2026 MAC Football Week 7 Game Preview: Akron Zips vs. Miami RedHawks

It's not quite the last call for MAC contention, but it's certainly not a comfortable weekend for the hosting Miami RedHawks (3-3, 1-1 MAC), who stumbled out of the blocks to start MAC play against Bowling Green and now have no room for error from here on out to get back to Detroit for a fourth-straight season.

The Akron Zips (1-5, 0-2 MAC), meanwhile, look to show their performance against Eastern Michigan last week can be improved upon as they hope to stay alive for a bowl game bid at season's end.

Game notes

• Date and Time: Saturday, October 17th, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
• Location: Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio
• TV options: The game will stream exclusively on ESPN+. A valid subscription is required.
• Miami radio: Steve Baker (play-by-play) and Terry Bridge (color) will provide the Miami call for WMOH-AM 1450.
• Akron radio: Dave Skoczen (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (color) will provide the Akron call for WHLO-AM 640.
• Gambling Considerations: Miami are 10.5-point favorites; over/under is 45.5-46.5 by book, per Covers.
• All-time series: Miami leads the all-time series 24-9-1, and have won the last eight contests between the two programs (2017-23, 2025). Akron's last win in the series was recorded in 2016.

Akron outlook

The Zips have been one of the more unlucky outfits in the MAC, and last week's game against Eastern Michigan was a great example of that.

Akron won the turnover battle, committed no interceptions or fumbles for the first time all season, held a strong EMU offense to one total touchdown and even held the lead for most of the contest– but ultimately lost on special teams play, with a blocked punt and a missed field goal making the difference.

Akron's offense hasn't been that bad in 2026, sitting top five in the conference in total yardage (343.7) and passing offense (202.3), and middle of the MAC in rushing (141.3 yards per game)– but they're one of the worst units in pass protection, with 16 sacks allowed through six contests, averaging nearly three sacks per game.

Current starting QB Brayden Roggow was the third-stringer in fall camps and rose up to QB1 after Reese Poffenbarger (eligibility) and Cibastian Broughton (lower-body) were crossed off the list. He sits at 834 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions on a 58 percent completion rating. Roggow's rapport with wide receiver Marcel Williams has been notable the last three games, with the duo combining for 13 receptions, 203 yards and two touchdowns. Roggow likes finding Williams on downfield routes, with scoring plays of 40 yards and 28 yards last week vs. the Eagles. Miami's secondary, which has been torched this season through the air, will have to keep this in mind.

2025 second-team all-MAC halfback Jordan Gant is back in form for the Zips, notching 100+ scrimmage yards against Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. He sits at three rushing touchdowns through six games, but doubles the next-highest rusher (Sean Patrick) in carries, so he'll have plenty of changes against Miami's typically-stout rushing defense.

Akron's defense has been the downfall of the team, allowing 422.5 yards and 32.2 points per game– amongst the worst numbers in the NCAA. Even accounting for the number of departures in the offseason, it's still a notable drop-off from even what we may have expected.

Nonetheless, there are some positives. Linebacker Donelius Johnson is fifth in the NCAA in total tackles (57) after spending all of last season on the sidelines with an injury. FIU transfer Dwight Nunoo has give the EDGE spot a good lift, with 37 tackles and 3.5 tackles-for-loss. Redshirt freshman Vann Kavals has emerged at the defensive end spot as well, leading the team with four TFLs and three QB hurries. Tairan Davis Jr. has excelled at the corner spot, with 30 tackles, two pass break-ups and one of the team's two interceptions.

Matthew Schramm was having mixed success even before last week's game, and now sits at 5-of-8 on field goal attempts. Joseph Castle's 42 yards per punt is second-worse in the MAC– though he does have five punts of 50+ yards and eight inside-the-20. Brandon Hills has been one of the MAC's best returners, with 307 total yards– including a long return of 58 yards and an average of 23 yards.

Miami outlook

Miami is in a similar position to Akron in terms of health at the quarterback position, relying on Division II transfer Caleb Heavner after season-ending injuries to both projected starter Thomas Gotkowski and Week 1 starter David McComb.

Heavner's performance can best be described as "roller-coaster", helping the RedHawks rally to beat UConn three weeks back, but struggling immensely in games against Bowling Green and UMass. Through five games (two starts), Heavner sits at 30-of-53 for 329 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Miami lost to BGSU two weeks back due in part to their inability to run the ball despite Heavner's 17-of-24 passing effort– but struggled against UMass in a win because of Heavner's inability to push the ball downfield, needing a defensive stop at game's end to escape a potential loss.

This is a very different Miami build from years past as well, with the passing offense second-best in the MAC in passing (241.7 yards per game) but 10th in the league in rushing (111.1 yards per game). That makes the loss of McComb all the worse, as his live arm kept the RedHawks in contention due to the lack of protection up front in the run game. (To wit: their leading halfback, Rodney Nelson, averages 34.3 yards per game on the ground).

That makes the receiving duo of Maleek Huggins (17 catches, 309 yards, TD) and Damarion Witten (13 catches, 278 yards, two TDs) all the more important to cover, as they average 18.2 and 21.4 yards per catch apiece. Lynel Billups-Williams also does mop-up duty in the middle, with a team-leading 19 receptions for 265 yards and two scores.

Miami has typically hung their hat on having an excellent defense, but this season, they're of the worst in the MAC, sitting 10th in the league in total yards allowed (389.3 yards per game) and dead last in opposing pass yards allowed (284). It's such a significant number that even their stonewalling rushing defense (105.3 yards per game) can't make a dent.

As ever, it's linebackers who lead the attack for Miami, as Malcolm McCain– the hero of last week's win over UMass– leads the team with 47 tackles, while running mate Blayne Myrick (30 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, half-sack) sits right behind. Defensive tackle Roosevelt Andrews III has been hard to stop for opponents, with team-leads in TFLs (4.5) and sacks (three); he'll be the main assignment for an Akron O-line which ranks amongst the worst in the NCAA. Cornerback Amariyun Knighten's seven pass break-ups are amongst the top of the conference.

Pierse Stainton averages 43.4 yards per punt, with 14 of his 25 punts landing inside-the-20. Kellan McLaughlin had some shaky mid-season performances, but has held down the placekicking job despite his 8-of-12 record in 2026. Scoop Smith is the returner to look for when he's on the field; the diminutive receiver already has one kickoff housed for a touchdown and averages an incredible 36 ayrds per return through six games.

Game outlook

Needless to say, vibes are generally bad in Oxford. If the RedHawks can't win here against a 1-5 Akron team, their loss to a previously-winless BGSU team not only starts to make sense, but it brings into question whether the reported amount spent on the roster has done the program any good.

Akron is in a similar spot; they essentially have to win out to have a chance at a postseason bid for the first time in nearly a decade. It's also the sixth year of Joe Moorhead's regime, and there has been no real notable change to the program in his time there in terms of on-field results.

You can only point to your injuries and luck for so long before it comes down to execution and coaching, and both Martin and Moorhead– two of the MAC's longest-tenured coaches– are well aware of this.

This could be one of those "whole house mad" types of games, where neither fanbase is happy at the end. It wouldn't be surprising to see changes for the losing team afterwards either. The winner will, at the least, have the security of an additional win to stay afloat for the postseason– but that only takes you so far.

Miami is favored, and should win, but their defense does not match up very well with Akron's strengths... that could be a key factor in deciding the game.