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I don't expect the Zips to walk into this game feeling like underdogs or being overwhelmed. We have enough experience playing in large venues, and in competitive games, to give us the confidence to compete. Do we have talent that can match up. Yes, I believe we do. Here's why: I believe the Sooners are all looking ahead to TN. They almost have to look ahead. It's a huge road game for them and the Vols are already planning to be decked out in that awful, checkerboard, orange and white. The new offense for Oklahoma that puts the o-line in a 2 point stance, I believe gives the Zips defense an advantage. I look for an aggressive, energized defense to come out strong and try to throw Mayfield off of his game and force him into his notorious poor decision-making patterns. Their backs may break 1 or 2, but I expect a solid performance by the Zips D if the offense can give them the breathers they need. Overall, I am less concerned by the heat than I am the pace. We are all worried about the offense. However, if you look back at some of our games last year, it is easy to see that lack of cohesion from the OL was a major factor. With a more experienced and hopefully improved OL, and an increase focus on the run game, I am hopeful that we can have a more balanced attack. If we can sustain long drives on offense, I believe we can win. If we cannot, the Zips D will wear out, eventually. I expect to see improvements, due to experience on offensive penalties, which will also help our cause. This game may very well come down to special teams. Austin Seibert was the best punter and second best kicker in the country last year, ranked by Kohls, the premiere kicking and punting training organization in the country. However, he is not a big kid. He's 5' 10". I like the punter to be a little taller in case things go amiss. Zach Paul was able to make a couple of very athletic plays last year that saved us from bad situations. Robert Stein had a solid year last year and anticipate similar this year. I think we have the special teams edge, largely due to experience. Siebert might be able to kick a longer FG, but it is a big transition from HS to college, and a reason coaches often prefer to redshirt kids. Zips 24, Sooners 21 ​

23-21 Akron. Ballgame, goodnight everybuddy. Chuck Amato exploits the green offensive line early, and often. The Zips' front seven haras Mayfield the entire game. The Zips offense is able to move the Ball effectively, but not pretty to look at. Oklahoma fans go home extremely upset as Terry Bowden and the Zips pull of the season's biggest upset in Week 1. Call me a homer, but Go Zips!

As JZ84 alluded to, the 2015 Sooners are a much better team than the 2012 Volunteers, 2013 Wolverines or the 2014 Nittany Lions. While they had their problems last year, OU made a big move to fix them by bringing in Riley to install the Air Raid offense. As we witnessed in 2012, this offense can produce big numbers quickly and the Sooners have a kid at QB well versed in running this scheme from his days at Texas Tech. I think this all bodes poorly for the Zips. Even though Akron is as talented as they have been in years they are playing a team that has one proven bona fide stud running back in Perine and a fabled potential stud in Mixon. This has to be a team that has to feel they have something to prove after such a disappointing 2014 following the big bowl win over Alabama. Hopefully, Mayfield is inaccurate and throws a couple of picks. Hopefully, the Akron front 7 can shut down the run game. Hopefully, the Zips secondary can cover OU's talented receiving corps. I think all this needs to happen to even have a shot. On the other side of the ball, who knows what we are going to see. There is absolutely no evidence to even base an opinion or prediction on. Our offensive potential ranges from efficient machine to dumpster fire. I hope I am wrong, but Oklahoma 35 Akron 7

So said the Tennessee Volunteers, and the Ranked Michigan Wolverines and Penn State Nittany Lions.

Chubby guys in bow ties are never wrong. We're in trouble.

Well if it was all nice and friendly until "OUr" *shudder*

at mid majors scared to come to Akron... Winning clearly does not matter to the Akron area, fans don't show up. I played college basketball and when you schedule teams I have never heard of, how in the world do you expect people to come out in the dead of winter for South Carolina State and Lipscomb, come on now.... It's a shame the CSU series was not continued, that was a fun game in both venues. Can't/Ohio are the only conference games that draw....(Toledo?)... Even if we had to pay the Penn States and other lower run Big Ten teams, I cannot image they wouldn't come. They aren't very good, but at least it is a name. 20 win seasons mean nothing when you cannot even put up a decent effort when you make the NCAAs. This program will never advance if they don't compete against big teams, make an NCAA run and start a more challenging schedule.

I disagree with your first segment, and agree with the last. The program KD has built is absolutely not a tough sell. We're sufficiently on national TV (in comparison to our peer programs). Play for championships every year. In an NBA arena. Have recently beaten the likes of Oregon State, South Carolina and USC. The support is fine. Zips fans show up for big games. They don't for tripe. It's no different than anywhere else in comparison to our peer programs. One thing no one has given KD any credit for is his effort to change over time with regards to recruiting. He arrived, and the team was crap. He turned it around with good, hometown/Ohio kids. He recognized the program's growth was limited by doing only this, and opened the door to high-risk/high-reward kids. Those were hit and miss, with more big misses than hits. But the guy tried...there's no blue print for success. And often in college sports you are stuck with the effects of your errors, big or small, for 4 or more years. He had at least 3 players that should have been in the rafters next to Bill Turner and Joe Jakubik...and none of them finished their eligibility at UA. The program evolved again, changing the recruiting focus from relatively "local" kids... to High-risk/High-reward, to now one of a more national scope. HS kids from Texas and Nevada would never have been on a Zips roster over the first 7-8 years. Will it work? I don't know. But the early reports look good. I agree that, now that we allegedly have all these fantastic recruits, our peer programs should also be of elevated stature. We need to begin playing them more often. Home-home. I wish Dambrot embraced the "Gonzaga of the East" comment rather than regretted it. I would bet 70% of the D1 basketball schools wish their program was as tough a sell as Akron's. Even if we'd have won only 19 games last season.