MACtion proper begins this week for both squads.
Ohio (5-3, 3-1 MAC) takes a short road trip north this week to clash with Kent State (0-8, 0-4 MAC) on a Wednesday night on National TV.
For the Bobcats, a win helps the Green and White keep pace in the MAC race as one of the top four teams battling for two spots in the championship game. With only four games left, Ohio may very well need this win to stay in contention in the title race.
The Bobbies can also secure bowl eligibility with a win in this one.
The Golden Flashes are working for their first win of the year.
Game notes
- Time and date: Wednesday November 6, 2024 at 7:00 ET
- Location: Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio
- TV network options: The game will be available exclusively on ESPNU. A valid subscription is required for viewing.
- Radio options: Rob Polinsky (play-by-play) and Tom Evans (color) will provide the KSU call for 1220 AM WHKW while Marty Bannister (play-by-play) and Rob Cornelius (color) will provide the Ohio call for WXTQ-FM 105.5.
- Gambling considerations: Ohio is 17-point favorites with an over/under of 50.5, per DraftKings.
- Special Events: Flash Frenzy, featuring nine home athletic events for the week of October 31, 2024 to November 8, 2024. For football, it is both Military Appreciation Day and Most Valuable Professors Day.
About the Kent State Golden Flashes
Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Golden Flashes faced major adversity so far this season as a rebuilding program who waded through a brutal non-conference schedule to find themselves winless after four MAC games as injuries mount and they move further down the depth chart.
Last week against the MAC’s only undefeated team in conference play, the Golden Flashes were overwhelmed 38-0 in the first half by Western Michigan en route to a 52-21 loss at the hands of the Broncos.
Growing pains from young players were a major source of the breakdowns in all three phases last week when long runs were surrendered or poor field position on kickoff return hampered efforts.
One of the key issues for the Golden Flashes overall is a -11 turnover margin in four MAC games with only one turnover generated and four surrendered last week.
Offensively, the Golden Flashes feature a trio of players starting with quarterback Tommy “Tommy U” Ulatowski. Since coming off the bench in the last game of non-conference play, Ulatowski has thrown for 960 yards, completing 43 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns against six interceptions.
The majority of the damage through the air was done in the first two weeks of MAC play where KSU’s signal caller threw for a combined 839 yards and seven touchdown passes. Better defenses and adjustments have led to 192 yards passing and three touchdown passes combined the past two weeks.
Still, the Flashes are always dangerous as they feature a playmaker in wideout Chrishon McCray, who they will try to get the ball to in any way possible. “Big Play” McCray’s 31 catches for 566 yards lead the squad, while his 18.3 yards per catch and seven touchdowns are tied for second in the MAC this year.
Look for KSU to try to get the ball out quickly on slants or crossing routes to McCray or players like Luke Floriea, who has also been a major weapon this year with 30 catches for 499 yards and five touchdowns.
With opponents grounding the air attack in large part the past few weeks, the rushing attack has emerged with its first two, 100-yard games of the season. Leading the charge on the ground is Ky Thomas with 389 yards and 4.2 yard per carry average.
After surrendering 358 yards rushing last week, KSU will need to find a way to bounce back against an Ohio team that would love nothing more than to run the ball.
Possibly hampering efforts is an injury to leading tackler linebacker Rocco Nicholl, who may be questionable for this week after leaving last week’s contest.
However, the Golden Flashes are still solid in the middle of the defense with linebackers Mason Woods and Matt Harmon combining for 88 stops this year while linebacker Khalib Johns has 111 career tackles.
Defensive end Kameron Olds has come on lately with three sacks in the last two weeks bringing his season total to six which is second best in the MAC.
About the Ohio Bobcats
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Bobcats are coming off their best overall performance of the season by battering title contender Buffalo Bulls 47-16 last week, performing well in all phases.
Ohio’s offense is based in a ground game that has run amok in conference play in three of four games this year, rolling up 277, 236, and 258 yards against Central Michigan, Akron, and Buffalo.
Key to the ground game has been the return of center Parker Titsworth for the 2024 season, who runs the show on the line and may earn an All-MAC nod for his play if things are status quo until season’s end.
Another key to O-line success has been overcoming adversity. Carson Heidecker returned from injury last week to take over for the injured right tackle while Davion Weatherspoon slid from left guard to man Heidecker’s left tackle spot. Both had notable moments against Buffalo last week and, with the rest of the unit, did not allow a sack against the Bulls.
Ohio’s leading rusher Anthony Tyus III is likely sidelined this week with injury but Ohio has plenty of depth at the position with Rickey Hunt Jr. at five yards per carry this year coupled with bruiser Nolan McCormack, who has helped move the chains the last few weeks.
Tyus III’s absence might mean additional opportunity for speedster running back true freshman Duncan Brune, the “Cyclone from Cologne.” Brune hails from Cologne, Germany, and has 52 yards rushing and a touchdown this season..
One key issue for the Golden Flashes will be containing dual threat quarterback Parker Navarro, who has gashed teams with a total of 515 yards on the ground and four scores.
Adding to his ground success, Navarro is coming off perhaps a career best throwing performance last week with 231 yards through the air, completing 73 percent of his throws with two passing touchdowns.
Wideout Coleman Owen continued his dominance in MAC play with six catches and 173 all-purpose yards and three scores (two receiving, one rushing). Wideouts Chase Hendricks and Rodney Harris II have also done some damage this year with four catches last week for Hendricks while Harris II had seven two weeks ago against rival Miami.
As they have done many times this season, expect the ‘Cats to take a few deep shots in the passing game early to take advantage of a defense focused on stopping the run.
The Bobcat’s defense has been its most consistent unit this year and is second in MAC play allowing 104 yards rushing per contest and third with 190 yards passing per contest.
However, last week may signal an important step forward for Ohio’s defense as they added explosive elements to their overall sound play, accounting for nine points while racking up seven tackles for loss, four sacks, and three turnovers. Coming into last week, Ohio had generated only five turnovers all season, so three in one game was a big deal.
Leading the charge behind a sound defensive line last week was linebacker Shay Taylor, who had 10 tackles, a sack and a pick six.
As the Bobbies have done all season, next man up has been an important rallying cry and a key part of the success. Kadin Schmitz transitioned from JACK to WILL linebacker this year and filled in for injured Blake Leake with some splash plays last week, including nine tackles and a pick two, returning Buffalo’s two-point conversion attempt on a 99-yard interception return for score.
The Bobcats secondary has been clutch for most of the season behind steady play by cornerbacks Tank Pearson and Roman Parodie, safety Dustin Johnson, and nickel DJ Walker. Parodie and Walker are second-best in the MAC this year with six passes defensed each while Johnson’s 46 tackles are second on the squad.
While Ohio’s defense may not often leave defenders without help against gamechangers like KSU’s wideout McCray, if they do players like Parodie has been instrumental preventing the big play working solo, especially the past few weeks, where he stymied Miami and Buffalo wideouts in stretches.