Akron Zips is 0-1 on the season, 1-0 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -19.6. Akron Zips enters the season with a power rating of -19.6, placing them below average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Akron Zips host Robert Morris next in Week 2. In 2025, Akron Zips went 5-7 overall, 6-6 against the spread, and 7-5 on totals.
In Week 1 of 2026 the Akron Zips Power Rating of -19.6 is 19.6 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Akron Zips have logged 695 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 -19.5 in the preseason and finished -16.3 after the postseason, a move of +3.2 points. High -15.7 (week 13), low -21.9 (week 0).
PrePost
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 enters 2026 with Reese Poffenbarger under center, a transfer who backed up at Miami (Fla.) and North Texas but was a prolific starter at FCS UAlbany, where he threw for 60 touchdowns and rushed for eight more across two seasons. He has proven weapons around him: running back Jordan Gant returns after a 1,032-yard season that earned him second-team All-MAC honors, and receivers Marcel Williams (641 yards) and Kyan Mason (481) both came back. The offensive line has seven returning rotational players plus transfers, so the unit has experience, but the key is whether it can protect Poffenbarger and open lanes for Gant.
The Zips' defense was ninth in the MAC in scoring last year, and the secondary is the clear strength. Safeties Rodrick Hunter and Daymon David (an Oregon transfer returning from injury) plus cornerbacks Terence Thomas and Aamii Branch give coordinator Tim Tibesar a veteran group. The front seven is less proven: Jason Hocker takes over at middle linebacker after playing in only five games, and while the Frazier twins (Dahvon and Jahvon) and Cyrus Durham provide experience on the line, the unit lost production to the portal and needs younger players to step up.
The Zips' postseason ban for poor APR scores has been lifted, so they can aim for a bowl for the first time in Moorhead's tenure. The schedule is demanding: non-conference games at Wake Forest, UNLV, and Minnesota are all tough, and the MAC slate includes no Sacramento State, which was a winnable game last year. Six wins is probably the ceiling, but with a veteran offense and a decent secondary, reaching that mark is not out of the question.
Head coach Joe Moorhead, who also calls plays, has overseen offensive improvement in recent years, and an opposing MAC assistant noted that the progression is visible. With Poffenbarger's dual-threat ability and a solid group of skill players, the Zips should be more dynamic than in past seasons. The main concern is replacing lost production up front on both sides of the ball, but the returning starters and transfers give Moorhead more to work with than in previous years.
Akron Zips is 1-0 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 100% of games.
Akron Zips holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -19.6, 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: 0-1 overall, 1-0 ATS, power rating -19.6 (2026 records).
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