A New Ranking for the Zips
The University of Akron football program received a boost this week when the Mid-American Conference released its 2026 coaches preseason poll, placing the Zips at No. 10 among the league’s 13 teams. The ranking marks a modest but meaningful climb from a year ago, when Akron finished 11th in the same poll.
That jump is more than a number on a page; it reflects the tangible progress the team has made on the field. In 2025 the Zips posted a 5‑7 overall record and a 4‑4 mark inside the MAC, a marked improvement over the 4‑8 overall and 3‑5 conference slate they managed in 2024.
The excitement surrounding the poll is tempered by the reality of a competitive league, but coaches and analysts alike see the ranking as a sign that the program is moving in the right direction. “We’re building something sustainable,” said head coach Joe Moorhead, who took over the program last season.
The 2026 MAC football schedule is set to begin on Saturday, August 29, with the championship game slated for noon on Saturday, December 5, at Ford Field in Detroit. Akron will open its season at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, when it travels to face Wake Forest in North Carolina.
The upcoming matchup against the Demon Deacons offers the Zips a chance to test themselves against a Power Five opponent early in the year, a test that could prove vital as the team looks to translate preseason optimism into on‑field success.
Looking Forward
As the countdown to kickoff continues, the buzz among alumni and local media only grows louder. Analyst Nate Ulrich has been tracking the team’s progress and notes that the combination of improved recruiting and a more aggressive offensive scheme could finally give Akron the edge it needs to break through the conference middle tier.
If the Zips can sustain the momentum they have built over the past two seasons, the 2026 campaign could become a benchmark for the program’s resurgence, delivering not just a better record but a renewed sense of belief among players, staff and the broader Akron community.