 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Flashes are led by head coach Mark Carney; Carney spent most of the 2025 season as interim head coach with the interim tag being removed late in the 2025 season. The Golden Flashes play home games at Dix Stadium, located in Kent, Ohio.
Kent State will face Wofford, South Florida, and Sacramento State for the first time in program history.
After a turnaround season in 2025 (improving to five wins after zero wins in 2024), Kent State had a strong 2026 recruiting class, including defensive back Lennox Lemon, who was rated at the sixth-best prospect in Ohio.
Schedule
Game summaries at South Carolina
Statistics KENTSC First downs 10 35 Plays–yards 48–179 72–645 Rushes–yards 25–100 39–278 Passing yards 79 367 Passing: –– 14–23–1 27–33–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 25:13 34:47 Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dru DeShields 12/20, 63 yards Rushing Dru DeShields 3 carries, 27 yards Receiving Mason King 2 receptions, 21 yards South Carolina Passing LaNorris Sellers 19/23, 270 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jabree Coleman 4 carries, 77 yards, 2 TD Receiving Donovan Murph 4 receptions, 92 yards, 2 TD
vs Wofford (FCS)
Statistics WOFKENT First downs 10 21 Plays–yards 54–173 72–253 Rushes–yards 26–58 44–195 Passing yards 115 253 Passing: comp–att–int 13–27–2 17–28–2 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 22:38 37:22 Team Category Player Statistics Wofford Passing Ethan Drumm 9/16, 100 yards, 2 INT Rushing Gerald Modest Jr. 14 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Isaiah Scott 3 receptions, 47 yards Kent State Passing Dru DeShields 16/25, 248 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Dru DeShields 10 carries, 74 yards, 2 TD Receiving Darealyst Clark 5 receptions, 90 yards
at No. 6 Ohio State
Statistics KENTOSU First downs 6 25 Plays–yards 55–134 66–527 Rushes–yards 34–71 38–145 Passing yards 63 382 Passing: –– 8–21–1 22–28–2 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 29:39 30:21 Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dru DeShields 6/15, 35 yards, INT Rushing Brandon White 5 carries, 21 yards Receiving Wayne Harris 2 receptions, 29 yards Ohio State Passing Julian Sayin 18/22, 241 yards, 2 TD Rushing Bo Jackson 11 carries, 73 yards, TD Receiving Jeremiah Smith 5 receptions, 85 yards
vs Ball State
Statistics BALLKENT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Ohio
Statistics OHIOKENT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Ohio Passing Rushing Receiving Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Western Michigan
Statistics KENTWMU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Michigan Passing Rushing Receiving
at South Florida
Statistics KENTUSF First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving South Florida Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Akron (Wagon Wheel)
Statistics AKRKENT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Akron Passing Rushing Receiving Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Sacramento State
Statistics KENTSAC First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving Sacramento State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Bowling Green (Anniversary Award)
Statistics KENTBGSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving Bowling Green Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Miami (OH)
Statistics M-OHKENT First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Miami (OH) Passing Rushing Receiving Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Eastern Michigan
Statistics KENTEMU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Michigan Passing Rushing Receiving
Coaching staff +NameTitleYear at schoolMark CarneyHead coach4thClay PattersonOffensive coordinator/quarterbacks3rdCherokee ValeriaDefensive coordinator/safeties2ndIsaac VanceWide receivers 1stBraxton ChapmanRunning backs 1stAlex StadlerOffensive line 1stBill TeerlinckDefensive line 3rdKevin SnyderLinebackers 2ndBart TanskiCornerbacks 2nd
References