Kent State

The Golden Flashes lost their top two receiving threats to the portal, with Cade Wolford (27.1 PPA) transferring to Cincinnati and Da'Shawn Martin (24.5 PPA) heading to Virginia. Those departures highlight a broader talent drain that saw 15 players leave via transfer while only 11 arrived, creating a net loss of 48.3 PPA that explains why Kent State enters 2026 ranked 133rd nationally with a -15.4 rating. Quarterback Dru Deshields returns as the starter, but he'll need to find new targets after losing his primary weapons. The defense grades out 131st nationally at -7.6 points, while the offense sits at 128th with a -6.9 mark.

JP+ projects exactly 4.0 wins for Kent State in 2026, reflecting the steep climb ahead in a MAC that offers few easy victories beyond home games against Akron, Ball State, and Wofford. Road trips to Ohio State, South Carolina, and South Florida loom as the season's most daunting challenges for a roster that managed just five wins in 2025. Running back Jakorion Caffey arrives from Cincinnati as the top portal addition, though his -1.3 PPA suggests modest expectations. If Deshields can develop chemistry with new receivers quickly and the defense shows unexpected improvement, Kent State might sneak past that 4-win projection. If not, another long season awaits in the MAC.