Two MAC also-rans chasing bowl eligibility collide in Akron, and Eastern Michigan brings the best quarterback on the field.
Bush’s Picks
EMUAKR
EMUAKR
OverUnder
Best BetEastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan brings back the more proven quarterback in Noah Kim, who led the MAC in passing yards last season, while Akron is still figuring out who replaces its top two pass catchers. Analysts have already flagged this as one of the Eagles' more winnable conference dates. Take Eastern Michigan to win outright.
Eastern Michigan
+Noah Kim back, led MAC in passing yards
+Devereaux and Long drawing all-conference buzz
+Analysts call this a winnable, bowl-track game
−Had the worst run defense in the country
−Missed the postseason each of the last two years
Akron
+QB Dru DeShields returns under Joe Moorhead
+LB Rocco Nicholl back after year at South Florida
+Bowl ban lifted early, postseason back in play
−Lost top two receivers Cade Wolford, Da'Shawn Martin
−Just 3 returning starters on a defense that leaked 26.8 PPG
This one's a rematch of sorts for two programs trying to climb out of the MAC basement. Noah Kim, who threw for 2,817 yards and accounted for 24 total touchdowns to lead the conference last season, is back for a bonus year after the NCAA granted him extra eligibility. Across the field, Akron hands the ball to Dru DeShields, who returns for Joe Moorhead but without the two receivers who did most of the damage a year ago.
Akron's whole 2026 has an underdog-story feel to it. The Zips were the first program in over a decade hit with an APR postseason ban, and the NCAA lifted those restrictions early in March 2026 after the team's academic scores rebounded. That means Akron is actually bowl-eligible again for the first time in a couple years, and DeShields plus a rebuilt receiving corps is tasked with getting them to six wins.
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EMU Eastern Michigan
AKR Akron
Defensively neither side inspires much confidence. Eastern Michigan had the worst run defense in the country a year ago, and Akron is replacing all but three starters on that side of the ball, though the return of linebacker Rocco Nicholl after a season at South Florida gives Moorhead a proven piece at the second level. Whoever's front seven holds up better probably decides this game.
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Oct 2?@ Massachusetts—
Sep 26?vs Lindenwood—
Sep 19?@ Wisconsin—
Sep 12?@ Michigan State—
Sep 4?vs San José State—
Aug 29?vs Sacramento State—
Akron Zips
Oct 2?@ Central Michigan—
Sep 25?vs UNLV—
Sep 19?@ Minnesota—
Sep 12?vs Robert Morris—
Sep 3?@ Wake Forest—
Recent form.
Analysts see this as one of the more winnable spots on Eastern Michigan's schedule, part of the case for Chris Creighton's group snapping a two-year bowl drought. The Eagles are considered one of the MAC's more experienced rosters, with Kim, receiver Nick Devereaux and tight end Joshua Long all drawing preseason all-conference buzz. Akron, meanwhile, still has to answer real questions about who steps up at receiver behind DeShields.
Eastern Michigan Eagles
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Akron Zips
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
It's a long way from October, and depth charts will move plenty between now and Saturday, October 10, but the shape of this matchup is already pretty clear: a proven MAC quarterback with weapons back versus a team still piecing itself together after a roster overhaul and an academic scare. Circle it as an early litmus test for whether Eastern Michigan's talk of bowl contention is real.
