Kent State apparently is making a habit of playing defending national champions.
The Golden Flashes will open their 2017 season Saturday at No. 5 Clemson, which won the school's first national title in 35 years with a riveting 35-31 victory against 2015 national champion Alabama on Jan. 10.
Kent State played Alabama last season on Sept. 24 and lost 48-0 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
"Once again, we find ourselves heading into the lair of a defending national champ," said Kent State interim coach Don Treadwell.
Treadwell, the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, will guide the Golden Flashes into Clemson's Memorial Stadium after it was announced Sunday evening that head coach Paul Haynes was taking a medical leave of absence.