CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Kent State began its 96th season of football by coming up just short of its first program win over a Big Ten opponent Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Illinois used 28 second-half points to top the Golden Flashes 31-24 in the 2018 season opener.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Flashes put together a 13-play drive that made it as far as the Illinois four yard line, before a fourth-and-goal pass was intercepted with 2:11 to play. Behind first career FBS starts for three offensive linemen (Jamil Viaud, Julian Sams, Chase Van Hoef) and quarterback Woody Barrett, the Flashes out-gained Illinois through the air 270-190.