Not only is Thanksgiving Day the end of rivalry week, the season finale for both Kent State and Akron’s football teams, a title-deciding game for the Mid-American Conference East Division for Akron, it’s also the 47th Battle for the Wagon Wheel as well.

Painted in the schools’ colors, which are both blue and gold, the Wagon Wheel has been awarded to the winner of the annual Kent State-Akron football game since 1946, but the series between the schools has been going on since 1923.

In this year’s Battle for the Wagon Wheel, the Flashes (1-9, 0-7 Mid-American Conference) are looking for their first – and only – MAC win of the season at 10 a.m. at the Rubber Bowl in Akron.

They also are on a 9-game losing streak after Nov. 12’s 10-6 loss to Buffalo. The Zips (5-5, 4-3 MAC) are coming off of a 27-3 win over Ohio.

Akron holds the all-time series record 26-19-2 over Kent State. Last season, the Flashes fell to the Zips 24-19 at Dix Stadium.

The Zips are in the run for the MAC East Division title for the second straight season. Right now, the race is between Akron and Bowling Green. If Bowling Green wins to Toledo (last night’s score of the Bowling Green-Toledo game was unavailable at press time), the Falcons will take the MAC East title, but if the Falcons lose, Miami beats Ohio tomorrow, and Akron wins Thursday, there will be a three-way tie between Akron, Bowling Green and Miami.

Contact assistant sports editor and football reporter Kali Price at [email protected].