Kent State started the season with senior Jo-El Shaw as its feature running back, but after five games he was suspended and did not travel with the team to Akron.
Two games later, he was no longer a member of the team for an undisclosed reason, later declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft.
Instead, the Flashes relied on senior Will Matthews, sophomore Xavier Williams and true freshman Joachim Bangda to ignite their run-pass option, fast-paced offense.
However, injuries quickly halted that approach.