University of Akron Athletics

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Akron fell 52-6 within the 2024 season opener to the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on Saturday afternoon with 102,011 followers in attendance. 

Redshirt junior Ok Garrison Smith made a pair of subject objectives, scoring the Zips six factors. Smith cut up the uprights with 48- and  49-yard kicks, marking the longest subject objectives since Robert Stein buried a 50-yarder in 2015.

Three quarterbacks noticed motion for the Zips within the season opener as redshirt junior Tahj Bullock paced each the passing (68 yards) and speeding (42 yards) classes. Redshirt junior Ben Finley earned the beginning position and threw for 53 yards, whereas redshirt sophomore RB Charles Kellom added 9 yards on the bottom. As well as, redshirt sophomore TE Jake Newell reeled in two catches for 41 yards to guide receiving corps, whereas redhirt junior RB Jordon Simmons caught 4 passes for 25 yards.

Redshirt junior S Daymon David paced the Akron protection with six tackles whereas redshirt junior DL CJ Nunnally IV and senior LB Antavious Fish every had 5 tackles.
 

How It Occurred

Akron grabbed a 3-0 lead over Ohio State after scoring the sport’s first factors with 8:44 remaining within the first quarter. Ohio State outpaced Akron to a 31-3 lead earlier than the Zips put a subject purpose on the board to chop into the benefit and make it a 31-6 recreation. Akron did not rating once more within the recreation and Ohio State added 21 extra factors to complete off the scoring.

Sport Notes

» Akron transformed 4 of 16 third downs whereas Ohio State was profitable on 9 of 14.
» Avery E-book punted six instances for the Zips with a median of 48.2 yards per punt whereas pinning the Buckeyes inside their very own 20 two instances.
» Akron went 2-for-3 on fourth down, changing on 66.7 p.c of makes an attempt.
» Bullock accomplished 69.2% of his passes on the day, going 9-for-13.

What’s Subsequent?
Akron travels to face Rutgers for its subsequent take a look at on Saturday, September 7.