Akron Zips Look to End Road Skid vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
Akron Zips Aim to End Road Losing Streak Against Northern Illinois Huskies in Crucial MAC Showdown
The Akron Zips (2-7, 1-4 MAC) will look to snap a five-game road losing streak when they visit the Northern Illinois Huskies (5-4, 2-3 MAC) for a pivotal Mid-American Conference (MAC) matchup on Wednesday night at Huskie Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 PM ET. Coming off a tough 41-30 loss to Buffalo, Akron will be eager to rebound, while Northern Illinois is riding high after a 42-28 victory over Western Michigan. The Huskies have a solid track record against Akron, winning seven of the last 10 matchups between these two teams.
Akron Zips: Struggling to Find Consistency, Looking for Road Win
The Zips are coming off a disappointing loss to Buffalo, which came just after they secured a hard-fought victory over Eastern Michigan. Akron’s offense has shown flashes of potential but continues to struggle with consistency. The Zips are averaging just 18.9 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the MAC in scoring. Their passing attack, however, is more productive than their rushing game, with Akron averaging 234.8 passing yards per game (67th in FBS). Unfortunately, their rushing offense has been abysmal, managing only 85.6 yards per game (122nd nationally).
In the loss to Buffalo, quarterback Ben Finley threw for 378 yards, completing 55% of his passes with four touchdowns and one interception. His performance was impressive, but Akron’s defense allowed 41 points, ultimately costing them the game. Jordon Simmons, the Zips’ leading rusher, gained 68 yards on 14 carries, while Adrian Norton caught six passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Still, Akron will need more balanced production across the board to have a chance against a solid Northern Illinois squad.
Defensively, Akron has been one of the worst in the MAC, giving up an average of 36 points per game, which ranks them 116th nationally. They allowed 41 points to Buffalo, and their defense will need to improve significantly to stay competitive in this matchup. The Zips will need to find ways to stop Northern Illinois’ high-powered offense, or they risk extending their road losing streak to six games.
Northern Illinois Huskies: Riding Momentum and Strong Defensive Play
After snapping a two-game losing streak with a 42-28 win over Western Michigan, Northern Illinois will look to build on their momentum in this game. The Huskies’ offense is balanced and efficient, averaging 25.4 points per game (82nd in FBS). Northern Illinois has found success on the ground, rushing for 211.3 yards per game (25th in the country), while their passing game has been solid, averaging 187.3 yards per game (97th).
Quarterback Ethan Hampton has been efficient in recent games, completing 81% of his passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Western Michigan. Telly Johnson Jr. has been a workhorse in the backfield, rushing for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries against the Broncos. Trayvon Rudolph is the top receiving threat, catching six passes for 74 yards in the win. If Hampton can continue to manage the game efficiently and Johnson remains effective on the ground, Northern Illinois could control the tempo of this matchup.
On the defensive side of the ball, Northern Illinois has been much more consistent than Akron. The Huskies are giving up just 18.8 points per game (25th in FBS), and while they allowed 28 points to Western Michigan, they generally do a solid job of limiting big plays and getting off the field on third downs. Northern Illinois will look to continue its solid defensive play to contain Akron’s passing attack and put pressure on Finley.
Conclusion
Northern Illinois enters this game with more momentum after their solid win against Western Michigan, and their balanced offense, coupled with a strong defense, gives them a clear advantage over Akron. The Zips have been competitive in some games, but their inability to stop opponents defensively—combined with their struggles on the road—will likely make this another tough outing for them.
Akron will need to find ways to generate more offense, especially on the ground, and shore up their defense if they are to have any chance in this matchup. However, Northern Illinois has shown they can control games with their rushing attack and limit opponents defensively, which should be enough to extend Akron’s road woes.
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