NCAA football scores, UNLV at Akron live updates

The University of Akron football team hosts the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at noon on Saturday, Sept. 26, at InfoCision Stadium.

Akron and UNLV both have 1-2 records this season.

Akron opened the season with a 38-16 loss at Wake Forest on Sept. 3 in in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, won its home opener 45-10 over Robert Morris on Sept. 12 and lost 41-7 to Minnesota on Sept. 19 in Minneapolis.

UNLV is playing its third consecutive road game after opening the season at home with a 27-21 loss to Memphis on Aug. 29. The Rebels earned a 21-6 win over Hawai'i on Sept. 5 in Honolulu and lost 44-6 to North Texas on Sept. 12 in Denton.

Follow along for live updates.

What to know about the Akron football team. Who's starting at QB for the Zips today?

Brayden Roggow is likely going to start at quarterback for Akron after he played last week when Cibastian Broughton was sidelined in the first half because of an apparent right knee injury.

Broughton completed 9 of 13 passes for 42 yards and had three carries for 17 yards before being injured against Minnesota. Roggow completed 12 of 25 passes for 131 yards.

Broughton has completed 53 of 66 passes for 380 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in three games. He also has 30 carries for 170 yards.

Roggow is 24-of-38 passing for 231 yards, two TDs and no interceptions in three games.

Akron's Omari Abor recorded an interception in the first quarter and Marquese Williams ran for a 10-yard TD in the fourth quarter against Minnesota. Gentz Hilburn finished with three receptions for 49 yards.

"Offensively, obviously, losing 'Worm' [Broughton] hurt," Akron coach Joe Moorhead said Monday, Sept. 21. "I thought we had a good game plan. We were moving the ball fairly well, but we were absolutely crippled by a fumble, multiple, multiple drops and then at the tail end of the second quarter, we were first-and-goal at the [Minnesota] 10, followed by two successive personal foul penalties, that moved us, not only out of touchdown range, but out of field goal range."

Akron's Donelius Johnson had 12 tackles and Cyrus Durham recorded a sack. Joseph Castle averaged 42.1 yards on nine punts and placed three inside the Minnesota 20.

"We need to limit the explosive plays in the run and pass game [of our opponent]," Moorhead said. "… On special teams, obviously, it wasn't a good performance for us with the muffed punt and the long punt return [by Minnesota]. We just didn't coach or play well enough to earn the right to win a game against a team of that caliber."NG

What to know about the UNLV Rebels football team

UNLV is coached by Dan Mullen, who went 10-4 in 2025, his first season with the Rebels. Mullen was the head coach at Mississippi State from 2009-2017 and Florida from 2018-2021. He went 69-46 at Mississippi State and 34-15 at Florida. He also served as an ESPN analyst before taking the UNLV job.

Moorhead was Mississippi State's coach after Mullen in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, and went 14-12.

“They are a really good ballclub, well resourced, well coached and incredibly talented,” Moorhead said. “… Corey Dennis is the offensive coordinator. Excellent scheme that runs through the quarterback, Jackson Arnold, a two-time transfer from Oklahoma and Auburn. I believe he has 18 career SEC starts, completing 60% percent of his passes this year, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He is backed up by Alex Orji, a young man that is a Michigan transfer. He can beat you with his arms and his legs. I am expecting to see both and making a plan for those guys in some capacity.

“The running back [Jai’Den Thomas] is as good as we will see the entire season at any level. I believe he was second in the country in yards per carry last year at 7.0. He is a thousand-yard rusher, first team All-Mountain West [Conference] and has an excellent combination of speed and power. That young man is a really, really good football player. They have a talented wideout corps. The [Taz] Reddicks kid from Oregon State is one of them.”

Paul Guenther is UNLV's defensive coordinator after working in the NFL from 2002-2024 with Washington, Cincinnati, Oakland, Las Vegas, Minnesota and Dallas.

"You can tell there is a lot of knowledge that that staff is imparting on the defense," Moorhead said. "… No. 94 [Lucas Conti], the interior defensive lineman, is a kid that is really big and strong and athletic. He reestablishes the line of scrimmage and does a nice job against the run game and the pass game. They have two really talented inside linebackers. No. 23 [Cam Santee], a transfer from Holy Cross, is having a really nice season and on the back end, Jake Pope, a two-time transfer from Alabama and Georgia, plays the middle safety position when they play three safeties."

Moorhead also said Denver Harris and Quandarius Keyes are key cornerbacks.

Akron will honor late coaching legend Jim Dennison vs. UNLV

Akron will honor late coaching legend Jim Dennison on Saturday. Dennison guided Akron to a NCAA Division II national runner-up finish in 1976. Dennison died Jan. 5, 2026, at the age of 87.

Members of the 1976 Akron team will reunite in what UA is calling "The Jim Dennison PMA Game" against UNLV. Dennison was known for his coaching philosophy centered on "positive mental attitude," also referred to as "PMA." Members of the Dennison family will also be in attendance.

Akron defeated UNLV 27-6 in a quarterfinal of the Division II playoffs Nov. 27, 1976, and Northern Michigan 29-26 in overtime of a Division II semifinal Dec. 4, 1976. Both games were at the Rubber Bowl.

Akron then traveled to Wichita Falls, Texas, and lost 24-13 to Montana State in the Division II national championship game on Dec. 11, 1976.

Dennison was Akron's football coach for 13 years and then was Walsh University's coach for the first 18 seasons of the program's existence. He compiled a collegiate head coaching record of 199-139-2, and is the winningest football coach in Akron and Walsh history.

Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: NCAA football scores, UNLV at Akron live updates