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Just to get this out of the way. I'm absurdly busy right now so this will be a shorter preview. And there is absolutely zero way I'll get a chance to do the Buffalo preview. So if you're interested in writing a preview, PM me and I'll give you what I already have on Buffalo.
My apologies all around. I don't do these previews because I have nothing better to do, and I certainly don't do them because I'm trying to launch a sports writing career or some other nonsense. I spend all this time on the previews to get to know our team and the opponents, to track our team's progress through the season, and also as a service to this community. I'm just absurdly busy right now and am about done for the year.

TL;DR version
If you thought we had problems on offense, you ain't seen nothin' yet!

Kent State Offense vs Bowling Green Defense

• The leading rusher is sophomore RB Justin Rankin. 63 for 244, has yet to find the end zone. Under 4 per carry.
• The original starting QB was Nick Holley and he was having a decent season on the ground, but he's injured for the season.
• Which means there is only one guy left who has rushed any TDs for Kent State. Freshman Kesean Gamble. Power guy, short yardage situations. 6'1 249, which is William Houston type of numbers.
• As you could imagine, Kent is not exactly fearsome on the ground. In their four MAC games, here's their team rushing stats:
  • 3.1 per carry, 124 yards, no TDs against Buffalo
  • 2.4 per carry, 102 yards, no TDs against NIU
  • 3.8 per carry, 167 yards, no TDs against Miami
  • 2.8 per carry, 102 yards, no TDs against Ohio
• When the pass offense is not scary, you as a defense can key on the run. When have we seen that one happen this season?
• If our run defense shows up, we should be able to contain these guys. I'm not going to jinx them so I'll say no more on this topic.
• Kent's running game isn't exactly setting the world on fire, so let's take a look at the passing game.
• The QB is junior George Bollas. He's completing exactly 50% of his passes for 537 yards, 2 TDs to 4 interceptions.
• Both of his passing TDs were against Miami where he had a good day, 9/14 for 154, 2 TDs/0 interceptions.
• On the opposite end of the spectrum, he had a pure crap day against NIU, 4/13 for 14 yards, 0 TDs, 2 picks. Wow.
• Here's a mind boggling stat. Kent does not pass much. They have attempted 126 passes on the season (we've attempted 290).
  • In those few pass attempts, they've given up 26 freaking sacks. How is that possible? This offensive line is having problems and the QB likely isn't helping much.
  • And it's not like Clemson got 10 of those sacks. Kent didn't bother passing against Clemson so they gave up no sacks naturally.
  • No, 7 sacks were against Marshall, 7 against Northern Illinois, and the rest were spread among the other opponents.
  • We sacked NIU twice, but our last prior sack came against Akron. So we've got a chance to get some sacks and put Kent's defense behind the sticks some.
• Our pass defense has been all over the place. Damn good against Ohio, and ... yeah ... against Northern Illinois.
• This offense is ... not good. They come at a good time for our struggling defense.
• If our pass defense shows up ... also not going there. I'm not going to jinx our team so I'm done with this topic all together.

Kent State Defense vs Bowling Green Offense

• Kent's run defense has not held up so great in conference play. Somewhat similar numbers to us.
  • In four conference games, they've allowed an average of 221 yards per game. Ohio ran for over 300 on them and Buffalo for 235.
  • They actually held NIU to only 152 yards on the ground.
  • Buffalo carved up Kent for 3 rushing TDs, Ohio for 4.
• Our ground offense has taken off. We doubled NIU's average ypg allowed on the ground.
• Andrew Clair is going to be a star. He reminds me some of Anthon Samuel. Good burst and some great power to go with it.
• Get our ground game going and we've got potential to take over this one, much like last season.
• Kent's pass defense is decent. They often have a good defense. They allow 213 per game.
• In conference play, they are allowing exactly 50% completions. That's good defense. 8 TDs vs 5 interceptions.
• They also have 10 sacks in conference play, all in the last three games. So they've got an active front.
• More in the analysis section on how the offense helps the defense some.
• Our pass offense problems are well documented. QB inconsistency issues, drops, etc. Doege took over the reigns and has only seen basically 1.5 games, so maybe our pass offense will improve when he's back.
• No point in going over our passing averages per game. No point in beating a dead horse. Our pass offense is not performing to the level needed to run a Texas Tech type of offense.
• It sounds like Doege should be good to start, so I hope that is the case. He just seems to elevate the offense some.
• And of course I hope Teo Redding is back. I have not heard a thing on his status.

Special Teams vs Kent State

• Kent's best offensive player is the punter. He's averaging 45 a boot, which is awfully nice when your offense is not getting much done.
• Not much else to say here. It's a breath of fresh air to have great special teams at Bowling Green.

Kent State's season so far

• Kent has had a rather similar season to us.
• They were blown out by two ACC teams where we were blown out by two Big Ten teams.
• They hung on to beat Howard fresh off a major upset over UNLV where we lost to a good South Dakota team.
• They were shut out by Marshall where MTSU shut out our running game and beat us.
• They lost their MAC opener to Buffalo where we lost to Akron. Buffalo and Akron are both having improved seasons from last year.
• They were blown out by NIU 24-3. Kent played field position and tried to let their defense do the best they could. The offense was totally ineffective.
• Kent was trailing Miami at the half 14-3, then won 17-14. Key to the game was a short throw to a receiver who went 84 yards, largely due to a missed tackling clinic by Miami.
• And Ohio shellacked them 48-3. Kent gave up several long runs, and offensively they got nothing going.
• My goodness, the last time we were in the same boat as Kent State was in 2012 and that boat was very different.

Analysis

• Midweek game. Yay. Thanks MAC office for giving the conference 0 total Saturday November games.
• Expect cold weather. You know, evening in late autumn. When all your late fall games are weekday games, there are no noon or early afternoon kickoffs.
• Kent State has bad offensive stats, but their defense is comparatively better. Here's the one thing you need to know in this regard.
  • Kent moves the ball slowly and deliberately. They like to chew up clock to aid the defense.
  • Perfect example. Against NIU, the teams tied at 30 even a piece in time of possession. NIU ran 72 plays against Kent's 60 for a 12 play differential. Had Kent's offense been more successful moving, they could have choked NIU in time of possession and kept the NIU offense on the sideline. I suspect that was their goal.
  • Our offense is content running 12 plays a minute if they could, which would work great if we were picking up first downs consistently. But since we're not, we're putting our already struggling defense in a bad position.
  • Kent is happy playing field position. They know the team strength is not offense, so if the offense can at least put the punter in a decent spot to pin the opponent deep, they are thrilled. And every second that the opposing QB is standing on the sideline is a good second.
  • In other words, this game will be a total clash of styles.
• I've said it on other threads recently so I'll reiterate it. I'm not a fan of running the current offense as we do this year.
  • It is apparent that the team cannot properly and consistently execute it. The lack of offensive success combined with the up-tempo is hurting the defense, which is already hurting plenty as is.
  • I would rather run a scheme which takes all three phases of the game into consideration and perhaps utilizes talent better.
  • This is what Kent State does, except they run an offense that is so damn risk averse and boring and ineffective that I don't see it working. Like I said, opposite ends of the spectrum.
• I can't expect Paul Haynes will be around next year. If and when he's done, I'll have thoughts on the matter, but I'll save that for the right time.
• Just worth mentioning, this is the second time in Haynes' career at Kent that he has dealt with the death of a player. You know that weighs heavy on the man. Neither death was his fault by any means, but two sets of parents entrusted their sons to his leadership. I have to feel for him.
• Honestly, I don't have much to say. I'm just hoping for a win so we at least get 2 wins this year. And if they win, we all get a bit of hope that maybe there's a late season rally coming.

That's about all I have to say. Sorry it's a short preview. Busy week for me, and I just have little to say on this one.
If anyone's got any insights I've missed on Kent, please chime in.

As an aside, NIU came from behind and beat EMU yesterday.
EMU held NIU to 114 yards rushing. 13 of those were in OT. So apples to apples, for four quarters, EMU held NIU to 101 rushing yards and we held them to 338. EMU allowed NIU to pass for 266 in regulation, and we were a bit better, allowing 239, but nowhere near offsetting the rushing yardage.
Our defense really needs this "bye week" they have. Hopefully they can regroup some, heal a bit, study some film, and refocus. Hopefully they can be as successful on defense as they were last year against Kent State.

And another quick addition. I just met a Kent State football alum on my commute to work. Great guy. Talk about an ambassador to the program. He grew up on the east coast where I live now. The reason he went to Kent instead of staying close: the friendliness of people in town and on campus. There's something about Ohio about getting a friendly good morning from an utter stranger that you may not get in other areas of the country.

Thank you for the quality report.

Thanks Mark! Great stuff, as always. BEAT KENT STATE.