Akron at Kent State
The Wagon Wheel, Akron at Kent State, kicks off Saturday, Oct 24 at 1 PM EDT on ESPN+. Kent State is favored by 2.5. The Gotta See It Meter calls it worth having on: 20 of 100 (I'll Bite), mostly on rivalry: Wagon Wheel and conference game.
- Date
- Saturday, Oct 24, 2026
- Kickoff
- TV
- ESPN+ · Streaming only · ESPN+
- Venue
- Dix Stadium
- City
- Kent, OH
- Week
- Week 8
- Conference game
- Yes
- Rivalry
- Wagon Wheel
- Line
- Kent State −2.5 · O/U 47.5
- Forecast
- 60°F · wind 4 mph · 0% precipitation
I'll Bite
Akron1–6
Lat Wake Forest16–38
Wvs Robert Morris45–10
Lat Minnesota7–41
Lvs UNLV10–38
Lat C. Michigan17–41
Lvs E. Michigan23–25
Lat Miami (OH)14–34
at Kent State
Nothing since.
Kent State2–5
Lat S. Carolina0–57
Wvs Wofford36–15
Lat Ohio State3–59
Wvs Ball State26–13
Lvs Ohio10–13
Lat W. Michigan7–38
Lat USF2–29
vs Akron
Nothing since.
What to expect
These two combine for 30.9 points a game and Akron plays fast — 65.6 snaps a game, 85th nationally. Vegas set the total at 47.5. The last 5 meetings have averaged a 15.2-point margin.
Blowout riskNah
PaceSnailBoth Snail
SeriesCall 911avg margin 15.2 over 5 meetings
The matchup
season averages · national rank in FBS below each · the fuller bar leads · through Week 7
| Akron | Kent State | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 18.9126th | 12.0138th | |
| Points allowed | 32.4124th | 32.0120th | |
| Yards per play | 5.2113th | 4.2137th | |
| Yards allowed per play | 6.7133rd | 5.9112th | |
| Plays per game | 65.685th | 64.998th | |
| Turnover margin | -7131st | -5121st | |
| 3rd down conversion | 38.7%82nd | 36.7%94th |
More stats +11
| Akron | Kent State | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing yards per game | 132.7108th | 102.6133rd | |
| Passing yards per game | 206.994th | 169.9124th | |
| QB completion rate | 64.4%59th | 55.5%123rd | |
| QB yards per attempt | 6.4119th | 5.9130th | |
| O-line rank | 50thline yards · sack rate | 127thline yards · sack rate | |
| D-line rank | 107thstuff rate · havoc | 95thstuff rate · havoc | |
| Sacks | 4136th | 1541st | |
| Interceptions | 396th | 472nd | |
| Forced fumbles | 438th | 288th | |
| Penalties per game | 6.357th | 9.4135th | |
| Time of possession | 29:3781st | 31:3239th |
The series
Kent State leads 3–2 over the last 5
| Year | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kent State 42–35 | 7 |
| 2024 | Akron 38–17 | 21 |
| 2023 | Akron 31–27 | 4 |
| 2022 | Kent State 33–27 | 6 |
| 2021 | Kent State 38–0 | 38 |
How to watch
| Network | ESPN+ |
|---|---|
| Stream | Streaming only · ESPN+ |
| Kickoff | 1 PM EDT |
| Where | Dix Stadium, Kent, OH |
What the Meter sees
| Rivalry: Wagon WheelThey do not like each other, and they never have | +8.0 |
|---|---|
| Conference gameLeague standings are on the line | +5.0 |
| Vegas says it's closeClosing spread of 2.5 — the tighter the number, the bigger the bump | +3.5 |
| Program baselineA small floor for every FBS program; bigger for a power-conference team or one receiving votes | +2.0 |
| Where it's onESPN+ — a network puts its best games where everyone can find them | +1.0 |
| Gotta See It Meter™ | 20 |
Still Ball0–5Worth a Flip6–17I'll Bite18–33Ready to Rumble34–59Thunderdome60–99Maximum100
Quick answers
- What time does Akron vs Kent State start?
- Saturday, Oct 24 at 1 PM EDT.
- What channel is Akron vs Kent State on?
- ESPN+.
- Who is favored in Akron vs Kent State?
- Kent State by 2.5. The total is 47.5.
- Is Akron vs Kent State a rivalry game?
- Yes. It's the Wagon Wheel.