The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Wagon Wheel

Kent State20-26-1Akron
Regional Program VI#138 of 138–Regional Program V#133 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Akron leads the all-time series 26-20-1. They've met 47 times since 1972. Akron once took 6 straight.

Current season

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

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

Stature & the series, 1972–2026

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 timeKent StateAkronevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Kent State 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), Kent State led 6 and Akron led 17.

more passmore runKent StateAkron2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262012Akron 23.5 ptsKent State won 35-242017Akron 18.3 ptsAkron won 24-142022Akron 16.5 ptsKent State won 33-27
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Akron by 38 in 2002. The biggest crowd, 26,814, was in 2003.

The coaching duels

Dean Pees vs Lee Owens1-5
Doug Martin vs J.D. Brookhart1-5
Paul Haynes vs Terry Bowden1-4
Dick Crum vs Gerry Faust1-2
Jim Corrigall vs Lee Owens1-2
Pete Cordelli vs Gerry Faust1-1

The draft ledger

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

Draft picks
20-10
Kent State leads
1st-rounders
0-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Kent StateAkron
1960s3-0
1970s6-0
1980s0-1
1990s4-1
2000s4-6
2010s3-2

Best picks, either side

1970Jim Corrigall Linebacker · St. Louis CardinalsRd 2, pick 7#33 overall
1967John Brooks Offensive Guard · Philadelphia EaglesRd 2, pick 18#44 overall
1974Gerald Tinker Wide Receiver · Atlanta FalconsRd 2, pick 18#44 overall
1974Jack Lambert Linebacker · Pittsburgh SteelersRd 2, pick 20#46 overall
1998Bob Hallen Center · Atlanta FalconsRd 2, pick 23#53 overall
2007Usama Young Defensive Back · New Orleans SaintsRd 3, pick 2#66 overall
2005Charlie Frye Quarterback · Cleveland BrownsRd 3, pick 3#67 overall
1997O.J. Santiago Tight End · Atlanta FalconsRd 3, pick 10#70 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Kent State1.22×its own average home crowd
Akron1.19×its own average home crowd
2026Kent State35-20
2025Kent State42-35
2024Akron38-17
2023Akron31-27
2022Kent State33-27
2021Kent State38-0
2020Kent State69-35
2019Kent State26-3
2018Akron24-23Kent State — decided by 1
2017Akron24-14
2016Akron31-27
2015Akron20-0
2014Kent State27-24Akron — decided by 3
2013Akron16-7

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

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

2026Kent State 35-20Kent State won 35-20 vs Akron. Chance to win started at 67%, low 23%, high better than 99%.
2025Kent State 42-35Kent State won 42-35 at Akron. Chance to win started at 22%, low 16%, high better than 99%.Busy
2024Akron 38-17Kent State lost 17-38 vs Akron. Chance to win started at 24%, low under 1%, high 36%.
2023Akron 31-27Kent State lost 27-31 at Akron. Chance to win started at 45%, low under 1%, high 85%.
2022Kent State 33-27Kent State won 33-27 vs Akron. Chance to win started at 86%, low 48%, high 96%.
2021Kent State 38-0Kent State won 38-0 at Akron. Chance to win started at 83%, low 77%, high better than 99%.
2020Kent State 69-35Kent State won 69-35 vs Akron. Chance to win started at 95%, low 90%, high better than 99%.
2019Kent State 26-3Kent State won 26-3 at Akron. Chance to win started at 81%, low 80%, high better than 99%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “As we all knew would happen”
    A fan of another team

Meetings with their own story page

9 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.