1972 Akron Zips football team

The 1972 Akron Zips football team represented Akron University in the 1972 NCAA College Division football season as an independent. The team was led by 12th-year head coach Gordon K. Larson, in his final season. The Zips played their home games at the Rubber Bowl in Akron, Ohio, finished the season with a record of 3–4–2, and outscored their opponents 193–148.

1972 Akron Zips football
Conference	Independent
Record	3–4–2
Head coach	Gordon K. Larson (12th season)
Captain	Bruce Walker Calvin Pierce
Home stadium	Rubber Bowl

1972 NCAA College Division independents football records

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 4 Ashland			–					11	–	0	–	0
Bridgeport			–					11	–	0	–	0
No. 1 Delaware			–					10	–	0	–	0
No. 5 Tennessee State			–					11	–	1	–	0
Colorado College			–					8	–	1	–	0
Tampa			–					10	–	2	–	0
Trinity (TX)			–					8	–	2	–	0
Western Carolina			–					7	–	2	–	1
Hawaii			–					8	–	3	–	0
Indiana State			–					7	–	3	–	0
Northeastern			–					6	–	2	–	0
Bucknell			–					6	–	3	–	0
Cortland			–					6	–	3	–	0
San Diego			–					6	–	3	–	1
Arkansas–Pine Bluff			–					4	–	2	–	1
Eastern Michigan			–					6	–	4	–	0
Milwaukee			–					6	–	4	–	0
Samford			–					5	–	3	–	2
Lake Forest			–					4	–	3	–	1
Nevada			–					6	–	5	–	0
Central Michigan			–					5	–	5	–	1
Fordham			–					5	–	5	–	0
Rose-Hulman			–					5	–	5	–	0
Santa Clara			–					4	–	4	–	1
Akron			–					3	–	4	–	2
St. Norbert			–					4	–	5	–	0
Saint Mary's			–					3	–	4	–	0
Kentucky State			–					4	–	6	–	0
Drexel			–					3	–	6	–	0
Northeast Louisiana			–					3	–	7	–	0
Portland State			–					3	–	8	–	0
Wayne State (MI)			–					2	–	5	–	1
Boston University			–					2	–	8	–	0
Northern Michigan			–					2	–	8	–	0
Saint Peter's			–					2	–	8	–	0
Chattanooga			–					2	–	9	–	0
Southern Illinois			–					1	–	8	–	1
Eastern Illinois			–					1	–	9	–	0
Madison			–					0	–	4	–	1
UNLV			–					1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP small college poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	Kent State	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH (Wagon Wheel)	T 13–13	25,121
September 16	at Butler	Butler Bowl Indianapolis, IN	W 34–7	5,150
September 23	Western Illinois	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH	L 24–30	21,464
September 30	at Ball State	Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN	T 21–21	16,050
October 14	Northern Michigan	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH	W 49–0	10,042
October 21	at Youngstown State	Rayen Stadium Youngstown, OH (Steel Tire)	L 21–22	4,760
October 28	Central Michigan	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH	W 14–10	9,703
November 4	at Indiana State	Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN	L 17–21	7,200
November 11	Quantico Marines	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH	L 0–24
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game