Kent State vs. Western Michigan

Kent State and Western Michigan first met in 1962 and have played 48 times; Western Michigan leads the series 35–⁠12–⁠1. Over the last 10 meetings it’s Western Michigan 7–⁠3, and Western Michigan has won the last 5. Share

Kent State wins: 12
Western Michigan wins: 35
Ties: 1
First meeting: 1962
Longest streak: 12 Western Michigan
Current streak: 5 Western Michigan
Last 10 meetings: Western Michigan 7–⁠3
Most recent: 2026

The series at a glance

Every meeting by decade, colored by the winner
	’0	’1	’2	’3	’4	’5	’6	’7	’8	’9	W–L
1960s											0–⁠7–⁠1
1970s											7–⁠3
1980s											2–⁠8
1990s											0–⁠9
2000s											1–⁠2
2010s											2–⁠3
2020s											0–⁠3

Average margin: 17.3 points; 13 decided by one score (8 or fewer)
At Kent State: 6–⁠17 Kent State’s record at home
At Western Michigan: 18–⁠6–⁠1 Western Michigan’s record at home
Shutouts: 4

Every meeting on file, as played. Ranks are the AP poll’s going in.

Games that tell the story

Kent State’s biggest win1973: Kent State 39, Western Michigan 15by 24 points
Western Michigan’s biggest win1996: Western Michigan 76, Kent State 27by 49 points
Upset1988: Kent State 45, Western Michigan 28Kent State had a 26% chance, by our ratings before kickoff
Upset1964: Western Michigan 12, Kent State 9Western Michigan had a 26% chance, by our ratings before kickoff
Upset1979: Kent State 18, Western Michigan 13Kent State had a 27% chance, by our ratings before kickoff

Coach against coach

Years	Kent State	Series	Western Michigan
1964–⁠1967	Leo Strang	0–⁠3–⁠1	Bill Doolittle
1968–⁠1970	Dave Puddington	1–⁠2	Bill Doolittle
1971–⁠1974	Don James	2–⁠2	Bill Doolittle
1975–⁠1977	Dennis Fitzgerald	3–⁠0	Elliot Uzelac
1978–⁠1980	Ron Blackledge	1–⁠2	Elliot Uzelac
1983–⁠1985	Dick Scesniak	0–⁠3	Jack Harbaugh
1988–⁠1990	Dick Crum	1–⁠2	Al Molde
1991–⁠1993	Pete Cordelli	0–⁠3	Al Molde
1994–⁠1996	Jim Corrigall	0–⁠3	Al Molde
2005–⁠2010	Doug Martin	1–⁠2	Bill Cubit

Head-coach pairings with three or more meetings on file, the series read from Kent State’s side (Strang 0–⁠3–⁠1 against Doolittle). A season split between coaches goes to the one credited with the game.

Both programs through the years

Our Elo rating at the end of each season, a measure of how strong a team was, not a forecast; 1500 is an average FBS team.

Stars of the series

Biggest days

Tyshon Goode Kent State

11 catches, 198 yards, 2 TD

2009 Receiving

Biggest days: the week’s best individual games by our big-days rule, from box scores (2004 on).

Every game

Oct 10, 2026	Western Michigan 38, Kent State 7	at Western Michigan
Oct 26, 2024	Western Michigan 52, Kent State 21	at Western Michigan
Oct 16, 2021	Western Michigan 64, Kent State 31	at Western Michigan
Nov 8, 2017	Western Michigan 48, Kent State 20	at Western Michigan
Nov 8, 2016	14Western Michigan 37, Kent State 21	at Kent State
Sep 28, 2013	Kent State 32, Western Michigan 14	at Western Michigan
Oct 20, 2012	Kent State 41, Western Michigan 24	at Kent State
Nov 20, 2010	Western Michigan 38, Kent State 3	at Western Michigan
Oct 31, 2009	Kent State 26, Western Michigan 14	at Kent State
Oct 29, 2005	Western Michigan 44, Kent State 14	at Western Michigan
Oct 28, 2000	Western Michigan 42, Kent State 0	at Kent State
Oct 31, 1998	Western Michigan 48, Kent State 23	at Kent State
Oct 18, 1997	Western Michigan 50, Kent State 27	at Western Michigan
Nov 16, 1996	Western Michigan 76, Kent State 27	at Western Michigan
Sep 30, 1995	Western Michigan 52, Kent State 6	at Kent State
Oct 1, 1994	Western Michigan 24, Kent State 10	at Western Michigan
Oct 2, 1993	Western Michigan 27, Kent State 21	at Kent State
Oct 24, 1992	Western Michigan 26, Kent State 13	at Kent State
Aug 31, 1991	Western Michigan 13, Kent State 10	at Western Michigan
Sep 22, 1990	Western Michigan 37, Kent State 10	at Western Michigan
Sep 23, 1989	Western Michigan 26, Kent State 4	at Kent State
Oct 15, 1988	Kent State 45, Western Michigan 28	at Western Michigan
Oct 17, 1987	Kent State 27, Western Michigan 13	at Kent State
Nov 15, 1986	Western Michigan 27, Kent State 7	at Western Michigan
Nov 16, 1985	Western Michigan 34, Kent State 3	at Kent State
Nov 10, 1984	Western Michigan 13, Kent State 9	at Western Michigan
Nov 12, 1983	Western Michigan 21, Kent State 13	at Kent State
Sep 25, 1982	Western Michigan 24, Kent State 14	at Western Michigan
Sep 12, 1981	Western Michigan 20, Kent State 17	at Kent State
Oct 11, 1980	Western Michigan 28, Kent State 21	at Kent State
Oct 6, 1979	Kent State 18, Western Michigan 13	at Western Michigan
Oct 7, 1978	Western Michigan 14, Kent State 0	at Kent State
Oct 8, 1977	Kent State 20, Western Michigan 16	at Western Michigan
Oct 9, 1976	Kent State 24, Western Michigan 12	at Kent State
Oct 11, 1975	Kent State 22, Western Michigan 17	at Western Michigan
Oct 5, 1974	Kent State 28, Western Michigan 6	at Kent State
Oct 6, 1973	Kent State 39, Western Michigan 15	at Western Michigan
Oct 7, 1972	Western Michigan 13, Kent State 12	at Kent State
Oct 9, 1971	Western Michigan 31, Kent State 0	at Western Michigan
Oct 10, 1970	Kent State 25, Western Michigan 22	at Kent State
Oct 11, 1969	Western Michigan 33, Kent State 13	at Western Michigan
Oct 12, 1968	Western Michigan 14, Kent State 0	at Kent State
Oct 14, 1967	Western Michigan 16, Kent State 7	at Western Michigan
Oct 15, 1966	Western Michigan 23, Kent State 20	at Kent State
Oct 16, 1965	Western Michigan 10, Kent State 10	at Western Michigan
Oct 17, 1964	Western Michigan 12, Kent State 9	at Kent State
Oct 19, 1963	Western Michigan 26, Kent State 12	at Western Michigan
Nov 3, 1962	Western Michigan 19, Kent State 6	at Kent State

Every game is listed as played on the field.