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Fox News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Akron football team banned from postseason games after failing to reach NCAA's minimum academic score
The Akron Zips football program is ineligible for postseason games next season due to poor grades in the classroom. The program's multi-year Academic Progress Rate score is 914, which is below the 930 minimum for postseason eligibility, according to NCAA rules. The governing body updated its national APR database with the latest scores, and Akron will not be happy to see it can't play in any bowl games even if it qualifies. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON The Mid-American Conference squad has not played in a bowl game since 2017, also the last time the program won more than four games in a season. It's been difficult for the Zips in recent seasons. Since they went 7-7 in 2017, they haven't had a season better than 4-8, which includes the 2024 campaign. EX-MARYLAND FOOTBALL PLAYER FACES MURDER CHARGE AFTER DEADLY BAR FIGHT IN FLORIDA They went 0-12 in 2019 before going 1-5 in 2020 and finishing 2-10 three straight seasons from 2021-23. Idaho was the last team in Division I FBS ineligible for the postseason due to APR scores in 2014. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, APR score penalties have not been used by the NCAA since spring 2020. However, the NCAA voted to restore its old policies. The last time Akron won a bowl game was in 2015, when Terry Bowden was coaching the team. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Zips defeated Utah State, 23-21, that year in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Akron football is ineligible for postseason play because of its low Academic Progress Rate score
The Akron Zips celebrate a missed field goal during an NCAA football game against the Ohio Bobcats on Nov. 10, 2020 in Athens, Ohio. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn, File) Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Akron's football team will be ineligible for postseason play this season because of its multiyear Academic Progress Rate score. The NCAA this week updated its national APR database with the latest scores of member institutions. Akron had a score of 914, below the 930 minimum for postseason eligibility. Akron's athletic department has not commented on its APR penalty and did not return immediately messages left by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Akron, which plays in the Mid-American Conference, has not been to a bowl game since 2017, which also was the last time the Zips won more than four games in a season. But Akron's 4-8 record in 2024 under third-year coach Joe Moorhead was its best since posting the same mark in 2018. In between, the Zips won no more than two games in a season and went winless (0-12) in 2019. The last Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football team to be barred from postseason play because of APR scores was Idaho in the 2014 season. The NCAA temporarily suspended some APR penalties, including postseason bans, because of the COVID-19 pandemic that began disrupting college athletics in the spring of 2020. However, the NCAA's Committee on Academics voted to restore such penalties beginning with four-year scores released during the 2024-25 academic year. ___ AP college football: and The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Akron Zips basketball star Nate Johnson announces transfer to Kansas State
Nate Johnson's change of heart has led him from the Akron Zips to the Kansas State Wildcats. Johnson announced on social media Sunday, April 20, he has committed to continue his college basketball career at Kansas State. Advertisement Zips news: Akron men's basketball coach John Groce agrees to another contract extension When last season ended, Johnson told the Beacon Journal he planned to return to the University of Akron, and he later announced he would be back with the Zips men's basketball team. However, Johnson reversed course when he entered the NCAA transfer portal last week. As a redshirt junior guard last season with Akron, Johnson was voted Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, MAC Defensive Player of the Year and the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. He averaged 14 points on 43.9% shooting from the field, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals in 30.1 minutes. Advertisement More Akron basketball: Zips great Enrique Freeman helps Pacers earn historic comeback vs. his hometown Cavs Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34) plants a kiss on the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship trophy at Rocket Arena on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. Akron's season ended March 21 with a 93-65 loss to Arizona in a first-round NCAA Tournament game in the East Region in Seattle. Akron went 28-7, and its 28 wins are a school record. Johnson is the second starter Akron has lost to the transfer portal this offseason. Senior forward James Okonkwo also changed his mind and committed to Utah after announcing he would be back with the Zips. In terms of additions Akron has made this offseason, former Ohio State wing Evan Mahaffey announced his transfer to UA. His younger brother, Eric, is with the Zips, too. Advertisement Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@ On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Former Akron Zips star Nate Johnson announces transfer to Kansas State
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Conference Player of the Year Makes Final Transfer Portal Decision
John Groce and the Akron Zips reached the 2025 NCAA Tournament after capturing the MAC Conference Tournament title. The Zips finished the regular season with a 28-6 overall record, including an impressive 17-1 mark in MAC play. Advertisement Akron was the conference's lone representative in the NCAA Tournament. However, their postseason run was short-lived, as they struggled in their opening game and fell 93-65 to the Arizona Wildcats. Despite the early exit, the Zips' successful season brought several individual accolades. Notably, Nate Johnson was named MAC Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season. Following the conclusion of the season, Johnson announced that he would be moving on from Akron. He has since chosen his next destination, making the leap from the MAC to the Big 12 Conference. Joe Tipton of On3 Sports made the news official on Sunday: "NEWS: Akron transfer guard Nate Johnson has committed to Kansas State, he told @On3sports." In Johnson's final season with the Zips, he posted 14 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Advertisement Johnson will now suit up for Jerome Tang in Manhattan, Kansas. The Wildcats have missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons, though they reached the Elite Eight in 2023. Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34).© Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images In addition to Johnson, Kansas State has added two other transfers. Abdi Bashir Jr., a guard from Monmouth, is expected to contribute significantly on offense after averaging 20.1 points per game. The other addition is Khamari McGriff, a 6-foot-9 forward from UNC Wilmington. McGriff was one of the top sixth men in the country, averaging 11.6 points per game and helping lead the Seahawks to the NCAA Tournament. Related: Duke's Jon Scheyer Suffers Major Recruiting Loss on Sunday Related: Duke's Cameron Boozer Sends Message to No. 1 College Basketball Recruit
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nate Johnson in transfer portal? Akron Zips basketball star reportedly enters portal
After it appeared the Akron men's basketball team team would have its core players back for another run at the NCAA Tournament, the Zips could be poised to lose the league player of the year just days after another starter left through the transfer portal. Akron Zips star Nate Johnson is reportedly entering the transfer portal, according to multiple college basketball writers on Twitter, including Jeff Borzello of ESPN, Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 and John Fanta of Fox and NBC Sports. Advertisement Johnson has one year of eligibility remaining after leading Akron to Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and to the NCAA Tournament in 2025. Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34) dribbles the ball against Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) during an NCAA Tournament first-round game March 21, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. Johnson, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, was named MAC Player of the Year after he averaged 14.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists this past season. Johnson was a redshirt who did not play during Akron's run to a MAC Tournament title and an NCAA appearance in 2022. Johnson starred on Akron's 2024 and 2025 teams that won MAC Tournament championships and played in the NCAA Tournament. Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34) drives to the basket for a layup against Miami during the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. On April 13, Akron starting forward James Okonkwo announced he was transferring to Utah. Advertisement It's quite a reversal from the days after Akron's season ended in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a 93-65 loss to No. 4 Arizona on March 21 in Seattle. At that point several key Zips players told the Beacon Journal they planned to return to UA next season. Within a few days, 11 players said they were coming back to Akron. Nate Ulrich contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron basketball's Nate Johnson reportedly enters NCAA transfer portal
