The Kent State Golden Flashes have added the Mercyhurst Lakers to their 2027 football schedule, FBSchedules.com has learned.
A copy of the football game contract with Mercyhurst University was obtained from Kent State University via a state open records request.
Kent State will host Mercyhurst at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio, on Saturday, September 4, 2027. The game will be played during Week 2 and it will also mark the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
Mercyhurst University moved up from Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2024 and competes in the Northeast Conference (NEC). The Lakers are 1-9 overall so far this season and winless in conference play (0-5).
Mercyhurst played at three Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents this season: New Mexico State, New Mexico, and Western Kentucky. Next season, the Lakers will travel to face Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28), Utah State (date TBA), and Bowling Green (Sept. 18), in addition to Kent State.
The Mercyhurst-Utah State game next season was previously announced for Sept. 4, so that contest will be rescheduled for another date.
Mercyhurst is the second scheduled non-conference opponent for Kent State in 2027. The Golden Flashes are scheduled to open the season at Notre Dame on August 28 and will receive a $1.3 million guarantee for their efforts.
I think Utah State is most likely adding a different FCS opponent. Mercyhurst was already moved up from September 25 to September 4, I doubt it gets moved back to the 25th plus is Mercyhurst really going to play 4 FBS teams, I doubt it. 3 is already a lot.
A FCS school playing FOUR FBS teams in one season? That should be illegal