Saturday, Sept. 2, Noon
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
ABC
WEATHER
By EVAN MEYER
The Akron Zips look to rebound this year after their third 5-7 season in the last four under head coach Terry Bowden. Midway through 2016, UA had a 4-3 record. However, it they finished losing five of the final six, including the last four straight.
UA opens the 2017 campaign with a . . .
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
ABC
WEATHER
By EVAN MEYER
The Akron Zips look to rebound this year after their third 5-7 season in the last four under head coach Terry Bowden. Midway through 2016, UA had a 4-3 record. However, it they finished losing five of the final six, including the last four straight.
UA opens the 2017 campaign with a . . .
. . . daunting task as it heads to Beaver Stadium to battle the defending B1G Champion Penn State Nittany Lions.
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (9-3, 8-1 BIG TEN)
● Penn State is the defending Big Ten Conference champion as it won nine straight games (including a home win over number one Ohio State & Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game) only to lose to Southern California in the Rose Bowl on a field goal in the final seconds 52-49
● The Lions are ranked sixth in both the AP and the coaches’ pre-season polls
● Head Coach James Franklin is beginning his third season at the helm of the Lions since coming from Vanderbilt. Franklin is one of 12 head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision to lead his team to a bowl game in each of the last six seasons
● PSU’s offense averaged 37.7 points and 432.6 yards per game in 2016. The Lions bring back two of the top weapons in all of college football in junior RB Sequon Barkley, who ran for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns, and senior QB Trace McSorley. He completed 58 percent of his passes a season ago (224-of-387) for 3,614 yards with 29 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. In addition, McSorley rushed for seven scores.
● Defensively, PSU allowed 25.4 points and 367.9 yards per game a season ago. The “D” will be led by senior S Marcus Allen, who had 110 total tackles (57 solo), with three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Senior Jason Cabinda registered 81 stops (40 solo) and a sack in just nine games.
● Penn State has won 13 of its last 15 season openers and 14 of its last 15 at home.
● The Lions are 24-3 lifetime against Mid-American Conference opposition, last losing to Ohio in 2012
● The game is the fifth lifetime meeting with Akron. All have been at Beaver Stadium, with the Lions winning the previous four, including in 2014 21-3 decision (James Franklin’s first home game at PSU).
● Penn State is the defending Big Ten Conference champion as it won nine straight games (including a home win over number one Ohio State & Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game) only to lose to Southern California in the Rose Bowl on a field goal in the final seconds 52-49
● The Lions are ranked sixth in both the AP and the coaches’ pre-season polls
● Head Coach James Franklin is beginning his third season at the helm of the Lions since coming from Vanderbilt. Franklin is one of 12 head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision to lead his team to a bowl game in each of the last six seasons
● PSU’s offense averaged 37.7 points and 432.6 yards per game in 2016. The Lions bring back two of the top weapons in all of college football in junior RB Sequon Barkley, who ran for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns, and senior QB Trace McSorley. He completed 58 percent of his passes a season ago (224-of-387) for 3,614 yards with 29 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. In addition, McSorley rushed for seven scores.
● Defensively, PSU allowed 25.4 points and 367.9 yards per game a season ago. The “D” will be led by senior S Marcus Allen, who had 110 total tackles (57 solo), with three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Senior Jason Cabinda registered 81 stops (40 solo) and a sack in just nine games.
● Penn State has won 13 of its last 15 season openers and 14 of its last 15 at home.
● The Lions are 24-3 lifetime against Mid-American Conference opposition, last losing to Ohio in 2012
● The game is the fifth lifetime meeting with Akron. All have been at Beaver Stadium, with the Lions winning the previous four, including in 2014 21-3 decision (James Franklin’s first home game at PSU).
AKRON ZIPS (5-7, 6-2 MAC)
● The Zips are led by head coach Terry Bowden, who is beginning his sixth season at UA and owns a 24-37 record (165-99-2 overall)
● UA’s offense averaged 27.4 points and 387.4 yards per game last season and will be led by senior WR Thomas Woodson. He completed 60.3 percent of his passes (146-of-242) for 2,079 yards with 18 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
● Senior RB Warren Ball, who came to UA as a graduate player from Ohio State, gained 192 in his first two games before breaking his leg in the second game at Wisconsin
● The Zips defense allowed 33.6 points and 446 yards per outing a season ago. The defensive cornerstone is 2016 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Ulysses Gilbert. The senior had 122 total tackles (65 solo) with four sacks, 11 tackles for losses, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles
● Since 1979, UA is 1-27 lifetime against nationally ranked teams (the lone win coming over Marshall at the Rubber Bowl in 2002)
● In their history, the Zips are 1-28 against the current teams of the Big Ten Conference .
● Along with Penn State, the Zips will facve six other teams that played in bowl games in 2016
● Zips were picked fourth in the pre-season MAC poll behind East favorite Ohio, and improving Miami & Bowling Green
● The Zips are led by head coach Terry Bowden, who is beginning his sixth season at UA and owns a 24-37 record (165-99-2 overall)
● UA’s offense averaged 27.4 points and 387.4 yards per game last season and will be led by senior WR Thomas Woodson. He completed 60.3 percent of his passes (146-of-242) for 2,079 yards with 18 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
● Senior RB Warren Ball, who came to UA as a graduate player from Ohio State, gained 192 in his first two games before breaking his leg in the second game at Wisconsin
● The Zips defense allowed 33.6 points and 446 yards per outing a season ago. The defensive cornerstone is 2016 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Ulysses Gilbert. The senior had 122 total tackles (65 solo) with four sacks, 11 tackles for losses, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles
● Since 1979, UA is 1-27 lifetime against nationally ranked teams (the lone win coming over Marshall at the Rubber Bowl in 2002)
● In their history, the Zips are 1-28 against the current teams of the Big Ten Conference .
● Along with Penn State, the Zips will facve six other teams that played in bowl games in 2016
● Zips were picked fourth in the pre-season MAC poll behind East favorite Ohio, and improving Miami & Bowling Green
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