1976 Akron Zips football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1976 Akron Zips football Independent 3 10–3 Jim Dennison 4th Wally Neal Rubber Bowl Pioneer Bowl L 13–24 vs. Montana State The 1976 Akron Zips football team was an American football team that represented the University of Akron during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. In their fourth season under head coach Jim Dennison, the Zips compiled a 10–3 record and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 282 to 144. In post-season play, they defeated UNLV, 27–6, in a Division II quarterfinal, and defeated 1976 Northern Michigan Wildcats Northern Michigan, 29–26, in the Knute Rockne Bowl. In the championship game in Wichita Falls, Texas, Akron lost to Montana State in the Pioneer Bowl.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JKhfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2817%2C4171751 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Montana State wins title December 12, 1976 4Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kSFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6476%2C5442864 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Dennehy leads Montana State's bowl win December 12, 1976 D1 The 1976 season was the first and only ten-win season in Akron's program history. Schedule 1976 NCAA Division II Associated Press September 11 l Temple Rubber Bowl Akron, OH 13–23 33,158 https://www.newspapers.com/article/gloucester-county-times-sorniskys-foot/180954019/ Gloucester County Times Sornisky's foot paces Temple September 12, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 w 1976 Morehead State Eagles Morehead State Rubber Bowl Akron, OH 26–6 10,102 September 25 w y 1976 Youngstown State Penguins Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH Steel Tire 24–3 4,846 October 2 w y Indiana State Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN 34–7 8,318 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-terre-haute-tribune-akron-whips-isu/181078411/ The Terre Haute Tribune-Star Akron whips ISU October 3, 1976 October 9, 2022 Newspapers.com October 9 w Dayton Rubber Bowl Akron, OH 27–6 7,439 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-zips-win-4th-straight/181080641/ The Plain Dealer Zips win 4th straight, defeat Dayton, 27 to 6 October 10, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 w y T–5 Ball State Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN 3–0 18,323 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-akron-u-maintai/181063082/ The Akron Beacon Journal Akron U maintains visiting team advantage October 17, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 w T–5 Eastern Michigan Rubber Bowl Akron, OH 36–0 9,042 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-zip-streak-hits/181069841/ The Akron Beacon Journal Zip streak hits six as another member of MAC is blanked October 24, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 l y 3 Marshall Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV 0–13 7,191 https://www.newspapers.com/article/beckley-post-herald-the-raleigh-register/180952525/ Beckley Post-Herald & The Raleigh Register Campbell, Filliez boost Marshall over Akron October 31, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 w y T–8 1976 Western Illinois Leathernecks Western Illinois 7 Hanson Field Macomb, IL 21–14 13,743 November 13 w y 5 Western Kentucky L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 29–16 11,200 November 27 w 3 UNLV 7 Rubber Bowl Akron, OH NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 27–6 6,562 December 4 w 3 1976 Northern Michigan Wildcats Northern Michigan 2 Rubber Bowl Akron, OH Knute Rockne Bowl—NCAA Division II Semifinal 29–26 December 11 l y 3 Montana State 1 Lake Wichita Park Wichita Falls, TX Pioneer Bowl—NCAA Division II Championship Game 13–24 13,200 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JKhfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2817%2C4171751 Lewiston Morning Tribune Associated Press Montana State wins title December 12, 1976 4B September 14, 2025 Google News Archive Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Akron) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/5/stats/13330 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 9, 2021 http://www.databasefootball.com/college/teams/teamyear.htm?TeamID=2&Season=1976 Akron Season Schedule - databaseFootball.com/NCAA December 30, 2015 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20151130160400/http://www.databasefootball.com/College/teams/teamyear.htm?TeamID=2&Season=1976 November 30, 2015 Akron Team Schedule 1976 References Akron Category:Akron Zips football seasons Akron Zips football