The 2026 Akron Zips football schedule features 12 games, including six home dates at InfoCision Stadium and a Week 1 opener at Wake Forest. Akron closes the regular season at home against Buffalo on Black Friday, November 27. Kickoff times and TV networks are still to be announced and will be added here as the MAC and its broadcast partners release them.
Akron Zips Football Overview
Akron enters 2026 under head coach Joe Moorhead, who took over the program in 2022 and continues to rebuild the Zips in the Mid-American Conference.
The non-conference slate sends Akron to Wake Forest and Minnesota for two Power Four road tests, with Robert Morris visiting in Week 2. MAC play runs from early October through the Black Friday finale, headlined by the Wagon Wheel rivalry game at Kent State on October 24.
Akron 2026 Football Schedule
Here is the full 2026 Akron Zips schedule. Home games are listed as “vs” and road games as “@”. Times and TV are marked TBD until announced.
| WK | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Sep 3 | @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons | TBD | TBD |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | vs Robert Morris Colonials | TBD | TBD |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | TBD | TBD |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | vs UNLV Rebels | TBD | TBD |
| 5 | Sat, Oct 3 | @ Central Michigan Chippewas | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Sat, Oct 10 | vs Eastern Michigan Eagles | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sat, Oct 17 | @ Miami (OH) RedHawks | TBD | TBD |
| 8 | Sat, Oct 24 | @ Kent State Golden Flashes | TBD | TBD |
| BYE | Sat, Oct 31 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 10 | Wed, Nov 4 | vs Ohio Bobcats | TBD | TBD |
| 11 | Tue, Nov 10 | vs Western Michigan Broncos | TBD | TBD |
| 12 | Wed, Nov 18 | @ Massachusetts Minutemen | TBD | TBD |
| 13 | Fri, Nov 27 | vs Buffalo Bulls | TBD | TBD |
More 2026 College Football Resources
Akron 2026 Football FAQ
Who is Akron’s head coach in 2026?
Joe Moorhead leads the Zips in 2026. He took over the Akron program in 2022 after serving as offensive coordinator at Oregon and head coach at Mississippi State.
How many home games does Akron play in 2026?
Akron plays six home games in 2026: Robert Morris, UNLV, Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Western Michigan, and the Black Friday finale against Buffalo.
When is Akron’s bye week in 2026?
Akron’s bye week falls in Week 9, the weekend of October 31, 2026, between the road game at Kent State and the home game against Ohio.
When will Akron’s 2026 kickoff times and TV channels be announced?
Most MAC kickoff times and TV assignments are confirmed about 6 to 12 days before each game. This page and the printable PDF are updated as the MAC and its broadcast partners release them.
What is Akron’s biggest rivalry game in 2026?
Akron meets Kent State on October 24 for the Wagon Wheel, the oldest and most heated rivalry on the Zips’ schedule.
Official source: Akron Zips Athletics.
