catdaddyp

They’ll probably be on ESPN+.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45968911/2025-preseason-college-football-bottom-10 We didn’t land in the Bottom 10 going into Week 1 (or is it still Week 0?), but we did end up on the “Waiting List.” Two of our opponents, though, weren’t as lucky.

If this year’s team can’t at least get to six wins with a schedule that features two three-win G5 teams from last season, an FCS opponent, and five MAC programs breaking in new head coaches, then some changes need to be made.

I’m curious as well. My guess is it’ll be Hull and Laventure—Hull being the best DT in the spring and Laventure subsequently earning the #1 jersey on defense.

He also seems to be a bit of a nomad—hasn’t stuck around at one school for more than a year outside of his GA and playing days.

Looks like we’re down a CBs coach less than a month away from kickoff. Not ideal.

They’re in a similar spot to us along the D-Line right now—either last year’s backups or new transfers will be stepping into starting roles. So, they’re still figuring out exactly what they’ve got. I agree that depth matters, but there’s also a chance the guys who went down weren’t going to be impactful contributors anyway. One was projected to start, but the last time he saw the field was 2023 and even then, it was in a backup role with fewer than 75 snaps all season. If I’m the head coach, I’m more concerned with the trend here—three achilles injuries? That’s not normal. One or two, sure, that happens. But three? I’d be taking a hard look at whatever the strength and conditioning staff is doing with these guys.

Doubt this matters too much at this point, as there’s still plenty of time to figure things out, but Wyoming is already down three defensive linemen for the season—a projected starter at DT, a backup DT, and a backup DE.

Wow, was not expecting that. This kid had offers from a number of big time programs at one point. Not sure if all offers were for QB or a different position, but major recruiting win for this staff.

He certainly said all the right things. Maybe he proves me wrong, but I still dont think he has enough talent and experience on this year’s roster to make much noise. They’ll probably start out with a win in their first game and then lose the next five. The back half of their schedule is definitely more manageable than the front half.

That’s one reason why it’s so important to win this year. We’re right back to two payday games next year—maybe even three Power 5 opponents if UNLV ends up in the PAC. Not sure how accurate this is, but I heard one outlet say the holdup with UNLV moving is because they have some kind of agreement not to leave Nevada behind. We’ll see what happens.

That’s exactly what schools like South Carolina and Illinois are doing with NIL. They know they don’t have the money to compete with the likes of Texas or Ohio State, so they’re using a big chunk of what they do have on retaining current players. Granted, they still have the flexibility to earmark a percentage for incoming recruiting classes — something a program like Akron just can’t afford to do.

Worth a listen.

2024 Rewind: Scott Loeffler decided to make his move to the NFL as a position coach after six seasons with the Falcons and wrapping up 2024 with a 7-6 record. In fairness, Loeffler seemed burned out and probably took Bowling Green as far as he could. Former Ohio State Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George will now attempt to find success as a head coach at the G5 level after finally breaking through at Tennessee State in his fourth year. Recruiting under George: 2025: On3 - 5th in MAC (prep only) 247 - 2nd in MAC Falcons on Offense: All-conference quarterback Connor Bazelak is finally out of eligibility and will be replaced by Missouri transfer Drew Pyne. Pyne’s best year came in 2022 at Notre Dame, but he hasn’t attempted more than 82 passes in a season since then. All-conference running back Terion Stewart has moved on, as has everyone else on the roster who had over 100 yards rushing. It’ll be a completely new group in the backfield, and honestly, it’s anyone’s guess who will be starting. Similar to running back, almost all of the production at receiver is gone. The Falcons brought in six transfers and will supposedly run more two tight end sets this season. Speaking of tight end, Harold Fannin was drafted by the Browns and leaves a huge void at the position. Although, I doubt this year’s offense will be involving the tight ends in the passing game all that often. One area where Bowling Green will have some consistency is along the offensive line, with four out of five starters returning. However, the best lineman from 2024 has moved on, and the four returners were above average at best. The offensive line probably won’t look as good this season without all the playmaking talent that was at the skill positions. Falcons on Defense: The new staff will be moving away from the 3-4 alignment to a more traditional four-man front. The Falcons were absolutely blistered with losses along the defensive line and have brought in a number of transfers, including George’s son, Eriq George, at defensive end. Outside of the coach’s son and returnee Evan Branch-Haynes at defensive tackle, it’s hard to predict how the depth chart will be filled amongst this group of linemen. The only linebacker returning with over 15 total tackles is Myles Bradley, and he’ll likely be moved to defensive end. This will basically be a new group made up of a mix of transfers and seldom-used backups from 2024. Safety Darius Lorfils is the only starter returning to the secondary. Backups Kal-El Pascal and Darius McClendon are expected to step into starting roles, along with Illinois State transfer MJ Cannon and Western Carolina transfer Mateo Studipo. Zach Long returns at kicker after hitting all his extra point attempts and going 13 of 19 on field goals. All-conference punter John Henderson is also back. Position Advantage: Due to Bowling Green being riddled with question marks and inexperience at this point in the year, I have to give most of the position advantages to Akron. That may change by the time this game is played. QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Bowling Green DL - Even LB - Akron DB - Akron ST - Bowling Green Way too Early Prediction: Going into this preview, I thought Bowling Green would be in contention for another six to seven win season. After completing the preview, I think they’ll struggle to reach five wins. There are so many holes and question marks at nearly every position, it’s hard to see this year’s Bowling Green squad being as competitive as they were last season. A lot of praise has been given to Eddie George, and he very well may take the Falcons to the next level—but I don’t think it’ll be in 2025. Nothing in his coaching history suggests that either—his first three seasons at Tennessee State went five wins, four wins, six wins, before finally breaking through with a nine-win season. Akron is always playing their best ball at the end of the season under Moorhead. That, coupled with what should be a down year for Bowling Green, has me thinking Zips win this one 28-20. Season Preview and Prediction Wrap Up: For those keeping track, I’ve predicted the Zips going 8-4. Honestly, that seems ludicrous given the past seven years or so. However, going through and breaking down each game on the schedule gives me reason to believe that it can be done. Playing a much easier out-of-conference schedule and then facing five teams during the conference slate with new head coaches bodes well for the Zips. If there was ever a year to make some noise and change the perception of the program, this is it. It’s well past time for this program to turn the corner. 35 days until kickoff. Let’s see how it all shakes out. Game Day Notes: Bowling Green is down to its fourth quarterback of the season in Washington State transfer Hunter Najm. He wasn’t asked to do much in his last outing, and when the game shifted to the fourth quarter, things started to unravel for him. Still, with ten days to prepare, the Falcons have had ample time to craft a game plan and try to get Najm settled for this matchup. The running back room remains the strength of the offense. They have multiple backs capable of producing chunk plays, and BG would love nothing more than to ride that group all evening. Mizzou transfer Austyn Dendy has taken the lead role of late and brings explosiveness every time he touches the ball. Cameron Pettaway and Chris McMillan rotate in and give the Falcons solid depth. The receiving corps, however, has been all over the place. Tight end Jyrin Johnson — more of a tweener than a traditional inline tight end — is the lone true playmaker. The wideouts have shown they can catch the ball, but outside of that, they rarely offer much in terms of creating after the catch or winning consistently. Up front, the offensive line is built to run the ball. Pass protection has been another story, as they’ve struggled with the rotation of quarterbacks and have surrendered 18 sacks in conference play alone. Defensively, the Falcons are fairly similar to Akron in points allowed and rush yards given up. The biggest gap comes in the pass game. Bowling Green’s secondary has been stingy, but the defensive front hasn’t consistently generated pressure. Akron, on the other hand, has given up plenty of passing yards but is one of the better teams in the MAC at creating pressure. The turnover battle also favors the Zips, as BG has struggled to force them while Akron has been one of the conference’s best in that department. Linebacker Gideon Lampron is one of the best defenders in the MAC, and edge rusher David Afogho provides a real threat off the edge. Defensive backs MJ Cannon and Kal-El Pascal round out a defensive core that can make things difficult for opponents. MAC Stats Only: Finley heads into his final game as the current MAC leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He’s also tied for second in interceptions. Gant leads the conference in rushing yards and needs 54 more to hit 1,000 on the year. Marcel Williams now leads the team in receiving yards and is second in conference action. Mason is ninth in receiving yards and tied for third in touchdowns. Polk is fifteenth in receiving yards and tied for second in touchdowns. Laventure is fourth in tackles for loss and tied for eighth in sacks.

2024 Rewind: Kenni Burns was allowed to complete one of the worst two-year stints in college football, going just 1-23 during that span. Somehow, the team managed to regress following a one-win season, ultimately recording a historically bad 2024 campaign without a single victory. Mark Carney has now been tabbed as the interim head coach and inherits the nearly impossible task of trying to turn the Flashes around with very little recruiting time this offseason. The 2025 class is largely made up of players Burns brought in and leans heavily toward freshmen, making Carney’s job even more uphill from the start. Recruiting under Carney: 2025: On3 - 7th in MAC 247 - 7th in MAC Flashes on Offense: Kent State faces another gauntlet of a schedule, with road trips to Texas Tech, Florida State, and Oklahoma on deck—so who knows who the starters will actually be by the time this game rolls around. That said, it’s likely Fordham transfer CJ Montes will get the nod at quarterback to start the season. Behind him are Devin Kargman and Dru DeShields, both of whom have the tools to be solid players—if they’re ever given the chance to operate without a defender in their lap the moment the ball touches their hands. Minnesota transfer Jordin Nubin will compete for snaps with the oft-injured Gavin Garcia. The two backs should complement each other fairly well—assuming they can stay healthy and the offensive line gives them even a sliver of daylight to work with. Wide receiver might have more talented depth overall, but the unit will likely regress due to the lack of a true go-to target. All-conference receivers Chrishon McCray and Luke Floriea have moved on, leaving behind a massive production void that’ll need to be filled by youth and inexperience. Tight end will be manned by lower-level transfers, but it’s not a huge focal point—Kent hardly utilized the position in the passing game under Carney’s offense anyway. Dustyn Morell is the lone returning starter from what was the worst offensive line in the MAC last season. The rest of the group will be made up of either backups who saw minimal action a year ago or transfers who also struggled to crack the starting lineup at their previous stops. Even if the unit shows some improvement, there’s a good chance it still ends up being the worst offensive line in the conference. Flashes on Defense: It’ll be a new defensive scheme under this staff. According to Carney, this year’s defense will prioritize stopping the run first—marking a shift from last year’s bend-but-don’t-break, turnover-dependent approach. Backup defensive end Antoine Campbell and converted offensive lineman Mason Maddox are expected to step into starting roles. Beyond that, it’ll be a mix of four transfers and a handful of players with little to no experience rounding out the depth chart. Kent does return several linebackers who saw the field last year—that’s the good news. The bad news is that linebacker play left a lot to be desired in 2024, due to injuries and other issues. Mason Woods and true sophomore Nylan Brown are expected to start, but both will need to take significant steps forward if this unit is going to be anything more than a liability again. Safety Tevin Tucker is the lone returning starter in a secondary that struggled to stay healthy and maintain any sort of cohesion from week to week. The rest of the group is expected to be made up of a mix of returning backups, portal transfers who were also backups at their previous stops, and true freshmen. It’s a patchwork unit that will need to grow up fast. Will Hryszko is slated to return at kicker after converting all 15 of his extra point attempts and going 3-for-5 on field goals last season. Charlie Durkin, who didn’t see the field in 2024, will take over punting duties. Position Advantage: QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Akron DL - Akron LB - Akron DB - Akron ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: There’s really no other way to put it—Kent State will probably be the worst team in college football again. Burns went all-in on freshmen, leaving behind a surprisingly solid core of young talent—believe it or not—but then patched the rest of the roster with “players who wanted to be there.” In reality, that meant lower-division players or G5 backups whose only FBS offer came from Kent. If the freshmen happen to ball out, they’ll likely bolt for greener pastures, and the cycle will repeat—holes filled with more freshmen and even less impactful transfers. It’s a brutal, unsustainable model. Mark Carney faces a near-impossible task trying to turn things around under these conditions. Kent’s best hope at a win comes right out of the gate against Merrimack. Outside of that, I just don’t think there’s enough talent or experience on this roster to find another one. Maybe they catch a break and steal a win against a team breaking in a first-year head coach if everything lines up perfectly—but that’s a big maybe. As for the rivalry game, I’m calling for Akron to blow out the Flashes, 45-10. Game Day Notes: Kent State has been fairly effective through the air in conference play, thanks in large part to redshirt sophomore Dru DeShields, who has brought stability to the offense and done a great job protecting the football. He’s thrown for 1,321 yards and 11 touchdowns against just 2 interceptions. The run game has been inconsistent, with Gavin Garcia and Minnesota transfer Jordan Nubin splitting carries. The pair has combined for 590 yards and 2 touchdowns but hasn’t been much of a factor in the passing game. Former running back Cade Wolford has transitioned to the slot and provided a spark with several explosive plays from that spot. Da’Shawn Martin — a player we once offered out of high school — and Wayne Harris are DeShields’ primary targets in the passing game. The rebuilt offensive line has actually held up well in pass protection, but the group has struggled to generate much consistency in the run game. Kent State rotates plenty of bodies on defense and blitz often. While none of the defensive linemen truly stand out, Southern Illinois transfer edge rusher Jamond Mathis has been the top pass rusher on the roster. Linebacker CJ Young leads the team in tackles and has put together an all-conference caliber season. The Flashes have been fairly stout against the run in MAC play, ranking fourth in the conference, but they’ve been torched through the air and have allowed more passing yards than any other team in the league. Mark Carney has Kent State playing well above its talent level, but there are still holes on the roster that simply can’t be masked without more overall talented depth. This is a game Akron should win, even with the Flashes having battled competitively in most of their MAC matchups. Time to start looking at potential All-Conference contenders. Not everyone listed here will ultimately make it, but these are the guys with the best shot from the Zips based on MAC-only stats: Offense - Finley is fourth in the league in passing yards and first in touchdown passes. It’s a six-man race for the three All-MAC quarterback spots, with Roberson (Buffalo), Kim (EMU), Gleason (Toledo), Parker (Ohio), and Finn (Miami) also in the mix. - Gant leads the conference in rushing yards and is on pace to be First Team All-MAC, likely alongside Bangura from Ohio. - Mason and Polk rank tenth and eighteenth in receiving yards, respectively. Mason has a strong case for All-MAC consideration with his four touchdowns (tied for third-most in the conference), while Polk would need a strong finish in receiving yards to earn a spot on an All-Conference team. However, Polk is also tied for third in touchdown receptions, which helps his case. Ma. Williams could work himself into the conversation as well if he strings together a few more performances like this past one. - Up front, Lyons (center), K. Davis (right guard), and King (right tackle) all have a shot to land on an All-MAC team, depending on how the final few weeks play out. Defense - Laventure looks like a lock for First or Second Team All-MAC as he sits fourth in tackles for loss and tied for seventh in sacks. Dall would be in the conversation too, but judging purely by his stats, they’ve dipped a bit in MAC play — though his disruption has not. - Summers and Spriggs could both sneak into the discussion — Summers has been a turnover machine, while Spriggs has come on incredibly strong over the past two weeks. - In the secondary, DeWalt and Reed have both been playing at a high level, but if it came down to one, I’d give the nod to DeWalt.

2024 Rewind: Don Brown was let go before the season ended in his third year with the Minutemen, as they stumbled to a 2-10 finish. He wasn’t able to recapture the same success he had leading UMass during their FCS days. Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak is the new man tabbed to take on the seemingly endless UMass turnaround. Recruiting under Harasymisk: 2025: On3 - 13th in MAC 247 - 13th in MAC Minutemen on Offense: UMass will have a tremendous amount of new faces seeing significant playing time this season, including at quarterback, which will be filled by either Yale transfer Grant Jordan or little-used Utah transfer Brandon Rose. The running back room will be almost completely new and feature mostly youth and inexperience. UTSA transfer Rocco Griffin will be the only player with significant snaps at the G5 level. Ty Harding and Jacquon Gibson return at wide receiver, with USF transfer Tyree Kelly rounding out the starting group. Harding and Gibson combined for 42 catches, 604 yards, and 6 touchdowns last season. Reece Adkins will compete with Illinois transfer Owen Anderson at tight end. The offensive line will be almost entirely new, with only interior lineman Benjamin Roy and tackle Ryan Mosesso returning as starters. As we’ve seen in some other situations, so many new faces at an underperforming position may not actually be a bad thing. Minutemen on Defense: UMass will likely run a different defensive scheme than what “Dr. Blitz” had in place. Three of the four starters up front will be new to the team, with incoming transfers from Jackson State, UConn, Virginia Tech, Maine, McNeese State, and Rutgers all in the mix. Former Zips defensive line coach Nyeem Wartman now holds the same position at UMass. There are questions at linebacker, with no guaranteed starters heading into fall camp. It'll be a competition between transfers and some of last year’s backups to see who earns the job. The secondary is more of the same, with transfers and last season’s backups competing for spots. That said, this group probably has the most upside talent on the defensive side of the ball, despite their lack of overall experience at this level. Cal transfer Derek Morris will take over at kicker, while Texas A&M transfer Keegan Andrew takes over at punter. Position Advantage: I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I don’t see a single position—at least at this point in the offseason—where UMass is a clear favorite over Akron. QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - Even LB - Akron DB - Akron ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: UMass has a lot to figure out on both sides of the ball. Chances are, by the time this game is played, a number of different starters will be on the field compared to who began the season. UMass may be heavily investing in their football program by MAC standards, but I have a hard time seeing many wins on their schedule in 2025. Who knows though—maybe they’ll be the surprise team of the conference this year. Extremely doubtful, but there’s always one or two that catch everyone off guard. I’m sure the UMass fanbase is circling this matchup as a certain win, yet I just don’t think the Minutemen have enough in the tank to pull it out. Also, this is usually the point in the season where things really start clicking for the Zips under Moorhead. I’m calling for Akron to win 30-20. Game Day Notes: Redshirt freshman AJ Hairston remains the starter at quarterback, throwing for 812 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions on the season. He drew significant P4 attention early in his prep career before it became evident the G5 level would be his path. UMass has struggled to find consistent production from the backfield, partly due to injuries that have limited their key players. Colorado transfer Brandon Hood and UTSA transfer Rocko Griffin have combined for 519 yards and four touchdowns. At receiver, Jacquon Gibson has been the most reliable option throughout the year with 358 yards, though it was redshirt freshmen Kenyon Massey — a player we once offered — and Kezion Dia-Johnson who saw the bulk of the targets last game. Dia-Johnson, like Hairston, also had plenty of P4 interest coming out of high school. Up front, the offensive line has been a major problem, giving up 16 sacks in MAC play — the most in the conference. They’ve also surrendered 127 pressures on the year. For comparison, Akron’s allowed 83. Defensively, UMass has held up reasonably well against the run in conference play, but the overall picture hasn’t been nearly as encouraging. The Zips offense should have a chance to put together its best passing performance of the season against a struggling UMass secondary. The Minutemen have surrendered the most total yards and points in the MAC and sit second-to-last in passing yards allowed. To make matters worse, they’re tied for forcing the fewest turnovers in league play. Injuries have taken a major toll on what was supposed to be a revamped defense, though one bright spot has been Dartmouth transfer edge rusher Marques White, who’s been a steady presence up front with five sacks on the year. On the other side, Akron’s defense has quietly become one of the better pass-rushing groups in the MAC, second in the conference in sacks — and honestly, I’m not sure when the last time that could be said. On paper, Akron is a bad matchup for UMass, as the Zips’ strengths line up directly with the Minutemen’s weaknesses. Akron should win this one comfortably. Then again, things rarely come easy for this program, so we’ll see how it all shakes out. Notable MAC only Stats: Finley is third in passing yards and second in touchdowns thrown. Gant is second in rushing yards. Mason is eighth in receiving yards and tied for third in touchdown receptions. Laventure is tied for sixth in tackles for loss and tied for seventh in sacks. DeWalt is tied for fourth in passes defended. Summers is tied for first in interceptions.

2024 Rewind: Buffalo was somewhat of a surprise team in the MAC. Newly hired head coach Pete Lembo made few roster changes to the squad he inherited from Maurice Linguist and still managed to rack up a 9-4 record—mostly due to instilling discipline into a team that rarely turned the ball over on offense and consistently created takeaways on defense. Recruiting under Lembo: 2024: On3 - 9th 247 - 10th 2025: On3 - 6th 247 - 5th Bulls on Offense: Kansas State transfer Ta’Quan Roberson will replace CJ Ogbonna at quarterback. Statistically, Roberson’s 2023 season at UConn was a bit below what Ogbonna produced last year. Not much was expected from Ogbonna heading into 2024, so we’ll see if the Bulls’ staff can work their same magic with Roberson. Al-Jay Henderson is back after racking up 1,078 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2024. Buffalo has an embarrassment of riches at the position, with Lamar Sperling and Messiah Burch backing up Henderson. The Buffalo receiving corps should be more dynamic in 2025. Victor Snow returns after an all-conference campaign, and Nik McMillan—who was potentially in line for a breakout year—also comes back after a season-ending injury. To top it off, the Bulls added a former ZipsNation topic of discussion in reciever Jasaiah Gathings. Tight end will feature a few new faces, although the position typically isn’t utilized much in the passing game. Buffalo’s offensive line wasn’t elite by any stretch, but they did enough to allow the offense to operate effectively. Tyler Doty and Trevor Brock will resume their roles at guard, with Henry Tabansi back at one of the tackle spots. Long Island transfer Jake Timm is expected to take over at center, while career backup James Carrington is slated to claim the other tackle spot. Bulls on Defense: Buffalo returns two of their four starters along the defensive line in Cornell Evans and Second Team All-MAC edge Kobe Stewart. Backups Malin White and George Wolo will likely step into starting roles in 2025. The Bulls easily fielded the best linebacker trio in the MAC last season with Shaun Dolac, Red Murdock, and Dion Crawford. Dolac has moved on, but Murdock and Crawford return, giving Buffalo a pair of all-conference players at the position. The Bulls also added Harvard transfer Michell Gonser, who earned All-Ivy League honors in 2024. Three starters return to a secondary that was often overly aggressive and, quite simply, not very good at limiting yards. That said, they were opportunistic when it came to creating turnovers. The returners are cornerbacks Charles McCartherens and Marques Cooper, along with safety Solomon Brown. Backup SaVeon Brown will likely step in at nickel, with DII transfer Miles Greer expected to round out the group at safety. Jack Howes and Ethan Stumpf are expected to fill in at kicker and punter. Given the emphasis Lembo puts on special teams, it’s a safe bet the Bulls will be solid in that phase once again. Position Advantage: QB - Akron RB - Buffalo WR - Even TE - Akron OL - Buffalo DL - Buffalo LB - Buffalo DB - Even ST - Buffalo Way too Early Prediction: Pete Lembo got way more out of the 2024 offense than anyone expected. They weren’t elite talent-wise, but they rarely turned the ball over and were more disciplined than most of their opponents. The Bulls usually capitalized on their scoring opportunities as well. Despite being more talented on the offensive side of the ball in 2025, that doesn’t guarantee the same type of success—especially if the pendulum swings and turnovers start to become an issue. Defensively, the Bulls should be better, but losing someone like Shaun Dolac in the middle of the defense—who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time—isn’t always an easy replacement. If Buffalo can get similar production from their front seven and the secondary takes a step forward, we may be looking at one of the better defensive units in the conference. Last year, Moorhead admitted after the game that it took the staff until the third quarter to figure out the confusion Buffalo’s first-year defensive coordinator was causing the Zips’ offense. From there, the Akron offense got rolling, but it was too late—the defense already allowed a whopping 38 points. The chances of that happening again are unlikely, but this year’s game is being played in Buffalo, and the Bulls have more talent on this year’s team. I think Akron drops a fairly close one, 27-21. Game Day Notes: Not much has changed since the preseason outlook for Buffalo. Ta’Quan Roberson has been steady at quarterback, completing 60% of his passes with 10 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. He’s also capable of making plays with his legs, adding two rushing scores and a long run of 40 yards. Al-Jay Henderson has handled most of the workload at running back, totaling 477 yards and 4 touchdowns. That said, Akron native Lamar Sperling has been the more explosive option when given chances. Buffalo’s strength lies in its receiving corps, led by the trio of Vic Snow, Nik McMillan, and former Zip Jasaiah Gathings. Snow is as dynamic as any receiver in the MAC — he consistently creates separation and has a knack for making the first defender miss. The Bulls’ offensive line has been reliable this season. They’ve been excellent in pass protection, giving up just eight sacks all year, and have the size and athleticism to open some lanes in the run game. Defensively, it’s hard to argue against Red Murdock being the best linebacker in the MAC. His running mate, Dion Crawford, has been solid as well. One area where Buffalo doesn’t quite stack up is in getting after the quarterback. It’s actually one of the few spots where Akron statistically holds an advantage. As one would expect from a Lembo-coached team, Buffalo features some of the better special teams play in the MAC. Without sounding like a homer, I can’t realistically pick Akron to win this one. However, Buffalo has had trouble putting away the lower-tier teams in the MAC, with close wins over Kent (31-28), EMU (31-30), and UMass (28-21). If that trend continues and Akron can put together a performance similar to the CMU game, the Zips could very well find themselves on the right side of the scoreboard today.

2024 Rewind: Ball State parted ways with Mike Neu before the season officially wrapped, ending his ninth year at the helm with a 3-9 record. In his place, former Butler head coach Mike Uremovich takes over and is tasked with breathing new life into a program that’s been stuck in neutral. Recruiting under Uremovich: 2025: On3 - 9th in MAC 247 - 10th in MAC Cardinals on Offense: After what felt like years of the Ball State fanbase clamoring to see more of Kiael Kelly, they'll finally get their wish. Uremovich favors mobile quarterbacks and isn’t shy about dialing up designed runs for them. Kelly may not be among the MAC’s most accurate passers, but there’s no denying his ability to make things happen with his legs. Kennesaw State transfer Qua Ashley has already proven himself as an all-conference kick returner and now gets the chance to carve out a role as an every-down back. If Ashley can’t lock down the job, redshirt sophomore TJ Horton is the likely next man up. The offense will look entirely different from last year’s version that leaned heavily on tight end Tanner Koziol in the passing game. That might not be a bad thing, considering Ball State returns very little proven production at receiver or tight end. Bucknell transfer Eric Weatherly is one to keep an eye on as a potential breakout candidate. The offensive line is a concern with just one starter returning in offensive tackle Chris Hood. Butler transfer Adam Dolan is expected to start on the opposite side. If fully healthy, Tristan Cook should slot in somewhere, but he missed all of 2024 with a medical redshirt. Beyond those three, it’s anyone’s guess who rounds out the rest of the depth chart. Cardinals on Defense: Somewhat similar to the Zips, Ball State will be rolling out an almost entirely new defensive line loaded with five transfer players. Bryant transfer Nathan Voorhis should lock down one end spot, while returning starter Drew Hughes reprises his role in the interior. From there, the Cardinals will mix and match to find their best combinations across the remaining spots. Ball State lost its top tacklers, but do return linebacker Joey Stemler who collected 56 total tackles last season. Backup Jack Beebe will have the first crack at claiming a starting spot. The secondary returns just one starter in Willizhaun Yates. Four transfers are expected to step into starting roles—Old Dominion’s Ashton Whitner, Bucknell’s Roman Pearson, Coastal Carolina’s Deondre Shepherd, and Western Michigan’s Michael Gravely. Carson Holmer and Cole Stumbaugh are expected to take over kicking and punting duties, respectively. Position Advantage: QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - Even LB - Ball State DB - Akron ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: Like I mentioned in the last preview, Akron has had a tough time containing mobile quarterbacks. That said, Kiael Kelly isn’t quite in the same category as some of the other dual-threat guys we’ve faced—like Dequan Finn or Parker Navarro. He also won’t have the same kind of supporting cast those two had the last time we saw them. With so many question marks across the board on offense, it’s hard to imagine Uremovich’s scheme will be firing on all cylinders in year one. Ball State will also be rolling out a ton of new faces on defense, and there’s a chance we see a new scheme on that side of the ball as well. Depth could be a real concern in 2025, especially as the season wears on. Despite this game being on the road at Ball State, it feels like one Akron should win. Moorhead has now had four recruiting cycles to elevate the talent level in Akron, and this should be the best offense we’ve seen under his watch—with the most overall talent across multiple positions. Against a rebuilding program in year one, the Zips ought to have the upper hand. I think Akron takes care of business and walks away with another conference win, 27–17. Game Day Notes: Ball State has been opportunistic on offense this season, but the passing game has been a clear weakness, averaging only 124 yards per contest. Quarterback Kiael Kelly leads the team in both passing and rushing attempts. He’s thrown for 725 yards with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while also carrying the ball 95 times for 273 yards and 2 scores. Transfer running back Qua Ashley, however, has been the most productive on the ground, tallying 333 yards and 3 touchdowns. Passes have been spread around to a number of different players, though receivers Magwood, Weatherly, and Hamilton have seen the bulk of the targets. Ashley has also been a reliable option out of the backfield. The offensive line has been one of the weakest units in the MAC so far, allowing 20 sacks and frequently struggling to open up running lanes. Statistically, the two defenses are fairly similar in terms of points and yards allowed. The biggest difference is that most of Ball State’s sack production has come from one player — UConn transfer Nathan Voorhis. Voorhis has already recorded 8 sacks and even led the nation in that category earlier this season. From my perspective, if Akron can control field position and limit costly mistakes, the Zips should come away with another conference win. Ball State has struggled to generate explosive plays and the odds of their offense sustaining long drives are slim. It’s a matchup where Akron’s defense should be able to control the line of scrimmage, but the offense will need to do its part and put enough points on the board.

2024 Rewind: Miami started slow, dropping their first three games—all against Power Four opponents. From there, the RedHawks found their rhythm, ripping off eight wins with the only blemish coming against Toledo. They were overwhelmed in the MAC Championship Game but responded with a dominant bowl win over Colorado State, finishing the season at 9-5. Chuck Martin enters his 12th season guiding the RedHawks and is now widely considered one of the top coaches in the MAC. Recruiting under Martin: *IN MAC* 2014: On3 - 6th 247 - 12th 2015: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2016: On3 - 2nd 247 - 3rd 2017: On3 - 4th 247 - 6th 2018: On3 - 12th 247 - 11th 2019: On3 - 2nd 247 - 2nd 2020: On3 - 5th 247 - 5th 2021: On3 - 7th 247 - 3rd 2022: On3 - 2nd 247 - 1st 2023: On3 - 9th 247 - 7th 2024: On3 - 3rd 247 - 3rd 2025: On3 - 4th 247 - 3rd RedHawks on Offense: Miami faced the challenge of replacing First Team All-MAC quarterback Brett Gabbert this offseason. They may have done more than just fill the void, potentially upgrading the position with 2023 MAC Player of the Year DeQuan Finn. Keyon Mozee, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, has moved on. Virginia Tech transfer Jordan Brunson is expected to split snaps with Kenny Tracy, who missed all of 2024 due to injury. The RedHawks went portal crazy at receiver this offseason, with nearly all of their 2024 production now gone. Notre Dame transfer Deion Colzie, Florida State transfer Darion Williamson, and Washington transfer Keith Reynolds are among the names expected to push for starting reps. At tight end, Iowa transfer Grant Leeper appears to have the inside track. Miami finds itself in an unusual spot heading into 2025 without a single returning starter along the offensive line. Stanford transfer Austin Uke is expected to slot in on the interior, while former backup Greg Smith should take over one of the guard spots. Beyond that, the RedHawks will be relying on a heavy dose of youth and inexperience to step up. RedHawks on Defense: Miami seems to field a stout, physical defense every year regardless of who’s wearing the jersey. They’ll need to do it again in 2025, as the entire starting defensive line from last season is gone. The RedHawks do return a pair of key contributors in Nasir Washington and Adam Trick, both of whom saw significant action and will look to step into full-time starting roles. All-MAC linebackers Matt Salopek and Ty Wise have moved on, leaving behind a production void. Part-time starters Corban Hondru and Oscar McWood are back to provide some stability at a position with question marks. Three starters are back in the secondary, including safeties Silas Walters and Eli Blakely, along with cornerback Luke Evans. Blakely earned Third Team All-MAC honors last season. Versatile part-time starter Mychal Yharbrough also returns and can line up just about anywhere in the defensive backfield. Dom Dzioban returns for his senior season and is in line to handle either the kicking or punting duties, depending on how the competition plays out. Position Advantage: QB - Miami RB - Even WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - Miami LB - Miami DB - Miami ST - Miami Way too Early Prediction: Miami could stumble out of the gate with so many new faces on offense. That said, this is the perfect year to have DeQuan Finn under center. He’s a true difference maker—capable of turning nothing into something—and his playmaking ability will likely make this offensive line look better than it really is. On defense, there’s enough depth for the RedHawks to remain solid. They may not be elite by G5 standards, but the unit should be good enough to keep them in just about every MAC matchup. If there was ever a year to get Miami, this is it. But we’ve consistently struggled against mobile quarterbacks, and if Finn is healthy and running the show, that’s a tough matchup for the Zips. I think this one turns into a low-scoring grind, with Miami escaping 16-14. Game Day Notes: DeQuan Finn has struggled at times this season, but is at his best when plays break down. The former MAC Player of the Year gives Miami a weapon on offense that few teams can offer. For Akron to have a shot in this one, the Zips will need to contain Finn and slow down Miami’s ground game. Miami has several very capable running backs, but injuries in recent weeks have taken their toll. It remains to be seen who ends up shouldering the bulk of the workload. Kam Perry has been the go-to target in the passing game, already racking up 428 yards on the season. However, Miami isn’t short on talent — several other receivers are more than capable of making plays at any time. Miami has battled injuries along the offensive line and won’t enter this game at full strength. Akron’s defensive front will need to take advantage of that and look to create some disruption. The RedHawks have plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball and are led by defensive end Adam Trick, linebacker Jackson Kuwatch, and defensive back Eli Blakely. If I’m not mistaken, Miami’s special teams have scored touchdowns in each of the past three weeks. I believe Miami is the best team left on the schedule. Akron will likely need to play close to mistake-free football to have a chance, as points and yards will probably be hard to come by. I’m still picking Miami to win, but hopefully I’m wrong and the Zips can build off last week’s momentum and find a way to get it done. Zips yearly individual stats and how they currently stack up against the rest of the MAC: Finley is 3rd in passing yards and tied for 3rd in passing touchdowns. Gant is tied for 3rd in total rushing yards. Mason is 6th in receiving yards while Polk is 13th. Cooper is 12th in total tackles. Dall is 7th in sacks. Durham and Laventure are tied for 13th. DeWalt is 2nd in passes defended with Dall tied for 3rd. Reed is tied for 7th in interceptions.

Roster has been updated. A few notes: freshman Brown-Demery is listed as a DL instead of an OL—we’ll see if that sticks over the coming years. Also, defensive backs Proby and Greenwood are no longer listed on the roster. Greenwood played significant snaps for us last year and I thought he was in line to start at nickel this coming season.

I believe they are walk-ons.

2024 Rewind: Jim McElwain retired after leading the Chips to a 4-8 record at the conclusion of his sixth season in Mt. Pleasant. It was a year full of injuries and frustration for CMU. Matt Drinkall, the former Army offensive line coach, has been tasked with turning the ship around in Mt. Pleasant. He inherits a program that’s lost some of its edge in recent years. Recruiting under Drinkall: 2025: On3 - 11th in MAC 247 - 9th in MAC Chips on Offense: CMU will look different offensively, and it’s likely some of the starters will routinely change as Drinkall works to find the right fits for his new scheme. Joe Labas is expected to start again, though he didn’t show much in limited spring game action. Labas threw for 1,114 yards with 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on 59% passing last season before going down with an injury. Behind him is Jayden Glasser, who I thought was the best prep quarterback prospect in the MAC from the 2024 class. Running back is up for grabs, as CMU returns very little production at the position. Defensive back turned running back Nahree Biggins will compete with Tulane transfer Trey Cornist for early snaps as the staff looks to sort out the backfield. Wide receiver is wide open as well, with no returning player logging more than 25 receiving yards a year ago. That said, Langston Lewis and Tommy McIntosh look like the most likely starters heading into the season. Decorian Temple will reprise his role at tight end, though he’s rarely been involved in the passing game to this point. The Chips return just one full-time starter and another part-time starter up front—which might not be the worst thing for a unit Drinkall will demand more from. CMU’s offensive line graded out in the bottom tier of the MAC last season, per PFF, and will need to take a big step forward for the offense to find any kind of rhythm. Chips on Defense: It remains to be seen what scheme Drinkall ultimately decides to go with, but CMU does return both starting ends from last year’s three-man base front in Michael Heldman and Kade Kostus. The duo combined for 52 total tackles and 5.5 sacks and should provide some stability up front. Nose tackle is a different story—options there are limited to players who saw fewer than 70 snaps or none at all at the G5 level. Linebacker will be a strength of the defense, led by All-MAC Second Team selection Jordan Kwiatkowski. He’s the clear anchor of the group and will likely be joined by former backups Dakota Cochran and Fernando Sanchez, who now step into larger roles. The secondary returns plenty of production, including both starting safeties in Caleb Spann and Elijah Rikkard. Starting cornerback Jaion Jackson is also back, giving the unit a solid foundation. Backups Aakeem Snell and Brenden Deasfernandes figure to round out the starting group, at least early on. The Chips will role out new specialists in kicker Cade Graham and left footed punter Declan Duley. Position Advantage: Outside of offensive line, Akron should hold a clear advantage across the board on offense. Defense is a different story—CMU holds the edge on that side of the ball, particularly in the front seven. QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - CMU LB - CMU DB - CMU ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: CMU reminds me of the Buffalo situation last year—except the Chips have less overall talent. For CMU to win games, they’ll need to lean heavily on the run game, limit turnovers, and squeeze every bit of production they can out of this roster. Defensively, there’s reason for optimism. With a good chunk of production returning, CMU has a shot to be solid on that side of the ball. If the defense can keep games within reach, the Chips should at least be able to stay competitive in the MAC. The last time CMU visited Akron, the Zips were marching for a game‑winning drive when the quarterback and running back botched the mesh point—each thinking the other had the ball. A CMU lineman scooped it up and lumbered 60 plus yards to the end zone, untouched, with no Zip in position to catch him. That won’t be the case this season. Akron should be able to exploit a coach in his first year of MAC play still finding his footing and a CMU roster that doesn’t boast overwhelming talent in 2025. Most media are higher on CMU than I am this season. I’m calling a Zips win, 21-17. Game Day Notes: CMU has rotated quarterbacks for much of the year but seems to have settled on Labas and Flores. When Labas is under center, they throw it about 65% of the time, while Flores’ snaps are heavily run-oriented — 81% of his plays have been runs. Outside of Flores, Biggins and Cornist have handled most of the work on the ground, each averaging over four yards per carry. Biggins has also been a reliable option as a receiver out of the backfield. In the passing game, McIntosh and Lewis are the primary threats, while tight end DeCorian Temple is a name to keep an eye on in the red zone. Whether it’s more about scheme or personnel, this offensive line is noticeably stronger in the run game than in pass protection. If the Chips think they can establish the run against an opponent, they’ll lean into it — and the passing game will take a back seat. Most of CMU’s pass rush comes from one source — defensive end Michael Heldman. No one else on the roster has come close to matching the kind of pressure he’s generated in 2025. While CMU doesn’t boast an elite defense and has been about average overall, the unit has tackled well. Despite the overall record, we’ve got a few players who are tracking toward all-conference seasons — RG Davis, DE Dall, LB Cooper, CB DeWalt, and CB Reed. Hopefully the team can bounce back today and put together a strong performance against an opponent that’s very beatable, as long as we stay within striking distance.

2024 Rewind: Toledo was a bit of an enigma in 2024. The Rockets arguably had the most talent of any team in the MAC and a favorable schedule that could have positioned them for a College Football Playoff push. Instead, they stumbled to a 8-5 finish with puzzling losses to WKU, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Akron. They did manage to finish on a high note with a wild six-overtime bowl win over a depleted Pittsburgh squad. Jason Candle returns for his 10th season and remains one of the most respected coaches in the MAC. Toledo continues to sit near the top of the conference when it comes to institutional support and resources dedicated to football. Recruiting under Candle: *IN MAC* 2016: On3 - 3rd 247 - 2nd 2017: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2018: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2019: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2020: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2021: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2022: On3 - 6th 247 - 6th 2023: On3 - 5th 247 - 5th 2024: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st 2025: On3 - 1st 247 - 1st Rockets on Offense: Tucker Gleason is expected to be the starter again after putting up 2,793 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions while completing 60.5% of his passes last season. While those numbers are solid, Gleason's inconsistency at times was a source of frustration for the fanbase—and, as is often the case, there was a vocal segment calling for backup John Alan Richter to get more reps. Richter may be the more polished passer, but Gleason brings added mobility to the position, which gives the offense a different dimension. Running back play wasn’t up to par in 2024, due in large part to injuries and the departure of Peny Boone via the transfer portal. Unlike in 2023—when the Rockets could wear teams down with a bruising ground game led by Boone and the dual-threat ability of DeQuan Finn—Toledo lacked that same punch last fall. To address the issue, the Rockets dipped into the portal and added Kentucky transfer Chip Trayanum and NC A&T transfer Kenji Christian. Both backs bring more explosiveness than what was mostly available a year ago and should help reestablish a more dynamic rushing attack. All-MAC First Team selection Jerjuan Newton is off to the NFL, and while his production will be missed, the Rockets appear to have enough firepower to fill the void collectively. Junior Vandeross, another All-MAC First Teamer, returns as the go-to option, and Toledo added a proven playmaker in NIU transfer Trayvon Rudolph. The receiving corps also gets a boost at tight end with the addition of Jacob Peterson, who posted nearly 500 receiving yards at Holy Cross last season. An offensive line that was strong in pass protection, but often struggled to open holes in the run game returns three of its starters. Pittsburgh transfer Terence Moore is expected to step in at one of the vacant interior OL spots, while part-time starter Stephen Gales will look to lock down a starting role at tackle. Rockets on Defense: The defensive line lost all four starters, leaving the door wide open for new faces to step in and claim significant snaps. On the interior, there’s a bit more stability with the return of Martex Poynter and Essam Carter—two backups from last season who saw meaningful action and combined for 46 total tackles and 4.5 sacks. On the edges, former backup Malachi Davis is expected to take on a larger role, while UMASS transfer Louce Julian should slot in opposite him as a projected starter. Linebacker took a major hit, with the Rockets losing almost all of their production from last season. Backups Damon Ollison and Chris D’Appolonia are expected to step into starting roles after combining for just 20 total tackles in 2024. There’s plenty of potential - and uncertainty - at the position, and how quickly they adjust to increased responsibilities could go a long way in determining the defense’s overall effectiveness. Toledo’s secondary went from elite in 2023 to very good in 2024 after losing some standout defensive backs and their secondary coach, who left for Illinois. Even so, the Rockets still have plenty of talent on the backend and should be strong again this season with almost all of their starters returning. When it comes to recruiting defensive backs, Toledo has been second to none in the MAC, and that pipeline continues to pay dividends. Zips fans are familiar with returning kicker Dylan Cunanan, who was excellent during much of the season. Starting punter Emilio Duran is also back, giving Toledo stability in the kicking game heading into 2025. Position Advantage: Both quarterbacks are pre-season All-MAC selections. Neither team has many running backs that have proven much at the G5 level and linebacker is still to be determined. Akron holds the advantage at tight end, whereas Toledo holds position advantages every where else. QB - Even RB - Even WR - Toledo TE - Akron OL - Toledo DL - Toledo LB - Even DB - Toledo ST - Toledo Way too Early Prediction: Toledo’s ground game ought to be much improved, and if that proves true, the Rockets will look a lot more like the 2023 squad than the inconsistent version we saw in 2024. Defensively, Toledo lost plenty of production and key contributors, but there’s still enough talent on the roster to remain one of the better units in the MAC. There’s always a vocal group of Toledo fans who view every loss as the Rockets simply underperforming—rarely giving much credit to the opponent. In the case of last year’s Akron/Toledo matchup, that group would mostly be right. Akron played well enough to win, but absolutely needed some help from Toledo to pull it out. It’ll be tough for Akron to catch the Rockets off guard again, especially with the game coming earlier in the season, at Toledo, and last year’s result still lingering. I say Rockets get their revenge, 31-17. Game Day Notes: TOLEDO: Quarterback Tucker Gleason has been steady or better in every outing this year except for the WMU game, where he just wasn’t very good. As you’d expect, plenty of Rocket fans were calling for their backup, “JAR,” to ride in and save the day, but that moment never came. Kentucky transfer Chip Trayanum has been a force in the backfield, piling up 401 yards and 5 touchdowns already. Toledo probably boasts the most talented wide receiver group in the MAC, but the offense has leaned heavily on the ground game—even with a difference-maker like Junior Vandeross split out wide. A big piece of that is the offensive line, which has had its fair share of struggles protecting the passer. The Rockets currently sport the best defense in the conference and have only given up 14.8 points per game. Linebacker K’Von Sherman (former JUCO) leads the Rockets in tackles with 30 total. I thought Sherman was the best linebacker recruit in the 2024 MAC class when it came to Rivals’ HS/JUCO classification. At this point, everyone knows who’s been playing well and who hasn’t for Akron, so I won’t harp on that going into this matchup. What I’ll be watching for is pretty straightforward: Can we move the ball with any kind of efficiency against what looks like the best defense we’ll face outside of Nebraska? Can we slow down the run, force the Rockets to throw, and generate pressure against a line that’s been shaky in pass protection? And lastly, field position feels like it’s going to be huge—where drives start could end up being the difference in whether we have a shot at pulling this one off.

2024 Rewind: Duquesne went 8-3 last season, co-winning the NEC (FCS) championship. Their only losses came against Toledo, Boston College, and their season finale to Central Connecticut State. They’re led by Jerry Schmitt, who’s been at the helm since 2005. Recruiting under Schmitt: N/A for FCS schools. Dukes on Offense: The Dukes will break in a new quarterback following the graduation of Darius Perrantes, with several different players currently in the mix for the starting job. In the backfield, Taj Butts and Shawn Solomon are expected to split carries after the spring departure of All-NEC running back JaMario Clements to Wake Forest. The duo combined for 531 yards and two touchdowns last season. Joey Isabella returns as the clear top target in the passing game after an All-NEC campaign that saw him haul in 41 receptions for 741 yards and 11 scores. Beyond Isabella, though, there’s not much proven production at wide receiver. Tight end Daniel Tarabrella is penciled in as the starter, but he’s primarily used as an extra blocker. Up front, the offensive line should be a strength. All five starters are back, including All-NEC selections Brian Beidatsch, Michael Fallah, and Cameron McLaurin. Dukes on Defense: Almost all of Duquesne’s defensive line production returns, highlighted by All-NEC performers A.J. Ackerman at defensive tackle and Jack Dunkley at defensive end. The pair combined for 45 total tackles and 10 sacks in 2024 and should anchor a strong front. Linebacker is where the biggest changes come. Former Kent State transfer Luke Miller saw part-time action last season and is expected to step into a full-time role. The other spot is still up for grabs between Murray State transfer Tyson Meiguez and Maine transfer Jabari Odoemenem. The secondary should again be a strength. All-NEC defensive backs Antonio Epps and DJ Cerisier return, with Epps holding down one safety spot and Cerisier locking up one of the corners. TJ Jones is back at the other safety spot, while part-time starter Jaelen Carson is expected to fill in at the corner opposite Cerisier. 2024 backup Malachi Lowery should slide into the nickel role. The Dukes will roll out a new starting kicker and punter this season. Position Advantage: Akron holds a talent and experience advantage across the board—except at the lines of scrimmage, defensive back, and special teams. That said, by the time Week 4 rolls around, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Zips prove to be better in all of those areas as well. QB - Akron RB - Akron WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Duquesne DL - Duquesne LB - Akron DB - Even ST - Even Way too Early Prediction: It’ll be a nice reprieve to see a matchup against an FCS school at this point in the season instead of a power conference opponent. That said, Duquesne has consistently won games at the FCS level and could present more of a challenge than expected. Offensively, the Dukes likely won’t be as potent as they were in 2024. Replacing a highly productive starting quarterback, an All-NEC running back, and multiple receivers is no small task. The silver lining for them is the return of their entire offensive line—arguably one of the better units in the FCS—which should provide some stability while the skill positions get sorted out. Defensively, while Duquesne may not match Akron's overall talent level, they bring back a ton of experience. That continuity makes them a tougher out than most expect from an FCS squad. Going through Duquesne’s roster was actually refreshing—a reminder that not every program has been gutted by the portal. They’ve stuck with a more traditional model, building through prep prospects and only sprinkling in a few transfers. Still, I don’t think the Dukes have enough in the tank to knock off Akron unless the Zips completely lay an egg. I expect a competitive first half before Akron’s depth and talent start to take over. Give me the Zips, 31–20. GAME DAY NOTES: Duquesne Offense: Tyler Riddell is the starting quarterback after previous stops at East Tennessee State and Gardner-Webb. He’s thrown for 604 yards with eight touchdowns against just one interception. The run game has been more of an afterthought, as the top two backs have combined for only 42 carries through three games. Barring injury, Joey Isabella looks like a lock for another all-conference season, already putting up 319 yards and three touchdowns on 22 receptions. No other receiver has more than seven catches. Up front, the offensive line has surrendered six sacks, though four of those came in one game against Pittsburgh. Left tackle Brian Beidatsch has stood out. Defense: Jack Dunkley has been a force off the edge, while Maine transfer linebacker Jabari Odoemenem has been one of the Dukes’ best players, leading the team with 20 tackles. The secondary hasn’t lived up to expectations so far, struggling at times both in coverage and in tackling. ST: Duquesne has rotated three different punters with mixed results. Kicker Matt Marcinko is 1-for-1 on field goals, with a long of 35 yards. Akron Notes: Through three games, right guard K. Davis and right tackle King have graded out as the top performers on offense, while linebacker Cooper holds the highest mark on defense. Cooper also leads the team in tackles. Defensive end Dall and defensive tackle Laventure have been credited with six pressures a piece. No one else has more than three. Dall also has three passes defended which is as much as anyone in the secondary. On Zips Weekly, Moorhead attributed the missed field goals to protection issues. My view on this game hasn’t really shifted since the preseason. Duquesne isn’t the same team they were a year ago, but we’ll still need to play well to win.

2024 Rewind: The Blazers took a step back in Trent Dilfer’s second season. After winning four games in year one, UAB only managed three wins in year two. Those three wins came convincingly over Alcorn State, Tulsa, and Rice—two of which have new head coaches in 2025. All of UAB’s losses came in convincing fashion, with the exception of a two-point loss to Charlotte. Coincidentally, Charlotte also has a new head coach this season. Recruiting under Dilfer: 2023: On3 - 9th in AAC 247 - 10th in AAC 2024: On3 - 11th in AAC 247 - 9th in AAC 2025: On3 - 13th in AAC 247 - 11th in AAC Blazers on Offense: Former Florida quarterback Jalen Kitna is back for his second season in Dilfer’s offense. The redshirt senior threw for 2,209 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and completed 62% of his passes in 2024. Kitna is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the AAC, with most publications including him in their preseason All-AAC selections. UTEP transfer Jevon Jackson is expected to start at running back. Jackson was an FCS All-American before transferring to UTEP, where he rushed for 754 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’ll split snaps with returning senior Isaiah Jacobs. Redshirt sophomore Corri Milliner is UAB’s most productive returning receiver. Milliner posted 24 receptions for 416 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. Former consensus 4-star Kaleb Brown transferred in from Iowa (originally committed to Ohio State) and will attempt to live up to his potential, while the tight end position will be littered with new faces and minimal experience. Quarterback Jalen Kitna will be playing behind a less experienced offensive line that gave up 33 sacks last season. However, two of the returning starters are dependable—center Brady Wilson and former South Carolina tackle JonDarius Morgan. New starting guards Calib Perez and Barry Walker combined to play just 86 snaps as backups. Former Wagner offensive tackle Brandon Sneh is expected to start after spending the spring at Kansas State before transferring a second time to UAB. Blazers on Defense: The Blazers’ pass rush in 2024 was on par with Akron’s, to give a general idea of their effectiveness. UAB’s run defense was horrendous, and they struggled to stop most teams from scoring. Supposedly, the bulk of their NIL funds went toward upgrading the defensive line, and they’ve added five transfers. Three of the four projected starters will be newcomers—Old Dominion transfer Amorie Morrison, Boston College transfer Nigel Tate, and Sam Houston transfer Denver Warren (who originally committed to Bowling Green out of high school). A returner that is expected to start is former backup James Smyre, who collected 9 total tackles and 2 sacks last season. UAB lost nearly all of its production at linebacker and have turned to the portal for replacements. Eli Ennis will be one starter and he was an FCS All-American at Nicholls. The other starting linebacker will be Idaho State transfer Calvin Pitcher. The Blazers’ secondary didn’t allow many yards per game, but that was partially because most opponents were able to run the ball at will. Regardless, UAB brought in five portal defensive backs this cycle and returns just one starter—safety Sirad Bryant. Bryant collected 59 total tackles and one interception. Not overly impressive numbers, but PFF graded him well in pass coverage. Backup safety AJ Brown will move into a starting role, and backup cornerback Donald Lee will also step into a starting spot. Pittsburgh transfer Tamarion Crumpley is expected to start opposite Lee, while Maryland transfer Perry Fisher is slated to start at the “star” position. Kicker Jonah DeLange and punter Patrick Foley are back. The duo had a strong year and so did the rest of UAB’s special teams. They should be solid again. Position Advantage: The positions turned out to be closer than I expected upon a deeper dive. I think Akron holds a distinct advantage at wide receiver and tight end, and a small advantage at defensive back. The rest of the rosters are either up for debate or have so many question marks at this point that it’s hard to call. QB - Even RB - Even WR - Akron TE - Akron OL - Even DL - Even LB - Even DB - Akron ST - UAB Way too Early Prediction: There’s a strong possibility this will be Dilfer’s last season at UAB. It’s hard to fathom this Blazers squad pulling out more than 3–4 wins again. Akron should be able to move the ball fairly proficiently against an almost completely rebuilt UAB defense. This would be a good time for Moorhead to become stubborn and run the football. We usually don’t run enough—to my liking at least—until later in the season. I don’t expect the UAB offensive line to be any better than it was last year. If we can’t get a decent amount of pressure on the quarterback in this game, I’ll be worried about what the rest of the season has in store. Kitna is going to get his stats no matter what, but we can’t make it easy on him. I imagine both fanbases have this one circled on their calendars as wins. This is a game we absolutely must win to show progress going into year four of this regime. I think the Zips get it done 24-21, and we finally get an out-of-conference road win in the Moorhead era. Game Day Notes: Kitna has already thrown for 551 yards while completing 72% of his passes. However, he’s shown to be mistake-prone under pressure, tossing two interceptions so far. The Blazers will rotate at running back with UTEP transfer Jackson and top backup Beebe handling most of the workload. Jackson is a dangerous runner who can break one at any time, while Beebe is just as likely to catch a pass as he is to carry the ball. Milliner is UAB’s most explosive wideout, and Hooks has been Kitna’s second-favorite target. UAB has stuck with the same five starters through both games, not rotating a single lineman. It’s a rebuilt OL and they’ve surprisingly been a strong unit so far—giving up only one sack and 6 pressures. Going left to right: Sneh - 6’5”315 (Kansas State) Perez - 6’5” 315 (Duke) Lepkowski - 6’3” 300 Morgan - 6’4”320 (South Carolina) Moore - 6’8” 290 The Blazers’ defense has struggled to stop anyone this season, but a few players have stood out with consistent play. Interestingly, both starting defensive tackles—Smalls and Sam Houston transfer Warren—have been really good. At linebacker, Rhode Island transfer Hightower has been effective, while in the secondary Boston College transfer safety Cheek and Pittsburgh transfer cornerback Crumpley have been the top performers. UAB has only punted once this season—a 39-yarder downed inside the twenty. All extra points have been converted, and field goals are 2-for-3, with the lone miss coming from the 30–39 yard range. The two makes, however, have both been from beyond 40 yards. During Dilfer’s press conference, a reporter referred to this as a “get right game” for UAB. Dilfer laughed and said the Blazers are usually the get right game for their opponents, adding that he hopes Akron’s offense doesn’t get going this weekend. Some notes about the Zips: JUCO transfer right tackle Maasai King has graded out really well through the first two games, especially in pass protection according to PFF. Next is right guard Keylen Davis, who has been solid but noticeably stronger in run blocking. Keep an eye on JUCO transfer defensive tackle Nehemiah Musika in goal line situations. He was also mentioned on the Zips Weekly show. Musika was a commitment I really liked, though I wasn’t quite sure how we managed to land him. He supposedly isn’t as tall as listed and is still working into shape after being a late arrival due to coursework. Once Musika is able to play more regularly, he should give us a strong rotation with Laventure and Hull at DT—barring injury. Former Illinois transfer Shammond Cooper has been playing at a high level and also leads the team in tackles with 19 total. I’ve mentioned this a few times already, but DeWalt and Reed have really stepped up at cornerback. Reed in particular has been impressive—allowing just 19 yards on four receptions while being targeted 10 times. They’ll need another strong outing today if we’re going to have a chance at slowing down UAB’s offense.