Pitt Panthers Vs Akron Zips Game Time, Live Steam, And Preview

Seeking their fourth victory of the season, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers host the University of Akron Zips on Saturday.

The most recent contest between the two programs was in October 1998 when the Blue and Gold shut out the Zips 35-0. Their only other meeting was in 1900, in the 11th season of Panthers intercollegiate football competition, with another shutout, defeating Akron 17-0.

Pitt is 30-3 all-time against teams currently in the Mid-America Conference, including a 26-1 record at home. The last time they played a member of the MAC was in the 2013 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit where Paul Chryst’s squad won against conference champion Bowling Green 30-27.

The Panthers (3-1) are ready to bounce back from a 24-20 loss to Iowa last week along the North Shore. A victory over Akron would give the Blue and Gold its first 4-1 start since 2009. The Zips (1-2) opened their season with a 41-0 win over the Howard University Bison before dropping their next two contests to the Penn State Nittany Lions 21-3 and the Marshall University Thundering Herd 48-17.

When: Saturday, Sept 27

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m., ET

Site: Heinz Field

Playing Surface: Natural Grass

Series Began: 1900

Series Overall: Pitt leads 2-0

At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 2-0

At Akron: 0-0

Last Meeting: Oct 3, 1998 (Pitt won 30-0)

Live Video Stream: ESPN3

Announcers: Dave Weekley and John Gregory

Radio Coverage: 93.7 FM – The Fan and the Pitt IMG Sports Network

Announcers: Bill Hillgrove and Pat Bostick with Larry Richert reporting from the sidelines

Sirius XM Satellite Radio: Sirius Channel 132, XM Channel 205

Internet Audio – Panthers All-Access: www.PittsburghPanthers.com via CSLive

Odds: N/A

Four games into the 2014 campaign, Pitt sophomore running back James Conner is leading the country in total rushing yards with 699 on 110 carries and is tied for the national lead in rushing touchdowns with nine.

Those 699 rushing yards are the most in the opening four games of a season in Panther history. The previous mark was held by Tony Dorsett, who had 564 yards in the first four games of his 1973 freshman season. At this point, Conner is just 35 yards away from the best five game rushing start to a season at Pitt. In 2011, Ray Graham gained 734 yards through the opening five contests.

Last week against Iowa, wide receiver Tyler Boyd attained 100 career receptions, becoming the 19th Panther to achieve that feat. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound sophomore had 10 catches for 153 yards, bringing his career reception total to 106. He reached the milestone in just 17 contests, tying Larry Fitzgerald for fewest games needed to reach 100 catches at Pitt.

Despite his three interceptions, redshirt sophomore quarterback Chad Voytik hit career highs against the Hawkeyes last week in attempts and completions by going 19 of 29 and in passing yards with 250.

The Panthers defense is surrendering just 144.8 yards through the air to rank first in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 11th nationally. They have six interceptions so far this season, just two fewer than they pilfered in all of 2013. Sophomore strong safety Terrish Webb has two of the six interceptions.

Pitt has yet to give up a score in the second quarter this season and has been outscoring its opponents 62-0 in the second frame.

Chris Blewitt is one of 20 placekickers across the nation to not miss a field goal try this season. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound sophomore is 6-for-6 in field goal attempts this year with his longest going for 49 yards. He is 18 for 19 in extra-point kicks this season.

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Akron head coach Terry Bowden is in his third season in charge of the Zips. While his record at Akron is 7-20, in 21 seasons on the sideline, Bowden’s overall record is 147-82-2.

After three games, the Blue and Gold from Ohio is averaging nearly 300 passing yards per game as junior quarterback Kyle Pohl has completed 64 of 119 for 667 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 6-foot-3, 217-pound signal caller has also run the ball 22 times for 69 yards.

His backup, redshirt freshman Tommy Woodson, from Monroeville, Pa., is 13 of 23 for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

The leading wide receiver is junior WR Zach D’Orazio with 14 receptions for 167 yards while sophomore wide receiver Mykel Traylor-Bennett has put up nine catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns.

Akron’s ground game is led by redshirt sophomore running back Hakeem Lawrence, who has 12 carries for 61 yards.

Defensively, junior linebacker Jatavis Brown is the team leader with 19 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and a forced fumble while junior linebacker Dylan Evans has 15 total tackles and two sacks.

In this week’s national rankings, the Zips are listed among the nation’s Top 25 in three categories, including No. 1 in blocked punts allowed, No. 13 in red zone defense, and No. 19 in punt return defense.

Pitt opens the month of October on the road in Atlantic Coast Conference action when they take on the University of Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville on Saturday, Oct 4 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh.