Wagon Wheel Up for Grabs Tuesday Night in Akron

The Kent State Golden Flashes (3-6, 2-3 MAC) will travel across Summit County to face the Akron Zips (4-6, 3-3 MAC) on Tuesday night at InfoCision Stadium in a crucial game known as the Battle for the Wagon Wheel.

Series History and Rivalry Stakes

This meeting marks the 69th encounter between these fierce in-state rivals. Akron leads the all-time series with a 38-28-2 record. The Zips have won the last two games, including a 38-17 win earlier in 2024. The Wagon Wheel trophy, representing dominance in this Northeast Ohio rivalry, has been in Akron since that loss by Kent State, making this game vital for Kent State’s pride and standing in the conference.

Coaching Storyline

An intriguing subplot centers on the head coaches, both former quarterbacks at Fordham University. Kent State's Mark Carney and Akron's Joe Moorhead left their marks in Fordham’s record books before transitioning to coaching. Carney ranks fifth all-time with 32 passing touchdowns and tenth with 3,496 passing yards, holding the touchdown record set in 2001. Moorhead ranks seventh with 30 passing touchdowns and fifth with 5,925 passing yards. In this rivalry clash, they meet as opposing head coaches, bringing their shared Fordham background to the MAC competition.

"Carney ranks fifth all-time with 32 passing touchdowns and tenth with 3,496 passing yards, setting the touchdown record in 2001."

"Moorhead ranks seventh all-time with 30 passing touchdowns and fifth with 5,925 passing yards."

Author’s summary: The upcoming Kent State vs. Akron game reignites a historic rivalry with the coveted Wagon Wheel trophy at stake, highlighted by two former Fordham quarterbacks now clashing as head coaches.

Kent State Golden Flashes — 2025-11-11