The came within four yards and a few fingertips of picking up No. 2.
Fresh off a 1-11 season in 2012, Akron gave Michigan everything it could handle in a 28-24 victory.
MORE: Live scoreboard | Alabama vs. Texas A&M
Akron's Kyle Pohl's fourth-down pass to Zach D'Orazio in the end zone fell incomplete and the Wolverines' aspirations of bigger things than a Big Ten title remained intact.
On the final possession, Akron took over from its 25 with 2:43 left. The drove inside the 5 when Pohl connected with L.T. Smith. But a run was stuffed at the four and Pohl's final pass under heavy pressure sailed just beyond the diving D'Orazio.
The Zips have not won a road game since Oct. 18, 2008.
Michigan led 7-3 at the half and the game got more interesting in the fourth quarter.
Akron's Justin March returned a Devin Gardner interception 27 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to pull the Zips within 21-17. Then, more than 10 minutes later, Tyrell Goodman pushed his way in on third down from the 1 to give the Zips a 24-21 lead with 4:10 remaining in the game.
Michigan quickly answered with a Fitz Toussaint TD run from the 2, taking a 28-24 lead with 2:49 left.
