You’d be forgiven for not considering this game as one which had the potential for impact when looking at the 2025 MAC slate back in August. Kent State and Central Michigan were expected to finish 13th and ninth in the MAC respectively by the preseason coaches poll, after all.
The Golden Flashes found themselves under their third coach in four years after Kenni Burns’ for-cause firing mere weeks before kickoff. The Chippewas, meanwhile, would be in the first year of a new head coach after the retirement
of Jim McElwain, with a cultural and philosophical reset all but assured.
Fast forward to now, and Kent State— under new full-time coach Mark Carney— are 4-6 (3-3 MAC) with a chance at the postseason if they win out, while Central (6-4, 4-2 MAC) has already secured a postseason bid and now have their eyes on a trip to the MAC title game for the first time since 2019.
It’s all to play for under the weeknight lights at Dix Stadium on Wednesday.
Game notes
- Time and date: Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 at 7 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio
- TV network options: The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU; a valid subscription is required for viewing.
- Radio options: Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and Brock Gutierrez (color) will provide the CMU call for WUPS-FM 98.5; Dane Richardson (play-by-play) and Rob Polinsky (color) will provide the Kent State call for Fox Sports Radio 1350 AM The Gambler.
- Gambling considerations: Central is listed as a 8.5-point road favorite, with an over/under 50.5, per FanDuel.
- All-Time Series: Central leads the all-time series 25-11 in 36 games all-time, with the Chippewas holding a two-game win streak thanks to wins in 2017 and 2021. The two were formerly in separate divisions, and this will be the first time they meet post-change.
About the Kent State Golden Flashes
Headlines over the summer had more or less buried the Flashes before they even had a chance to show what they were capable of. KSU had not only won two games over the previous two years, with no wins against FBS competition in 2024, but now had to contend with a brush-fire coaching staff change right before the start of 2025.
For Kent State to have made it this far with the sheer amount of adversity they faced before a ball had even touched the field is nothing short of a miracle.
Credit goes to newly-minted head coach Mark Carney, offensive coordinator Clay Patterson, defensive coordinator Cherokee Valeria and special teams coordinator CJ Conrad for stepping up when asked to do so and not giving up on a roster many— including those in the community— had considered a non-starter at the Division I level.
Kent State hasn’t been remarkable as far as statistics go, sitting 10th in the MAC in total offense (282 yards per game) and 13th in total defense (449.8 yards allowed per game)— but their scoring numbers since the start of conference play have been remarkable. They sit fourth in the MAC in scoring offense (26.5 points per game) and rise from dead last to 10th in scoring defense (25.8). The Flashes have increased both their ability to score (6.1 point increase in MAC play) and ability to stop teams from scoring (8.6 point decrease in MAC play), allowing them to stay close to their peer competition.
The Flashes are capable of tossing haymakers on offense, with several 75+ yard touchdowns on the record in 2025. When they want to stretch the field vertically, they’re more than capable, with Cade Wolford (17 receptions, 449 yards, seven touchdowns) the main scoring threat. Da’Realyst Clark, who has two special teams touchdowns and a 70-yard receiving score of his own, will almost assuredly find his way into the gameplan as well against a very senior secondary, averaging a remarkable 36 yards per catch.
Dru DeShields has emerged as one of the MAC’s best quarterbacks in 2025 after starting on the season on the bench behind CJ Montes. Since taking over for Montes after the former’s injury, DeShields has passed for 1,638 yards and 16 touchdowns on 58 percent completion, getting intercepted only twice.
Kent State has a serviceable run game which depends on having DeShields as a defensive target. DeShields has 104 yards and two rushing scores this season, and his legs have been able to generate downfield passing plays as well. Gavin Garcia is the team’s leading rusher, with 419 yards and two scores on 107 carries.
The defense has performed decently despite being near the bottom of the MAC in turnovers caused, redzone defense and first-down/third-down conversions. Where the team has especially excelled is on fourth-down, coming in at #1 in the MAC with opponents converting on just 5-of-16 opportunities.
Linebacker Mason Woods (82 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, interception, three PBUs, forced fumble) has been the leader of the unit, with battery mate CJ Young (77 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, two sacks, fumble recovery) right behind. EDGE rusher Jamond Mathis is the other name to know in the front seven, with an effective 7.5 TFLs, a team-leading six sacks and sixQB hurries. Jaire Rawlison leads the secondary with six pass break-ups.
About the Central Michigan Chippewas
The Flashes will meet their stylistic opposite in the re-kindled Central Michigan Chippewas, who are under the direction of first-year head coach Matt Drinkall. The former Army offensive coordinator and offensive line coach has brought a lot of those same principles to Mt. Pleasant— though it’s not a option offense in the purest sense.
CMU runs the ball at the highest rate of any non-service academy, keeping the ball on the ground on nearly 73 percent of their plays. They sit third in the MAC in rushing offense as a result, averaging 177.3 yards per game. They also mix in pro-style and pistol passing concepts to balance the offense out, often looking for intermediate and deep passes— a concept they showed off well last week against Buffalo. The amount of passes have jumped recently, with Joe Labas passing for a season-high 247 passing yards on 18-of-24 attempts in his last outing.
The Chippewas rely on a trio of rushers to carry the brunt of the offensive load. Nahree Biggins is the power back, with 436 yards on 85 carries, scoring twice. Brock Townsend has emerged as the secondary back in recent weeks, with a to-date stat line of 299 yards and two touchdowns on 55 carries. Tulane transfer Trey Cornist (79 carries, 361 yards, touchdown) also figures into the rushing attack.
There is intrigue as to whether or not change-of-pace quarterback Angel Flores returns after suffering an injury a few weeks back. Flores leads the Chips in overall rushing, with 103 carries, 519 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games, and also has a great arm, with 195 yards and two scores on 18-of-27 attempts.
Labas will play regardless of Flores’ condition as the “primary” signalcaller, with 1,313 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions on 72 percent completion.
The receiving game is a week-to-week operation, but Langston Lewis (27 receptions, 413 yards, three scores) and Tommy McIntosh (19 rec., 310 yards, two TDs) have emerged as Labas’ most-preferred options thanks to their big play ability. Watch for Brock Townsend out of the backfield as well, as he has three touchdowns and 137 yards on 13 catches.
CMU’s defense is night-and-day from the unit which took the field in 2024, going from the MAC’s worst at generating turnovers to the standard-bearer. Last week against Buffalo, the Chippewas scored two defensive touchdowns for the first time in a game since 2006, and caused five overall turnovers to extend their season total number to 18 (12 interceptions, six fumble recoveries.)
They also excel at redzone defense, sitting tied for third in the MAC with Ohio at 77.1 percent opposing conversions from the 20-yard line and in.
EDGE rusher Michael Heldman earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his part in helping CMU tame the Bulls at home, finishing with a statline of two sacks, two pass break-ups and two QB hurries. On the season, he leads the Chips with 10.5 sacks and 7.5 TFLs through 10 games.
Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowsi finally got his moment to shine under the weeknight spotlight as well, scoring a defensive touchdown on his third such return attempt in 2025. The all-MAC contender sits at a team-leading 82 tackles, six TFLs, four pass break-ups, three interceptions, a forced fumble and three QB hurries.
Jaion Jackson has emerged as one of the MAC’s premier man-cover cornerbacks and has an interception and five pass break-ups on the season. He works alongside Cincinnati transfer Kalen Carroll, who has 41 tackles, an interception and four PBUs.
Final Thoughts
This is a statement game for both sides.
Kent State and Central Michigan must both win out to achieve their dreams. For the Flashes, that’s making a bowl game for the first time in four years. For the Chippewas, that’s a chance at making the MAC title game in Detroit for the first time in six years.
Unfortunately, there are no ties in college football, and nothing short of victory will help advance the agenda. It is win or die.
Both teams surpassing the expectations set for them and having the opportunity to face one another to continue their forward momentum is on the of the best parts of the job being able to cover both programs. We’re looking at a game which could very well decide the conference’s Coach of the Year.
We should get the best of both teams when the game kicks off, featuring a lovely clash of styles that the MAC is known for, with a lot at stake from start-to-finish.
This is a must-watch for fans of grassroots football.
