The 2006 Akron Zips football team had a historic season, finishing with an 8-5 overall record and a 5-3 record in MAC play. Led by head coach J.D. Brookhart, the Zips captured their first-ever MAC championship by defeating Northern Illinois in the championship game.

The Zips’ success was built on a strong defense and a balanced offensive attack. Senior linebacker Brion Stokes was a standout player on defense, recording 128 total tackles and earning MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. On the offensive side, the Zips were led by quarterback Luke Getsy, who passed for 3,455 yards and 23 touchdowns on the season.

After winning the MAC championship, the Zips received a bid to the Motor City Bowl, where they faced the Memphis Tigers. In a closely contested game, the Zips emerged victorious, winning 38-31 in double overtime. Getsy was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, passing for 455 yards and four touchdowns.

The 2006 season was a breakthrough year for Akron football, as the program had previously never won more than six games in a season. The MAC championship and Motor City Bowl victory helped to raise the profile of the program and generated excitement among fans. In the coming years, the Zips would continue to be a competitive team in the MAC, winning two more conference championships and making several bowl appearances.