2025 Week 12 Wagon Wheel Preview: Kent State Golden Flashes @ Akron Zips

3 hours ago7 min read

The ancient rivalry between the Kent State Golden Flashes and the Akron Zips, a contest steeped in the history of Northeast Ohio, reaches another crescendo on Tuesday, November 11th, under the bright lights of ESPNU. This isn't just another midweek MACtion affair; it's the 68th chapter in a saga that began in 1923, with the coveted Wagon Wheel trophy serving as the tangible prize for bragging rights in a series Akron leads 37-28-2.The Zips, riding a two-game winning streak in the rivalry after a 38-17 victory last year, enter as 5. 5-point favorites in the confines of InfoCision Stadium, but the underlying analytics and recent trajectories suggest a far more complex and compelling narrative than the spread implies.For Kent State, this season has been a revelation, a phoenix rising from the ashes of a combined two-win campaign over the previous two years. Under the newly minted leadership of head coach Mark Carney, the Golden Flashes have cultivated a resilience that defies their 3-6 record.They are a team that refuses to capitulate, having staged dramatic comebacks and held leads deep into contests, a testament to a shifted mentality. The engine of this offensive resurgence is redshirt freshman quarterback Dru DeShields, a player whose recovery from a torn ACL has been nothing short of remarkable.With an efficient 11:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, DeShields possesses a cannon arm that has produced a pass of over 35 yards in every start, including three breathtaking 75+ yard touchdowns. His deep-threat connection with receivers like Cade Wolford and Ardell Banks gives Kent State a volatile, high-variance offensive profile reminiscent of a high-stakes poker player who lives and dies by the all-in move.However, this explosive aerial attack is hamstrung by a ground game that ranks among the nation's very worst, a crippling 131st in rushing yards per game. This one-dimensionality places immense pressure on DeShields and makes sustaining drives a monumental challenge, as evidenced by their abysmal 26.4% third-down conversion rate. Defensively, while the stats are scarred by early-season blowouts against powerhouses, the unit has found its footing in MAC play, consistently holding opponents to manageable scores, a bend-don't-break approach led by the tackling machines Mason Woods and CJ Young.Conversely, the Akron Zips are a program tasting tangible progress, fresh off a 34-point demolition of UMass that represented their largest margin of victory over an FBS foe in over two decades. At 4-6, they are tantalizingly close to their first five-win season since 2017, and the offense has found its rhythm behind veteran quarterback Ben Finley.Ranking fourth in the MAC in passing yards and tied for the lead in touchdown throws, Finley operates with a diverse receiving corps, but the true bellwether for Akron's fortunes is running back Jordan Gant. The analytics are stark and undeniable: when Gant rushes for over 100 yards, Akron is 3-0; when he doesn't, they are 1-6.His recent 153-yard explosion signals he is peaking at the perfect moment, providing the balanced offensive attack that Kent State so desperately lacks. Defensively, the Zips brandish a distinct identity as havoc-wreakers, leading the MAC and sitting 13th nationally in takeaways.The unit, spearheaded by the versatile inside linebacker Gage Summers, feasts on opponent mistakes, having forced eight turnovers in the last two games alone. Yet, when they aren't generating those game-changing plays, the defense can be vulnerable, ranking 99th in total yards allowed.This sets the stage for a classic stylistic clash: Kent State's high-variance, boom-or-bust deep passing game against Akron's more balanced, run-reliant offense and a ball-hawking defense. The prediction leans toward a lower-scoring, grind-it-out affair, where Akron's ability to control the clock with Gant and its penchant for forcing turnovers should prove the decisive factors. While DeShields will undoubtedly connect on a few explosive plays, the Zips' more consistent offensive approach and home-field advantage in a rivalry defined by its physicality should see them retain the Wagon Wheel in a hard-fought battle, a 21-16 victory that encapsulates the gritty, hard-nosed spirit of MAC football.

#featured

#Kent State Golden Flashes

#Akron Zips

#Wagon Wheel rivalry

#MAC football

#college football prediction

#Ben Finley

#Jordan Gant

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