2026 ZIPS SCHEDULE WITH PRESEASON RANKINGS FOR OPPONENTS

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, 72 Roo said:

Also how about Joe getting his budget cut every year for the last four. That freed up tons of money for our award winning marketing campaigns. Football at Akron is much fought over program to lead. 

 

That's why it's a necessary evil to play multiple P4 body bag games a season. We're not in a financial position to pass on a $1 million pay check. If we can't go 5-4 in our 9 games against G6 teams (counting 1 FCS win, 2 P4 losses) we frankly don't deserve to go to a bowl game. Especially considering how the MAC is consistently the worst or 2nd worst FBS conference every year.

[exit322]

5 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

That's why it's a necessary evil to play multiple P4 body bag games a season. We're not in a financial position to pass on a $1 million pay check. If we can't go 5-4 in our 9 games against G6 teams (counting 1 FCS win, 2 P4 losses) we frankly don't deserve to go to a bowl game. Especially considering how the MAC is consistently the worst or 2nd worst FBS conference every year.

As body bag games go, this year's aren't bad.

 

Will also help if they can ditch the Tuesday games to get better crowds at home for the entire season.

[pdt1420]

Yeah, we could go 1-3 to start… but give me this ooc every year. This is the kind that you could go 3-1 with. 

[exit322]

15 hours ago, pdt1420 said:

Yeah, we could go 1-3 to start… but give me this ooc every year. This is the kind that you could go 3-1 with. 

 

If Minnesota and Wake Forest are way down, sure.  But they were 8-5 and 9-4.

 

With 11-2 UNLV, it would be quite the upset if Akron were anything but 1-3 (I suppose Joe could shock us and lose to Robert Morris too)

[exit322]

On 7/10/2026 at 1:51 PM, 72 Roo said:

You forgot to note that Joe inherited a season ticket base that has a waiting list and attendance that gives the Zips a decided advantage with our twelfth man. Texas A & M has nothing on us. Also how about Joe getting his budget cut every year for the last four. That freed up tons of money for our award winning marketing campaigns. Football at Akron is much fought over program to lead. 

 

Yeah I guess Kent has it so much easier, so Carney could take them from Kenni Burns to 5-7 in his first year.  Kenni really set the Flashes up for long-term success unlike Arth.  My bad.

[Zips1991]

On 7/12/2026 at 9:17 AM, exit322 said:

 

If Minnesota and Wake Forest are way down, sure.  But they were 8-5 and 9-4.

 

With 11-2 UNLV, it would be quite the upset if Akron were anything but 1-3 (I suppose Joe could shock us and lose to Robert Morris too)

We could not lose to Robert Morris if we tried.

[exit322]

3 hours ago, Zips1991 said:

We could not lose to Robert Morris if we tried.

 

You'd certainly hope so.  While you don't necessarily want to be chucking bombs up 50...I'm hoping for a win that mimics the Nebraska loss last year, given Robert Morris is not only an FCS team...but a bad one.

[AkronAlumnus]

I have us at 8-4 or 7-5. #TrustInPoff

Edited Tuesday at 08:37 PM by AkronAlumnus

[exit322]

4 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

I have us at 8-4 or 7-5. #TrustInPoff

 

If Poff is good, 7-5 is the floor.

[AkronAlumnus]

15 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

If Poff is good, 7-5 is the floor.

Wow.  Then what's the ceiling?  Assuming he is 'good'

[72 Roo]

Very optimistic expectations. I also believe Poff is that good, but both lines need to be rebuilt. 6-6 is more realistic and 7-5 is fantastic. I hope you know more than me and I would love to see 7-5 or 8-4. I am eager to see this team play. Go Zips! 

[exit322]

23 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

Wow.  Then what's the ceiling?  Assuming he is 'good'

 

It's the days of NIL, so everyone's roster is gutted annually.  If he's a legitimately good FBS QB, the ceiling is a MAC title.

[exit322]

23 minutes ago, 72 Roo said:

Very optimistic expectations. I also believe Poff is that good, but both lines need to be rebuilt. 6-6 is more realistic and 7-5 is fantastic. I hope you know more than me and I would love to see 7-5 or 8-4. I am eager to see this team play. Go Zips! 

 

That's what I don't know.  He hasn't played for two years, and his last start before that was a 59-0 loss in the FCS semifinals.  Is he good?  If he's not, well...

[AkronAlumnus]

Yeah, it's incredibly hard to predict anything with this team for a litany of reasons.  I'd say the floor could be as low as 2-10, but the ceiling could be as high as 9-3.  I have Minnesota, UNLV, and Miami (OH) as definitive Ls.  Sticking with 7-5 or 8-4, though.

[exit322]

1 hour ago, AkronAlumnus said:

I'd say the floor could be as low as 2-10, but the ceiling could be as high as 9-3.

 

This feels fair

[MangoZip]

The offense “should” be pretty darn good but the defense could be awful. 

[exit322]

13 hours ago, MangoZip said:

The offense “should” be pretty darn good but the defense could be awful. 

Two things here

 

1- at least the games will be fun

 

2- defense has been the better coached side the entirety of this regime so they should develop well this season 

[WeRise225]

On 7/10/2026 at 8:47 PM, exit322 said:

As body bag games go, this year's aren't bad.

 

Will also help if they can ditch the Tuesday games to get better crowds at home for the entire season.

I'm not an expert but I would assume the tv contract pays the University more for a Tuesday game with a bad crowd than if it was on a Saturday with slightly less bad crowds. 

[kreed5120]

38 minutes ago, WeRise225 said:

I'm not an expert but I would assume the tv contract pays the University more for a Tuesday game with a bad crowd than if it was on a Saturday with slightly less bad crowds. 

 

Precisely, I'll just be happy if the next TV protects the MAC rivalry games. Even if that means moving those games to October. 

[exit322]

1 hour ago, WeRise225 said:

I'm not an expert but I would assume the tv contract pays the University more for a Tuesday game with a bad crowd than if it was on a Saturday with slightly less bad crowds. 

 

While we know the MAC schools are just trying to get every last penny immediately without considering long-term growth, one would think having six Saturday games (instead of three) just might be better for developing a fan base and a season ticket base.

But that involves work, and we know better than to expect that from this athletic department.