2026 MAC Football Week 3 Game Preview: Akron Zips at Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Akron Zips (1-1) get set to jet out to Minneapolis this weekend for a trip to play the Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-1).

Both teams come in on opposite trajectories; Akron won handily against their FCS opponent Robert Morris last week after a slow start, while Minnesota couldn't keep pace with SEC foe Mississippi State despite having home field advantage.

The Zips might have found something they can port to the future and hope to test it against a tough opponent, while the Gophers look to wipe away the embarrassment of a three-score loss last week and re-establish their credentials.

Game Notes

• Date and Time: Saturday, Sept. 19th, 2026 at 12 p.m. Eastern time/ 11 a.m. local
• Location: Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
• TV options: The game will be available on the Big Ten Network. Check your local network schedules for availability.
• Streaming options: The game will be available via the Fox Sports App. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Other applicable cable/satellite streaming services are also available with a valid subscription. Other streaming carriers include Sling, DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV.
• Akron Radio: Dave Skoczen (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (color) will provide the Akron call for WHLO-AM 640.
• Gambling Considerations: Minnesota is a 24.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 48.5-49.5 depending on book, per Covers.
• All-Time Series: This will be the first matchup between these two teams.

Minnesota outlook

PJ Fleck, ever the familiar face to fans of MAC football, returns for his 10th year on the job at Minnesota, where his power run concepts have connected and created a great floor for a previously moribund Big Ten program.

Under Fleck, Minnesota has never lost more than seven games, with seven bowl game appearances (all wins) in nine years, a share of the 2019 Big Ten West division championship and a 67-45 overall record as of last week. The Gophers are now pretty firmly established as one of the Big Ten's more consistent programs.

To this point, Minnesota has leaned more on the passing game than the run this season– part of which can be blamed on the game situation against Mississippi State. Minnesota was uncharacteristically undisciplined, with 12 penalties and a 4-of-13 third-down conversion rate on offense.

Quarterback Drake Lindsey returns to the fold once again after a decent 2025 campaign; through two games, he sits at 69 percent completion and 543 passing yards, with a touchdown. Darius Taylor, a fourth-year running back, is considered day-to-day after sustaining an injury early last week; he had 945 total yards and four touchdowns in 10 contests last year. Minnesota, surprisingly, has not had a lot of rushing success in 2025, with only two backs north of 70 yards (Taylor and TJ Thomas.) They'll likely be looking to course correct against Akron's smaller defensive line; AJ Turner, formerly of Marshall, could be in line for reps after missing all of 2025 with injury.

Former Miami RedHawk Javon Tracy is the team's leading returning receiver after catching 45 passes for 454 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns. He sits top the current charts with 149 yards on 12 receptions. Alongside him is Cincinnati transfer Noah Jennings (10 catches, 145 yards). The aforementioned Thomas is also a pass game threat, third on the team with 63 yards.

Minnesota was gashed vs. Mississippi State defensively, giving up 479 yards, four-straight touchdowns on their first four possessions and 28 total first downs, but there's still some individual talents.

Fifth-year prospect Maverick Baranowski, last year's leading tackler, is back and seeking to go back-to-back up top after a 103-stop campaign with nine tackles-for-loss and three sacks. They're in a bit of a rebuild, with several new transfer defensive backs topping the tackle charts, including Kerry Brown (12) and Mehki Smith (10). Cal transfer TJ Bush has been a presence in the defensive interior, with two TFLs and a sack so far.

Akron Outlook

The Zips had their fun against Robert Morris last week, getting their Offensive Coordinator of the Game on ESPN's College GameDay and getting a fairly decisive win in the process.

But Minnesota is not Robert Morris, and Akron's last outing against a Power opponent was an absolute blowout. The Zips will have to put up their absolute best to have a chance of being competitive in this one.

They've shown flashes of what this team could be at full tilt over the last two weeks, which is encouraging.

Quarterback Cibastian Broughton was pressed into service vs. Wake Forest and has established himself since Reese Poffenbarger was held back on eligibility concerns. Broughton sits at an absolutely absurd 83 percent completion rating with 338 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions through the air, while also leading the team in rushing yards (153.)

Last year's 1000+ yard rusher Jordan Gant has 96 yards on the ground so far (with 106 net yards before TFLs), but one of the more surprising developments has been passing down back Sean Patrick's emergence. Patrick has 100 rushing yards and 76 receiving yards through two games, leading the Zips in receiving and second to Broughton in rushing. The Zips have ran Joe Moorhead's RPO-based system very well, with six passcatchers notching at least five receptions. Laney College transfer tight end Elijah Alexander has emerged as a legitimate option with 61 yards and three touchdowns on seven catches. Second-team all-MAC receiver Marcel Williams leads in receptions (eight) and averages over eight yards a catch.

The defense has been more shaky, allowing 536 yards passing and five TDs through the air– something which does not bode well against Minnesota's recent success in that category.

It's a surprise considering the meat of Akron's veteran depth is in the defensive backfield. Mehki Flowers, Rodrick Hunter, Aamii Branch and Alex Branch were all significant contributors in 2025 and returned to their positions in 2026, while Caiden Newsome was a good piece with Holy Cross over three seasons.

Tackle leader Donelius Johnson (15), formerly of Kennesaw State, and SMU transfer Omari Abor (two TFLs, sack) have made solid debuts as Zips in the front seven, which sees essentially a total rebuild.

Game Outlook 

The Zips are every part a four-score underdog in this one.

Their only chance of winning the game will be if their offense can score quickly enough to force Minnesota to sweat and if the defense can get a turnover or two to aid the effort and limit Minnesota's opportunities to choke the clock out. That'll be a tall task for a team which only has two fumble recoveries and a sack to date.

Minnesota is positioned to win pretty comfortably, but we've seen weirder things happen before in the right game states. Maybe Broughton finds another level, or Gant looks closer to his 2025 form. Perhaps the defense dials in and fixes their mistakes in the pass game.

Not a big chance for that, though. Minnesota should cover and the point total should be over.