Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Kent State
Falcons Fly East for A Saturday Tussle at Kent State
October 20, 2025 | Football
Saturday, Oct. 25  | 12 p.m. |  Dix Stadium |  Kent, Ohio |
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BOWLING GREEN
FALCONS (3-4, 1-2Â MAC) |
vs. | KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (2-5, 1-2Â MAC) |
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| WATCH : WatchESPNÂ |Â LISTEN : WFRO The Eagle 99Â |Â STATS : View | ||||
Falcons Fly East for A Saturday Tussle at Kent
• Bowling Green State University returns to the road on Saturday afternoon as the Falcons visit the Kent State Golden Flashes.
• This is BGSU's second of four MAC road games this season.
• Kick is set for 12 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+.
Bowling Green vs. Kent State
• Bowling Green and Kent State will meet at Dix Stadium on a Saturday for the first time since 2021.
• Only four of the last eight meetings between the teams have taken place on a Saturday.
• Bowling Green's 49-19 win at Kent State in 2023 snapped a five-game losing streak to the Golden Flashes — the longest winning streak by Kent State in the series.
• Saturday marks the 93rd all-time meeting between Bowling Green and Kent State. BGSU has faced no opponent more frequently than the Golden Flashes.
Five Top Storylines
• LB Gideon Lampron ranks No. 4 in the nation in solo tackles (40) and No. 8 in total tackles (70). He is the only player in the nation with 55+ tackles, 8.0+ TFLs, 1.5+ sacks, and 1+ pass defended.
• RB Cameron Pettaway ranks No. 1 in the nation in kick return average (33.0). He also leads the country in kick returns of 30+ yards (5), 40+ yards (3), and 50+ yards (2). Pettaway's 33.0-yard average ranks No. 21 in FBS history (since 1995) for best kick return average through seven games (minimum 12 returns).
• CB MJ Cannon is the only defensive back in the nation with 38+ tackles, 1.0+ sack, 1+ interception, 1+ fumble recovery, and 3.5+ TFLs.
• PK Jackson Kleather is tied for No. 5 in the nation with 14 made field goals. He is one of just three FBS players with four made field goals of 47 yards or longer, joining Drew Stevens (Iowa) and Damian Ramos (LSU). Kleather and Stevens each have two of 50+ yards, while Ramos has one. His makes are from 56, 50, and two from 49 yards. Kleather's 14 made field goals are tied for No. 10 in the BGSU record book for a single season.
• A win on Saturday would give BGSU back-to-back victories at Dix Stadium for the first time since winning three in a row in 2013, 2015, and 2017. BGSU and Kent State have met every season from 1946–2025, except in 2004.
Bowling Green vs. Kent State
• Saturday marks the 92nd all-time meeting between Bowling Green and Kent State, with BGSU leading the series 61-24-6.
• In 2023, BGSU snapped Kent State's five-game winning streak in the series — the Golden Flashes' longest in the rivalry.
• Bowling Green and Kent State traditionally compete for the annual Anniversary Award, a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of this matchup. Established in 1985 by the alumni departments of both schools, the Anniversary Award commemorates the founding of BGSU and KSU in 1910 as a result of the Lowry Bill. The trophy was first presented in 1985 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of each institution. Overall, the rivalry has been lopsided, with Bowling Green winning 27 of the 37 meetings since the award's inception.
• However, the trophy went missing for about 20 years before resurfacing in 2017 — and then went missing again.
Bowling Green - KSU connections
• Kent State interim head coach Mark Carney spent five years on staff at Bowling Green as the wide receivers coach during the Dave Clawson era (2009–13). BGSU special teams coordinator Alex Bayer was a tight end during that time.
• Kent State cornerbacks coach Bart Tanski played quarterback and wide receiver at BGSU, eventually earning a scholarship and serving as team co-captain in 2012. He appeared in 16 career games for the Falcons from 2008–12 and was teammates with BGSU's Alex Bayer.
• KSU linebacker Canaan Williams spent two years at BGSU (2022–23) but did not appear in any games for the Falcons.
• Kent State offensive lineman Rico Steele spent the 2024 season at Bowling Green.
• Kent State linebackers coach Kevin Snyder began his coaching career in 2020 at Rutgers when BGSU offensive tackle Tunde Fatukasi was a true freshman.
Double-Threat
• BGSU RB Kaderris Roberts is one of only 14 FBS players with 200+ rushing yards and 100+ receiving yards while also posting 20+ receptions and 40+ rushing attempts.
• Roberts, who spent most of his career at Stetson, was at Tennessee State under Coach George in 2024 but did not play.
Get Away with Pettaway
• With 783 all-purpose yards, RB Cameron Pettaway ranks No. 1 all-time at BGSU (since 1995) in all-purpose yards through the first seven games of a career.Â
• Pettaway's 783 all-purpose yards also rank No. 12 in BGSU single-season history through seven games (since 1995) and No. 26 nationally this season.
Caden Marshall is Next Man Up
• LB Caden Marshall has stepped into the starting rotation following the season-ending injury to LB Dorian Pringle. Marshall has totaled 19 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.0 sack, and 3 PBUs in four games.
• Marshall is averaging 0.7 TFLs per game, which ranks tied for No. 2 nationally among freshman linebackers.
• Marshall is the only freshman defensive player (true or redshirt) with at least 16 tackles, 2.0+ TFLs, and 3+ PBUs this season. Only 19 other FBS defensive players meet those marks — and Marshall has done it in just five games.
• Pringle suffered his season-ending injury against Liberty (Game 3). At the time, he led the nation with 6.0 TFLs.
• Marshall joined BGSU in 2025 after redshirting the 2024 season at Tennessee State.
Locked and Loaded: Cannon Brings the BoomÂ
• CB MJ Cannon is tied for No. 32 nationally among defensive backs with 3.5 TFLs.
• Cannon is one of six defensive backs in the nation with 3.5+ TFLs, 1.0+ sacks, and 1+ fumble recovery.
• Cannon joined BGSU this season after appearing in 24 career games at Illinois State, where he earned second-team All-MVC honors in 2024.
