Kent State University
University of Oklahoma
Golden Flashes travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to take on #5 Sooners
10/3/2025 12:28:00β―PM | Football
Game Preview
Date:Β Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time:Β 4:00 p.m. ET
Location:Β Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Records:Β Kent State (1-3, 0-1 MAC) vs. Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
The Challenge Ahead
The Kent State Golden Flashes face their most daunting test of the season as they travel to Norman to take on the fifth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday afternoon. The Flashes are looking to snap a three-game losing streak against a perfect Oklahoma squad that has steamrolled through its first four opponents.
This marks just the second meeting between these programs, with Oklahoma claiming a 33-3 victory in their previous encounter in 2022.Β
Kent State's Season So Far
Kent State opened the season defeating Merrimack 21-17 at home, but has since dropped three consecutive contests. After a 62-14 loss at Texas Tech, the Flashes fell 31-28 to Buffalo in their MAC opener before suffering a 66-10 defeat at Florida State.
The offense has struggled to find consistency, averaging 18.3 points and 290.5 yards per game. QuarterbackΒ Dru DeShieldsΒ has been the bright spot, completing 58.7% of his passes for 642 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception. His favorite target has beenΒ Cade Wolford, who leads the team with nine receptions for 238 yards and four touchdowns.
Β Gavin GarciaΒ has carried the load on the ground with 175 yards on 59 attempts. Garcia enters the game 70 yards away from 1,000 career rushing yards.Β
Defensively, Kent State has surrendered 44 points per game and ranks near the bottom nationally in total defense and scoring defense.Β Mason WoodsΒ leads the team with 28 tackles, whileΒ CJ YoungΒ has contributed 24 stops and one of the team's two interceptions.
The Oklahoma Juggernaut
The Sooners have been dominant this season, outscoring opponents 125-36 while posting wins over Illinois State, Michigan, Temple, and Auburn. Oklahoma's defense has been imposing, allowing just nine points per game while ranking first nationally in third-down defense (17.9%) and second in total defense (207.5 yards per game).
QuarterbackΒ John MateerΒ has orchestrated the offense brilliantly, throwing for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns while adding five rushing scores, but he will miss this game due to an injury sustained vs. Auburn. Backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. will make his first start of the season. He's supported by a trio of dangerous receivers inΒ Jaren KanakΒ (307 yards),Β Isaiah Sategna IIIΒ (284 yards), andΒ Deion BurksΒ (265 yards, two TDs). Running backΒ Tory BlaylockΒ has rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns.
The Oklahoma defense is led byΒ Kip LewisΒ (23 tackles) andΒ Sammy OmosighoΒ (20 tackles), while the Sooners rank second nationally with four sacks per game.Β
Keys to the Game
For Kent State, the Flashes must:
Protect the footballΒ - Oklahoma thrives on creating pressure and forcing mistakes
Establish some semblance of a running gameΒ - Can't be one-dimensional against this defense
Win third downsΒ - The Sooners are elite at getting off the field on third down
Create turnoversΒ - Oklahoma has been prone to giveaways with six turnovers this season
Play mistake-free footballΒ - No room for penalties or mental errors against a team of this caliber
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