South Florida hosts Kent State to close non-conference slate

Bulls 4-2; Flashes carry 31-game nonleague skid

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

What happened: South Florida (4-2, 1-2 American) meets Kent State (2-4, 1-2 MAC) at 7 p.m. ET Saturday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. It is the first meeting between the programs. Kent State's 59-3 loss at Ohio State accounts for much of a 116-3 margin against FBS non-conference opponents this season.

Why it matters: South Florida opened 4-0 before late losses to Temple and UTSA dropped it to 1-2 in American play. Kent State carries a 31-game regular-season losing streak against non-conference FBS opponents dating to 2014.

By the numbers: South Florida ranks 111th in total offense at 19.6 points per game against FBS competition with three first-half touchdowns in five games. Kent State has forced six fumbles and four interceptions; Dru DeShields has four touchdowns against six interceptions.

What to watch: South Florida seeks a faster start after scoring two first-quarter touchdowns at UTSA. Kent State needs cleaner ball security with the 10th-most giveaways in the FBS.

Sources

Yahoo CFB 2026-10-16T06:07:27.599362+00:00

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