| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | Akron Zips |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-American Conference |
| Division: | East Division |
| Short Conf: | MAC |
| Record: | 4–8 |
| Conf Record: | 2–6 |
| Head Coach: | Terry Bowden |
| Hc Year: | 7th |
| Off Coach: | A. J. Milwee |
| Oc Year: | 6th |
| Def Coach: | Todd Stroud |
| Dc Year: | 1st season as coordinator, 7th overall |
| Stadium: | InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field |
| Captain: |
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The 2018 Akron Zips football team represented the University of Akron in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden and played their home games at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field in Akron, Ohio as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 2–6 in MAC play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the East Division.
On December 2, Akron fired head coach Terry Bowden.[2] He finished at Akron with a seven-year record of 35–52. On December 14, the school hired Chattanooga head coach Tom Arth for the head coaching job.[3]
Listed in the order that they were released
| Chuck Bednarik Award[4] | Ulysees Gilbert | LB | SR | |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award[5] | Kwadarrius Smith | WR | SR | |
| Jim Thorpe Award[6] | Kyron Brown | CB | SR | |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy[7] | Ulysees Gilbert | LB | SR |
The MAC released their preseason media poll on July 24, 2018, with the Zips predicted to finish in fourth place in the East Division.[8]
| East Division | |||
| 1 | Ohio | 140 (21) | |
| 2 | Buffalo | 112 (1) | |
| 3 | Miami | 95 (2) | |
| 4 | Akron | 74 | |
| 5 | Bowling Green | 58 | |
| 6 | Kent State | 25 | |
The game between Akron and Nebraska, originally scheduled for September 1, 2018, was canceled due to inclement weather.[9] The Zips agreed to schedule South Carolina, who also canceled a game earlier in the year due to Hurricane Florence.
See also: 2018 Morgan State Bears football team.
See also: 2018 Northwestern Wildcats football team.
See also: 2018 Iowa State Cyclones football team.
See also: 2018 Miami RedHawks football team.
See also: 2018 Buffalo Bulls football team.
See also: 2018 Kent State Golden Flashes football team and Wagon Wheel (trophy).
See also: 2018 Central Michigan Chippewas football team.
See also: 2018 Northern Illinois Huskies football team.
See also: 2018 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team.
See also: 2018 Bowling Green Falcons football team.
See also: 2018 Ohio Bobcats football team.
See also: 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks football team.
See also: 2019 NFL draft.
| 6 | 207 | LB | Pittsburgh Steelers |