Ten finalists were selected and revealed Wednesday for Akron football’s honorary “offensive coordinator of the game” promotion.The idea, dreamed up by Akron athletic director Andrew Goodrich on a flight back from March Madness basketball, went viral for allowing a fan to call the shots for the football team, even if only for the first drive of Akron’s 2026 home opener against Robert Morris on Saturday, Sept. 12, at InfoCision Stadium.It was meant to inspire joy at a time when Goodrich felt college sports desperately needed some.“College football hasn’t been a ton of fun over the past six months,” Goodrich told The Athletic. “There’s lawyers and Congress and bills and the transfer portal. A lot of negativity.”The finalists were announced as follows. The winner will be announced Aug. 25.
Brandon Wigen of Bellevue, Neb.
Dan “Big Cat” Katz of Barstool Sports
Jack Rooney of Long Island, N.Y.
James Bordeaux of Kentucky
