Akron football score | Zips vs. Wyoming recap, highlights

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Akron football score | Zips vs. Wyoming recap, highlights

Michael Beaven, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Thu, Aug 28, 2025 ·

12 min read

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The University of Akron Zips football team opens the 2025 season at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against the Wyoming Cowboys .

Akron finished 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference in 2024.

The Zips ended 2024 with two wins — 38-17 at Kent State on Nov. 19 and 21-14 over visiting Toledo on Nov. 26.

Akron has 57 returnees and 46 newcomers on its roster.

Check back for live updates throughout the evening.

Wyoming tops Akron 10-0

Wyoming tops Akron 10-0.

Kaden Anderson throws TD pass to Chris Durr Jr. , Erik Sandvik kicks PAT to give Wyoming 10-0 lead over Akron with 4:21 to go in fourth quarter

Kaden Anderson throws 35-yard touchdown pass to Chris Durr Jr. and Erik Sandvik kicks the PAT to give Wyoming a 10-0 lead over Akron with 4:21 to go in the fourth quarter.

Drive incuded 44-yard pass play by Anderson to Jackson Holman.

Defenses continue to impress as Wyoming leads Akron 3-0 with 6:10 remaining in the fourth quarter

Defenses continue to impress as Wyoming leads Akron 3-0 with 6:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Wyoming leads Akron 3-0 through three quarters

Wyoming leads Akron 3-0 through three quarters.

Brayden Johnson grabs an interception for Wyoming; Cowboys have ball on own 12 with 2:05 to go in the third quarter

Brayden Johnson grabs an interception for Wyoming in the end zone. He then runs the ball out to the Cowboys 18-yard line with 2:05 to go in the third quarter

Markus Boswell grabs an interception for Akron; Zips have ball on Wyoming 39-yard line with 4:54 to go in third quarter

Markus Boswell grabs an interception for Akron and the Zips have ball on the Wyoming 39-yard line with 4:54 to go in third quarter. The Cowboys lead 3-0.

Defenses continue to impress as Wyoming leads Akron 3-0 with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter

Defenses continue to impress as Wyoming leads Akron 3-0 with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter.

Wyoming has 11 first downs and has gained 218 yards.

Akron has eight first downs and has gained 139 yards.

Wyoming leads Akron 3-0 at halftime

Wyoming leads Akron 3-0 at halftime. Akron's Shammond Cooper with a big tackle on a Wyoming 4th-and-1 play just before the end of the second quarter.

Wyoming's Sam Scott has rushed for 82 yards on 12 carries. Kaden Anderson has completed 9 of 20 passes for 97 yards. Chris Durr Jr. has three recepetions for 66 yards. Brayden Johnson has six tackles for the Cowboys.

Akron's Sean Patrick has four catches for four receptions for 47 yards and has run for 26 yards on five carries. He did leave the field with an injury with 54 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Akron's Ben Finley is 8 of 17 passing for 70 yards. Justin Anderson and Cooper have six tackles apiece for the Zips.

Akron misses a 49-yard field goal; trails Wyoming with 31 seconds remaining in the second quarter

Akron's Owen Wiley misses a 49-yard field goal. The Zips trail the Wyoming Cowboys with 31 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Wyoming converts 26-yard field goal to take 3-0 lead. over Akron with 5:20 remaining in the second quarter

Erik Sandvik kicks a 26-yard field goal to give Wyoming a 3-0 lead over Akron with 5:20 remaining in the second quarter. Kaden Anderson connected with Chris Durr Jr. for a 49-yard pass play during the drive. Akron also was penalized for a face mask penalty during the drive.

Akron and Wyoming remain scoreless in second quarter

Akron and Wyoming remain scoreless in the second quarter. Each team has had one possession in the second quarter.

Sam Scott had a 10-yard run during Wyoming's first possession of the second quarter.

Akron and Wyoming scoreless in first quarter

One quarter complete. Akron and Wyoming are scoreless.

Wyoming totaled four first downs and 79 yards (42 passing yards, 37 rushing yards) in the first quarter.

Akron totaled three first downs and 43 yards (28 passing yards, 15 rushing yards) in the first quarter.

Wyoming gets two first downs on second drive, does not score

Wyoming recorded two first downs on its second drive and does not score. Sam Scott had a 12-yard run on the drive and is at 37 yards on five carries in the first quarter.

Akron gets one first down, does not score on opening drive

Akron recorded one first down on its opening drive and does not score. Ben Finley threw an 18-yard pass to Sean Patrick on the drive.

Wyoming gets two first downs, does not score on opening drive

Wyoming recorded two first downs on its opening drive and does not score. Kaden Anderson threw a 17-yard pass to Chris Durr Jr. on the drive.

Here are some pregame details to read:

What time is the Akron vs. Wyoming football game?

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Akron Zips football coach Joe Moorhead talks to his players during the final timeout in a game against Kent State on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

What does Akron football coach Joe Moorhead think about the 2025 season?

Joe Moorhead is entering his fourth season as the football coach at Akron .

"It is certainly very exciting," Moorhead said Aug. 21. "The first time in a very long while that Akron football is riding a wave of momentum, winning our last two, three of our last five and most conference wins since 2017. Retaining the Wagon Wheel and Toledo beat Mississippi State and Pitt. The kids are excited. They are fired up. They have had a great offseason and we look forward to Thursday."

Akron's roster looks vastly different from last season — as do most around the country — with the transfer portal.

"The portal giveth and the portal taketh away," Moorhead said. "We lost some, but we gained some, but more than anything I think we have increased the talent level on the team progressively well in four years. I like the culture of this team. We always talk about your 'ITY,' determining your individual and team success, availability, accountability and productivity. The second piece of that, we have got a bunch of guys that are really accountable and doing the right things on and off the field and I think that will lead to us having greater success in closer games."

Akron Zips quarterback Ben Finley, center, scrambles for yards against Colgate during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Akron, Ohio.

Quarterback Ben Finley leads Akron's offense into 2025 college football season

Redshirt senior Ben Finley is entering his second season as Akron's starting quarterback after previously playing at North Carolina State and California .

"We are really excited," Finley said. "We are going off the fire that we started late last season, coming off two wins. We have got a group of guys that are really enthusiastic for the season to start."

Reserve QB Tahj Bullock transferred to Colorado State , but the Zips have plenty of options behind Finley in redshirt senior Michael Johnson Jr., redshirt freshman Brayden Roggow, freshman Cibastian Broughton and redshirt sophomore Johnny Brookhart.

Johnson's father, Michael, played QB at Akron in 1988-89 before becoming a longtime college and NFL football coach. The younger Michael previously played at Penn State , Florida Atlantic and Syracuse. Brookhart's father, J.D., was Akron's head coach from 2004-09 and is in his second season as the Zips wide receivers coach.

"We have got a second-year senior quarterback who has played a bunch of really good football," Moorhead said of Finley. "We are surrounding him with excellent skill positions to make big plays and I think this is the best O-line we have had since we have been here."

This year's running backs include redshirt freshman Sean Patrick, redshirt junior Jordan Gant, redshirt sophomore Marquese Williams and redshirt junior Taven Curry.

Williams is in second year at Akron after transferring from Minnesota . Gant and Curry are newcomers, with Gant transferring from Tennessee State and Curry transferring from Louisiana-Monroe.

Akron's top running backs from last season both left, with Jordon Simmons transferring twice, initially to Mississippi and then Georgia State, and Charles Kellom landing at Eastern Illinois.

Akron projected to have several new offensive line starters

Redshirt sophomore Delvin Morris and redshirt junior Keylen Davis return after starting on the offensive line when Akron beat Kent State and Toledo last season.

The other three starters are gone, with Josh Blanchard completing his eligibility, Jayvin James transferring twice, initially to Maryland and then Mississippi State, and Tyhler Williams landing at Georgia State. Reserve Laurence Seymore also transferred to Western Kentucky.

"There is the potential that when we walk out for our first game, there are five brand new starters," Moorhead said.

Redshirt senior Darrell Johnson, Jr., a transfer from Western Kentucky, is projected to start at left tackle.

Freshman Kenneth McManus IV and senior Amarie Archer ( East Carolina transfer) are competing at left guard. Redshirt senior Colin Lyons and Morris are competing at center.

Davis is battling redshirt junior Allen Jones Jr (West Alabama transfer) to be the right guard. The right tackle spot will go to either redshirt junior Maasai King (Lackawanna College transfer) or redshirt senior Jayme Motley-Simmons (North Alabama transfer).

Akron returns its top three tight ends in redshirt junior Jake Newell, redshirt sophomore Conner Cravaack and redshirt junior Max Whisner.

Akron wide receiver Alex Adams (7) celebrates his first-half TD catch against Morgan State, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Alex Adams and Myles Walker return to lead Akron's wide receivers

Akron's wide receiver corps features redshirt seniors Alex Adams and Myles Walker, who have dealt with injuries. Adams, a first-team All-MAC selection in 2022, missed all of 2024. Walker was limited to one game last season.

The other key wide receivers are redshirt freshman Marcel Williams (Marshall transfer), redshirt sophomores Israel Polk, Brandon Hills ( Washington State transfer) and Jean Louis III, redshirt freshmen Kyan Mason and Cameron Monteiro ( Pittsburgh transfer) and redshirt senior Tim Grear, Jr. (Fresno State transfer).

Three of Akron's top wide receivers from last season left the program: Adrian Norton (transferred to Marshall), Bobby Golden (transferred to Louisville ) and Ahmarian Granger. Jarvis Rush also transferred to Alcorn State .

Akron football set to have a new look defense vs. Wyoming

Akron's defense returns three starters from the wins over Kent State and Toledo: redshirt senior Justin Anderson and redshirt junior Elijah Reed in the secondary and redshirt senior Gage Summers at linebacker.

"Defensively, we lost a bunch up front," Moorhead said. "We may not be super talented at every position, but we have got a lot of talented depth. I think we are really deep on defense and I think we are well coached. I think coach [Tim] Tibesar does an excellent job with the scheme. I think collectively our sum is better than our parts."

End Bennett Adler, lineman Nathan Kapongo and safety Paul Lewis III were starters who completed their eligibility. Lewis is playing professionally in Europe.

The following starters transferred: tackle Marcus Moore Jr. ( Purdue ), end CJ Nunnally IV (Purdue), linebacker Bryan McCoy ( Oklahoma State ), linebacker Antavious Fish (Sam Houston State), cornerback Devonte Golden-Nelson ( West Virginia ) and safety Darrian Lewis (West Virginia).

Reserve cornerback Joey Hunter (Memphis) and reserve safety Noel Roach III (Robert Morris) also transferred.

"[Redshirt sophomores] Bruno Dall and Cyrus Durham will be the two starting ends," Moorhead said. "[Sophomore] Ronald Hull and [redshirt junior] Julien Laventure will be the two starting tackles. [Redshirt seniors] Gage Summers and Shammond Cooper will be the two starting inside backers.

"The nickel should be [redshirt senior] Alex Branch, the Kent transfer, backed up by the other Branch [sophmore Aamii Branch]. The corners are [redshirt sophomore] Catrell White and then it is between Reed, [junior] Terence Thomas, [redshirt senior] Malcom DeWalt IV for the other corner position. The safeties [are both redshirt seniors], Justin Anderson as the boundary safety and DiMarco Johnson as the field safety."

Durham transferred in from Arizona , Laventure from Penn West-California and Aamii Branch from Kilgore College.

"We are bonding very well, the offense and defense," Durham said. "I feel like we have great team chemistry, and I feel like the expectations is just how we practice. Right now, we are practicing very intense and the results will show. ... The culture is heavy on hard work."

Laventure said Akron has "a bright season ahead" with "a phenomenal strength and conditioning staff, and an amazing school with great coaches and even better players."

Akron Zips defensive back Elijah Reed celebrates an interception against Kent State in the final moments, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Kent.

Akron also set to have new specialists in football opener

The roster turnover extends to the specialists with long snapper Liam Reardon transferring to Northwestern, kicker Garrison Smith transferring to Florida Atlantic and punter Avery Book completing his eligibility.

"The starting long and short snapper will be [redshirt senior] Jacob Dennis," Moorhead said. "The punting battle is between [junior] Joseph Castle and [graduate student] Brayden Johnson, a kid who transferred in from Bethel, Tennessee. Place kicking is between [redshirt sophomore] Adam Samaha, [redshirt sophomore] Owen Wiley and [redshirt freshman] Matthew Schramm.

Dennis transferred in from Colorado State and Samaha was previously at Michigan and North Carolina.

"The punt returners will be Sean Patrick and Terence Thomas, and the kick returner is TBD," Moorhead said.

Where can I watch the Akron vs. Wyoming football game?

The Akron vs. Wyoming football game is being televised on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi doing the play-by-play calling and Ryan Cavanaugh providing analysis.

The game is also available on the radio locally on the Akron Sports Network - WHLO 640 AM (flagship) and WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM. David Skoczen is handling the play-by-play calling and Joe Dunn is providing analysis. The game is also available on iHeart Radio, TheVarsityNetwork.com.

There is a video link available at www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and a live stats link available at www.GoZips.com.

Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Wyoming football score vs Akron Zips, NCAA live updates

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