The Akron Zips finished the 2017 season with a 7-7 record and that didn't approach the bottom of the pecking order in the world of college football. However, the team lost by 47 points in a bowl matchup against FAU and, at the conclusion of the campaign, Akron landed outside the top 110 teams nationally in the S&P+ rankings.
With that in mind, Akron would not appear to be a terribly interesting non-conference opponent for a program from the SEC but, according to Kevin Kelley if FBSchedules.com, the Zips will have an interesting foe in the near future. The report indicates that a contract exists for a three-game series between Akron and the Kentucky Wildcats.
As you may expect, the Power 5 school has the friendly end of the reported deal, with Kentucky hosting Games in 2021 and 2024 against Akron. In return, though, Big Blue Nation will be traveling to Akron for a contest in 2023.
The Zips do receive sizable payouts for the games, including $1.3 million for the 2021 face-off, but the interesting part will be the reaction on Kentucky's end. There is little to no appeal in having Akron visit Lexington but, from an optimistic perspective, the 'Cats must welcome a team from somewhere to fill a home schedule and it might as well be a MAC foe.
