FBS-CFB Game Preview: Kent State Golden Flashes (1-3) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (4-0)

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Time: 4:00 PM ET (SEC Network)
Venue: Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, 180 East Brooks Street, Norman, OK 73019
Capacity: 80,126

Weather Forecast

Kickoff: 82°F, clear skies

End of Game: ~73°F, mild evening

Rain Chance: <5%

Wind: 10–12 mph from the east

Impact: Minimal; excellent passing and kicking conditions

Injury Report

Kent State:

RB Jordan Nubin – Questionable

QB CJ Montes – Questionable

RB Donovan Delaney – Questionable

Oklahoma:

QB John Mateer – Out (hand surgery, targeting return vs. Texas)

OL Troy Everett – Out for season

OL Jacob Sexton – Out

WR JaVonnie Gibson – Probable

Key Player Matchups

Quarterbacks:

Kent State: Dru DeShields – 642 yds, 5 TD, 1 INT, 58.7% comp

Oklahoma: Michael Hawkins Jr. (starting in place of Mateer) – dual-threat, limited experience but strong system fit

Skill Players:

Kent State WR Cade Wolford – 238 yds, 4 TD, deep threat vs. OU CB Gentry Williams

OU WR Jaren Kanak – 307 yds, 1 TD vs. Kent State secondary allowing 285.5 ypg

Defensive Leaders:

Kent State LB Mason Woods – 28 tackles

OU DL Jayden Jackson – 3 sacks, anchors nation’s #2 defense

Recent Team Form

Kent State (1-3, 0-1 MAC):

L 66-10 @ Florida State

L 31-28 vs Buffalo

L 62-14 @ Texas Tech

W 21-17 vs Merrimack

Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 SEC):

W 24-17 vs Auburn

W 42-3 @ Temple

W 24-13 vs Michigan

W 35-3 vs Illinois State

Team Records

Kent State: 1-3 overall, 0-1 MAC

Oklahoma: 4-0 overall, 1-0 SEC

Series History

All-Time: Oklahoma leads 1–0

Last Meeting: 2022 – Oklahoma won 33-3 in Norman

Note: This is only the second meeting between the programs

Betting Trends

Oklahoma: 3-1 ATS in 2025; all 4 games UNDER

Kent State: 1-3 ATS; 3 of 4 games OVER

Historical: OU has covered 4 of last 5 home games; Kent State 0-6 ATS in last 6 non-conference road games

Historical Betting Results

2022 Meeting: OU 33, Kent State 3 (OU -33.5, Under 72.5)

Kent State: 1-19 SU in last 20 games vs. AP-ranked teams

Oklahoma: 28-1 in last 29 non-conference home games

Projected Score: Oklahoma 52, Kent State 7

Game Odds

Kent State Golden Flashes           52.5

Oklahoma Sooners                         – 45.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 3, 2025