2023 Akron Zips football team

2023 Akron Zips football
2023 Akron Zips football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
	East Division
Record	2–10 (1–7 MAC)
Head coach	Joe Moorhead (2nd season);
Offensive coordinator	Billy Fessler (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple up-tempo
Defensive coordinator	Tim Tibesar (2nd season)
Base defense	Multiple 4–2–5
Home stadium	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field

2023 Mid-American Conference football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
East Division
Miami (OH) xy$	7	–	1	11	–	3
Ohio	6	–	2	10	–	3
Bowling Green	5	–	3	7	–	6
Buffalo	3	–	5	3	–	9
	1	–	7	2	–	10
Kent State	0	–	8	1	–	11
West Division
Toledo xy	8	–	0	11	–	3
Northern Illinois	5	–	3	7	–	6
Eastern Michigan	4	–	4	6	–	7
Central Michigan	3	–	5	5	–	7
Ball State	3	–	5	4	–	8
Western Michigan	3	–	5	4	–	8
Championship: Miami (OH) 23, Toledo 14
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant

The 2023 Akron Zips football team represented the University of Akron as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by second-year head coach Joe Moorhead, the Zips played home games at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio.^[1]^[2] They finished the season 2–10 and 1–7 in conference play^[3] The Akron Zips football team drew an average home attendance of 7,237 in 2023.^[4]

Preseason

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Akron was picked to finish fifth in the East.^[5]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
East
1	Ohio	63 (9)
2	Miami	52 (2)
3	Buffalo	51 (1)
4	Bowling Green	35
5	Akron	26
6	Kent State	19

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
West
1	Toledo	66 (11)
2	Eastern Michigan	55 (1)
3	Northern Illinois	38
4	Central Michigan	37
5	Ball State	27
6	Western Michigan	23

Rank	Team	Votes
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
1	Toledo	7
2	Ohio	4
3	Buffalo	1

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	2:00 p.m.	at Temple*	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPN+	L 21–24	12,456
September 9	6:00 p.m.	Morgan State*	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN+	W 24–21	8,213
September 16	7:00 p.m.	at Kentucky*	Kroger Field Lexington, KY	ESPNU	L 3–35	59,456
September 23	7:30 p.m.	at Indiana*	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	BTN	L 27–29 ^4OT	44,968
September 30	12:00 p.m.	Buffalo	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN+	L 10–13 ^OT	5,490
October 7	3:30 p.m.	Northern Illinois	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN+	L 14–55	8,216
October 14	3:30 p.m.	at Central Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	ESPN+	L 10–17	17,886
October 21	2:00 p.m.	at Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH	ESPN+	L 14–41	10,068
November 1	7:30 p.m.	Kent State	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH (Wagon Wheel)	ESPNU	W 31–27	8,113
November 8	7:30 p.m.	at Miami (OH)	Yager Stadium Oxford, OH	ESPNU	L 0–19	7,233
November 14	7:00 p.m.	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	CBSSN	L 27–30 ^2OT	13,664
November 24	12:00 p.m.	Ohio	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	CBSSN	L 14–25	6,152
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[6]^[7]

Game summaries

at Kentucky

Game Three – Akron Zips (1–1) at Kentucky Wildcats (2–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Akron	0	0	3	0	3
Kentucky	7	7	7	14	35

at Kroger Field • Lexington, KY

Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Game weather: -
Game attendance: 59,456
Referee: Lee Hedrick
TV announcers (ESPNU): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play), Hutson Mason (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

(10:34) UK – Josh Kattus 6-yard pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 4:26; Kentucky 7-0)

Second quarter

(0:08) UK – Tayvion Robinson 22-yard pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 5:31; Kentucky 14-0)

Third quarter

(3:27) AKR – Noah Perez 36-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 27 yards, 5:33; Kentucky 14-3)
(1:38) UK – Ray Davis 58-yard pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 81 yards, 1:14; Kentucky 21-3)

Fourth quarter

(13:47) UK – Ray Davis 55-yard run (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 73 yards, 1:08; Kentucky 28-3)
(3:04) UK – Demie Sumo-Karngbaye 4-yard run (Alex Raynor kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 62 yards, 2:03; Kentucky 35-3)

Statistics	AKR	UK
First downs	16	18
Total yards	66–239	48–450
Rushing yards	25–49	22–135
Passing yards	190	315
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	29–41–0	16–26–1
Time of possession	34:47	25:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing	DJ Irons	23/34, 130 yards
	Rushing	Lorenzo Lingard	7 carries, 30 yards
	Receiving	Jasaiah Gathings	5 receptions, 43 yards
Kentucky	Passing	Devin Leary	16/25, 315 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Ray Davis	7 carries, 72 yards, TD
	Receiving	Ray Davis	3 receptions, 97 yards, TD

at Bowling Green

Game Eight – Akron Zips (1–6) at Bowling Green Falcons (3–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Akron	7	0	0	7	14
Bowling Green	3	10	21	7	41

at Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH

Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Sunny, 52 °F (11 °C) • Wind: W 7 mph (11 km/h)
Game attendance: 10,068
Referee: Jeremy Valentine
TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi, Marcus Ray

Game information

First quarter

(09:58) BGSU – Alan Anaya 36-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 52 yards, 4:56; Bowling Green 3-0)
(01:11) AKR – Lorenzo Lingard 13-yard run (Noah Perez kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 3:40; Akron 7-3)

Second quarter

(12:18) BGSU – Terion Stewart 3-yard run (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 1 play, 3 yards, :05; Bowling Green 10-7)
(00:00) BGSU – Alan Anaya 33-yard field goal (Drive: 2 plays, 0 yards, :10; Bowling Green 13-7)

Third quarter

(05:02) BGSU – Terion Stewart 16-yard run (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 88 yards, 5:34; Bowling Green 20-7)
(03:20) BGSU – Terion Stewart 2-yard run (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards, 1:32; Bowling Green 27-7)
(00:28) BGSU – Harold Fannin Jr. 8-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 3 plays,36 yards, 1:01; Bowling Green 34-7)

Fourth quarter

(07:58) BGSU – Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim 8-yard pass from Camden Orth (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 7 plays,35 yards, 5:04; Bowling Green 41-7)
(03:02) AKR – Drake Anderson 4-yard run (Noah Perez kick) (Drive: 11 plays,75 yards, 4:56; Bowling Green 41-14)

Statistics	Akron	Bowling Green
First downs	18	15
Plays–yards	279	297
Rushes–yards	28–45	42–214
Passing yards	234	83
Passing: comp–att–int	22–39–2	8-14-0
Time of possession	29:56	30:04

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing	Jeff Undercuffler	22/39, 234 yards, 2 INTS
	Rushing	Lorenzo Lingard	12 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Daniel George	7 receptions, 74 yards
Bowling Green	Passing	Connor Bazelak	6/11, 69 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Terion Stewart	19 carries, 131 yards, 3 TDS
	Receiving	Harold Fannin Jr.	2 receptions, 34 yards, 1 TD

vs Kent State

Game Nine – Akron Zips (1–7) vs Kent State Golden Flashes (1–7) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Kent State	6	14	7	0	27
Akron	7	3	0	21	31

at InfoCision Stadium • Akron, OH

Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 8,113
Referee: -
TV announcers (ESPNU): -

Game information

First quarter

(6:21) KENT – Tommy Ulatowski 5-yard run (Andrew Glass kick failed) (Drive: 4 plays, 51 yards, 2:14; Kent State 6-0)
(1:48) AKR - Daniel George 14-yard pass from Jeff Undercuffler Jr. (Owen Wiley kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 4:26, Akron 7-6)

Second quarter

(9:36) KENT – Crishon McCray 36-yard pass from Tommy Ulatowski (Andrew Glass kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 2:19; Kent State 13-7)
(6:50) AKR - Owen Wiley 2-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 2:39; Kent State 13-10)
(0:38) KENT – Luke Floriea 19-yard pass from Tommy Ulatowski (Andrew Glass kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 72 yards, 6:04; Kent State 20-7)

Third quarter

(0:38) KENT – Crishon McCray 27-yard pass from Tommy Ulatowski (Andrew Glass kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 69 yards, 1:25; Kent State 27-7)

Fourth quarter

(9:12) AKR - Jasaiah Gathings 22-yard pass from Jeff Undercuffler Jr. (Owen Wiley kick) (Drive: 16 plays, 87 yards, 6:32, Kent State 27-17)
(3:32) AKR - Lorenzo Lingard 37-yard run (Owen Wiley kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 74 yards, 1:29, Kent State 27-24)
(0:26) AKR - JJeff Undercuffler Jr. 5-yard run (Owen Wiley kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 2:43, Akron 31-27)

Statistics	KENT	AKR
First downs	16	22
Total yards	346	393
Rushing yards	117	95
Passing yards	229	298
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–23–0	23–39–0
Time of possession	30:08	29:52

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing	Tommy Ulatowski	15/23, 229 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Jaylen Thomas	14 carries, 36 yards
	Receiving	Crishon McCray	6 receptions, 161 yards, 2 TD
Akron	Passing	Jeff Undercuffler Jr.	23/39, 298 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Lorenzo Lingard	22 carries, 106 yards, TD
	Receiving	Daniel George	9 receptions, 104 yards, TD

Postseason

The Zips were named 2023 National Chumpions by The College Football Pillow Fighters for being the worst team in College Football during the 2023-24 season.^[8]

References

^ "Athletics Facilities - INFOCISION STADIUM-SUMMA FIELD". Akron Athletics.
^ "Joe Moorhead College Coaching Records, Awards and Leaderboards". Sports Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
^ "MAC College Football Standings - 2023". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
^ "2023 FBS Attendance Trends". D1.ticker. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked to win conference championship; BGSU tabbed to finish fourth in MAC East". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
^ "2023 Akron Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
^ "Akron Zips Schedule 2023". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024.

[1] "Athletics Facilities - INFOCISION STADIUM-SUMMA FIELD". Akron Athletics.

[2] "Joe Moorhead College Coaching Records, Awards and Leaderboards". Sports Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2024.

[3] "MAC College Football Standings - 2023". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2023.

[4] "2023 FBS Attendance Trends". D1.ticker. Retrieved December 14, 2024.

[5] "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked to win conference championship; BGSU tabbed to finish fourth in MAC East". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.

[6] "2023 Akron Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.

[7] "Akron Zips Schedule 2023". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 14, 2024.

[8] "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

Akron Zips football
Venues	League Park (c. 1910) Buchtel Field (c. 1915–1939) Rubber Bowl (1940–2008) InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field (2009–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Kent State (Wagon Wheel) Youngstown State (Steel Tire, 1940–1995)
Culture & lore	Zippy "Akron Blue and Gold" Zips Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897–1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904–1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2024 2025