By Danielle Daniels
AKRON GAME NOTES AT OHIO STATE
https://gozips.com/documents/2024/8/30/GM1_vsOhio_State_83124.pdf
WHAT’S AHEAD
The University of Akron football opens the season on national television at Ohio Stadium against the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, Aug. 31. CBS will broadcast the game live at 3:30 p.m. with Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson calling the action and Jenny Dell reporting from the sideline.
Television: CBS – Brad Nessler (pxp), Gary Danielson (analyst), Jenny Dell (sideline)
Radio: Akron Sports Network – David Skoczen (pxp), Joe Dunn (analyst) WHLO 640 AM (flagship), WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM, iHeart Radio, TheVarsityNetwork.com
Video Link: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required)
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com
HEAD COACHES
OHIO STATE
RYAN DAY (New Hampshire, 2002)
at Ohio State (6th): 56-8
Overall (6th): Same
AKRON ZIPS
JOE MOORHEAD (Fordham, 1996)
at Akron (3rd): 4-20
Overall (8th): 56-45
SERIES HISTORY
Series: Ohio State leads 8-1
Last Meeting: Ohio State def. Akron, 59-7 (Columbus, Ohio – Sept. 25, 2021)
The game between the Zips and Buckeyes will mark the 10th encounter between the two schools. Ohio State leads the all-time series, 8-1, including a 59-7 triumph in the last meeting on Sept. 25, 2021. The Zips’ lone win came in 1894 as Akron posted a 12-6 decision in Columbus. The two teams played every season from 1891-1895, but did not meet again until 2001. The Zips and the Buckeyes have met four times in the 2000’s eras with Ohio State claiming all four meetings, 2001 (28-14), 2007(20-2), 2011 (42-0) and 2021 (59-7).
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State enters the 2024 campaign ranked No. 2 in the AP TOP 25 and the USA Today Coaches’ Polls. The Buckeyes 14 starters and 36 lettermen from last year’s squad that posted an 11-2 overall record in 2023. Ohio State returns eight starters on defense and six starters on offense led by the 2024 team captains: LB Cody Simon, WR Emeka Egbuka, RB TreVeyon Henderson and DE Jack Sawyer.
AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2024 CAMPAIGN
The Zips elected junior LB Bryan McCoy (Chicago, Ill.) as captain for the second consecutive season. McCoy is joined by senior DL Bennett Adler (Lakewood, Ohio), redshirt junior WR Myles Walker (Monaca, Pa.) and redshirt junior QB Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) as captains for Akron for the 2024 campaign.
WHO IS WEARING NO. 1
Senior senior DL Bennett Adler and redshirt junior WR Myles Walker have emerged as leaders for third-year head coach Joe Moorhead as the Zips enter their season opener at Ohio State on Aug. 31 and the duo was recently rewarded with the No. 1 jerseys for the upcoming campaign.
Under Moorhead at Akron, head strength and conditioning coach Orie Sahlfeld identifies one player on each side of the ball that demonstrated their leadership both on and off the field over the course of the spring to earn the privilege of wearing the No. 1 jersey in the Akron Blue and Gold for the 2024 season.
PRESEASON HONORS
Six Akron football players have been named to Phil Steele’s 2024 preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams. Earning preseason first-team All-MAC honors were senior DL CJ Nunnally, IV (Douglasville, Ga.) and junior LB Bryan McCoy (Chicago, Ill.). Named to the preseason second-team All-MAC was senior LB Antavious Fish (Atlanta, Ga.) followed by a pair of third-team recipients in senior WR Alex Adams (Osyka, Miss.) and junior WR Bobby Golden (Miami, Fla.). Rounding out the 2024 Phil Steele list was junior DL Lama Lavea (El Paso, Texas) with preseason fourth-team All-MAC recognition.
Eight Zips were named to Athlon Sports’ 2024 preseason All-MAC teams as senior DL CJ Nunnally, IV and junior LB Bryan McCoy earned preseason first-team All-MAC accolades followed by seniors WR Alex Adams, LB Antavious Fish and CB Darrian Lewis (Akron, Ohio) with second-team honors. In addition, DL Bennett Adler, junior CB Devonte Golden-Nelson (Memphis, Tenn.) and junior S Daymon David (Baltimore, Md.) as third-team honors.
In addition, senior DL CJ Nunnally, IV was named to the 2024 preseason watchlists for The Lombardi Award, The Chuck Bednarik Award, the 2025 Shrine Bowl 1000 and the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl. In addition, redshirt junior WR Alex Adams (Osyka, Miss.) also made an appearance on the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl preseason watchlist.
2024 MAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Miami (9) – 119 points 7. Western Michigan – 60 points
2. Toledo (3) – 109 points ` 8. Central Michigan – 59 points
T3. Bowling Green – 92 points 9. Ball State – 42 points
T3. Northern Illinois – 92 points 10. Buffalo – 37 points
5. Ohio – 81 points 11. Akron – 24 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 64 points 12. Kent State – 13 points
MAC Champion: Miami (10), Toledo (2)
First Place votes in ( ) | *Coaches were not able to vote for themselves
UP NEXT
In week two, the Akron football team travels to Piscataway, N.J. to battle Rutgers at Noon.
COURTESY AKRON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
