In 1926, the athletic teams were named the Zippers, after rubber boots manufactured by the B.F. Goodrich Company, which was headquartered in Akron at the time.

In their first game, the team, then called Buchtel College, defeated Western Reserve Academy[8] by a score of 22–6 in Hudson, Ohio.

[17] Aiken departed the Zips after the 1938 season to accept the head football coach position at Nevada.

[20] Akron did not field a football team from 1943 to 1945 due to the events surrounding World War II.

[23] Joe McMullen came to Akron from Washington & Jefferson[24] and achieved moderate success as the Zips head coach.

[26] In 1961, the Zips hired Gordon Larson, who had been an assistant coach under Woody Hayes at Ohio State.

During its Independence era, the Zips put together the best run in school history, winning 38 games from 1968 to 1971, also going to the 1968 Grantland Rice Bowl.

[29] His 1976 Akron squad played for the NCAA Division II championship (Pioneer Bowl), losing to the Montana State Bobcats, 24-13.

[33] In 1985, Akron president William Muse replaced Dennison with former Notre Dame head coach Gerry Faust.

[41] Jason Taylor (Pro Football Hall of Fame), Dwight Smith (consensus All-American, Super Bowl champion) and Charlie Frye (NFL QB) were among star players during Owens' tenure.

[54] Bowden's 2013 team showed improvement, compiling a 5–7 record on the season[55] that included snapping the nation's longest road losing streak (28) with a 24–17 victory at Miami (OH).

[62] The Zips would then reel off three straight wins, upsetting Pittsburgh,[63][64] defeating Eastern Michigan[65] and Miami (OH).

[71] To kick off the season, Bowden led the Zips into Norman, Oklahoma for a showdown against one of the country's all-time college football powers, No.

[96] The Zips would then lose its last four games of the season, beginning with Buffalo,[97] then Toledo,[98] Bowling Green[99] and Ohio.

[102] The University of Akron dismissed coach Tom Arth on November 2, 2021, just short of him finishing his third season.

With 80 victories, Jim Dennison is first overall in the program's history, followed by Gordon K. Larson (74 wins) and Gerry Faust (43).

Kent State started a 10-game winning streak in 1942 through 1954, though no games were played during the World War II years of 1943–45 when neither school fielded teams.

The story goes that John R. Buchtel was searching for a site to start a new college in 1870 near what is now Kent State University when his wagon became stuck in the mud.

[116] In 2003, the university began exploring the feasibility of building an on-campus stadium to replace the Rubber Bowl, which was in disrepair and several miles away from campus.

The final Akron Zips football game at the Rubber Bowl took place on November 13, 2008 against the Buffalo Bulls.

After the game, a special ceremony with current and former players and coaches was held to honor the 68-year history of the stadium.

[1][116][117] InfoCision Stadium was constructed as part of a building initiative undergone by the University of Akron called the "New Landscape for Learning.

"[118] The $300 million construction program included the construction and renovations of numerous buildings on campus, including the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences building, an honors complex, a student recreation center, and a student union.

[119] The Rubber Bowl, the former home of the Zips football team, was located 6 miles (9.7 km) away of the Akron campus.

[120] Due to the high maintenance costs for the facility, the decision was made to construct an on-campus stadium.

[121] To build the new stadium, several dormitories had to be demolished and the properties of local tenants were acquired using eminent domain.

In 2002, the University instituted a new athletics logo featuring the kangaroo as well as a custom font for "Akron Zips.

The football program adapted the alternate logo for their helmets which featured an "A" and a profile view of a kangaroo.

[134] The following individuals have been inducted into the University of Akron Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame for their contributions to the Zips football program:[135] [when?]

[139] Among the numerous Zips that have participated in the NFL, CFL, and AFL, a total of 3 have received all-star recognition by their respective leagues.