The Zips look to build off the momentum of a shocking win, while the Bulls hope to wash a bitter defeat out of their mouths.
The Akron Zips (2-6, 1-3 MAC) and the Buffalo Bulls (4-4, 2-2 MAC) meet in the Rubber City to dictate the course of the rest of their seasons.
Akron must win from here on out to qualify for a postseason game for the first time since Terry Bowden’s penultimate season in 2017, while the Bulls strive to stay relevant to the MAC title game race. A loss here would all but eliminate Pete Lembo’s team from a trip to Detroit.
Let’s break down what you need to know:
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at 12 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio
- Viewing options: The game will be aired on CBS Sports Network. A valid cable subscription is required. John Sadak (play-by-play) and Eric Cross (color) will commentate.
- Streaming options: The game will be available for streaming via the Paramount+ App. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Other applicable cable/satellite streaming options are also available with a valid subscription.
- Radio options: Dave Skoczen (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (color) will provide the Akron call for WHLO-AM 640, with Paul Peck (play-by-play) and Scott Wilson (color) providing the Buffalo call on The Varsity Network App
- Gambling considerations: The game is essentially a pick-em, with Akron favored by a half-point as of publication. The over/under is 23.5. Both numbers are per DraftKings.
- All-time series: Buffalo holds a slim 12-11 lead, with the first contest in 1999. The Bulls have won six-straight games vs. Akron, with a 13-10 overtime decision in 2023.
Getting to know the Zips
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Welcome to the conference season, Akron!
Their 25-21 win over Eastern Michigan last week was their first of the year in the MAC, and actually proved to be fairly consequential to the table at large, putting the Eagles in a title game elimination scenario this week vs. Toledo.
What really stood out about the win was their tenacity. Akron hasn’t had the best of history in one-score games under Joe Moorhead, going just 1-11 in 12 attempts prior to last week, with their lone victory against a against a 1-8 Kent State team last year. They not only built a large 18-0 lead to start, but re-gained it to win the game with 3:59 to go on a 21-yard Adrian Norton touchdown catch from Ben Finley.
They had to get through some adversity in the middle quarters— including an injury to Finley— but a win is a win, and that is something to build on.
The Zips employ both quarterbacks liberally, though Finley (1,557 yards, eight touchdowns, eight interceptions on 60.1 percent completion) tends to get the starting share of snaps. Tahj Bullock has been effective in relief and in special packages, with 149 passing yards, 83 rushing yards and 56 receiving yards, leading all rushers with five touchdowns on the ground.
Akron’s overall rushing numbers are amongst the worst in the country (87 yards per game; 128th in NCAA), but Jordon Simmons has emerged over the last few games, with a 100-yard performance vs. EMU and 63 yards and a touchdown vs. Western Michigan the week prior. Adrian Norton (team-leading 30 receptions, 569 yards, four touchdowns) is the skill position player to watch for the Zips, averaging 71 yards per game— nearly double the second-place number. Bobby Golden (22 catches, 338 yards, touchdown) has also proven capable in spots.
Defensively, Akron is best described as a sieve, giving up over six yards per play on average, while also not creating many turnovers, logging only eight (six fumbles, two interceptions) over eight games. It should be noted, however, they were very good vs. EMU last week, limiting the Eagles to 114 yards on the day and collecting over 70 tackles as a unit.
Paul Lewis III was the defensive talisman in the game, with seven tackles, three pass breakups, and one recovered fumble in the win. He’s quietly been Akron’s best defensive back since transferring in, with 47 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and five pass break-ups.
All-MAC linebacker Bryan McCoy is the team’s leading tackler, with 74 total stops, while EDGE rusher CJ Nunnally IV (38 tackls, 4.5 TFLs, four QB hurries) and defensive tackle Bennett Adler (23 tackles, five TFLs, four QB hurries) hold the joint-lead with three sacks apiece.
Their special teams are some of the best in the conference, with Avery Book (2,235 net yards on 49 punts) leading the conference in punting with a 45.1 yard average per boot. Garrison Smith is 10-of-13 on the season placekicking.
Getting to know the Bulls
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The Bulls have been the most inconsistent team in the conference, with a very high ceiling when operating at all cylinders, but a very low floor as well, which has come back to bite them multiple times.
Last week saw the latter form of Buffalo, as the Bulls were extremely undisciplined and outmatched by a strong Ohio side in a 47-16 loss. It was the third such time they laid down a dud performance, an indication of the growing pains the team is going through in their first year under Pete Lembo.
The good news is they’ve already exceeded last year’s record and are still in position to secure a potential postseason bid if they can get a victory this week vs. Akron. A win here and a few losses above them could also jet them right into the conversation for Detroit as well assuming they win out.
The Bulls don’t do any one thing well, but they’ve been decent in situational football defensively, stopping over half of opposing fourth-down attempts and 40 percent of third-down attempts, and in forcing turnovers, with 10 on the season. On offense, things are a work-in-progress under first-year starter CJ Ognonna, sitting 118th in the NCAA at 319.9 yards per game allowed on average. They’re also 121st in third-down conversions at 31.2 percent.
Ogbonna has shown good potential, passing for 1,317 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions on a 56.8 percent completion rate, while also notching three touchdowns on the ground. He’s effective on the scramble, with 229 yards gained before sacks.
The Bulls love to stick to the ground when possible, with Al-Jay Henderson (83 carries, 455 yards, three touchdowns) leading the charge. Jacquez Barkdale (58 carries, 250 yards, one score) and Messiah Burch (19 carries, 145 yards, two touchdowns) are also capable to tote the rock when their name is called upon, with two other backs logging at least 21 carries as well.
Victor Snow has emerged to lead all Buffalo receivers over the last two weeks, with 159 yards and two touchdowns on 12 receptions to lead the team. Snow has 30 catches for 375 yards and three touchdowns on the year. JJ Jenkins (17 catches, 225 yards, TD) and Taji Johnson (14 catches, 159 yards, two scores) have been the other threats in the receiving corps.
Defensively, Buffalo might just have the two of the toughest linebackers in the Mid-American Conference. Redshirt senior Shaun Dolac is already in the triple-digits just eight games into the season, with 108 total stops, including 11.5 tackles-for-loss and three, while also pulling down two interceptions and two pass break-ups. His running mate is Red Murdock, who himself has 96 tackles, 10 TFLs and two sacks, while also forcing three fumbles. They make defenses have to get creative in the middle of the field.
Kobe Stewart is the team’s biggest penetration threat, with five sacks on the season from the defensive tackle spot. Buffalo does have one of the more active defensive backfields in the MAC, with four interceptions and 21 pass break-ups in the position group. Marquis Cooper is the big-play threat, with 41 tackles and two interceptions— including a pick-six. Charles McCartherens (19 tackles, one interception, four pass break-ups) has proven to be good in one-on-one coverage as well.
Upton Bellenfant has made 10 of his 11 field goals since transferring in from Alabama, taking over starting duties in Week 3. He’s in contention for placement as an all-MAC kicker. Ethan Duane averages 43.3 net yards per punt, placing him eighth in the MAC.