(3-2, 2-0 MAC) 
@ 
(3-2, 0-1 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
7:00 PM
Waldo Stadium (Kalamazoo, MI)
Local Broadcast
@ (3-2, 0-1 MAC)Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
7:00 PM
Waldo Stadium (Kalamazoo, MI)
Local Broadcast
Fanduel OddsKent State Golden Flashes +6.5 | o.48.5 | +135 ML
Western Michigan Broncos -6.5 | u48.5 | -160 ML
Injuries
QB Dru DeShields - Knee Cartilage Tear (Out)--
WR Baylin Brooks - Dislocated Hip (Out) WR Courtland Barnett - Achilles Tear (Out for season) SS Daeh McCullough - Upper Arm Fracture DoubtfulCoaching Staff
Head Coach: Mark Carney (2nd year with Kent State) Offensive Coordinator: Khalil Prince (1st year with Kent State) Defensive Coordinator: Cherokee Valeria (2nd year with Kent State)
Head Coach: Lance Taylor (4th year with Western Michigan) Offensive Coordinator: Walt Bell (3rd year with Western Michigan) Defensive Coordinator: Greer Martini (1st year with Western Michigan)Players To Watch
Bill Connelly, ESPN: It's going to be interesting to see Western Michigan's plan to how to stop the red-hot Wayne Harris. He has been quarterback Deante Ruffin's go-to target since taking over the starting job and is coming off being the MAC Offensive Player of the Week. Not to mention running back Mason King running wild as the team's feature back. Broncos running back Jalen Buckley has been dominant so far this season with 472 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards a carry. He's fresh off going for 117 and a score against Buffalo in a loss last week. Senior cornerback Joshua Franklin will have his hands full taking on the receiving trio of Kent State, but he already has an interception on the season.
Schedules & Results
| Week | Opponent | Results | Week | Opponent | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | OFF | -- | 0 | OFF | -- |
| 1 | at  South Carolina |
L 34-13 | 1 | at  #7 Michigan |
L 21-10 |
| 2 | vs  Wofford College |
W 52-10 | 2 | vs  Monmouth |
W 36-25 |
| 3 | at  #1 Ohio State |
L 37-15 | 3 | at  Rice |
W 52-31 |
| 4 | vs  Ball State |
W 34-13 | 4 | vs  Boise State |
W 28-17 |
| 5 | vs  Ohio |
W 38-22 | 5 | at  Buffalo |
L 34-27 |
| 6 | at Western Michigan |
-- | 6 | vs  Kent State |
-- |
| 7 | at  South Florida |
-- | 7 | at  Central Michigan |
-- |
| 8 | vs  Akron |
-- | 8 | at  Toledo |
-- |
| 9 | at  Sacramento State |
-- | 9 | vs  Bowling Green |
-- |
| 10 | OFF | -- | 10 | OFF | -- |
| 11 | at  Bowling Green |
-- | 11 | at  Akron |
-- |
| 12 | vs  Miami (OH) |
-- | 12 | vs  Eastern Michigan |
-- |
| 13 | at  Eastern Michigan |
-- | 13 | vs  Miami (OH) |
-- |
| 14 | OFF | -- | 14 | OFF | -- |
Experts Evaluations
Tom Fornelli, Writer: "One of the last tough games for Kent State on the season, at least with the way their offense has been slicing through the MAC so far this season. Their defense is going to have to really show up against a stud like Jalen Buckley at running back to keep this from becoming a shootout. Deante Ruffin needs to take better care of his turnovers. He's thrown an interception every game he's started so far. I think Kent State pulls the 'upset' and takes this one."
Richard Johnson, Writer: "Going to be one of the harder games for Kent State this season. If they win at the line of scrimmage and get their run game going, I don't see how Western Michigan can compete. If the Broncos get home early and often on their pass rush and keeps Ruffin on his toes? Different story. I think Western Michigan comes out on top in a close one."
Chris Hummer, 247Sports Writer: "This is going to be a tight one. Deante Ruffin is going to either make or a break this game. I'm going with break. Western Michigan by an inch."
