The University of Akron Athletics
Football Announces 2011 Nonconference Schedule
January 27 | Football
AKRON, Ohio - Two home games and a visit to intrastate rivals and BCS opponents Ohio State and Cincinnati highlight The University of Akron football program's 2011 nonconference schedule, second-year head coach Rob Ianello announced on Thursday.
The Zips will open their 111th season on the gridiron on Sept. 3 at Big Ten opponent Ohio State and travel to Big East program Cincinnati on Sept. 17. Tickets to both away games will be made available to Zips season ticket holders, with more details to be announced next week.
UA's nonleague home schedule at two-year-old InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field will consist of matchups against Florida International on Sept. 10 and Virginia Military Institute on Sept. 24. In 2011 the Zips also will play host to Mid-American Conference rivals Kent State, Ohio, Temple and Central Michigan.
"As a program, we are very much looking forward to the 2011 season and by design our nonleague schedule will help prepare us for MAC play," Ianello said. "We have nonconference home games against two quality opponents and it's exciting for our players and fans to visit Big Ten and Big East venues at Ohio State and Cincinnati. The fact that we stay within the state of Ohio for the first four games of the season is a positive for the team and will make it easy for our fans to follow us."
UA and OSU will meet on the football field for the first time since Sept. 8, 2007, when the then No. 11-ranked Buckeyes defeated Akron, 20-2, in Columbus. The Zips are 1-6 all-time against the Scarlet and Grey, with their lone victory in the series coming in the form of a 4-0 decision in 1891.
Akron and Cincinnati will face off for the third time in six years. The Bearcats defeated the Zips 17-15 in the previous meeting on Sept. 27, 2008 at UA's old venue the Rubber Bowl, and also got the best of Akron 20-14 on Oct. 7, 2006 in Cincinnati. UC owns a 3-2 edge in the series, which dates to 1984.
Akron and VMI will meet up for the second time ever, with the KeyDets claiming the prior contest 38-14 on Nov. 4, 1967 in Lexington, Va.
UA and FIU will face one another for the first time.
Both OSU and FIU wrapped up their 2010 campaigns with a bowl game victory. Ohio State scored a 31-26 win over Arkansas in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and closed the season with a 12-1 record and a No. 5 ranking in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. FIU, which is a member of the Sun Belt Conference, topped MAC member Toledo 34-32 in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl and finished with a 7-6 overall mark.
Cincinnati comes off a 4-8 season. VMI, which is a member of the Big South Conference and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), went 3-8 last season.
In conference play, the Zips will travel to Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan. All game times, conference dates and television coverage will be announced later.
Renewal invoices for current Zips football season ticket holders will be mailed during the first week of February, and new season ticket packages will go on sale on Monday, Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. ET.
Tickets can be purchased online anytime at GoZips.com/tickets, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays by either calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting the Akron Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the intersection of E. Exchange and S. Union streets).
2011 Akron Football Schedule:
| Day, Date | Opponent | Location |
| Sat., Sept. 3 | at Ohio State | Columbus, Ohio |
| Sat., Sept. 10 | FIU | Akron, Ohio |
| Sat., Sept. 17 | at Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Sat., Sept. 24 | VMI | Akron, Ohio |
| MAC Home Games: | Kent State, Ohio, Temple, Central Michigan |
| MAC Away Games: | Buffalo, Miami (Ohio), Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan |
