Akron vs. Central Michigan

Akron and Central Michigan have 28 meetings on file, the first in 1977; Central Michigan leads the series 19–⁠8–⁠1 in the games on file. Over the last 10 meetings it’s Central Michigan 8–⁠2.

Akron wins
8
Central Michigan wins
19
Ties
1
Earliest on file
1977
Longest streak
7 Central Michigan
Current streak
1 Central Michigan
Last 10 meetings
Central Michigan 8–⁠2
Most recent
2026

The series at a glance

Every meeting by decade, colored by the winner
’0’1’2’3’4’5’6’7’8’9W–L
1970s0–⁠1
1980s1–⁠1
1990s4–⁠4–⁠1
2000s1–⁠6
2010s1–⁠4
2020s1–⁠3
Average margin
12.1 points; 15 decided by one score (8 or fewer)
At Akron
5–⁠8–⁠1 Akron’s record at home
At Central Michigan
11–⁠3 Central Michigan’s record at home
Shutouts
2

Every meeting on file, as played. Ranks are the AP poll’s going in.

Games that tell the story

  1. Akron’s biggest win1997: Akron 53, Central Michigan 14by 39 points
  2. Central Michigan’s biggest win1994: Central Michigan 47, Akron 0by 47 points
  3. Upset2005: Central Michigan 31, Akron 17Central Michigan had a 20% chance, by our ratings before kickoff
  4. Upset1995: Akron 16, Central Michigan 13Akron had a 26% chance, by our ratings before kickoff
  5. Upset1989: Akron 27, Central Michigan 26Akron had a 31% chance, by our ratings before kickoff

Coach against coach

YearsAkronSeriesCentral Michigan
1988–⁠1993Gerry Faust3–⁠2–⁠1Herb Deromedi
1995–⁠1998Lee Owens2–⁠2Dick Flynn
2000–⁠2003Lee Owens1–⁠2Mike DeBord

Head-coach pairings with three or more meetings on file, the series read from Akron’s side (Faust 3–⁠2–⁠1 against Deromedi). A season split between coaches goes to the one credited with the game.

Both programs through the years

End-of-season Elo ratings of Akron and Central Michigan, 1977 on13001500170019801990200020102020

Our Elo rating at the end of each season, a measure of how strong a team was, not a forecast; 1500 is an average FBS team.

Stars of the series

Biggest days

Zurlon Tipton Central Michigan37 carries, 243 yards, 3 TD2012 Rushing
John Lako Akron23 tackles, 2 for loss2018 Defense

Biggest days: the week’s best individual games by our big-days rule, from box scores (2004 on).

Every game

Oct 3, 2026Central Michigan 41, Akron 17at Central Michigan
Oct 4, 2025Akron 28, Central Michigan 22at Akron
Oct 14, 2023Central Michigan 17, Akron 10at Central Michigan
Oct 15, 2022Central Michigan 28, Akron 21at Akron
Sep 14, 2019Central Michigan 45, Akron 24at Central Michigan
Oct 27, 2018Akron 17, Central Michigan 10at Akron
Oct 31, 2015Central Michigan 14, Akron 6at Akron
Oct 27, 2012Central Michigan 35, Akron 14at Central Michigan
Oct 29, 2011Central Michigan 23, Akron 22at Akron
Sep 26, 2009Central Michigan 48, Akron 21at Central Michigan
Nov 23, 2007Central Michigan 35, Akron 32at Akron
Sep 16, 2006Central Michigan 24, Akron 21at Central Michigan
Oct 1, 2005Central Michigan 31, Akron 17at Akron
Nov 8, 2003Akron 40, Central Michigan 28at Central Michigan
Sep 14, 2002Central Michigan 24, Akron 17at Akron
Sep 9, 2000Central Michigan 17, Akron 7at Central Michigan
Oct 31, 1998Central Michigan 28, Akron 27at Central Michigan
Oct 4, 1997Akron 53, Central Michigan 14at Akron
Oct 12, 1996Central Michigan 42, Akron 0at Central Michigan
Sep 30, 1995Akron 16, Central Michigan 13at Akron
Oct 15, 1994Central Michigan 47, Akron 0at Akron
Sep 2, 1993Akron 23, Central Michigan 13at Central Michigan
Oct 31, 1992Akron 31, Central Michigan 28at Akron
Sep 21, 1991Central Michigan 31, Akron 29at Central Michigan
Sep 15, 1990Akron 14, Central Michigan 14at Akron
Sep 16, 1989Akron 27, Central Michigan 26at Central Michigan
Sep 17, 1988Central Michigan 27, Akron 16at Akron
Oct 15, 1977Central Michigan 17, Akron 14at Central Michigan

Every game is listed as played on the field.