Iowa State Football: 2018 Game-by-game predictions
4. Akron (Sept. 22)
The Cyclones do get somewhat of a break the week following the upset win over Oklahoma as MAC foe Akron comes into Jack Trice Stadium. Last year was the first-ever meeting between the Zips and the Cyclones as Iowa State pounded the inferior Zips in a decisive 41-14 win on a rainy day in Akron. This game looks to be one of the easier games on the schedule for a while as the Cyclones kickoff full Big 12 play the following week.
Akron has become a consistent program under seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden and the trend continued in 2017. The Zips won the MAC Eastern Division at 7-5 thanks to an upset win against Ohio and appeared in the MAC Championship against Toledo. Akron will be led by true sophomore quarterback Kato Nelson, who came on strong towards the end of last season and engineered the Zips division-clinching win against Ohio.
For Matt Campbell, Akron and Terry Bowden is an all too familiar opponent as Campbell faced the Zips often during his time at Toledo and previously as an assistant at Bowling Green. The Cyclones took care of business no problem last year, this year will be a similar case.