Overall team quality
Strong South Carolina advantage
Why SharpTake leans
Why SharpTake leans South Carolina
South Carolina's overall quality is the biggest reason SharpTake favors South Carolina. South Carolina also has the edge in down-to-down efficiency and running-game efficiency.
Down-to-down efficiency
South Carolina advantage
Running-game efficiency
South Carolina advantage
Last season's results
Slight South Carolina advantage
On-field context
Matchup breakdown
These matchup factors describe where the teams differ on the field. They are separate from SharpTake's forecast explanation above.
Kent State staying on schedule
EDGEKent State offenseSouth Carolina defense
Kent State gains enough yardage for the down and distance far less often than most FBS teams, while South Carolina allows enough yardage for the down and distance at a rate near the FBS middle. That comparison favors South Carolina.
Offensive Success Rate · 34.7%Success Rate is the share of plays that gain enough yardage for the down and distance.Among the weakest FBS results
Defensive Success Rate allowed · 41.8%Success Rate is the share of plays that gain enough yardage for the down and distance.Near the FBS middle
Comparison basis · Success rate vs success rate allowed
Kent State run game
EDGEKent State offenseSouth Carolina defense
Kent State gains enough yardage on runs for the down and distance far less often than most FBS teams, while South Carolina allows enough yardage on runs for the down and distance at a rate near the FBS middle. That comparison favors South Carolina.
Rushing Success Rate · 33.4%Success Rate is the share of plays that gain enough yardage for the down and distance.Among the weakest FBS results
Rushing Success Rate allowed · 39.3%Success Rate is the share of plays that gain enough yardage for the down and distance.Near the FBS middle
Comparison basis · Rushing success rate vs rushing success rate allowed
Pass game
NO EDGESouth Carolina offenseKent State defense
South Carolina gains enough yardage on pass plays for the down and distance less often than most FBS teams, while Kent State allows enough yardage on pass plays for the down and distance at a rate near the FBS middle. The evidence does not separate the teams enough for an advantage here.
Passing Success Rate · 36.6%Success Rate is the share of plays that gain enough yardage for the down and distance.Worse than most FBS teams
Passing Success Rate allowed · 43.8%Success Rate is the share of plays that gain enough yardage for the down and distance.Near the FBS middle
Comparison basis · Passing success rate vs passing success rate allowed
Explore
Go deeper
Team reads
Kent State team readHow the away team wins and where it is exposed.→
South Carolina team readHow the home team wins and where it is exposed.→
Full team matchupCompare the teams across every measured matchup concept.→
Position rooms
Coverage and limitations
- Forecasts are produced only when both teams meet SharpTake's evidence requirements.
- Player availability, injuries, weather, travel, and rest are not included.
- Explain factors use completed 2025 team-season evidence. They describe matchup contrasts and are not causal model attribution.
- Neither team has completed a game this season; the forecast rests on prior-season evidence.
Forecasts are model-based context, not guarantees.