Game Week: vs. Akron
NEBRASKA vs. AKRON
Sept. 6, 2025 | MEMORIAL STADIUM
LINCOLN, NEB. | 6:30 PM CT
HUSKERS
Record: 1-0, 0-0 B1G
Last Game: vs. Cincinnati (W, 20-17)
Rankings: AP – RV/Coaches – RV
Head Coach: Matt Rhule
Career/NU Record: 60-56 (10th Year)/13-13 (3rd Year)
vs. Akron: 0-0
ZIPS
Record: 0-1, 0-0 MAC
Last Game: vs. Wyoming (L, 10-0)
Rankings: NR
Head Coach: Joe Moorhead
Career/Akron Record: 60-54 (10th Year)/8-29 (4th Year)
vs. Nebraska: 0-0
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time Series: Nebraska leads, 1-0
In Lincoln: Nebraska leads, 1-0
Last Game: NU, 59-14 in Lincoln (1997)
Win Streak: Nebraska, 1 game
BROADCAST INFO
TV – BTN (Mark Followill, Anthony Herron, Dannie Rogers)
RADIO NETWORK – (Kyle Crooks, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
INTERNET AUDIO – Huskers.com
APP AUDIO – Official Huskers App
The Matchup
Nebraska kicks off its 2025 home season on Saturday night when the Huskers play host to the Akron Zips at Memorial Stadium. The game is set for 6:30 p.m. with television coverage provided by BTN, while the game can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com and the Huskers App.
The matchup with Akron begins a four-game homestand for Nebraska that will keep the Huskers in Lincoln until mid-October. Nebraska comes into the game fresh off a 20-17 victory over Cincinnati in the season opener last Thursday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Nebraska led for the majority of the final three quarters against the Bearcats, but needed a late interception by senior Malcolm Hartzog to secure the victory. Nebraska's defense was strong against the pass, allowing just 69 passing yards in the contest. Offensively, Nebraska was efficient, controlling the ball for more than 39 minutes and completing better than 75 percent of its passes. The win marked the first time the Huskers opened the season with a victory over a Power Four opponent since 2003.
Akron comes into the game at 0-1 after dropping a 10-0 home contest against Wyoming last Thursday. The Zips held Wyoming to three points until a touchdown in the final five minutes provided the final margin. Akron is in its fourth season under the direction of Coach Joe Moorhead, who previously served as the head coach at Fordham and Mississippi State. He also had stints as the offensive coordinator at Penn State and Oregon.
The matchup is the Huskers' second against the Zips and marks the third time in the past five seasons that Nebraska has faced an opponent from the Mid-American Conference.
Huskers Open Home Schedule
Nebraska opens its seven-game home schedule on Saturday night against Akron in front of the 404th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium. It marks the first of a four-game homestand for Nebraska, marking the second straight year the Huskers have had four straight home games.
• Nebraska has won six straight home openers since a loss to Colorado in 2018. Overall, Nebraska has dropped just two home openers since 1985.
Series History Against Akron and MAC
Nebraska's matchup with Akron is the second official matchup between the two schools. Nebraska defeated Akron, 59-14, in the 1997 season opener to start a national championship season. The Huskers were also set to open the 2018 season against Akron at Memorial Stadium. However, severe thunderstorms delayed the game after the opening kickoff and hours later the game was canceled and not re-scheduled.
• Nebraska is 8-1 all-time against members of the Mid-American Conference, with the lone loss a 21-17 setback against NIU in 2017.
Huskers in Prime Time at Memorial Stadium
Nebraska's matchup against Akron marks its first home night game since playing three straight night games at Memorial Stadium early last season.
• Nebraska posted a 2-1 record in home night games last season and has a strong history of success under the lights in Lincoln. The Huskers are 52-11 in home night games at Memorial Stadium.
This Week’s Numbers
2 – Nebraska's matchup with Akron will mark the second official meeting between the schools but the third time Akron has come to Lincoln for a game. NU defeated Akron in 1997. In 2018 the teams kicked off their matchup before severe thunderstorms forced a delay and ultimately a cancellation of the game.
7 – Nebraska has won its past seven games against non-conference opponents, following its season-opening victory over Cincinnati. That is Nebraska's longest non-conference win streak since a seven-game streak from 2004 to 2006.
100 - Running back Emmett Johnson produced his second career 100-yard rushing game against Cincinnati with 108 yards on a career-high 25 carries. Johnson accounted for 135 total yards, including 27 receiving yards.