(This is the fifth of a 14-part series on the Sun Belt Conference and 2015 opponents of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.  Today:  Akron.  The Cajuns and the Zips meet Saturday, September 26th at Cajun Field.)

Oh, so close.

After eight straight losing seasons, including three straight with just one win (2010-12), The Akron Zips have come very close to revering the trend the last two seasons.  In 2013 they won four of their last five after a 1-6 start.  Last year they lost five of their last six after a 4-2 start.  The second half collapse came as a result of Akron's -9 in turnover margin in the second half of the season after +5 in the first half. Former Auburn coach Terry Bowden is beginning his fourth season as head coach.

OFFENSE--Kyle Pohl started six games as a redshirt freshman and has been the starter ever since.  He missed two games with an injury last year as a junior but still threw for 2,189 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.  The Zips lost RB Jawon Chisholm who rushed for over 3,000 in his career, but #2 rusher Conor Hundley returns.  Akron also lost their top two receivers, but Andrew Pratt returns at one wideout and the other projected starters all saw some action in the 2014 deep receiving corps.  Up front they return four players who started at least seven games a season ago, although they'll miss Travis Switzer at center, who was a starter for three years.  The OL allowed 24 sacks last season.

DEFENSE--They should be pretty good up front, returning first team all-MAC NT Cody Grice.  The other three starters are all transfers who began their careers at P5 schools (2 Ohio State, one Iowa St.).  Two time All-MAC linebacker Jatavis Brown is back at LB, but Akron loses two of their top tacklers from that unit.  Corners DeAndre Scott and Larry Hope are back.  Their starting safeties are gone, but the new starters played in every game last season.

SPECIAL TEAMS--Kicker Robert Stein and punter Zach Paul are both back.  Paul only netted 36 yards a season ago but Stein is a three year starter.  Imani Davis returns as their punt return man, but he averaged just under four yards a year ago.

SCHEDULE:  A trip to Oklahoma starts things off for the Zips who then return home to face Pittsburgh, a team they upset on the road a year ago.  Savannah State won't provide much competition.  Akron plays in the MAC Eastern Division, unquestionably the weaker of the two divisions.  And, the good news for the Zips is they do not play the four best teams in the West, which makes their conference schedule more than manageable.  Their very first conference game against Ohio could decide the East champion.

OUTLOOK:  Akron could be set up nicely.  A veteran quarterback, a solid offensive line, and a defense loaded with transfers mean a lot of anticipation for Terry Bowden's club.  The Cajuns beat the Zips in 2013, 35-30, but Akron will have the more experienced team this time around.  Their biggest question playing the Cajuns will be how they adapt to the climate in late September.  A MAC East title is not out of the question and the chances are good this team will be bowl eligible for the first time in a decade.

(Information from Phil Steele's College Football Preview contributed to this story.)

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