The Mountain West and MAC will have two teams meet up in the Frisco Bowl. Utah State is 7-5 and Kent State is 6-6 following the regular season. Both teams will be trying to end the season on a high note. Here is the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl preview.
Utah State only won one nonconference game this year, but were still able to get seven wins. They beat three bowl-eligible teams, which were: San Diego State, Nevada and Wyoming. The Aggies did not lose to a team below .500 this season.
Jordan Love (Photo by mwwire.com)
The offense scores 28.3 points per game, which ranks 68th in the country. They pass for 275.9 yards per game (ranking 32nd) and rush for 149.2 yards per game (ranking 84th).
Jordan Love, an NFL Draft prospect, is the quarterback for the Aggies. He has thrown for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions on 60.6 percent completion. They have six receivers with over 200 receiving yards. Their leading receiver is Siaosi Mariner, who has 56 receptions for 874 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
The Aggies have two running backs who have over 500 yards rushing. Gerold Bright leads the team with 827 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Jaylen Waren chips in with 561 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Utah State gives up 29 points per game, which ranks 76th in the country. They rank 103rd in the country in rushing defense, allowing 197.8 yards per game, and 86th in the country in pass defense, giving up 233.7 yards per game. Linebacker David Woodward is a star on the defense with 93 total tackles with four forced fumbles.
The season was looking bleak for Kent State, as they sat at 3-6 nine games into the season. They then won their last three games to finish at 6-6 and make a bowl game. Kent State beat two bowl-eligible teams this year, Buffalo and Eastern Michigan.
Dustin Crum (Photo by news-herald.com)
On offense, the Golden Flashes score 29.9 points per game, making them an average offense in the FBS. They pass for 212.3 yards (ranked 84th) and rush for 181.3 yards per game (ranked 44th).
Dustin Crum played most of the snaps under center for Kent State. He didn’t throw for the most yards, but was efficient. Crum threw for 2,333 yards, 18 touchdowns and two interceptions on 68.2 percent completion this season. Three receivers have over 500 yards this season. Isaiah McKoy leads the team with 51 receptions for 767 yards and seven touchdowns.
Crum actually leads the team in rushing as well with 560 yards and five touchdowns. Four running backs have at least 200 rushing yards. Will Matthews leads them all with 514 yards and two touchdowns.
The Golden Flashes allow 31.1 points per game, which ranks 91st in the country. They have one of the worst rush defenses in the country, giving up 249.3 yards on the ground per game (ranked 127th). Kent State’s pass defense is a little better, as they allow 221.4 passing yards per game (ranked 55th). They too have a star linebacker in Mandela Lawrence-Burke, who has 94 total tackles this season.
Utah State’s quarterback will be the difference in this game. Jordan Love has NFL-potential, but has not had a great season. He will want to put on a show against a defense that isn’t that great. Love has all the motivation to play well, as he is either entering the draft or possibly transferring next season.
Utah State Aggies 37 Kent State Golden Flashes 33
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