Eastern Michigan and Kent State had contrasting experiences in non-conference play. Now it’s time for the MAC opener.
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, September 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET
- Network: ESPN+
- Location: Dix Stadium — Kent, OH
- Spread: Eastern Michigan (-15)
- Over/under: 47.5
- All-time series: Kent State leads, 19-16
- Last meeting: Eastern Michigan 28, Kent State 14 — October 14, 2023
- Current streak: Eastern Michigan, 2 (2022-23)
Setting the scene
Eastern Michigan and Kent State hail from contrasting backgrounds, in terms of their success in non-conference play, but both slates wipe clean this Saturday for the MAC opener.
Eastern Michigan (3-1, 0-0 MAC) ties for the best overall record in the MAC after upending FBS foes UMass and Jacksonville State earlier in the month. Fresh off a 36-0 shutout over FCS opponent St. Francis (PA), the Eagles aim to carry the momentum on the road and win a third-straight matchup over Kent State.
Speaking of St. Francis (PA), that name does not invoke pleasant feelings at Kent State. That is the FCS opponent the Golden Flashes lost to Week 2, and things haven’t gotten any better since that shocking defeat. Kent State lost its last two contests by a combined score of 127-0 to Tennessee and Penn State, so the Golden Flashes look forward to the fresh slate of MAC play more than anyone.
Eastern Michigan Eagles outlook
Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Chris Creighton always seems to find a way. His Eastern Michigan roster was gutted by graduation and the transfer portal, as many of his top players from 2023 departed. But the head coach who brought a winning tradition back to Ypsilanti is sustaining it through the early portions of the 2024 season.
The biggest improvement from 2023 to 2024 is the caliber of the offense. Eastern Michigan already has three 28+ point games in four outings after posting just three 28+ point games in all of 2023. Upgrading at quarterback is one of the driving forces behind the higher offensive output. The Eagles snatched former Buffalo starter Cole Snyder from the portal, and the pairing has gone perfectly. No Eastern Michigan quarterback attained more than 231 passing yards in a game last season, and Snyder already crossed that threshold twice, firing for 274 yards in a Week 2 overtime win over Jacksonville State. What’s also impressive is his ball security, refusing to throw a single interception in non-conference play on a 61.3 completion rate.
The passing game has been the stronger portion of Eastern Michigan’s offense as the Eagles are currently averaging 2.9 yards on the ground. Injuries are playing a factor as starting running back Dontae McMillan has missed the last two contests due to injury, while center Broderick Roman is also absent from the lineup. NC State transfer Delbert Mimms and junior Elijah Jackson-Anderson carried the rushing attack the past two weeks, and the pairing looks for a stronger showing as the team’s season-high is currently 152 rushing yards.
Through the air, Eastern Michigan unearthed Oran Singleton who is on an All-MAC pace, ranking top five in the conference with 24 receptions and 260 yards. Singleton is the overwhelming No. 1 target of Snyder, and he’s supported by a receiving corps consisting of Terry Lockett Jr., Zyell Griffin, Markus Allen, and Max Reese — who all boast at least 100 yards in 2024. The biggest issue pressing the passing game is protection, as Eastern Michigan ranks bottom 10 in the country in sacks allowed, yielding 3.5 per contest. But sacks are better than turnovers, and Eastern Michigan avoids those exceptionally well, only committing one all year.
As improved as the Eastern Michigan offense is, defense remains the identity of the team, as usual under Creighton. The Eagles start strong defensively on a weekly basis and they’ve only allowed seven first quarter points all year — even posting a shutout in the first 15 minutes vs. Washington in Week 2. Showcasing the ability to stop the run is contributing to these strong starts as the unit only surrenders 123 rushing yards per game.
The pass rush is consistent, ranking in the top 10 of the FBS with 3.25 sacks per game — winning the defensive battle in the trenches quite frequently, despite losing the corresponding battle on offense. Justin Jefferson and Peyton Price are the ringleaders of the pass rush as both defensive linemen total three sacks individually in 2024.
The Eagles aren’t committing turnovers, but they need to generate more for themselves to establish greater separation from opponents. Eastern Michigan only recorded one interception and recovered two fumbles in the non-conference slate, and the Eagles need somebody from the secondary to step up as a ballhawk, especially if star cornerback Joshua Scott remains out with an injury.
Special teams is one area where Eastern Michigan can gain a considerable advantage. Kicker Jesus Gomez is among the best in the nation, tying for the FBS lead with 11 field goals on the year. Gomez won MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors three consecutive weeks, and he’ll look to sustain his long range success after sinking 5-of-6 field goals beyond 40 yards in non-conference play.
Kent State Golden Flashes outlook
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There are seven remaining winless FBS teams remaining and Kent State is looking to shed that undesirable label. Not much has gone right for the Golden Flashes this year. After playing Pittsburgh respectably well for two-and-a-half quarters in Week 1, everything came crashing down magnificently.
Kent State stumbled to a 17-0 deficit to FCS opponent St. Francis (PA) and wound up losing in a game which wasn’t as close as the 23-17 final score suggested. Then the Golden Flashes suffered consecutive shutouts — 71-0 to Tennessee (trailing by 65 at halftime) and 56-0 to Penn State. In those lopsided defeats, they allowed the Volunteers and Nittany Lions to set program records in yardage, as Tennessee out-gained Kent State 740-112 while Penn State produced a commanding 718-66 advantage.
To make things worse, the Golden Flashes are severely depleted. Last Saturday against Penn State, Kent State suffered two season-ending injuries at the quarterback position. Starter Devin Kargman injured his hip on the second snap of the game, got carted off the field, and has since undergone surgery. Backup JD Sherrod then tore his achilles in the second quarter, leaving the Golden Flashes extremely shorthanded at the most important position. Tommy Ulatowski, who started three games last November, was named the starter for the MAC opener and he’ll hope to jump-start a passing offense fifth-to-last in the country in yards per game.
Ulatowski produced Kent State’s season-highs in yardage (284) and touchdowns (3) in 2023, establishing strong connections with All-MAC receivers Luke Floriea and Chrishon McCray. Kent State wasn’t provided ample time to allow its receivers’ routes to develop in the past two weeks, but Floriea and McCray are proven stars when the circumstances are favorable in the pocket. Floriea totaled 196 receiving yards in the first two weeks of the year, while McCray posted 161 yards and two touchdowns last November vs. Akron with Ulatowski serving as the starter.
While the receiving corps remains in solid shape, Kent State’s injury bugs extends beyond quarterback. The Golden Flashes lost their top running back Gavin Garcia before the season and Curtis Douglas went down in the Tennessee game, and his status remains uncertain for Saturday. That leaves Ky Thomas and true freshmen Ayden Harris and Cade Wolford to lead the running back room on a unit which has started and played a slew of true freshmen already this year.
Overall, the offensive numbers need to drastically improve for Kent State to remain competitive. The Golden Flashes exhibit the worst rushing offense in the FBS at 53 yards per game on a 1.7 average, and their scoring offense checks in at second-to-last at 10.3 points per game. There were two promising facets of the unit from the shutouts though, as Kent State only allowed two combined sacks and committed zero turnovers in those games.
The defensive numbers are dreary as well. Kent State ranks last in scoring defense, giving up 51.3 points per game when nobody else in the FBS allows more than 45. The Golden Flashes yielded 55+ to all three FBS opponents on the non-conference schedule, and it’s been pick your poison on the ground or through the air. Kent State is 131st in passing defense and 134th in rushing defense, giving up 607.5 yards on average — 75 yards of separation from 133rd ranked Ball State.
Just like the offense, the defense suffered a multitude of early-season injuries. Returning tackles leader Nick Giacolone has yet to suit up, although he is expected to return in the near future. Free safety Alex Branch and cornerback X Cokley are among the other starters struggling to remain available due to injuries.
The defense did show promise vs. Penn State, only allowing seven points through the first 24 minutes of action before a Nittany Lion takeover. The defensive front led by defensive end Kameron Olds (3.0 sacks, 1 interception this season) and outside linebacker Rocco Nicholl (38 tackles, 2 pass breakups this season) was instrumental in holding Penn State scoreless on two of its first three drives.
Prediction
Kent State is essentially the worst offense and defense in the country. Although the Golden Flashes did no favors by losing to FCS program St. Francis (PA), part of those numbers are a result of their loaded schedule, featuring two undefeated top 10 squads in Tennessee and Penn State, as well as a 4-0 Pitt.
The Golden Flashes’ defense will improve in MAC play, and there were signs of the unit’s success early on in the Penn State game. Kent State features a viable defensive front which could cause enough havoc up front to stop a struggling Eastern Michigan run game. Offensively for Kent State, the passing game with the All-MAC receivers is the way to go as a shorthanded run game hasn’t shown the ability to pick up significant chunks on first and second down.
The Eagles can inflict plenty of damage with their aerial attack led by Cole Snyder and Oran Singleton. By not turning the ball over and playing sound defensively football, Eastern Michigan can win the field position battle and slowly pile on the points. And when the Eagles’ offensive drives aren’t completed, they have full faith in kicker Jesus Gomez to register points from anywhere inside 60 yards, which is a luxury for the offense.
Prediction: Eastern Michigan 26, Kent State 10