The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Buffalo-Akron

Buffalo13-12Akron
Regional Program IV#112 of 138–Regional Program V#133 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Fri Nov 27 · 12 pm ET, 23 days away.

1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Buffalo leads the all-time series 13-12. They've met 25 times since 1999. Akron once took 8 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Buffalo
Transfer portal
+3
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -1
Akron
Transfer portal
+1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -15

Stature & the series, 1999–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeBuffaloAkronevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Buffalo won, gray: Akron won)198020002020

The identity war

Akron has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Buffalo led 7 and Akron led 16.

more passmore runBuffaloAkron2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262019Akron 25.2 ptsBuffalo won 21-02012Akron 17.6 pts2024Akron 15.4 ptsBuffalo won 41-30
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Buffalo by 49 in 2020. The biggest crowd, 19,506, was in 2018.

The coaching duels

Turner Gill vs J.D. Brookhart3-1
Lance Leipold vs Terry Bowden2-2
Jim Hofher vs Lee Owens0-3
Maurice Linguist vs Joe Moorhead3-0
Craig Cirbus vs Lee Owens0-2
Jim Hofher vs J.D. Brookhart0-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
12-10
Buffalo leads
1st-rounders
1-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
BuffaloAkron
1980s0-1
1990s1-1
2000s3-6
2010s6-2
2020s2-0

Best picks, either side

2014Khalil Mack Outside Linebacker · Oakland RaidersRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
2005Charlie Frye Quarterback · Cleveland BrownsRd 3, pick 3#67 overall
1997Jason Taylor Defensive End · Miami DolphinsRd 3, pick 13#73 overall
2021Malcolm Koonce Outside Linebacker · Las Vegas RaidersRd 3, pick 16#79 overall
2001Dwight Smith Defensive Back · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 3, pick 22#84 overall
2007Andy Alleman Offensive Guard · New Orleans SaintsRd 3, pick 24#88 overall
2008Reggie Corner Cornerback · Buffalo BillsRd 4, pick 15#114 overall
1997Ed Ellis Offensive Tackle · New England PatriotsRd 4, pick 29#125 overall

Recent meetings

2025Akron24-16Buffalo — Buffalo favored by 10.5
2024Buffalo41-30
2023Buffalo13-10
2022Buffalo23-22
2021Buffalo45-10
2020Buffalo56-7
2019Buffalo21-0
2018Buffalo24-6
2017Akron21-20
2016Buffalo41-20Akron — Akron favored by 19.5
2015Akron42-21
2014Buffalo55-24Akron — Akron routed by 31
2011Buffalo51-10
2010Akron22-14

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Buffalo’s chance to win through that meeting. Buffalo is 2-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Akron 24-16Buffalo lost 16-24 vs Akron. Chance to win started at 82%, low under 1%, high 89%.
2024Buffalo 41-30Buffalo won 41-30 at Akron. Chance to win started at 36%, low 28%, high better than 99%.
2023Buffalo 13-10Buffalo won 13-10 at Akron. Chance to win started at 33%, low 15%, high better than 99%.
2022Buffalo 23-22Buffalo won 23-22 vs Akron. Chance to win started at 86%, low 11%, high better than 99%.
2020Buffalo 56-7Buffalo won 56-7 vs Akron. Chance to win started at 98%, low 97%, high better than 99%.
2019Buffalo 21-0Buffalo won 21-0 at Akron. Chance to win started at 85%, low 84%, high 99%.
2018Buffalo 24-6Buffalo won 24-6 vs Akron. Chance to win started at 49%, low 39%, high 99%.

Meetings with their own story page

2 meetings in our archive, 2016 to 2023.