It’s Tuesday night with one of the coolest rivalry trophies in the sport on the line.
Game notes
- Time and date: Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. ET
- Network: CBS Sports Network
- Location: Dix Stadium — Kent, OH
- Spread: Akron (-10)
- Over/under: 48.5
- All-time series: Akron leads, 36-28-2
- Last meeting: Akron 31, Kent State 17 — November 1, 2023
- Current streak: Akron, 1 (2023)
Setting the scene
“So, rock me mama like a wagon wheel. Rock me mama any way you feel. Hey… mama rock me. Rock me mama like the wind and the rain. Rock me mama like a southbound train. Hey… mama rock me.”
Those are the eloquent words of country star Darius Rucker in his 2013 smash hit “Wagon Wheel,” and it’s the most appropriate song to listen to as one of the MAC’s greatest rivalries takes center stage on Midweek MACtion.
Tuesday night features a clash between the Akron Zips (2-8, 1-5 MAC) and Kent State Golden Flashes (0-10, 0-6 MAC), and there’s always bad blood between the crosstown Ohio programs. The hatred runs very deep. For instance, Kent State formally refers to Akron as “TDSTR”, which stands for “That School Down the Road,” and the rivalry extends beyond the football field. One highlight of the rivalry transpired on the basketball court in 2022 when four Kent State basketball players were suspended for releasing a colorful Akron diss track prior to the teams’ meeting in the MAC Tournament.
All of that hatred will be channeled in receiving the coveted prize of the Wagon Wheel — a giant wheel the winning team hoists immediately following the victory. It is currently property of Akron, which stormed back from a 17-point deficit in the final 10 minutes to stun Kent State, 31-27, last November.
Akron Zips outlook
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For the first time this season, Akron is favored to win a game against FBS competition. Not only are the Zips favored, but they’re favored by double-digits, hoping to notch their third win of the season against their crosstown rival.
Akron has fallen on hard times lately, and the Zips haven’t won more than two games in a season since 2018 or produced a winning record since 2015. While the goals of bowl eligibility and a +.500 record are long gone, Akron can still produce three wins and multiple conference victories in a single season for the first time in six years.
While the Zips’ record is anything but desirable, the team has produced decent showings against quality MAC competition throughout the year. Akron remained within one score at Northern Illinois until the final eight minutes last week. The Zips also took Bowling Green to the wire and led Western Michigan by 17 points before ultimately collapsing. The team produced one quality data point in late October, upsetting Eastern Michigan 25-21 behind a stellar first half and a go-ahead touchdown with four minutes remaining.
Offensively, it hasn’t been the most pristine year for the Zips which rank 125th in scoring offense and 123rd in total offense. Akron particularly struggles with establishing the ground game and only four FBS teams pick up fewer rushing yards per game than the Zips’ 82. Given the futility on the ground, Akron isn’t afraid to air the ball out 40 or 50 times per game, especially considering the team is often playing from behind.
Last week was the epitome of that as quarterback Ben Finley attempted 52 passes in the Zips’ 29-16 loss to Northern Illinois. In his previous outing, Finley attempted 42, and he’s thrown at least 32 balls in all but one MAC game this year. While the efficiency of 55.8 percent could use improvement, Finley has enjoyed several strong outings, including a 378-yard, 4-touchdown showing vs. Buffalo and a 395-yard outing on a 66.7 completion rate vs. Western Michigan.
Adrian Norton is what fuels the passing game. The wide receiver is tied for fourth in the MAC in receiving yards at 724 and his seven touchdowns are also tied for fourth in the league. The sophomore rides a three-game touchdown streak and most of his activity transpires downfield, as demonstrated by his impressive average of 19.1 yards per catch. Wide receiver Bobby Golden and tight end Jake Newell are the other supporting pieces that support Finley in a pass-happy offense.
The trenches have not been the kindest area to Akron on either side of the ball, as the Zips rank below 100th in both sacks (1.4) and sacks allowed (2.7) per game. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive end CJ Nunnally IV is responsible for most of the backfield pressure as the team leader in sacks and tackles for loss. Nunnally is one star Kent State’s constantly reshuffling offensive line must keep an eye on. Another is Bennett Adler, the defensive end opposite of Nunnally, who ranks second on the unit with three sacks.
Akron fields the 123rd ranked scoring defense in the country, but the unit is performing better lately, holding three of its last five opponents below 30 points. But the Zips field one of the worst turnover margins in college football at a -11, and that’s mainly due to the defense’s inability to spark turnovers. Akron has only intercepted two passes all year, so free safety Darrian Lewis will look to spearhead improvement in that area. Other defenders to watch on this unit include linebackers Bryan McCoy and Antavious Fish who combine for 154 tackles on the season as the Zips’ chief run stoppers.
Kent State Golden Flashes outlook
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As rough as 2024 has been for Akron, multiply that by 10, and that’s the season for Kent State. The Golden Flashes are firmly the 134th ranked team in the FBS as the only winless group in the country.
There are still two opportunities to earn that elusive win, but Kent State isn’t making strides as calendar progresses. The Golden Flashes were limited to single-digit points in three of their last four outings, and they’ve only come within one score of one FBS opponent all year — a 37-35 home loss to Ball State on Oct. 12. It’s been an ugly season for Kenni Burns and Kent State which suffered three 40+ point shutouts and lost to an FCS opponent in St. Francis (PA), which is 3-5 against fellow FCS teams this year.
Kent State at least checked off one box last week, taking the lead for the first time all season. The Golden Flashes forced an immediate turnover in their Wednesday night game at Miami (OH), diving on a fumble to set up a short field for an early touchdown. However, that marked the Flashes’ only points of the game as Miami breezed to a 34-7 victory over the only winless team in the FBS.
There is a lot of adversity to overcome. Through all of the on-field turmoil, Kent State is dealing with an entire medieval scroll of an injury report. Key starters are out across the board, gutting the team of its depth and forcing plenty of true and redshirt freshmen reserves to step up throughout the season.
Kent State welcomed a key player back from injury last week in quarterback Tommy Ulatowski. Ulatowski took over the starting reins in Week 5, and he’s shown the capability of leading the offense to great heights. In a two-week October stretch, Ulatowski threw for 345 and 394 yards, totaling seven touchdowns to just two interceptions over that electrifying span. Those numbers haven’t resurfaced since, as Ulatowski is averaging 91 passing yards per game in his last three starts, but he’s certainly able to lead a vertical aerial attack.
Ulatowski’s success through the air is heavily reliant on two star receivers. Chrishon McCray and Luke Floriea both earned All-MAC nods last season, and they remain the two most dangerous players on this Kent State roster. When Ulatowski was at his best, so was McCray who registered 188 and 213 receiving yards in back-to-back games, collecting five touchdowns during that hot streak. While McCray initiated the scoring effort last week, Kent State hasn’t got him going at that level, and he’s looking for his first 30-yard game since Oct. 12. His partner in crime Floriea has two 100-yard games this year, and Floriea is eyeing a similar bounce-back performance, looking to surpass 45 yards for the first time since that Oct. 12 offensive masterpiece.
Backfield pressure is a major factor limiting Kent State’s run game and pass games. Routes aren’t receiving ample time to develop, and the Golden Flashes have a year-long completion rate of 45.7 percent while absorbing 3.4 sacks per game.
But as rough as the 134th ranked total offense has been, the 134th ranked total defense has been arguably worse. Kent State is last in the country at defending the run. And like Akron, the Golden Flashes struggle to generate turnovers on a consistent basis, preventing the team from coming up with stops in other ways.
Kent State had its moments last week vs. Miami (OH) as defensive end Stephen Daley recorded two sacks. Daley is the name to watch on a shorthanded defensive line, and on the back end, free safety Josh Baka is tremendously stepping up. Baka is now the team’s leading tackler after posting 25 in the past two weeks, and he’ll be instrumental on stopping Adrian Norton and the Zips from going over the top.
Prediction
They say anything can happen in a rivalry game, and you can throw the records out when these teams are playing for the Wagon Wheel.
Neither team has been great this year, but Akron definitely has the upper hand, even in a road environment. The Zips’ connection of Ben Finley to Adrian Norton is comparable to the Golden Flashes’ connection of Tommy Ulatowski to Chrishon McCray, but one difference between the teams is Akron’s defensive firepower. CJ Nunnally IV is certain to make an impact on Kent State’s backfield and force Ulatowski into some tough throws. The Zips present impressive linebacker talent as well in Bryan McCoy who should be able to keep Kent State somewhat one-dimensional through the air.
In the end, Joe Moorhead and the Zips collect a third win for the first time since 2018 and earn a reason to celebrate in what’s been a tough season for all Wagon Wheel participants involved.
Prediction: Akron 31, Kent State 10