The MAC Conference released its 2012 football schedule and in conjunction with that, the University of Akron announced their start times for the 2012 season.

There will be three games on the ESPN Family of Networks starting with the home opener against UCF (University of Central Florida) on ESPN3. The Zips will also face rival Kent State on Sportstime Ohio at 2pm November 3rd. The game will also be simulcast on ESPN GamePlan and ESPN3.

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Press Release

The University of Akron Department of Athletics, in conjunction with the Mid-American Conference, announced on Thursday start times for its 2012 football home games. The Zips, under the direction of first-year head coach Terry Bowden, will play five of their six home outings on a Saturday at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.

Additionally, the MAC office released its complete football television package for the upcoming season today, in which UA will be televised either nationally or regionally for at least four of its regular-season contests. Additional TV assignments could be announced at a later date.

The first of those television appearances comes via ESPN3 and coincides with Bowden's return to the Football Bowl Subdivision sideline in the season opener versus Conference USA opponent UCF on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. ET. The weeknight game that leads into the Labor Day holiday weekend will be themed Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce Night, and be tied into a pregame "Hoppy Hour" professional networking event held outside the stadium. A Social Media event is also being planned for this game.

Following a road game at FIU on Sept. 8 (kickoff time TBA), the Zips will face off against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Morgan State on Sept. 15, at 3:30 p.m., for what will serve as High School Band Day and Youth Day. The Zips defeated the Bears 41-0 in the inaugural game at InfoCision Stadium on Sept. 12, 2009.

UA's non-league schedule concludes at SEC opponent Tennessee on Sept. 22 (kickoff time TBA). Numerous storylines surround that game, as Bowden compiled a 30-14-1 SEC record as head coach at Auburn from 1993-98.

The MAC schedule begins on Sept. 29 with a visit by Miami (Ohio) to InfoCision Stadium at 2 p.m.

On Oct. 6, Bowling Green comes to Akron for a Homecoming meeting that is set to get underway at 2 p.m., and will provide the finale to a full schedule of programming on campus geared toward students, alumni and their families. Additionally, activities surrounding that game will be part of Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day.

A visit to MAC East Division champion and Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victor Ohio on Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. comes before an Oct. 20 home game versus reigning MAC West Division champion and GoDaddy.com Bowl winner Northern Illinois at noon. That matchup will be televised via ESPN Plus, ESPN Game Plan and ESPN3, and be incorporated into Family Weekend festivities on campus.

A trip to Central Michigan on Oct. 27 (kickoff time TBA) precedes the annual PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge against Kent State on Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. The neighborhood rivalry game at nearby Dix Stadium will be televised regionally on SportsTime Ohio and also be available on ESPN Game Plan and ESPN3.

Akron plays host to conference newcomer Massachusetts on Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. for Senior Day, before closing out the regular season at MAC West Division member and Military Bowl winner Toledo on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

2012 Akron Football Schedule:
Thu., Aug. 30 – UCF, 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
Sat., Sept. 8 – at FIU, TBA
Sat., Sept. 15 – Morgan State, 3:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 22 – at Tennessee, TBA
Sat., Sept. 29 – Miami (Ohio)*, 2 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 6 – Bowling Green*, 2 p.m. (Homecoming)
Sat., Oct. 13 – at Ohio*, 2 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 20 – Northern Illinois*, Noon (ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3)
Sat., Oct. 27 – at Central Michigan*, TBA
Sat., Nov. 3 – at Kent State*, 2 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3)
Sat., Nov. 10 – Massachusetts*, 2 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 17 – OPEN
Tues., Nov. 20 – at Toledo*, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)* - Mid-American Conference game  

With the addition of the UMass, MAC Football will see a new alignment with 14 teams in two divisions.

The Minutemen who are a football-only program will compete in the East Division with Akron and Kent State along with Buffalo, Miami (Ohio) and Temple.

MAC Press Release:

The Mid-American Conference announced today a new divisional alignment in football beginning with the 2012 season as UMass joins the conference to bring the number of football membership to 14 beginning this fall. With the addition of UMass, who will compete in the East Division, Bowling Green State University will move to the MAC West Division.

The divisional alignment was a unanimous vote by the MAC Council of Presidents, as recommended by the Council of Director of Athletics.

This alignment will be for football only. MAC East: Akron; Buffalo; Kent State; UMass; Miami; Ohio and Temple. MAC West: Ball State; Bowling Green; Central Michigan; Eastern Michigan; Northern Illinois; Toledo and Western Michigan.

“Ever since our announcement of the addition of UMass in football last spring, divisional alignment has been a topic of conversation among our Presidents and Directors of Athletics,” said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner.

“We considered a number of different paradigms and ultimately we focused on the core principles of geography, travel and rivalries. We now have a true rotational cycle for football and a scheduling model that will extend for future years.”

This will be the first time since 2006 that the MAC will have balanced divisional schedules.

 Each member will continue to play an eight-game conference schedule, however each member will now play six divisional games and two non-divisional cross-over games. There will no longer be protected cross-over games.

UMass will begin conference play for the 2012 football season and will be eligible for the conference football championship game and a bowl game beginning in the 2013 football season.

The conference office will announce the 2012 regular season football schedule by the first week of March.