2018 Akron Zips football team


The 2018 Akron Zips football team represented the University of Akron in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden and played their home games at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field in Akron, Ohio as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 2–6 in MAC play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the East Division.
On December 2, Akron fired head coach Terry Bowden. He finished at Akron with a seven-year record of 35–52. On December 14, the school hired Chattanooga head coach Tom Arth for the head coaching job.

Previous season

The Zips finished the 2017 season 7–7, 6–2 in MAC play to win the East Division. They lost to Toledo in the MAC Championship. They received an invitation to play in the Boca Raton Bowl where they lost to Florida Atlantic.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
Chuck Bednarik AwardUlysees GilbertLBSR
Fred Biletnikoff AwardKwadarrius SmithWRSR
Jim Thorpe AwardKyron BrownCBSR
Bronko Nagurski TrophyUlysees GilbertLBSR

Preseason media poll

The MAC released their preseason media poll on July 24, 2018, with the Zips predicted to finish in fourth place in the East Division.
East Division

Schedule

Morgan State

at Northwestern

at Iowa State

Miami (OH)

at Buffalo

at Kent State

Central Michigan

Northern Illinois

at Eastern Michigan

Bowling Green

at Ohio

at South Carolina

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
6207Ulysees Gilbert IIILBPittsburgh Steelers