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Akron vs. Kent State

Akron and Kent State first met in 1972 and have played 46 times; Akron leads the series 26–⁠19–⁠1. Over the last 10 meetings it’s even at 5–⁠5. The winner takes home the Wagon Wheel, played for since 1946. Kent State has held it since the 2025 game.

Akron wins
26
Kent State wins
19
Ties
1
First meeting
1972
Longest streak
6 Akron
Current streak
1 Kent State
Last 10 meetings
even at 5–⁠5
Most recent
2025

The series at a glance

’0’1’2’3’4’5’6’7’8’9W–L
1970s1–⁠1–⁠1
1980s4–⁠4
1990s6–⁠3
2000s8–⁠2
2010s5–⁠5
2020s2–⁠4
Average margin
14.9 points; 19 decided by one score (8 or fewer)
At Akron
16–⁠6–⁠1 Akron’s record at home
At Kent State
13–⁠10 Kent State’s record at home
Shutouts
3

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

Wagon Wheel

Played for since
1946
Held by
Kent State since the 2025 game
Games for it on file
46 Akron 26, Kent State 19, 1 tied

Who holds it comes from the games on file: the winner of the latest regular-season meeting since 1946 (bowl rematches aren’t played for it); a tie leaves it with the holder (the usual rule; the article doesn’t say). The rivalry’s article counts the games for it: Kent State leads, 28–⁠26–⁠1. From Wikipedia’s list of rivalry games and the rivalry’s article (CC BY-SA). More on the Wagon Wheel.

Games that tell the story

  1. Akron’s biggest win2002: Akron 48, Kent State 10by 38 points
  2. Kent State’s biggest win2021: Kent State 38, Akron 0by 38 points
  3. Upset1992: Kent State 20, Akron 16Kent State had a 29% chance, by our ratings before kickoff
  4. Upset2003: Kent State 41, Akron 38Kent State had a 30% chance, by our ratings before kickoff
  5. Upset2025: Kent State 42, Akron 35Kent State had a 30% chance, by our ratings before kickoff

Coach against coach

YearsAkronSeriesKent State
1988–⁠1990Gerry Faust2–⁠1Dick Crum
1995–⁠1997Lee Owens2–⁠1Jim Corrigall
1998–⁠2003Lee Owens5–⁠1Dean Pees
2004–⁠2009J.D. Brookhart5–⁠1Doug Martin
2013–⁠2017Terry Bowden4–⁠1Paul Haynes

Head-coach pairings with three or more meetings on file, the series read from Akron’s side (Faust 2–⁠1 against Crum). 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 Kent State, 1972 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

Ben Finley Akron32 of 59, 424 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT2025 Passing
Teon Dollard Akron28 carries, 202 yards, 4 TD2020 Rushing
Marcel Williams Akron14 catches, 206 yards, 2 TD2025 Receiving
Alex Adams Akron9 catches, 199 yards, 1 TD2022 Receiving

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

On television

2025ESPNU0.1 million viewers

Viewers: Nielsen, as compiled by nschultz7’s ratings tracker.

Every game

Oct 24, 2026Akron at Kent State upcomingat Kent State
Nov 11, 2025Kent State 42, Akron 35at Akron
Nov 19, 2024Akron 38, Kent State 17at Kent State
Nov 1, 2023Akron 31, Kent State 27at Akron
Oct 22, 2022Kent State 33, Akron 27at Kent State
Nov 20, 2021Kent State 38, Akron 0at Akron
Nov 17, 2020Kent State 69, Akron 35at Kent State
Oct 12, 2019Kent State 26, Akron 3at Akron
Oct 20, 2018Akron 24, Kent State 23at Kent State
Nov 21, 2017Akron 24, Kent State 14at Akron
Oct 1, 2016Akron 31, Kent State 27at Kent State
Nov 27, 2015Akron 20, Kent State 0at Akron
Nov 28, 2014Kent State 27, Akron 24at Kent State
Nov 2, 2013Akron 16, Kent State 7at Akron
Nov 3, 2012Kent State 35, Akron 24at Kent State
Nov 12, 2011Kent State 35, Akron 3at Akron
Oct 9, 2010Kent State 28, Akron 17at Kent State
Nov 7, 2009Akron 28, Kent State 20at Akron
Oct 4, 2008Akron 30, Kent State 27at Kent State
Sep 22, 2007Akron 27, Kent State 20at Akron
Sep 30, 2006Kent State 37, Akron 15at Kent State
Nov 24, 2005Akron 35, Kent State 3at Akron
Sep 23, 2004Akron 24, Kent State 19at Kent State
Aug 28, 2003Kent State 41, Akron 38at Akron
Nov 23, 2002Akron 48, Kent State 10at Kent State
Sep 29, 2001Akron 14, Kent State 10at Akron
Nov 18, 2000Akron 34, Kent State 6at Kent State
Nov 13, 1999Akron 37, Kent State 34at Akron
Oct 10, 1998Akron 45, Kent State 16at Kent State
Nov 8, 1997Akron 45, Kent State 35at Akron
Oct 5, 1996Kent State 32, Akron 17at Kent State
Oct 28, 1995Akron 14, Kent State 6at Akron
Sep 17, 1994Kent State 32, Akron 16at Kent State
Sep 11, 1993Akron 42, Kent State 7at Akron
Oct 10, 1992Kent State 20, Akron 16at Kent State
Sep 8, 1990Akron 38, Kent State 10at Kent State
Sep 9, 1989Akron 40, Kent State 7at Akron
Sep 10, 1988Kent State 32, Akron 12at Kent State
Sep 12, 1987Kent State 27, Akron 23at Akron
Sep 13, 1986Akron 17, Kent State 7at Kent State
Sep 14, 1985Akron 24, Kent State 0at Akron
Sep 1, 1984Kent State 24, Akron 17at Kent State
Sep 3, 1983Akron 13, Kent State 6at Akron
Sep 19, 1981Kent State 17, Akron 6at Kent State
Sep 15, 1979Akron 15, Kent State 13at Akron
Oct 26, 1974Kent State 51, Akron 14at Kent State
Sep 9, 1972Akron 13, Kent State 13at Akron

Every game is listed as played on the field.