The Akron Zips have announced that they will let a member of the public call plays during the team's opening offensive series of the 2026 college football season, in an unusual publicity stunt aimed at engaging fans. The move gives an "armchair quarterback" the rare chance to direct real play-calling in a live NCAA game, a novelty likely to draw attention to the programme ahead of the new season.

The fan-called drive will take place during Akron's home opener on 12 September, though full details of how the fan will be selected and how the plays will be relayed to the team have not been specified in initial reports. The initiative marks an unconventional approach to fan engagement in college football, allowing a supporter to test their tactical instincts against a genuine opponent under game conditions.