Preview: Miami football takes on Kent State in another midweek conference matchup

The Miami University RedHawks (5-4, 4-1 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play) football team stays at Yager Stadium this Wednesday, Nov. 13, against the Kent State University Golden Flashes (0-9, 0-5 in MAC play) in its sixth conference showdown.

After starting the season with three consecutive losses, the RedHawks have won five of their last six games, including four straight victories. The team that averaged 13 points per game at the start of the season now averages 35.3 points per game in its last four matchups.

During that stretch, senior running back Keyon Mozee eclipsed over 100 yards rushing in every game. Sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert has thrown for 11 touchdowns, five of which went to junior receiver Reggie Virgil, with no interceptions.

Three different Miami receivers have over 500 yards receiving for the first time since 2016. Virgil, redshirt senior Cade McDonald and redshirt sophomore Javon Tracy make up three of the MAC’s top 20 receivers in touchdowns and receiving yards.

Miami’s defense has also rounded into form, allowing 15.5 points per game during the RedHawks’ winning streak. Sixth-year linebacker Matt Salopek recorded two interceptions and averaged almost nine tackles a game, while senior defensive lineman Brian Ugwu has three of his four sacks in that four-game stretch.

While the RedHawks are humming towards the end of this season, Kent State looks to score one of the biggest upsets of the season as 30-point underdogs. The Golden Flashes have gone winless in 2024.

In their non-conference slate, the Golden Flashes suffered defeats to the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the St. Francis University Red Flash, a 71-0 drubbing by the University of Tennessee Volunteers, and a 56-0 shutout to Penn State University Nittany Lions.

In the MAC, Kent State nearly rebounded from a loss to the Eastern Michigan University Eagles (5-4, 2-3 in MAC play) but fell short 37-35 against the Ball State University Cardinals (3-6, 2-3 in MAC play).

The Bowling Green State University Falcons (5-4, 4-1 in MAC play) handed the Golden Flashes a 27-6 loss, and the Western Michigan University Broncos (5-4, 4-1 in MAC play) and the Ohio University Bobcats (6-3, 4-1 in MAC play) handed them back-to-back defeats of 52-21 and 41-0.

Kent State’s offense is led by graduate student receiver Luke Floriea and redshirt sophomore receiver Chrishon McCray, both of whom have over 500 yards this season.

Four quarterbacks have thrown passes this season. The two primary quarterbacks, Tommy Ulatowski and Devin Kargman, combined for 1,372 passing yards and 14 touchdowns, 11 of which were from Ulatowski.

According to ESPN, Kent State fields the worst offense in college football, averaging 235.7 yards per game.

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On defense, the team has averaged 46 points allowed per game and 526.6 total yards allowed per game, the most of any team in college football.

A bright spot for the Golden Flashes has been junior defensive end Kameron Olds, who has a team-leading six sacks to put him second in the MAC behind edge-rusher Kobe Stewart of Buffalo.

The RedHawks are looking for their fifth-straight win, but they shouldn’t underestimate Kent State. The Northern Illinois University’s upset over Western Michigan last week proves that midweek MACtion can upend any expectations.

A win this week pushes Miami one game closer to the MAC championship, giving it a chance to make program history with back-to-back conference titles. Their final two-game stretch includes the last home game against Northern Illinois and a post-Thanksgiving road trip to Bowling Green.

Before that can happen, Miami faces Kent State at Yager Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 13.

wiesemsm@miamioh.edu