Akron Zips is 1-6 on the season, 3-4 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -22.8. Akron Zips holds a power rating of -22.8, placing them in the weaker tier of the FBS and typically entering games as a significant underdog. The Akron Zips head to Kent State next in Week 8.
In Week 7 of 2026 the Akron Zips Power Rating of -22.8 is 22.8 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Akron Zips have logged 2,880 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 3,847 miles, ranking 121st heaviest in the FBS.
Reese Poffenbarger QB, Jordan Gant RB, Sean Patrick RB, Marcel Williams WR, Kyan Mason WR
Rodrick Hunter S, Terence Thomas CB, Aamii Branch CB, Daymon David S, Jason Hocker LB, Dahvon Frazier EDGE, Jahvon Frazier DL, Cyrus Durham DL, Jon'Trell Mixon DL, Ronald Hull DL
Matthew Schramm K, Joseph Castle P
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Week 2 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 1-1 |
| Week 3 | 0-3 | 1-2 | 2-1 |
| Week 4 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 3-1 |
| Week 5 | 1-4 | 2-3 | 3-2 |
| Week 6 | 2-4 | 3-3 | 4-2 |
| Week 7 | 2-5 | 3-4 | 4-3 |
| Week 8 | 2-6 | 3-5 | 5-3 |
| Week 9 | 3-6 | 4-5 | 5-4 |
| Week 11 | 4-6 | 5-5 | 6-4 |
| Week 12 | 4-7 | 5-6 | 7-4 |
| Week 13 | 5-7 | 6-6 | 7-5 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened -19.3 in the preseason and finished -22.8 after week 8, a move of -3.5 points. High -18.0 (week 3), low -22.8 (week 8).
PreW8
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured and applied home field advantage agree to within 1.0 points here, so smoothing changes little for this venue.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan | 5 | 2-3 | 4-1 |
| Eastern Michigan | 5 | 1-4 | 2-2-1 |
| Miami (OH) | 9 | 1-8 | 4-5 |
| Kent State | 10 | 5-5 | 2-7-1 |
| Ohio | 9 | 1-8 | 5-4 |
| Western Michigan | 5 | 1-4 | 2-3 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Buffalo | 10 | 2-8 | 3-7 |
No meeting on record since 2016: Wake Forest, Robert Morris, Minnesota, UNLV.
Week 03,847 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Wake Forest | 348 mi | 695 mi |
| Week 2 | Robert Morris | Home | 695 mi |
| Week 3 | Minnesota | 651 mi | 1,997 mi |
| Week 4 | UNLV | Home | 1,997 mi |
| Week 5 | Central Michigan | 240 mi | 2,478 mi |
| Week 6 | Eastern Michigan | Home | 2,478 mi |
| Week 7 | Miami (OH) | 201 mi | 2,880 mi |
| Week 8 | Kent State | 11 mi | 2,903 mi |
| Week 9 | - | Bye | |
| Week 10 | Ohio | Home | 2,903 mi |
| Week 11 | Western Michigan | Home | 2,903 mi |
| Week 12 | Massachusetts | 472 mi | 3,847 mi |
| Week 13 | Buffalo | Home | 3,847 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
Akron entered the season planning to start transfer Reese Poffenbarger, but that plan lasted one game. Redshirt freshman Cibastian Broughton started the opener at Wake Forest, then delivered a near-perfect outing against Robert Morris (23 of 27, 227 yards, four touchdowns) before injuring his leg at Minnesota. Brayden Roggow took over and has shown both promise and peril: he threw three touchdowns against Eastern Michigan but was intercepted three times at Central Michigan and four times at Miami (OH). The Zips have yet to get consistent, mistake-free play from the position, and that volatility is the single biggest drag on the offense.
Jordan Gant has been the steadying force, topping 100 yards in three of the last four games (102 at Central Michigan, 117 against Eastern Michigan, and a 10-yard scoring run at Miami). Marcel Williams remains a reliable target, with a five-catch, 89-yard, two-touchdown effort against the Eagles. But the offense has been held to 17 points or fewer in four of six games and has been undone by turnovers and penalties, including seven infractions for 74 yards at Minnesota. The line, a preseason concern after losing production to the portal, has yet to consistently create room or protect the passer against better fronts.
The secondary was supposed to be the strength, but it has been repeatedly exposed because the defensive front has not held up. Wake Forest threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns by halftime, Central Michigan ran for 332 yards and four scores, and Miami (OH) got a career-high 142 rushing yards from Rodney Nelson. The Frazier twins and Cyrus Durham were billed as anchors up front, but they have been handled at the point of attack, leaving Rodrick Hunter, Terence Thomas, and Aamii Branch to cover far too long. Until the Zips can generate a pass rush and slow opposing run games, the defense will remain a liability.
Kicker Matthew Schramm (12 of 13 on field goals last season, including 4 of 5 from beyond 40) and punter Joseph Castle (42.9-yard average, long of 68) give Akron reliable hidden yardage. Sean Patrick is a threat as the primary punt returner. In a season where the offense has sputtered, special teams have kept the Zips within striking distance in several games and will need to continue to do so as the schedule turns to division play.
At 1-6 and 0-3 in the MAC, Akron's path to the postseason is nearly gone, but the schedule lightens considerably. The Zips have already faced two Power Four opponents and the top tier of the MAC; remaining games against Kent State, Buffalo, and others offer chances to build momentum for 2027. The focus now is on cleaning up turnovers, establishing Gant and Williams as consistent weapons, and finding a quarterback who can protect the ball. A strong finish would be a meaningful step for a program that has yet to post a winning record under Joe Moorhead.
Akron Zips is 3-4 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 43% of games.
Akron Zips holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -22.8, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Akron Zips's home field advantage rating is 2.1 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Akron Zips's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 4.5 wins, priced at -120 over and -110 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
Akron Zips travels 3,847 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 121st heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Akron Zips: 1-6 overall, 3-4 ATS, power rating -22.8 (2026 records).
.png)
