No. 9 Tennessee (2-0) will host Kent State (0-2) Saturday during Week 3 of the 2024 college football season.
Kickoff is slated for 7:45 p.m. EDT at Neyland Stadium and the contest will be televised by SEC Network.
Saturday marks the first meeting between the Vols and Golden Flashes.
While not known as a traditional power, a former Kent State player and assistant coach was one of the most successful coaches in the history of college football.
Nick Saban played defensive back for the Golden Flashes from 1970-72 under head coach Don James. James won a national championship with Washington in 1991.
Saban played on Kent State’s only MAC championship team in 1972 along with former Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jack Lambert. Lambert won four Super Bowl championships as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Golden Flashes went 6-5-1 (4-1 MAC) in 1972, losing in the Tangerine Bowl, 21-18, to Tampa.
Following Saban’s playing career, he was a graduate assistant at Kent State under James from 1973-74. He also served as the Golden Flashes’ linebackers coach from 1975-76 under head coach Dennis Fitzgerald.
Saban won a national championship at LSU and six national titles at Alabama as a head coach. He retired from coaching in January.
