| Sport | Football |
|---|---|
| First meeting | 1923 Akron 32, Kent State 0 |
| Latest meeting | November 1, 2023 Akron 31, Kent State 27 |
| Next meeting | November 19, 2024 |
| Trophy | Wagon Wheel (since November 16, 1946) |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 66 |
| All-time series | Akron leads, 36–28–2 |
| Trophy series | Kent State leads, 27–25–1 |
| Largest victory | Kent State, 47–0 (1949) |
| Longest win streak | Kent State, 10 (1942–1954) |
| Current win streak | Akron, 1 (2023–present) |
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The Blue and Gold Wagon Wheel, now known simply as the Wagon Wheel, is awarded to the winner of the annual college football game between the Zips of the University of Akron and the Golden Flashes of Kent State University. The trophy is, as the name implies, the wheel from a horse-drawn wagon that is painted blue and gold, the school colors for both universities. It was first contested in 1946 when the rivalry resumed after World War II.
Although the two schools are in neighboring Northeast Ohio counties and are only approximately 10 miles (16 km) apart, they only played each other in football periodically since the first meeting in 1923. The rivalry was contested annually over several periods of time, but none lasted longer than nine consecutive years prior to the current run. Akron joined the Mid-American Conference in 1992, and since then, the rivalry has been played every year. Through the 2023 game, Kent State leads the Wagon Wheel series 27–25–1. Akron leads the overall series 36–28–2.