2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Game Notes
Kent State Golden Flashes Notes
The Opening Kick
• The Golden Flashes fell in the MAC Championship game to NIU 41-23
• The Flashes are making their first appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and fifth bowl all time
• Kent State has appeared in the: Refrigerator Bowl (1954-L, Delaware), Tangerine Bowl (1972, L, Tampa), GoDaddy Bowl (2012, L-Arkansas St.) and Frisco Bowl (2019, W-Utah State)
• With a win, Kent State will win the most games in program history since 2012 (11 wins)
• A win would also clinch the first three-year stretch with a winning record since 1972-74
• It has been a record-setting year for the Golden Flashes, Kent State will better the previous record for total offense by over 1000 yards, this is the first team to cross the 6,000 yard threshold
• Dante Cephas became the first Kent State wide receiver to cross 1,000 yards in a season since Eugene Baker in 1997
• Marquez Cooper crossed 1,000 yards rushing, the first back to do that since 2012 (Dri Archer and Trayion Durham)
• Dustin Crum was named the Vern Smith Leadership Award winner, given to the MAC’s MVP, he’s the first player at Kent to win the MAC Player of the Year award since Eric Wilkerson in 1987
• The Flashes have intercepted 16 passes this season, good for fifth in the FBS and sit eighth overall with 25 turnovers forced
• At +14, Kent State is second in the FBS in turnover margin, trailing only Nevada
• The Flashes are the top non-service academy and third overall in rushing yards, totaling 3,162 entering the Potato Bowl, they are fourth in rushing average at nearly 244 yards per game and fourth in rushing touchdowns with 35
• Kent State sports the number eight offense into the Potato Bowl and will face the #37 defense in Wyoming, this will be the third top-40 defense the Flashes have faced this season, joining Texas A and M and Western Michigan
Wyoming Cowboys Notes
• Wyoming will be playing in its 17th bowl game in history and its second Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Wyoming is 8-8 overall in bowl games and won the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl by a score of 37-14 over Central Michigan.
• The Cowboys will be playing Kent State for the first time in the two schools’ histories.
• UW is playing in its fourth bowl game in six seasons (2016, ‘17, ‘19 and ‘21), which is a first in school history. The previous best was four bowl games in seven seasons (1987, ‘88, ‘90 and ‘93).
• The Pokes are looking for their third consecutive bowl win. Wyoming won the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (37-14 over Central Michigan) and the 2019 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (38-17 over Georgia State).
• The Wyoming Cowboys and Kent State Golden Flashes have played one common opponent in 2021 — Northern Illinois. Wyoming on a road game at NIU (50-43), while Kent State lost a home game (47-52) and the MAC Championship Game (23-41) to Northern Illinois.
Wyoming is 10-5 Against Teams from the Mid-American Conference, Will Play Kent State for First Time: Since 1996 when the Wyoming Cowboys first played a MidAmerican Conference team in Western Michigan, the Cowboys are 10-5 all-time against current teams from the MAC. Wyoming and Kent State will meet for the first time in this year’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
UW is 5-3 against MAC foes in Laramie, is 4-2 on the road and 1-0 in neutral-site games. Wyoming holds wins at home against Ohio in 2008, Central Michigan in 2000, Western Michigan in 1996, Northern Illinois in 2016 and Ball State in 2021.
UW’s home losses came against Bowling Green in 2008, Toledo in 2012 and Eastern Michigan in 2015.
The Cowboys own road wins against Bowling Green in 2011, Toledo in 2010, Ohio in 2007 and Northern Illinois in 2021.
Wyoming’s two road losses against the MAC was at Central Michigan in 2002 and at Eastern Michigan in 2016.
UW won its 2017 neutral-site game vs. Central Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
A First in Wyoming History: The This year’s bowl invitation marks the fourth time in six seasons that Wyoming has earned a bowl bid. That is a first in the 125-year history of Cowboy Football. The previous best for the Wyoming Football program was four bowl game appearances in seven seasons from 1987 to 1993.
A Coaching First: Head coach Craig Bohl becomes the first head coach in Wyoming Football history to take four Cowboy teams to bowl games. Bohl was previously tied with UW Athletics Hall of Fame Coach Paul Roach, with both coaches having taken three Wyoming
teams to bowl games. Bohl will be seeking his third bowl victory as Wyoming’s head coach. He already holds the Wyoming record for bowl wins as a head coach, with two bowl victories in the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and the 2019 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
Pokes Seeking a Third Consecutive Bowl Win, Making Their 17th Bowl Appearance in School History: UW is seeking its third consecutive bowl victory. The Pokes won the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl over Central Michigan by a score of 37-14, and captured a 38-17 victory over Georgia State in the 2019 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. This year’s appearance will be Wyoming’s 17th bowl appearance in history. The Cowboys are 8-8 overall in bowl games.
