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Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes host Akron as another new starter debuts at QB

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•09/25/21•

SpencerHolbrook

Kyle McCord 2 by Birm-Lettermen Row
Kyle McCord and Jack Miller will have a chance to step in for C.J. Stroud. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

Ohio State-Akron game time, details

Ohio State and Akron will kick off for the ninth time in their history. The Buckeyes are 7-1 against the Zips all-time, with the lone loss coming in 1894, when the Zips were coached by John Heisman and were called Buchtel College.

Ohio State beat Akron 42-0 in the 2011 season-opening game, the last time these two teams met. The Buckeyes are heavily favored to beat the Zips badly this time around, even without starting quarterback C.J. Stroud. Kyle McCord or Jack Miller will have a chance to start their first college football game in Stroud’s absence.

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021
  • Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Weather: 63 degrees and mostly sunny/clear
  • TV Channel: Big Ten Network
  • The line: Ohio State is a 48.5-point favorite, per VegasInsider
  • Over/under: 66.5 points
  • Akron is 4-16 against the spread in its last 20 games.
  • Ohio State is 1-7 against the spread in its last seven home games.
  • Ohio State is 6-6 against the spread as a home favorite in Ryan Day’s tenure.
  • Akron is 1-6 against the number in its last seven games played in September.
  • The total has gone over in four of Ohio State’s last five games.

Weekend Kickoff presented by Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems

Ohio State bounced back from its first regular-season game since 2018 with a win over Tulsa last weekend.

Now the No. 10 Buckeyes must continue to build positive momentum as they finish nonconference play and head into league games next week. Next on the schedule: Akron, a MAC program that has struggled to win games for years.

Lettermen Row Weekend Kickoff presented by Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems is back again to break it all down – from what Ohio State needs to continue improving to how resting starting quarterback C.J. Stroud will impact the Buckeyes this week.

This week’s show features former Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones, former Ohio State linebacker Zach Boren, former defensive lineman Robert Landers and former tight end Jeff Heuerman, alongside Lettermen Row senior writer Austin Ward.

This week’s episode is presented by Columbus Worthington Air.

Don’t miss the full episode of Weekend Kickoff at Urban Meyer’s Pint House.

Bold Predictions for Buckeyes in matchup against Akron

The Lettermen Row staff unanimously expects an Ohio State win in its final nonconference game against Akron. And as always, the crew went deeper than the score to make Five Bold Predictions about what will happen on Saturday night in the Horseshoe.

READ: Five Bold Predictions as Buckeyes gear up for final tuneup against Akron

Stick with Lettermen Row for wall-to-wall game-day coverage

Lettermen Row will be on site in the Horseshoe for comprehensive coverage of the latest Ohio State matchup, as the Buckeyes host the Zips in primetime. Follow along on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for experienced Ohio State coverage.

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