The Akron Zips enter the 2025 college football season with a sense of urgency and cautious optimism as they prepare to host the Wyoming Cowboys on August 28 in a matchup that offers an early test of growth under head coach Joe Moorhead. Now entering his fourth season at the helm, Moorhead is aiming to steer Akron out of the MAC basement and into respectability after last year’s 4–8 finish that featured several competitive games but too few victories. The Zips’ 6–6 record against the spread in 2024 reflected a team that often outperformed expectations, even when the scoreboard didn’t always cooperate. Offensively, Akron struggled to sustain drives and ranked near the bottom nationally in scoring at just over 20 points per game, but there’s reason to believe the unit will take a step forward. Quarterback experience returns, supported by a revamped offensive line that gained valuable reps last season and now looks to provide more consistent protection and run blocking. In the backfield and at wide receiver, Akron features several shifty and tough skill players who, while not household names, have flashed enough to suggest big-play potential when the offense finds rhythm. Defensively, the Zips were porous in 2024, giving up over 32 points per game, and their inability to get off the field on third downs often put the offense in difficult positions.

But with the return of their top tacklers and added depth in the secondary, Akron is hoping to become more disruptive and opportunistic, particularly against teams like Wyoming that have a conservative, grind-it-out style. Hosting this opener gives Akron a notable edge—not just in crowd support but in game-day comfort and preparation cadence. The Zips have historically played better at home, and their ATS record suggests they often rise to the occasion against evenly matched teams. The key for Akron will be minimizing mistakes and capitalizing on scoring opportunities when they arise, especially since the game flow is likely to be dictated by field position and red zone execution rather than shootout dynamics. Special teams, often a forgotten phase, may quietly swing this one, and Akron’s kicking and return units must be sharp to keep Wyoming on the back foot. Ultimately, this is a statement opportunity for Moorhead’s squad: a chance to beat a Mountain West opponent and immediately generate momentum for the rest of the schedule. If the defense tightens up just enough and the offense can finish drives instead of settling for field goals, the Zips could very well come out of Week 1 with a victory that signals Akron football is starting to turn the corner. Even if the oddsmakers have them as slight underdogs, the combination of continuity, home field, and motivation gives Akron a very real path to pulling the upset in what figures to be a physical and evenly matched contest.