You’ve probably seen the headlines or caught a glimpse of the ticker during a random Tuesday night in November. If you’re looking for the latest kent state football score, you're likely seeing a team that looks drastically different from the winless group that struggled through the 2024 season. Honestly, the turnaround in Kent, Ohio, is one of those sports stories that makes you remember why we watch college football in the first place.
Last season was rough. There’s no other way to put it. Going 0-12 is a special kind of pain for a fan base. But fast forward to the 2025 season that just wrapped up, and the kent state football score finally started reflecting a program with some actual life in its lungs. Under the guidance of Mark Carney—who stepped in as the interim and eventually took the full-time reins—the Golden Flashes managed to scratch and claw their way to a 5-7 record.
Five wins. After zero. That's huge.
Breaking Down the 2025 Kent State Football Score Trends
What really changed? It wasn't just luck. If you look at the kent state football score from the season finale on November 28, 2025, you’ll see a 35-31 victory over Northern Illinois. That game was a microcosm of their entire year. They weren't blowing people out—unless you count that 42-6 demolition of UMass in October—but they were staying in games that they used to lose by thirty points.
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Take the Wagon Wheel rivalry against Akron on November 11. That was a wild one. The final kent state football score ended up 42-35 in overtime. It was messy, it was stressful, and it was exactly the kind of "Maction" people live for. Quarterback Dru DeShields, who really found his rhythm late in the season, threw for 317 yards and five touchdowns in that game alone.
It’s easy to focus on the wins, but the losses tell a story too. Early in the year, the kent state football score against big-time programs like Texas Tech (14-62) and Florida State (10-66) showed there was still a massive gap between the MAC and the Power Four. But even in a 0-44 shutout against Oklahoma, the defense showed flashes of a new identity. They weren't just rolling over anymore.
The Impact of the 2025 Schedule
If you're checking the kent state football score history for 2025, here's how the most pivotal games shook out:
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- The Season Opener: A tight 21-17 win over Merrimack. It wasn't pretty, but it snapped a 21-game losing streak. You could practically hear the collective sigh of relief from Dix Stadium.
- The UMass Statement: 42-6. This was the first time in years Kent State looked like the clearly superior team on the field.
- The Bowling Green Nail-biter: A 24-21 victory on October 25. This was a classic "gut-check" win where the defense held firm in the fourth quarter.
- The Rivalry Win: 42-35 (OT) over Akron. Keeping the Wagon Wheel in Kent is always the season's secondary goal.
Why the Scoreboard Finally Moved
Basically, the offense stopped being a liability. In 2024, they were dead last in almost every meaningful category. In 2025, they averaged 21.2 points per game. Not world-breaking, but enough to win games when your defense decides to show up. Delrecco Gillespie, while primarily known for his basketball exploits at Kent State, has become a name synonymous with the school's recent athletic resurgence, and that "winning culture" definitely bled over to the football field this past fall.
The spread option scheme run by offensive coordinator Clay Patterson finally started clicking because the offensive line—led by veteran Dustyn Morell—actually gave DeShields time to breathe. You can't post a decent kent state football score if your quarterback is running for his life every third down.
What’s Next for the Golden Flashes?
So, where do we go from here? The 2025 season is in the books, and a 5-7 record (4-4 in the MAC) means they just missed out on bowl eligibility. But for a team that was the literal basement of FBS football a year ago, this is a massive foundation.
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If you’re tracking the kent state football score heading into 2026, keep an eye on the transfer portal. The secondary is still young. They gave up over 400 points this season, which is... not great. They need a few lockdown corners if they want to turn those 5 wins into 8 or 9.
The schedule for 2026 is already looking tough, with a season opener against South Carolina. That will be a brutal test, but this team has proven they can take a punch.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- Watch the Home/Away Splits: Kent State was significantly better at Dix Stadium this year. If you’re looking at a kent state football score for a future home game, don’t count them out even against "better" MAC opponents.
- Monitor the Over/Under: Because their defense is still a bit of a sieve but their offense can now score, Kent State games are becoming high-scoring affairs. The Akron and Northern Illinois games both flew over the total.
- Follow the Recruiting Trail: Mark Carney has proven he can coach with the roster he inherited. Now, we see what he can do with a full recruiting cycle.
Keep your eyes on the box scores. The days of Kent State being a guaranteed "easy win" for the rest of the conference are officially over. Whether it's a Tuesday night blowout or a Saturday afternoon stunner, this program is finally moving the needle again.
To stay updated on the most recent developments, you can check the official athletic site or major sports tickers for the live kent state football score during the upcoming 2026 season.