2025 Akron Zips football team

2025 Akron Zips football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	2–5 (1–2 MAC)
Head coach	Joe Moorhead (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Up-tempo spread
Defensive coordinator	Tim Tibesar (4th season)
Base defense	Multiple 4–2–5
Home stadium	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Western Michigan		3	–	0					4	–	3
Buffalo		2	–	0					3	–	3
Miami (OH)		2	–	0					3	–	3
Bowling Green		1	–	1					3	–	3
Central Michigan		1	–	1					3	–	3
Ohio		1	–	1					3	–	3
Ball State		1	–	1					2	–	4
Kent State		1	–	1					2	–	4
Toledo		1	–	2					3	–	3
Akron*		1	–	2					2	–	5
Eastern Michigan		1	–	2					2	–	5
Northern Illinois		0	–	2					1	–	5
UMass		0	–	2					0	–	6
Championship: December 6, 2025
* Ineligible for postseason play due to low APR score As of October 13, 2025

The 2025 Akron Zips football team represents the University of Akron in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Zips are led by Joe Moorhead in his fourth year as the head coach. The Zips play their home games at InfoCision Stadium, located in Akron, Ohio.

Akron is ineligible for postseason play regardless of their final record due to an insufficient Academic Progress Rate, becoming the first FBS team to become ineligible for postseason play due to APR since the 2014 Idaho Vandals. ^[1]

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Jarvis Rush	WR	Alcorn State
Marcus Moore Jr.	DL	Bowling Green
Davion Jennings	DB	Central Connecticut State
Tahj Bullock	QB	Colorado State
Charles Kellom	RB	Eastern Illinois
Garrison Smith	K	Florida Atlantic
Tyhler Williams	OL	Georgia State
Bobby Golden	WR	Louisville
Adrian Norton	WR	Marshall
Jayvin James	OL	Maryland
Joey Hunter	DB	Memphis
Jerrod Burrell	OL	Morgan State
Bryan McCoy	LB	Oklahoma State
Jordon Simmons	RB	Ole Miss
CJ Nunnally IV	DE	Purdue
Antavious Fish	LB	Sam Houston
Phaizon Wilson	WR	UT Martin
Devonte Golden-Nelson	DB	West Virginia
Darrian Lewis	CB	West Virginia
Laurance Seymore	OL	Western Kentucky
Grant Gainer	TE	North Texas
Brian Kilbane Jr.	OL	Unknown
Darius Owens	S	Unknown
Eli Fields	OL	Unknown
Noel Roach	S	Unknown
Andre Proffitt	DL	Unknown
Michael Snowden	LB	Unknown
Ahmarian Granger	WR	Unknown
Roosevelt Mitchell	IOL	Unknown
Silas Proby	CB	Unknown
Isaiah Jones	WR	Unknown

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Cyrus Durham	DE	Arizona
Chris Gee	RB	Colgate
Amarie Archer	OL	East Carolina
Tim Grear	WR	Fresno State
Jamari Somerville	DB	James Madison
Alex Branch	S	Kent State
Maasai King	OL	Lackawanna
Taven Curry	RB	Louisiana–Monroe
DJ Stepney	S	Marshall
Marcel Williams	WR	Marshall
Jayme Simmons	OT	North Alabama
Adam Samaha	K	North Carolina
Mehki Flowers	S	Penn State
Cameron Monteiro	WR	Pittsburgh
Michael Johnson Jr.	QB	Syracuse
Jordan Gant	RB	Tennessee State
Ben Kamara	CB	Upper Iowa
Cam Hollobaugh	LB	Walsh
Brandon Hills	WR	Washington State
Allen Jones Jr.	IOL	West Alabama
Darrell Johnson Jr.	OL	Western Kentucky

^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

Preseason

The MAC Football Kickoff was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan from 9:00 am EDT to 1:30 pm EDT. ^[7]

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 24 the MAC announced the preseason coaches' poll. ^[8]

MAC Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Toledo	135 (7)
2	Miami	131 (3)
3	Ohio	123 (3)
4	Buffalo	115
5	Northern Illinois	94
6	Bowling Green	81
7	Western Michigan	71
8	Eastern Michigan	68
9	Central Michigan	65
10	Ball State	41
T11	Akron	39
T11	Massachusetts	39
13	Kent State	12

Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
Predicted finish	Team	Votes
1	Toledo	6
2	Miami	4
3	Ohio	3

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 28	7:00 p.m.	Wyoming *	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN+	L 0–10	9,138
September 6	7:30 p.m.	at Nebraska *	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	BTN	L 0–68	86,439
September 13	8:30 p.m.	at UAB *	Protective Stadium Birmingham, AL	ESPN+	L 28–31	17,823
September 20	6:00 p.m.	Duquesne *	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN+	W 51–7	8,117
September 27	3:30 p.m.	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN+	L 3–45	24,535
October 4	3:30 p.m.	Central Michigan	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN+	W 28–22	8,995
October 11	12:00 p.m.	Miami (OH)	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN+	L 7–20	6,575
October 18	3:30 p.m.	at Ball State	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN+
October 25	1:00 p.m.	at Buffalo	UB Stadium Buffalo, NY	ESPN+
November 4	7:00 p.m.	UMass	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN2/CBSSN
November 11	7:30 p.m.	Kent State	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH (Wagon Wheel)	ESPN2/ESPNU
November 18	7:00 p.m.	at Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH	ESPN2/ESPNU/CBSSN
*Non-conference game All times are in Eastern time

^[9]

Game summaries

Wyoming

See also: 2025 Wyoming Cowboys football team

Wyoming Cowboys (0–0) vs. Akron Zips (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cowboys	0	3	0	7	10
Zips	0	0	0	0	0

at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, Ohio

• Date: August 28
• Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 9,138
• Referee: Matt Packowski
• TV: ESPN+

Game information
First Quarter No scoring Second Quarter WYO – Erik Sandvick 25-yard field goal, 5:20. Wyoming 3–0.Drive: 6 plays, 54 yards, 2:22. Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter WYO – Chris Durr 35-yard pass from Kaden Anderson (Erik Sandvick kick), 4:21 Wyoming 10–0Drive: 4 plays, 85 yards, 1:49.

Statistics	WYO	AKR
First downs	19	13
Plays-yards	75-426	66-228
Rushes-yards	39-166	28-89
Passing yards	260	139
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19-36-1	16-38-1
Time of possession	33:16	26:44

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Wyoming	Passing	Kaden Anderson	19/36, 260 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Sam Scott	29 carries, 132 yards
	Receiving	Chris Durr	8 receptions, 190 yards, TD
	Defense	Brayden Jackson	8 tackles, INT, PBU, QB hurry
Akron	Passing	Ben Finley	16/38, 139 yards, INT
	Rushing	Marquise Williams	6 carries, 30 yards
	Receiving	Sean Patrick	4 receptions, 47 yards
	Defense	Shammond Cooper	10 tackles, 0.5 TFL

at Nebraska

See also: 2025 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Akron Zips (0–1) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	0	0	0	0	0
Cornhuskers	9	24	21	14	68

at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

• Date: September 6
• Game time: 6:30 PM CDT
• Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind: NW at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
• Game attendance: 86,439
• Referee: Chris Coyte
• TV announcers (BTN): Mark Followill (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst) and Dannie Rogers (sideline)

Game information

First Quarter (12:17) NEB – Emmett Johnson 47-yard run, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 7 plays, 77 yards, 2:39, Nebraska 7-0) (4:44) NEB – Kade Pietrzak safety (Drive: 1 play, 1:25, Nebraska 9-0) Second Quarter (13:56) NEB – Kyle Cunanan 35-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 0:50, Nebraska 12-0) (8:17) NEB – Emmett Johnson 4-yard pass from Dylan Raiola, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 8 plays, 59 yards, 3:44, Nebraska 19-0) (2:08) NEB – Quinn Clark 37-yard pass from Dylan Raiola, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 7 plays, 89 yards, 3:38, Nebraska 26-0) (0:46) NEB – Luke Lindenmeyer 10-yard pass from Dylan Raiola, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 3 plays, 31 yards, 0:55, Nebraska 33-0) Third Quarter (10:49) NEB – Emmett Johnson 6-yard run, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 1:25, Nebraska 40-0) (5:58) NEB – Dane Key 12-yard pass from Dylan Raiola, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 4 plays, 78 yards, 1:30, Nebraska 47-0) (2:37) NEB – Kwinten Ives 28-yard run, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 2:21, Nebraska 54-0) Fourth Quarter (13:01) NEB – Mekhi Nelson 1-yard run, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 1:55, Nebraska 61-0) (7:31) NEB – TJ Lateef 8-yard run, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 4 plays, 43 yards, 1:59, Nebraska 68-0)

Statistics	AKR	NEB
First downs	13	30
Total yards	175	728
Rushing yards	113	234
Passing yards	62	494
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	9-23-0	32-40-0
Time of possession	29:50	30:10

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing	Ben Finley	7/21, 54 yards
	Rushing	Sean Patrick	12 carries, 64 yards
	Receiving	Marcel Williams	2 receptions, 28 yards
Nebraska	Passing	Dylan Raiola	24/31, 364 yards, 4 TD
	Rushing	Emmett Johnson	14 carries, 140 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Jacory Barney Jr.	7 receptions, 132 yards

at UAB

See also: 2025 UAB Blazers football team

Akron Zips (0–2) vs. UAB Blazers (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	17	3	0	8	28
Blazers	14	17	0	0	31

at Protective Stadium • Birmingham, Alabama

• Date: September 13
• Game time: 7:30 PM CDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • Wind: E at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)
• Game attendance: 17,823
• Referee: Marcel Kerr
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst)

Game information

First quarter (14:49) UAB – Solomon Beebe 96-yard kickoff return, Jonah Delange kick (UAB 7–0) (14:38) AKR – Israel Polk 75-yard pass from Ben Finley, Owen Wiley kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11; Tied 7–7) (8:36) AKR – Israel Polk 5-yard pass from Ben Finley, Owen Wiley kick (Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 2:55; Akron 14–7) (4:21) UAB – Nate Rogers 8-yard run, Jonah Delange kick (Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 2:08; Tied 14–14) (1:26) AKR – Owen Wiley 36-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 56 yards, 2:55; Akron 17–14) Second quarter (14:24) UAB – Jonah Delange 44-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 39 yards, 2:02; Tied 17–17) (8:48) UAB – Jevon Jackson 6-yard pass from Jalen Kitna, Jonah Delange kick (Drive: 7 plays, 96 yards, 3:02; UAB 24–17) (1:53) AKR – Owen Wiley 23-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 25 yards, 2:06; UAB 24–20) (0:47) UAB – Corri Milliner 5-yard pass from Jalen Kitna, Jonah Delange kick (Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 1:00; UAB 31–20) Third quarter No scoring plays Fourth quarter (12:38) AKR – Sean Patrick 1-yard run, Ben Finley run (Drive: 12 plays, 83 yards, 5:01; UAB 31–28)

Statistics	AKR	UAB
First downs	21	26
Total yards	441	421
Rushing yards	159	80
Passing yards	282	341
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–35–0	30–44–0
Time of possession	29:58	30:02

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing	Ben Finley	19/35, 282 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Sean Patrick	19 carries, 81 yards, TD
	Receiving	Israel Polk	4 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD
UAB	Passing	Jalen Kitna	30/44, 341 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Jevon Jackson	14 carries, 45 yards
	Receiving	Iverson Hooks	5 receptions, 84 yards

Duquesne (FCS)

See also: 2025 Duquesne Dukes football team

Duquesne Dukes (FCS) (1–2) vs. Akron Zips (0–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Dukes (FCS)	-	-	-	-	0
Zips	-	-	-	-	0

at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, Ohio

• Date: September 20
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Anthony Lima (play-by-play) and Craig Haubert (analyst)

Statistics	DUQ	AKR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Duquesne	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Toledo

See also: 2025 Toledo Rockets football team

Akron Zips (1–3) vs. Toledo Rockets (2–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	0	3	0	0	3
Rockets	14	21	3	7	45

at Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio

• Date: September 27
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)

Statistics	AKR	TOL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Central Michigan

See also: 2025 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

Central Michigan Chippewas (3–2) vs. Akron Zips (1–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	3	7	3	9	22
Zips	0	14	14	0	28

at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, Ohio

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)

Statistics	CMU	AKR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Miami (OH)

See also: 2025 Miami RedHawks football team

Miami RedHawks (2–3) vs. Akron Zips (2–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
RedHawks	0	3	14	3	20
Zips	0	0	0	7	7

at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, Ohio

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)

Statistics	M-OH	AKR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Miami (OH)	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Ball State

See also: 2025 Ball State Cardinals football team

Akron Zips (2–5) vs. Ball State Cardinals (2–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	-	-	-	-	0
Cardinals	-	-	-	-	0

at Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, Indiana

• Date: October 18

Statistics	AKR	BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Buffalo

See also: 2025 Buffalo Bulls football team

Akron Zips (0–0) vs. Buffalo Bulls (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	-	-	-	-	0
Bulls	-	-	-	-	0

at UB Stadium • Buffalo, New York

• Date: October 25

Statistics	AKR	BUFF
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Buffalo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

UMass

See also: 2025 UMass Minutemen football team

UMass Minutemen (0–0) vs. Akron Zips (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Minutemen	-	-	-	-	0
Zips	-	-	-	-	0

at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, Ohio

• Date: November 4
• Game time: 7:00 PM EST

Statistics	MASS	AKR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UMass	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Kent State (Wagon Wheel)

See also: 2025 Kent State Golden Flashes football team and Wagon Wheel (trophy)

Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) vs. Akron Zips (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0
Zips	-	-	-	-	0

at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, Ohio

• Date: November 11
• Game time: 7:30 PM EST

Statistics	KENT	AKR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Bowling Green

See also: 2025 Bowling Green Falcons football team

Akron Zips (0–0) vs. Bowling Green Falcons (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	-	-	-	-	0
Falcons	-	-	-	-	0

at Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, Ohio

• Date: November 18
• Game time: 7:00 PM EST

Statistics	AKR	BGSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bowling Green	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. Jeyarajah, Shehan (May 6, 2025). "Akron handed 2025 bowl ban: Zips flunk out of postseason after failing to meet NCAA academic standards". CBSSports.com . CBS Sports . Retrieved May 6, 2025.
2. "Akron Football Transfer Portal". ON3.
3. "Akron Zips 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.
4. "Zips add 11 on National Signing Day 2024". gozips. December 4, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
5. "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports.
6. "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
7. "2025 Division I FBS Media Days". www.sportswriters.net. FWAA. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
8. "Toledo Selected as Favorite in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 24, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
9. "2025 Akron Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 11, 2025.