Football Opens MAC Play At Central Michigan Saturday

2026 Akron Football

Akron

ZIPS

[1-3, 0-0 MAC]

CENTRAL MICHIGAN

CHIPPEWAS

[2-0, 1-0 NEC]

Date

OCT. 3, 2026

Kickoff

3:30 PM

Location

MT. PLEASANT. MICH.

ESPN+

Watch Listen Live Stats Game Notes

AKRON, Ohio — The University of Akron football team is back on the road for its Mid-American Conference opener at Central Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the contest from Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium live on ESPN+ and the Akron Sports Radio Network via 640 WHLO-AM, the flagship station.

Zips Need to Know

1. Akron starts Mid-American Conference play on the road Saturday at CMU.

2. Akron brings back 59 players from the 2025 squad — 30 offense, 26 defense and 3 specialists.

3. Saturday will mark the 32nd meeting in a series which dates to 1969. Central holds a 19-11-1 edge overall and an 11-4 advantage in Mt. Pleasant. The Zips won the most recent meeting a 28-22 affair inside InfoCision Stadium on Oct. 4, 2025.

4. Fourteen different Zips have caught a pass this season as Akron has completed 91 passes for 805 yards.

5. The Zips' Offensive Coordinator of the Game presented by Arby's Steak Nuggets promotion was the buzz of the college football world leading up to the season. Season ticket holder Marty Whims II will assist football Coach Moorhead in designing the script for Akron's opening drive against Robert Morris on Sept. 12.

How To Follow

Television / Stream	ESPN+
Radio	Akron Sports Network
Live Stats	Live Stats
Game Notes	Akron \| Central Michigan
Instagram	@ZipsFB
X	@ZipsFB

Matchup Comparison

Category	Akron	Robert Morris
Record	1-3, 0-0 MAC	2-2, 0-0 MAC
Head Coach	Joe Moorhead	Matt Drinkall
Scoring Offense	19.5	11.8
Scoring Defense	31.8	27.5
Rushing Offense	136.3	169.8
Passing Offense	201.3	68.8
Total Offense	337.5	238.5
Total Defense	410.3	373.8
Third-Down Conversions	19-50 (38%)	19-54 (35%)
Red-Zone Scoring	11-12 (8-12 TD)	3-5 (2-5 TD)
Sacks	2.0	5.0

Statistics are per game unless otherwise noted.

By The Numbers

Akron has recorded 83 first downs through four games, nine more than its opponents (74).

Streaks, Storylines & Sidebars

Akron football is playing its 127th season in 2026 and is celebrating its 40th season in the NCAA FBS.
The program dates to 1891 and was the first to make the jump from Division I-AA or FCS in 1987.
Former All-American and NFL HOF defensive end, Jason Taylor, was inducted to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame in May.
Head Coach Joe Moorhead is in his fifth season at the helm of the Akron program.
Akron returns 59 players from the 2025 squad — 30 offense, 26 defense and 3 specialists.
The Zips added 48 newcomers — 21 offense, 23 defense and 4 specials.
Of the 48 newcomers, 32 are transfers and 16 are freshmen.
The Zips return 16 starters — 9 offensive starters and 7 defensive starters.
UA ended 2025 on a 3-1 stretch, defeating BGSU, UMass and Buffalo while falling to Kent State
Jordan Gant became the first 1,000-yard rusher since Dennis Kennedy ran for 1,321 yards in 2008. Gant finished the 2025 season with 1,032 yards.
Marcel Williams led the receiving corps in 2025 with 641 yards on 45 receptions while catching two TDs.
Cyrus Durham recorded 8.5 TFL for 24 yards last season, while adding 31 total tackles and three sacks.
Defensive Turnovers mean the return of the Turnover Tire for the team from the Rubber City. A Zips player who corrals a turnover has the honor of wearing a branded tire around his neck on the sidelines.
The Zips' OC of the Game presented by Arby's Steak Nuggets promotion was the buzz of the college football world, generating 6.4-billion media impressions. Season ticket holder Marty Whims II helped design the script and called plays with Coach Moorhead for Akron's opening drive against Robert Morris.
QB Cibastian Broughton started the first three games under center while Brayden Roggow made his first collegiate start vs. UNLV. Broughton did not play against the Rebels and his status is day-to-day.

THE TURNOVER TIRE RETURNS!

Defensive Turnovers mean the return of the Turnover Tire for the team from the Rubber City. A Zips player who corrals a turnover has the honor of wearing a branded tire around his neck on the sidelines.