SB Nation • 16 min read

Staff Predictions: No. 7 Florida State Seminoles vs. Kent State Golden Flashes

Florida State will host Kent State (1-2, 0-1 MAC) at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, for its third straight home game to open the 2025 season. The Seminoles are coming off a bye week after defeating East Texas A&M 77-3, which matched the largest margin of victory in program history. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and will be televised on the ACCN. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.

This week, Florida State (2-0, 0-0 ACC) saw its AP rank improve from 10th to its current

7th-place ranking despite being out of action. This 7th-place ranking is the highest in the Week Three AP poll for a team that was unranked in the preseason since the AP began ranking 25 teams in 1989. FSU is only the fourth preseason unranked team to reach the top 10 in the Week Three rankings in the AP’s top-25 era.

In their 3 games, Kent State’s 128th-ranked defense has given up a total of 1392 yards or 464 yards per game, and 6.5 yards per play, against Merrimack (W-21-17), Texas Tech (L-62-14), and Buffalo (L-31-28).

On offense, expect Dru DeShields to start at quarterback for Kent State following his first career start vs. Buffalo when he threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns. DeShields also ran for 37 yards and one touchdown in the tough 31-28 MAC opening loss. Wide receiver Cade Wolford has caught four touchdowns on just seven receptions and leads the nation in yards per reception (31.9).

For the recruitniks, Tallahassee native and former FSU High athlete DJ Barnes (#19), who is listed on the Kent State depth chart as a free safety, has forced a fumble and should get to see some action in Doak.

According to FanDuel, FSU is a 45.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 56.5 points.

As we await the kickoff, enjoy these highlights from the Noles dominating win over East Texas A&M.

Read what your TOMAHAWK NATION PROGNOSTICATORS think about this Saturday’s showdown.
Then look over and digest all the FREE PRE-GAME CONTENT we’ve posted leading up to this game.
We would love to hear your thoughts about how you feel about this game and your final score prediction in the comments.

Matt Minnick (season record: 1-1; 1-1 ATS)

I assumed the ETAM game would have a bit of a letdown and, well, you know what they say about assumptions. Duce, Earl, and company dispelled that notion in a hurry. I predicted FSU would lead by 35 early in the third, but instead it was 35-0 with over 11 minutes left in the second. At least I nailed four different players scoring a rushing touchdown.

I don’t expect Kent State to be quite the same level of drubbing. The Seminoles travel to Charlottesville just 5 days later, and Mike will want guys fresh for the ACC Opener. Nonetheless, FSU’s stable of running backs (plus Danzy) is so deep that four different guys score a rushing TD for the third straight game.

FSU 59, Kent State 10

Jordan Silversmith (season record: 1-1)

All signs point to another dominant Florida State win before the conference schedule begins. The Seminoles are coming off a bye, allowing the team to get healthier while continuing to learn and understand their new schemes.

Mike Norvell expects WR Lawayne McCoy to make his 2025 debut on Saturday and has yet to rule out fellow wideout Squirrel White. FSU should also be motivated to run up the scoreboard and pull their top players off the field as quickly as possible, with a short week looming against a capable Virginia team on the road.

As far as the opponent, the Golden Flashes are just not very good. Kent State surprisingly played Buffalo tough last week, but was waxed the week prior by Texas Tech and barely held on against FCS Merrimack in week one. The Seminoles close out the early portion of their non-conference slate with a win and a cover.

FSU 49, Kent State 10

NoleThruandThru (season record: 1—1)

Starters should get some good reps initially, but start pulling them in the second quarter to remain healthy. Focus on your depth players getting quality reps to see who’s ready to contribute against better opponents. It would also be lovely to see some actual success in the return game….

FSU 55, Kent State 3

Tim Scribble (season record: 1—1)

It almost feels like a copy and paste from the ETU game. FSU should win by a lot. It was great seeing FSU not play down to a lesser team last week. The Seminoles will need the same level of execution to continue showing off their growth.

FSU 52, Kent St 3

Jon Marchant (season record: 1-1)

One final tune-up before making a run at the ACC title game. I wanna see the same fire as before and get out without any major injuries.

FSU 52, Kent State 3

Frank DeÑole (season record: 2-0)

I’m hoping FSU does not start slow and look rusty due to the bye. But in the event they do, they should have control of this game by the end of the first half.

I think we’ll see most of the 2nd and 3rd-string players get some MACtion, but I’m not sure we will top the 90 players who played in the last game against ETAM, which was the second highest in FSU history, against the better Kent State team. I will be surprised if we are not in garbage time by the middle of the third quarter.

The most important thing we can get out of this game is to not have any major or key injuries with the short week ahead before starting their ACC Championship run.

FSU Seminoles 58, Kent State 17

Perry Kostidakis (season record: 1-1, 2-0 ATS)

The mission is the same as FSU’s last time out on the field — score a bunch of points quickly, stay healthy, get the young guns and walk-ons in as soon as possible.

I’m going to make the one prediction that could possibly stand out this week: I think FSU finally gets its long-awaited shutout.

FSU 54, Kent State 0