CLEVELAND, OHIO- The Mid-American Conference's annual pre-season media poll has Kent State Golden Flashes as their pre-season favorite to win the East Division as announced by the conference in advance of Tuesday's MAC Media Day.
The Golden Flashes earned 11 of the 22 first-place votes and 112 poll points to outpace Ohio, Miami and Buffalo who were separated by just three points in the media poll. Kent State's 112 poll points are second only to Ball State's 114, the Cardinals also earned 11 first-place votes and are tagged as the west division favorites. Kent State also earned four votes as the Rocket Mortgage MAC Football Championship Game Winner, the most of any east division team and third overall behind Ball State and Toledo. This is the first time the Golden Flashes have been picked as the preseason divisional favorite and it is the highest ranking in the poll since being picked third in advance of the 2013 season.
The Golden Flashes will bring back nine starters on both sides of the ball in 2021. Headlining those returners is quarterback Dustin Crum who was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List for the second-straight season. The graduate student was first-team All-Conference last season after averaging 295 yards through the air and completing 73 percent of his passes. Kent State will bring back its top four rushers, both passers and only losing Isaiah McKoy from a talented group of receivers.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kent State returns its top four tacklers and pass rushers from 2020. Leading that charge is junior safety Dean Clark. Clark led the team with 28 tackles including 19 solo and stuffed the stat sheet with two pass break ups, a forced fumble, interception and blocked punt. Linebackers Brandon Coleman and Kesean Gamble are back after leading the Kent State pass rush with three sacks each.
Kent State opens the 2021 season in College Station as they travel to Kyle Field to take on the Texas A and M Aggies on Saturday, September 4th at 8 p.m. eastern. The 2021 home opener will be the following week as Kent State welcomes in the Virginia Military Institute on Saturday, September 11th at 11:30 a.m.
The full 2021 pre-season media poll can be seen below.
East Division
1. Kent State (11) – 112 points
2. Ohio (2) – 96 points
3. Miami (5) – 94 points
4. Buffalo (4) – 93 points
5. Akron – 39 points
6. Bowling Green – 28 points
West Division
1. Ball State (11) – 114 points
2. Toledo (7) – 104 points
3. Western Michigan (4) – 103 points
4. Central Michigan – 68 points
5. Eastern Michigan – 44 points
6. Northern Illinois – 29 points
Rocket Mortgage MAC Football Championship Game Winner: Ball State (7), Toledo (5), Kent State (4), Western Michigan (3), Buffalo (2), Miami (1)
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July 20, 2021 at 09:15PM
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Media Tags Flashes as East Favorite - Kent State Golden Flashes - Kent State University Athletics
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