2026 MAC Football Week 8 Game Preview: Akron Zips at Kent State Golden Flashes

Setting the scene

It's Wagon Wheel week. There is no sugarcoating it. These teams hate each other.

And that hate has produced even results. Since 2008, the series is tied 9-9. It's 7-7 since 2012, 6-6 since 2014, 5-5 since 2016, 2-2 since 2022, and 1-1 since 2024.

The series dates back to 1923 and the Wagon Wheel trophy to 1946. While Akron and Kent State enter this matchup with respective 1-6 and 2-5 records, all that matters Saturday is sprinting toward the end zone and hoisting that Wheel when the clock hits zero.

Put on some Darius Rucker, and watch the Zips and Golden Flashes trade blows in the follow-up act to last year's overtime thriller.

Game notes

• Time and date: Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET
• Network: ESPN+
• Location: Dix Stadium in Kent, OH
• Spread: Kent State (-3)
• Over/under: 47.5
• All-time series: Akron leads, 37-29-2
• Last meeting: Kent State 42, Akron 35 (November 11, 2025)
• Current streak: Kent State, 1 (2025)

Akron Zips outlook

Akron (1-6, 0-3 MAC) remains in search of its first FBS victory this season. The Zips made positive progress under head coach Joe Moorhead last year, falling one game short of its first six-win season since 2018. However, 2026 has featured a regression to the 2018-24 era.

The Zips recently fell 25-23 in a close bout against Eastern Michigan, but each of their other five defeats came by at least 20 points, including last week's 34-14 loss to Miami (OH). It's been a two-way struggle, as Akron ranks 126th nationally in scoring offense and 124th in scoring defense, losing its FBS games by an average score of 36-15.

Akron will start Brayden Roggow at quarterback for the fifth consecutive game, while Cibastian Broughton remains out with a knee injury. Roggow's success has equated to team success. When he played the best game of his career against Eastern Michigan, throwing for 229 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, Akron crossed 20 points for the only time this season against an FBS opponent, having a lead in the waning minutes of the contest. Last week, Roggow threw four interceptions, and turnovers continue to plague the Zips.

Akron is a minus-6 in the turnover battle this season, which is tied for the 11th-worst differential in the FBS. Only Marshall, Oklahoma, Old Dominion, and Charlotte have coughed up the ball more times than the Zips.

The offense isn't without strengths though. Jordan Gant — who became the Zips' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2008 last season — remains one of the top running backs in the MAC. Gant's 456 yards rank fourth in the conference, and he has surpassed the century mark in two of his three MAC matchups.

Wide receivers Marcel Williams and Kyan Mason are the other skill position players propelling this offense, accounting for 332 and 205 receiving yards, respectively. Despite the interceptions, Akron has maintained efficiency through the air, connecting on 64.7 percent of passes. However, the pass protection remains shaky, as Akron is allowing 2.7 sacks per game, after allowing at least 2.5 in every year of the 2020s decade.

The run defense was as costly as the interceptions last week. Against a Miami (OH) team that hadn't seen a rusher eclipse 70 yards all season, Akron surrendered 324 on the ground, allowing 9.3 yards per carry. The run defense ranks 129th in yards allowed per game and second-to-last in the FBS in opponent rushing average at 6.0 yards per attempt.

There has been a lack of push at the line of scrimmage. Only Arkansas State has fewer sacks than the Zips, which managed just four through seven games. Two of those sacks came last week, and 1.5 were courtesy of defensive end Cyrus Durham, who ranks atop the team in the category. Another defender to watch is linebacker Donelius Johnson, whose 67 tackles are the sixth-most in the FBS.

Kent State Golden Flashes outlook

Kent State (2-5, 1-2 MAC) is a different team when it comes to non-conference play vs. conference play. Last season, the Golden Flashes lost their FBS non-conference games by an aggregate of 172-24, yet won four of their eight MAC contests. This year, that aggregate score was 145-5, but Kent State has been competitive in conference play.

It defeated Ball State by 13 and was a chip shot field goal away from forcing overtime against Ohio. But for the wins to start accruing, Kent State needs to bolster an offense which ranks dead last in the country in scoring at 12.0 points per game. When the Golden Flashes score multiple touchdowns, they're 2-0. Otherwise, 0-5.

The offense's main issue has been jumpstarting the run game. Kent State's run game is sixth-to-last in the FBS with 103 yards per game and third-to-last with 2.9 yards per carry. The most yards a running back has amassed this year is 68. Against an FBS team, it's 46. Those were both wins. In every loss, Kent State's leading running back generated fewer than 40 yards on the ground. The Golden Flashes continue to shuffle between senior Mason King and true freshman Brandon White, hoping to find a solution for the latter half of 2026.

Quarterback Dru DeShields is one of the top rushers on the team, owning two 70+ yard showings this season. His mobility unlocks another dimension for this offense, but Kent State will need him to throw back to the 2025 Wagon Wheel. Last year, he defeated Akron behind career-highs of 317 passing yards and five touchdowns without an interception. DeShields has started every game this season, throwing four touchdowns and six interceptions, and Kent State hopes to find more success on explosives to get the quarterback in rhythm.

Wayne Harris and star kick returner Da'Realyst Clark are the primary go-tos for DeShields. Harris hauled in 11 receptions two weeks ago and ranks first on the Flashes with 31 receptions and 396 yards.

Outside of the South Carolina and Ohio State games where Kent State allowed 57 and 59 points, respectively, the defense has been sharp. The Golden Flashes didn't allow a single offensive touchdown in the first half at South Florida last week, stifling the Bulls to 78 rushing yards on a 2.4 average while holding the passing game to 193 yards.

Ball State and Ohio combined to score just 23 points on Kent State, which has been highly effective against the run. Linebackers Rocco Nicholl and Hayden Dawahare and safety Joel Cordoba have been among the top tacklers on the unit, each sitting in the 33 to 35-tackle range. Nicholl and Dawahare have feasted in backfields, combining for 10 tackles for loss on the season.

Even including the non-conference performances, Kent State is sixth in total defense in the MAC. The unit could progress even further with a more positive turnover outlook, only accumulating four takeaways in its six FBS matchups.

Prediction

Three of the last four Wagon Wheel matchups were decided by one score, including last year's overtime thriller. Neither team has been able to generate much offensively, but the archrivals have contrasting strengths.

Akron is more polished on the ground with Jordan Gant, while Kent State has better stability at quarterback with Dru DeShields. While DeShields has yet to replicate last year's Wagon Wheel performance in 2026, the dual-threat quarterback is certainly capable. He'll be supported by the stronger defense in this one, and if there's ever a time for Kent State to solve its ground woes, it's Saturday.

Kent State holds onto the Wagon Wheel at home, emerging in a close one.

Prediction: Kent State 24, Akron 21