Akron Battles Indiana at Memorial Stadium on BTN

Saturday, September 23

Bloomington, Ind.

7:30 PM

University of Akron

Indiana

Akron Battles Indiana at Memorial Stadium on BTN

September 22 | Football

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron football team travels to Bloomington, Ind. to play B1G opponent Indiana at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16 23at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network with Connor Onion (PxP), Adam Breneman (Analyst) and Dannie Rogers (Sideline) calling the action with a link on GoZips.com.

Television: BTN - Connor Onion (pxp), Adam Breneman (analyst), Dannie Rogers (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
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com - https://bit.ly/3RnQXub

HEAD COACHES
INDIANA
Tom Allen (Maranatha Baptist, 1992)
Overall Record: 31-42 (7th Season)
Record at Indiana: 31-42 (7th Season)

AKRON
Joe Moorhead (Fordham, 1996)
Overall Record: 55-37 (8th Season)
Record at Akron: 3-12 (2nd Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Series: Indiana Leads 3-0 | Home: 2-0 | Away: 1-0
Last Meeting: Indiana def. Akron, 35-20 (Bloomington, Ind. - Sept. 25, 2010)
Second Meeting: Indiana def. Akron, 38-21 (Akron, Ohio - Sept. 19, 2009)
First Meeting: Indiana def. Akron, 41-24 (Bloomington, Ind. - Sept. 15, 2007)

Today's game marks the fourth time in series history the Zips and the Hoosiers have met on the gridiron. Indiana holds a 3-0 all-time record, winning a pair of games in Bloomington and one game in Akron. Indiana has scored 35 or more points in all three contests for 114 total points compared the Zips 22 points per a game average and 65 total points scored.

SCOUTING INDIANA
The Indiana Hoosiers enter the game with a 1-2 overall record and 0-1 in B1G play. The Hoosiers opened the 2023 slate against Ohio State, falling 23-3 before defeating Indiana State 41-7. In week three, Louisville posted a seven-point win over Indiana 21-14. The Hoosiers have used two QBs this season in Tayven Jackson who is 43-of-60 for 559 yards and a touchdown, while Brenden Sorsby has thrown 32 passes, completing 17 for 166 yards. The Hoosiers have a pair of RB with two touchdowns each. Layling Lucas leads the ground attack with 29 carries for 141 yards, while Josh Henderson has 22 rushes for 91 yards. The Indiana receiving corps is paced by Cam Cooper with nine catches for 146 yards, while Jaylin Lucas and Omar Cooper, Jr. with 138 yards on 15 targets and 109 yards on eight targets. Lucas has one TD reception. Defensively, LB Aaron Casey leads the squad in tackles with 28, including 4 TFL and two sacks. Phillip Dunnam follows with a pair of sacks and adds 16 tackles and two interceptions.

AKRON NOTES
• Akron won the turnover battle 3-1 after intercepting one pass and recovering two fumbles.
• Akron tallied 3 points in the third quarter, accounting for 100% of their total score.
• Akron converted 6 of 15 third downs while Kentucky was successful on 5 of 8.
• Akron won the time of possession battle 34:47 to 25:13.
• Irons completed 67.6% of his passes on the day, going 23-for-34
•CJ Nunnally opened the game with back-to-back sacks for the Zips.
•Noel Roach blocked punt to setup Akron field goal, made by Noah Perez 22 yards
•Alex Adams caught his first TD pass of the season 29 yards from Jeff Undercuffler 5-5 on the 67-yard drive.
•Devonte Golden-Nelson recorded the Zips first interception of the season and first Pick-6, taking the 50 yards for his first-career touchdown.
• Akron outgained Morgan State 262-231, including a 254-152 advantage through the air.
• Akron converted 4 of 11 third downs while Morgan State was successful on 2 of 16.
• The Zips had three players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Bryan McCoy, who had 14.
• The Zips racked up nine tackles for loss and added four sacks.
• Akron posted 279 yards of total offense in the season opener vs Temple
• DJ Irons accounted for 205 yards of offense with two TDs on 17-of-29 throwing.
• Lorenzo Lingard caught a career-high 77 yard TD reception from Irons on the second play of the game to give Akron a 7-0 lead.
• Daniel George caught a 50-yard long pass from Irons to setup the Zips second TD
• Myles Walker hauled in the second TD pass from Irons, a 14 yard reception and his first career touchdown
• Drake Anderson led the ground attack with 40 of the Zips 74 yards.
• Akron's defense registered three tackles for loss with eight total yards.Bryan McCoy (1), Shammond Cooper (0.5), Terray Jones (1) and CJ Nunnally (0.5) recorded the takedowns.
• Darrian Lewis, Antavious Fish and McCoy recorded seven tackles each to lead the Zips. Judson Tallendier, Cooper and KJ Martin followed with five each.
• Akron returns eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters
• Akron returns its top-three tacklers in; Nate Thompson (73 tackles, 38 solo, 35 assists, 2 TFL), Darrian Lewis (56 tackles, 30 solo, 26 assists, 3/5 TFL) and KJ Martin (53 tackles, 30 solo, 23 assists, 3 TFL)
• Akron returns its top-two quarterbacks in; DJ Irons (253-379-7, 2,606, 10 TD) and Jeff Undercuffler (70-120-5, 791 yards, 5 TD)
• Akron returns its top leading rusher in DJ Irons (133 carries, 314 yards, 4 TD)
• Akron Returns four of top-five leading receivers in; Alex Adams (63 catches, 856 yards, 9 TD), Daniel George (67 catches, 793 yards, 2 TD), TJ Banks (21 catches, 175 yards, 0 TD)

MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CJ Nunnally was named Mid-American Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday. Nunnally provided a spark for Akron, helping them to a 24-21 win over Morgan State in their home opener at InfoCision Stadium on Saturday. With less than a minute to play, Nunnally forced a fumble to setup the game-winning touchdown. He forced the fumble at the Morgan State 13-yardline, stripping the Bears QB J.J. Davis of the ball, allowing teammate LB Bryan McCoy to recover the loose ball and score the game-winning touchdown.In addition, Nunnally opened the game with back-to-back sacks, recording two of the Zips four sacks on the game. His sacks totaled 10-yards of loss and posted a third tackle for an eight-yard loss. In all, Nunnally registered four tackles, three solo and one assisted, with three tackles for losses.

AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2023 CAMPAIGN
The Zips elected seniors QB DJ Irons, WR Daniel George, DL Ryan Johnson and DB KJ Martin as captains for Akron for the 2023 campaign.

UP NEXT
Akron returns to InfoCision Stadium for the MAC Home Opener on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Noon as the Zips host the Buffalo Bulls on ESPN+.