Picture this: a D1 locker room so quiet you can hear cleats squeaking. Whispers in the hall, tension in the air, and bags being packed—not just physically but emotionally, too. Nah, this isn’t a movie. This is real-life chaos brewing in the MAC, and the trigger? Let’s just say the head man in charge isn’t in charge anymore. And the fallout? It’s moving faster than 2019 Tigers receivers in the open field.

Kent State just pulled the plug on HC Kenni Burns. The same head coach who went 1-23 in two seasons, capped by a spicy 0-12 season in 2024. And while the university’s official statement had a polished spin, the scoreboard doesn’t lie. After a historically brutal year where they got smacked around like a JV squad at SEC camp, the powers that be decided enough was enough. Now? The transfer portal has players rushing out like there’s no tomorrow.

Let’s run the tape. Burns had been on administrative leave since March 27, and just when folks thought he might slide under the radar, bam, April 11th hits and he’s officially outta there. The reasons? Well, they aren’t saying much, but word on the street is he had a lil’ off-the-field drama too. We’re talking unpaid credit card debt to the tune of $24,000, according to CBS Sports. Not exactly the kind of headlines you want on your coach’s LinkedIn. Also, we all know why he got fired; it’s pretty obvious.

Now, the aftermath. Eight players—eight—jumped ship from Kent State way too quick. Most of them are key pieces too, not just scout team fillers. We’re talking about big boy Braylon Smith, a 6’3, 330-pound slab of Ohio muscle from that O-line. Then there’s Stephen Daley, a defensive lineman who straight-up terrorized backfields with 48 tackles and 5.5 TFLs last year. His departure? That’s like taking the engine out of a busted car—you weren’t going anywhere anyway, but now you’re really stuck.

Quarterback JD Sherrod dipped too. Yeah, he didn’t get a ton of shine last year, but he had flashes—like “maybe this kid just needs a new zip code” type of flashes. Then there’s Oliver Billotte, who low-key held it down on defense with four starts, 11 tackles, and a pass breakup. Nothing flashy, but when the whole ship is sinking, even the deckhands get noticed. And just when you think the hits stop coming, linebackers Jayden Studio and Rocco Nicholl also hit the eject button. Wide receiver Michael Davis and also offensive lineman Andrew Page rounded out the crew. Their stats? Kind of mid. But at this point, Kent State needs bodies to fill the squad, not just ballers and every exit leaves a bigger dent.

When it rains, it pours: Kent State faces total football meltdown

Here’s the raw truth: the 2024 season was so bad it could’ve been mistaken for satire. The Golden Flashes were outscored 529-167. Read that again. That’s like showing up to a gunfight with a Nerf dart. They ranked dead last—dead last—in total offense and total defense. That’s a double crown you don’t want to wear. You got teams like Tennessee and Penn State dropping a combined 127-0 beatdown on them like they were running practice drills. No identity on offense, no backbone on defense, and no hope in sight. Kenni Burns tried to build something, sure, but what he built was more like a sandcastle in a tsunami.

And now, with interim coach Mark Carney trying to pick up the pieces, what’s he even working with? The roster was terribly gutted. Recruiting momentum? Basically nonexistent. Culture? Shattered. Trust? Burnt toast. If Kent State doesn’t land a solid coach and start rebuilding yesterday, this isn’t just a down year—it’s a death spiral. No shade, but Kent State’s situation is starting to feel like the plot of a Netflix docuseries. You could call it Losing Streak: The Golden Flashpoint. Every week’s another chapter on how to not run a D1 football program. And with 8 players gone, a fired coach, and zero Ws in sight, it’s looking like next season’s slogan is gonna be: ‘Well, at least we tried.’

The bigger question? Who’s next? Because when one domino falls, others tend to follow. And with the transfer portal wide open on April 16th, you’ll expect some movement, bet. And if you’re a Kent State fan? Well, you’ve either got patience like Jalen Hurts or you’re already looking for a new team to root for come fall.