Football Schedule Features Four ESPN Games in November
2/28/2014 9:34:00 AM | Football
Kent State was given even more reason to anticipate the start of the 2014 season, when the Mid-American Conference released its schedule on Friday. Right out of the gate, the Golden Flashes will host MAC East rival Ohio on Saturday, Aug. 30.
"When you add the element of a MAC East opponent to our opener, it raises the stakes even more," Head Coach Paul Haynes said.  "Everyone goes in with the goal of winning the conference. And there's no room for error at the very start. Emotions are going to be running high. You've got two teams that just played each other at the end of the season. And that one's always fresh in your mind."
In the month of November, Kent State will get as much national exposure as any team. All four of its games will be weeknight conference contests on an ESPN affiliate.
"We're super excited that ESPN and the MAC got the whole month on TV," Haynes said. "As I talk to a lot of alums from out-of-state…the one thing they always mention is that they saw our last two games (in 2013). Now they'll be able to see the last four. It's huge for all of our alumni and supporters around the country."
Closing out that four-game span and the regular season, Kent State will host archrival Akron the Tuesday (Nov. 25) before Thanksgiving.Â
"Those games make themselves because of the rivalry, and to have it at the end of the year can put even more excitement on it," Haynes said of the potential of postseason implications. "Now we're also a part of something special with college football with it being rivalry week."
On Saturday, Oct. 18, Kent State will celebrate its homecoming against Army.
"It's awesome any time you get a chance to play one of the service academies," Haynes said. "We're honored to have them come to Dix Stadium. And to have them on Homecoming, it just raises the excitement of the game. It'll be a fun day for our players and our fans."
The Golden Flashes could also benefit from timely bye weeks. Following its first three games, Kent State will have an extra week to prepare for its Sept. 27 contest at Virginia. After their eighth game of the season at Miami, the Flashes will have 10 days before hosting Toledo.
The MAC will have 14 midweek nationally televised games during the month of November. The 17th Marathon MAC Football Championship game will follow on Friday, Dec. 5 at Ford Field in Detroit on ESPN2. An updated release of the MAC 2014 football schedule will be released later this spring with kick times and a full television schedule.Â
Kent State's 2014 football season tickets are expected to go on sale soon.
"When you add the element of a MAC East opponent to our opener, it raises the stakes even more," Head Coach Paul Haynes said.  "Everyone goes in with the goal of winning the conference. And there's no room for error at the very start. Emotions are going to be running high. You've got two teams that just played each other at the end of the season. And that one's always fresh in your mind."
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time/TV |
| Aug. 30 | Ohio | Dix Stadium | TBA |
| Sept. 6 | South Alabama | Dix Stadium | TBA |
| Sept. 13 | Ohio State | Columbus, Ohio | TBA |
| Sept. 27 | Virginia | Charlottesville, Va. | TBA |
| Oct. 4 | Northern Illinois | DeKalb, Ill. | TBA |
| Oct. 11 | UMass | Dix Stadium      | TBA |
| Oct. 18 | Army | Dix Stadium | TBA |
| Oct. 25 | Miami (OH) | Oxford, Ohio | TBA |
| Nov. 4 | Toledo | Dix Stadium | 8 pm ET/ESPN2, ESPNU |
| Nov. 12 | Bowling Green | Bowling Green, Ohio | 8 pm ET/ESPN2, ESPNU |
| Nov. 19 | Buffalo | Buffalo, N.Y. | 8 pm ET/ESPN2, ESPNU |
| Nov. 25 | Akron | Dix Stadium | 7 pm ET/ESPN2, ESPN3 |
In the month of November, Kent State will get as much national exposure as any team. All four of its games will be weeknight conference contests on an ESPN affiliate.
"We're super excited that ESPN and the MAC got the whole month on TV," Haynes said. "As I talk to a lot of alums from out-of-state…the one thing they always mention is that they saw our last two games (in 2013). Now they'll be able to see the last four. It's huge for all of our alumni and supporters around the country."
Closing out that four-game span and the regular season, Kent State will host archrival Akron the Tuesday (Nov. 25) before Thanksgiving.Â
"Those games make themselves because of the rivalry, and to have it at the end of the year can put even more excitement on it," Haynes said of the potential of postseason implications. "Now we're also a part of something special with college football with it being rivalry week."
On Saturday, Oct. 18, Kent State will celebrate its homecoming against Army.
"It's awesome any time you get a chance to play one of the service academies," Haynes said. "We're honored to have them come to Dix Stadium. And to have them on Homecoming, it just raises the excitement of the game. It'll be a fun day for our players and our fans."
The Golden Flashes could also benefit from timely bye weeks. Following its first three games, Kent State will have an extra week to prepare for its Sept. 27 contest at Virginia. After their eighth game of the season at Miami, the Flashes will have 10 days before hosting Toledo.
The MAC will have 14 midweek nationally televised games during the month of November. The 17th Marathon MAC Football Championship game will follow on Friday, Dec. 5 at Ford Field in Detroit on ESPN2. An updated release of the MAC 2014 football schedule will be released later this spring with kick times and a full television schedule.Â
Kent State's 2014 football season tickets are expected to go on sale soon.
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