The University of Akron Athletics
MAC Football Kickoff Opens 2026 Season
July 22 | Football
DETROIT, Mich. – The Akron Zips football team, along with the other 12 members of the Mid-American Conference, officially kicked off the 2026 season on Wednesday at MAC Football Media Day, held at Ford Field in Detroit.
Fifth-year head coach Joe Moorhead, along with senior RB Jordan Gant (Lakeland, Fla.), junior DL Cyrus Durham (Atherton, Calif.), and graduate OL Colin Lyons (McKeesport, Pa.), represented Akron at the annual kickoff event.
The 2026 MAC Football Kickoff Media Day opened with a commissioner's address from Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, welcoming all member institutions and newly added football member Sacramento State. The event was covered live on ESPN+, with Coach Moorhead, Gant, and Durham discussing the upcoming season and expectations for an explosive offense and attacking defense fans will love to watch.
Prior to the event, the league released the 2026 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, which has the Zips selected 10th overall.
Akron is scheduled to open the 2026 campaign on the road against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on the ACC Network.
A week later is the Zips' home opener at InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field, as Akron hosts Robert Morris following Party on Vine Street on Saturday, Sept. 12. Party on Vine Street begins at 1:30 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
MAC Championship Game pick: Western Michigan (9 votes) over Miami (4 votes)
Fifth-year head coach Joe Moorhead, along with senior RB Jordan Gant (Lakeland, Fla.), junior DL Cyrus Durham (Atherton, Calif.), and graduate OL Colin Lyons (McKeesport, Pa.), represented Akron at the annual kickoff event.
The 2026 MAC Football Kickoff Media Day opened with a commissioner's address from Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, welcoming all member institutions and newly added football member Sacramento State. The event was covered live on ESPN+, with Coach Moorhead, Gant, and Durham discussing the upcoming season and expectations for an explosive offense and attacking defense fans will love to watch.
Prior to the event, the league released the 2026 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, which has the Zips selected 10th overall.
Akron is scheduled to open the 2026 campaign on the road against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. on the ACC Network.
A week later is the Zips' home opener at InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field, as Akron hosts Robert Morris following Party on Vine Street on Saturday, Sept. 12. Party on Vine Street begins at 1:30 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Ticket Information
Season tickets and single-game tickets are available now on GoZips.com/Tickets, or by calling or texting the Akron ticket office at 888-99-AKRON (25766), or by visiting the C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Group experiences for the 2026 season are also available. Individual and corporate groups can plan a memorable experience at an Akron Football home game this fall by visiting our tickets page. Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available starting today for a minimum purchase of 10 tickets, and fan experiences are available on a first-come, first-served basis at any home football game during the 2026 season.
2026 MAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in parentheses. Coaches were not permitted to vote for themselves.| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Michigan (9) | 138 |
| 2 | Miami (4) | 134 |
| 3 | Toledo | 115 |
| 4 | Ohio | 107 |
| 5 | Central Michigan | 101 |
| 6 | Buffalo | 81 |
| 7 | Eastern Michigan | 76 |
| 8 | Kent State | 64 |
| 9 | Bowling Green | 59 |
| 10 | Akron | 52 |
| 11 | Ball State | 34 |
| 12 | Sacramento State | 28 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 25 |
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 22
