Rocky Top Roundtable: Kent State
Tennessee (2-0) returns home on Saturday to battle Kent State in what looks like a lopsided matchup. The Rocky Top Roundtable dives into the matchup that will be one sided.
“We have some recent examples last year where Tennessee was sluggish against Austin Peay,” Rob Lewis said. “Generally that hasn’t been the case with these type of games with Josh (Heupel) and I’ll be surprised if Tennessee doesn’t come out sharp. They are hyped right now.”
The Golden Flashes were 1-11 in 2023 and winless in Mid-American Conference play. Kent State fell by four-plus touchdowns in week one at Pittsburg and dropped a 23-17 decision to FCS Saint Francis last week at home. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, Kent State is ranked last among all FBS programs at No. 134 in the country and owns a projected win total of 1.6 wins to 10.4 losses in 2024. The Golden flashes own a -24.3 FPI rating – expected point margin vs. average opponent on a neutral field.
Last season wasn’t great offensively for Kent State as it ranked last in the MAC with 14.6 points per game and completed a conference-worst 52 percent of its passes through the air. On the ground, the Golden Flashes managed only 106 yards a contest. Through two games this fall, Kent State is scoring 20 points a contest, but averaging just 246 yards of total offense with 191 yards passing and 54 yards rushing. The Golden Flashes have turned the football over three times, scored a touchdown on just one of five red zone chances and converted an eye-popping 16 percent (5/30) of third downs.
“I don’t think because you aren’t dealing with NFL veterans where you just sit everyone,” Brent Hubbs said. “You have to play your starters. I think you do try to get them in and out as quick as you can. You can line up and run the ball and get in two tights and win this game. You have to clean up some stuff and I do think you have to feed your wide receiver group early on and go from there.”
