The Bobbies and Zips look to rebound from tough SEC losses by picking up a conference win.
When the Zips (1-3) head south this week on a three-hour ride to Athens, Ohio to take on the Bobcats (2-2), the season begins anew with a clean slate for both teams to start conference play.
Each squad has spent the offseason and non-conference season working hard to reach important goals such as bowl season and a shot at the conference title.
We’ve watched the non-conference games and made some notes about each squad heading into the MAC opener. Here is what we know about both going into this weekend’s game.
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday September 28, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium, Athens, Ohio
- Viewing options: ESPN+. A valid subscription is required.
- Radio options: For Ohio, tune in to WTXQ-FM (Athens), Marty Bannister (play-by-play), Rob Cornelius (color) will provide commentary. For Akron, WHLO 640 AM (flagship), WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM, Dave Skoczen (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (color) will provide commentary.
- Gambling considerations: Per DraftKings, Ohio is 12.5 point favorites, with an over/under 46.
- All-time series: Ohio leads by a margin of 26-14-1.
- Last Time: Ohio won 25-14 the lat time these two teams played on Nov. 24, 2023.
- Special Event: Homecoming. Current event schedule and parking information can be found here.
About the Akron Zips
Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Zips head to Athens off a brutally difficult non-conference schedule that saw tough losses to Ohio State, South Carolina and Rutgers, who are a combined 9-1 in 2024 thus far. The sole loss? South Carolina, to 14th-ranked LSU by three points.
The Zips’ lone relief in the gauntlet was a game against FCS Colgate. Staking Colgate to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter with botched execution in all phases, the Zips impressively turned it around by reeling off 31 to close out the contest 31-20. Along with most of the first half against Rutgers and the game against Colgate, the Zips showed some real promise for conference play if they can sharpen their blocking.
Pass and run blocking continues to be the area of concern for the Zips with, for instance, two sacks and ten tackles-for-loss surrendered to a blitz-happy Colgate.
When the blocking holds, Akron has very good surrounding talent to make things happen. North Carolina State and Cal transfer QB Ben Finley is fully capable of guiding the Zips to victory any given week in the MAC as he showed against Colgate with over 300 yards passing and four scores. Finley has some solid experience, with 17 college appearances (about half of them starts), throwing for over 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Akron’s signal caller has some dangerous options at wideout this year, with Adrian Norton and Bobby Golden combining for 10 catches, for 244 yards, and 2 touchdowns against Colgate. Norton also had a stellar game against South Carolina, with a performance better than the stats indicated. Star wideout Alex Adams appears to be out for this week but look for the Zips to get tight end Jake Newell and running back Charles Kellom involved as they have 16 and 14 catches respectively. Both players found some success in goal line RPOs this year with a score each.
What the Zips might be capable of in the running game at this point is very cloudy given the level of competition. Against Colgate, Kellom and Jordon Simmons split 20 carries gaining 79 total yards facing a regular blitz. Outside of the juggernaut that was the Kentucky Wildcats last week, Ohio has been pretty solid against the run allowing about 105 yards a game so the Bobcats will be a good test of Akron’s progress on this front. .
Defensively, the Zips have the ingredients to be successful in MAC play, returning four experienced leaders from last year’s squad. Aktron features 2023 first-team All-MAC defensive lineman CJ Nunnally IV who leads the club with two sacks.
Behind Nunnally IV are a dynamic linebacker duo in Brian McCoy and Antavious Fish, who picked up where they left off last year, being first and second on the squad in 2024 with 31 and 28 tackles respectively. Last year, McCoy finished with 95 stops and Fish picked up 94, with the former earning McCoy third-team All-MAC honors last season.
On the back end, Akron features an experienced enforcer in corner Darrian Lewis, who has played 28 games for the Zips with 157 career tackles, 13 passes defensed, and two interceptions.
Given the parity of MAC football, the Zips will inevitably face some close games and they improved their chances to win those with the signing of McNeese Cowboys transfer kicker Garrison Smith. Last year, the Zips hit on 56 percent of their kicks, including a missed 32-yard potential game winner against Indiana as regulation time expired (the Zips lost eventually in four overtimes). Smith has hit four of five this year which is just about on par with his career success rate of 85 percent (22 of 26).
About the Ohio Bobcats
Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Heading into conference play, the Bobbies have a major unknown on offense but are fairly clear at this point where they stand on defense and special teams and will probably only improve in those areas as the season progresses and players return.
The quarterback position is in a state of flux with no clear number one for this week against Akron. Parker Navarro started the first 10 quarters until a tough second quarter versus Morgan State ended with three interceptions and a new quarterback for the second half, Nick Poulos.
Last week, Navarro was slated to return as starter but an undisclosed upper body injury aggravated later in the week sidelined him for week four versus Kentucky and the JUCO product Poulos got his first career Bobcat start.
Navarro reportedly practiced on Monday and is currently listed as starter on the depth chart but clearly Poulos, who stands at six-foot-six, 235 lbs., has a lot of upside as a dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm. However, Poulos is not nearly as experienced running the Bobcats offense, having arrived in Athens only a few months ago, and has only played six quarters of FBS ball.
Whomever the Bobcats go with at quarterback, the scheme will be similar and the message will be the same as it was when the ‘Cats set a program record for double digit wins in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023: ball security.
The ‘Cats have six turnovers in the last two weeks compared with only 13 total turnovers each in the years 2022 and 2023.
Outside of the turnover issue, Ohio likes to run the ball on offense and, in addition to Navarro, Poulos, and running back Rickey Hunt, feature one of the best in the MAC right now in Anthony ‘Tre’ Tyus III.
The six-foot-one, 230-pounder leads the MAC in rushing yards with 391 while boasting 6.9 yards per carry average and five touchdowns (four rush, one rec.).
At wideout, the ‘Cat with the most stats by far this year is captain Coleman Owen, who has 25 catches for 336 yards and two games over 100 yards. In any given week, look for an explosive play from wideout Chase Hendricks (#7) in the passing game or kick return and tight end Mason Williams (#85) to be throwing some key run blocks or moving the chains through the air.
Defensively, the ‘Cats have been successful for the most part in limiting the run and keeping the score manageable against comparable opponents like South Alabama, where Ohio won 27-20.
The success so far is an admirable show of defensive depth as adversity struck the linebacker and defensive backs especially hard with injuries. Good news for Ohio is some key players lost early are starting to return like mike linebacker Shay Taylor, who got his first major action since week one last week against Kentucky, recording nine tackles.
Other players have filled in well for the starters like safety Dustin Johnson, who led the team last week with 11 tackles.
The defensive line was down a few key players last week without defensive end Bradley Weaver and tackle Cam Rice but, if healthy, this group will bring a strong test to Akron’s offensive line. (The injury status of Weaver, Rice, and other Bobcats or Zips can be checked starting about three hours leading up to game time at the following link).
The defensive line group is led on the interior by a trio of run-stuffing tackles in Rice, Bralen Henderson, and CJ Doggette.
JACK/defensive end Marcel Walker-Burgess (#17) has flashed some big play ability with season numbers including 19 tackles, five quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, sack, and pass defensed.
The special teams has on the whole played effectively this season, especially given the adversity from injuries and roster turnover. Outside of a play here or there like a 31-yard punt return by Malique Leatherbury, the coverage has been reliable. Also the specialists are making it happen with kicker Gianni Spetic perfect on five field goal attempts while seasoned veteran punt Jack Wilson is turning in some of his best work while hitting 43 yards per punt on average.
Final Thoughts
Barring a glut of turnovers or penalties, this game should stay reasonably close.
Ohio probably has the advantage in terms of being able to run and stop the run better than Akron at this point of the season and things usually go the ‘Cats way when that happens.
Ohio 26, Akron 16