The Anniversary Award is once again on the line, as the Bowling Green Falcons (3-4, 1-2 MAC) make the trek to Dix Stadium to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes (2-5, 1-2 MAC).
When these two teams met
around this time last year, both programs were coming off a loss. The Falcons were coming off a disappointing showing against NIU the week prior, while Kent State fell short of a comeback at Ball State.
Fortunately for BGSU, Connor Bazelak’s 313 passing yards would lead them to glory, securing a 27-6 victory to start a five-game win streak which would propel them into postseason contention. Kent State dropped to 0-7, and would infamously finish 0-12 to finish out the year.
You’d be excused for getting a sense of deja vu walking into this matchup; both BGSU and Kent State lost their last time out, with the Falcons losing to Central Michigan at home 27-6, while Kent State lost to Toledo on the road 45-10.
BGSU hopes to keep their winning ways going for a chance at the postseason under first-year head coach Eddie George, while Kent State, led by interim coach Mark Carney, wants to reach three wins for the first time since 2022.
Game Notes
- Time and Date: Saturday, October 18th, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio
- Gambling considerations: Bowling Green (-7.5), over/under 48.5 per FanDuel.
- Viewing options: ESPN+. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Anthony Lima (play-by-play) and Doc Holliday (color) will provide commentary
- Radio options: For Bowling Green, Eagle FM 99 will broadcast with Todd Walker (play-by-play) and John Gibson (color) providing commentary. For Kent State, Dane Richardson (play-by-play), Rob Polinsky (color), and Andrea Filote (sideline) provide the call for Fox Sports 1350
- All time series: Bowling Green leads the all-time series by a margin of 62-24-6. BG holds a two-game winning streak.
About the Bowling Green Falcons
Last week against Central Michigan, the Falcons put up only six points in a game— an ignominious mark last seen back in 2023. It was certainly disappointing for them to follow up a miraculous comeback with a let-down game, but they can’t afford to get caught up in what if. They are entering a stretch where four of their last five opponents are in the bottom five spots of the MAC. If there was a time for Bowling Green to make a move, it starts this week.
Lucian Anderson finished last week with 153 passing yards, 53 rushing yards and two interceptions. You could tell he felt more comfortable throwing the ball, but circumstances made the results unlucky. Drew Pyne is still day-to-day, so it seems as if Anderson will be in line for another start. RJ Garcia leads the team with 227 rushing yards, and Jyrin Johnson follows with 225 yards and one touchdown. Bowling Green has capable receivers, the key is to get the ball to them.
The Falcons ran the ball pretty well last week. They finished with 157 yards on the ground. Anderson was the leading rusher with 53 yards. Pettaway finished with 48 yards. The run game is what Bowling Green would like to make their calling card down the line— but there is the sense at times they are leaning on it a bit too much due to struggles at quarterback.
Defensively, the Falcons were frustrated with the fact that the Chippewas ran the ball for all but five plays (and still couldn’t stop them). Despite this, the Falcons still only allowed 276 total yards, which was second-best last week in the MAC. Unfortunately it came at a price: CMU scored effectively, including twice off of turnovers, to put up 27 points on such low yardage.
It was easy to tell that the defense was fatigued; Kent State will look to expose BG’s vulnerabilities by stretching the secondary out on long passes. If the Falcons can keep receivers in front of them, it should work out for the better, as the KSU run game is a work-in-progress.
About the Kent State Golden Flashes
Kent State has had a roller coaster six months.
Former coach Kenni Burns gets fired for cause week before the season, then Mark Carney is named interim head coach. They win against FCS Merrimack to shake a few monkeys off their back, took some hard losses in buy games, then grabbed their first FBS win since 2022 in blowout fashion against UMass. Despite some of the lopsided scores, the Flashes are playing with a lot of heart.
Dru DeShields has been the leading passer for Kent State after claiming the job from Week 1 starter CJ Montes. DeShields sits at 949 passing yards and 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions, averaging 158.2 yards/game and 56.9 percent completion. He’ll need to be accurate to avoid a Falcon defense that could jump on any mistake he makes. Receiver Cade Wolford is the leading receiver on the team with 329 yards and five touchdowns. His big play threat is undeniable, with several 70+ yard scoring receptions on record.
Gavin Garcia leads the team in rushing with 268 yards. The team as a whole ranks 12th in the MAC in both total rushing yards (579) and rushing yards per game (82.7). This is a struggling part of the offense that hopes to have a breakout game this week.
Defensively, the Flashes rank in the MAC’s basement of most major categories. Jamond Mathis leads the team with three sacks, and four players each have one interception. A struggling Falcon offense may be what the Flashes need to move forward.
What Each Team Needs
Bowling Green knows they put up a nightmare performance last week. They need to play inspired this week to get back on track. This means cutting down on the penalties. They had 15 penalties for 125 yards. If they can avoid frustration, they’ll be in good shape.
Kent State has nothing to lose. They’ll look to play aggressive football and pull off an upset against a Falcon team searching for answers.
