College Football Preview: Kent State at Miami

Who: Kent State (2-4, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) at Miami (0-6, 0-2 MAC).

When: 2:30 p.m.

Where: Yager Stadium (24,000), Oxford.

Series notes: Miami leads, 47-16, including 24-7 in Oxford. The Golden Flashes won, 20-14, at Kent State last season, their third win in the last four games.

Stat pack: Kent State – QB Nick Holley 26-48, 374 yards passing, 2 TDs, 0 int.; Holley 388 yards rushing, 5.5 average; RB Justin Rankin 19 catches, 271 yards, 1 TD; S Nate Holley 86 tackles, 57 solo; Miami – QB Noah Wezensky 28-53, 307 yards passing, 2 TDs, 2 int.; RB Alonzo Smith 354 yards rushing, 3.9 average, 1 TD; WR James Gardner 23 catches, 405 yards, 5 TDs; S Tony Reid 44 tackles, 23 solo.

Local flavor: So. S Matt Bahr, Kenton; Sr. TE Brice Fickler, Kenton; Jr. RB Miles Hibbler, Troy; So. DL Davonte James, Springfield; Sr. K Brad Miller, Valley View; Jr. LB Marques Moore, Springfield;

The facts: After winning last Saturday at Buffalo, 44-20, Kent State is hoping for its first set of back-to-back road wins since 2012.

Coveted number: Kent State sophomore offensive lineman Stefano Millin was chosen by teammates to wear uniform number 54. Each season, a Golden Flashes offensive lineman is chosen to wear the number, which honors the late Jason Bitsko, a former Wayne High School standout who was Kent State's projected starting center in 2014 before he suddenly passed away overnight due to an enlarged heart during preseason camp.

Calendar update: Kickoff for the RedHawks' game at Bowling Green on Oct. 22 has been scheduled for noon.

Efficient: Besides not committing a turnover in the last two games, the Golden Flashes avoided being whistled for a penalty in their 48-0 loss at No. 1 Alabama on September 24. That was the first time since the 2012 MAC Championship game that Kent State did not draw a penalty flag.

Grounded: Kent State ranks last in the MAC in passing offense with an average of 146.2 yards per game.

Quote: Kent State coach Paul Haynes on the Golden Flashes' dominant 44-20 win at Buffalo: "Their confidence kind of went through the roof. We've still got a long way to go in finishing games and closing out games. We talked about, no matter what, don't look at the scoreboard. It doesn't matter what the score is. We have to play the game the right way."

About the Author