The Ohio Bobcats (2-3, 0-1) will host the Akron Zips (1-4, 0-1) on Saturday in a Mid-American Conference East Division matchup. Ohio has won the last four meetings outright, including a 34-17 victory last season as a 10-point road favorite.
According to the preseason media poll, the Akron Zips were expected to be the worst team in the MAC, and they are yet to prove those preconceived notions incorrect. After beating St. Francis (PA) 30-23 in overtime to open the season, the Zips have lost to Michigan State (52-0), Tennessee (63-6), and Liberty (21-12) in non-conference play. Last Saturday, the Zips dropped their MAC opener at home to Bowling Green (31-28). Akron has now lost 36 of its last 40 games, dating back to the middle of the 2018 season.
Game #??5??
Building Our Program ??
“The stonecutter hammers away at his rock 100 times without a crack showing. On the 101st blow, it splits in two. It's not the 101st blow that did it, but all that have gone before it.”
ZipEmUp ?????????? pic.twitter.com/HBMcFZVsr1
— Akron Football (@ZipsFB) October 3, 2022
Quarterback DJ Irons has completed 62.6% of his passes for 1,143 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. He is also second on the team with 152 rushing yards but averages just 2.3 yards per attempt.
The Zips have been flat-out bad, ranking 124th scoring 15.2 ppg, and 109th picking up 322.8 total yards per game. The defense is 122nd allowing 38 ppg, and 125th allowing 471.6 total yards per contest.