Akron Opens 2025 Season on Thursday Night against Wyoming at InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field

WHATS AHEAD
The Akron Zips open the 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field. ESPN+ will broadcast the game with Michael Reghi (PxP) and Ryan Cavanaugh (Analyst) calling the action.

Television: ESPN+ – Michael Reghi (PxP) and Ryan Cavanaugh (Analyst)
Radio: Akron Sports Network - David Skoczen (pxp), Joe Dunn (analyst) WHLO 640 AM (flagship), WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM, iHeart Radio, TheVarsityNetwork.com
Video Link: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required)
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com

HEAD COACHES
Wyoming (0-0, 0-0 MW)
Jay Sawvel (Mount Union, 1993)
at Wyoming (2nd): (3-9)
Overall : Same

Akron Zips (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Joe Moorhead (Fordham, 1996)
at Akron (4th): 8-28
Overall (10th): 60-53

SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting Wyoming for the first time in series history. However, both head coaches crossed paths before. In 2016, Akron HC Moorhead was the offensive coordinator at Penn State while Wyoming HC Sawvel was the defensive coordinator at Minnesota. Penn State needed overtime to pull off the 29-26 overtime win at Beaver Stadium.

SCOUTING WYOMING
Wyoming enters the 2025 campaign ranked 10th in the Mountain West preseason coaches' poll. The Cowboys return 29 players , including 11 starters with eight offensive, two defensive and 1 special teams. Wyoming generated 19.3 points per game a year ago on 327.3 total offensive yards per game, 189.4 passing and137.8 rushing. Defensively, the Cowboys allowed 28.3 points per game on 410.6 total yards.

AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2025 CAMPAIGN
The Zips elected senior QB Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) as captain for the second consecutive season. Finley is joined by senior OL Colin Lyons (McKeesport, Pa.), junior DL Julien Laventure (Upper Darby, Pa.) and sophomore DL Cyrus Durham (Atherton, Ca.) as captains in 2025.

PRESEASON HONORS
Five Akron football players have been named to Phil Steele's 2025 preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams. Earning preseason second-team All-MAC honors was WR Alex Adams (Osyka, Miss.). Named to the preseason third-team All-MAC were TE Jake Newell (Springfield, Ore.) and LB Gage Summers (Chandler, Ariz.) followed by a pair of fourth-team recipients in QB Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) and DB Elijah Reed (Louisville, Ky.).

Seven Zips were named to Athlon Sports' 2025 preseason All-MAC teams as WR Alex Adams and TE Jake Newell earned preseason second-team All-MAC accolades. OL Keylen Davis and LB Shammond Cooper earned third-team recognition, while QB Ben Finley, LB Gage Summers and DB Elijah Reed were selected as fourth-team honorees.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron returns 57 players from the 2024 squad - 29 offense, 25 defense and 3 specials.
• The Zips added 46 newcomers - 21 offense, 21 defense and 3 specials.
• The 46 newcomers feature 33 transfers and 13 true freshmen.
•The Zips return 13 starters - 7 offensive starters and 6 defensive starters
• UA enters 2025 on a two-game win streak: def. Kent State (38-17 at Kent) and Toledo (21-14 OT in Akron)
• The Zips have won back-to-back Wagon Wheel games over Kent State and Coach Moorhead is 2-1 in Wagon Wheel games
• Ben Finley returns at QB with key targets, Alex Adams, Myles Walker and Jake Newell
• Daymon David (1) and Elijah Reed (1) recorded 2 of 3 Zips interceptions last season
• Justin Anderson (44), Gage Summers (35) and Reed (32) are top returners for tackles

WHO IS WEARING NO. 1
Senior WR Myles Walker and junior DL Julien Laventure and have emerged as leaders under fourth-year head coach Joe Moorhead and the duo was recently rewarded with the No. 1 jerseys for 2025.

Under Moorhead at Akron, head strength and conditioning coach Orie Sahlfeld identifies one player on each side of the ball that demonstrated their leadership both on and off the field over the course of the spring to earn the privilege of wearing the No. 1 jersey in the Akron Blue and Gold for the 2025 season.

"Coach Moorhead and I spoke about performance and leadership and all the qualities you want in someone in an elite or leadership position," said Sahlfeld. "They earned it all the way from January being accountable, holding their teammates to higher standards, doing all the little things right on a day-to-day basis and being consistent. They have a voice on the team and when they talk people listen. Both are the leaders on their side of the ball when it comes to holding their teammates accountable, having a high standard for themselves and their teammates and bringing people with them and picking people up when they're having bad days."

2025 MAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Toledo (7) -- 135 points                              8. Eastern Michigan -- 68 points
2. Miami (3) -- 131 points                               9. Central Michigan -- 65 points
3. Ohio (3) -- 123 points                                 10. Ball State -- 41 points
4. Buffalo -- 115 points                                   T11. Akron -- 39 points
5. Northern Illinois -- 94 points                      T11. Massachusetts -- 39 points
6. Bowling Green -- 81 points                         13. Kent State -- 12 points
7. Western Michigan -- 71 points                   MAC Champion: Toledo – 6; Miami – 4; Ohio – 3
First Place votes in ( ) | *Coaches were not able to vote for themselves

UP NEXT
The University of Akron football team is scheduled to travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. on the B1G+ Network.

Akron Opens 2025 Season on Thursday Night against Wyoming at InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field

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Players Mentioned

Alex Adams

Justin Anderson

Shammond Cooper

Daymon David

Keylen Davis

Cyrus Durham

Ben Finley

Julien Laventure

Colin Lyons

Jake Newell

Elijah Reed

Gage Summers

Myles Walker

The University of Akron Athletics