In 2014, Bowden led the Zips to another 5–7 mark with a 3–5 record in MAC play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the MAC East Division. The Zips began the season with a 41–0 shutout of Howard. Akron then lost to Penn State by a score of 21–3. The third game of the season saw the Akron Zips lose to Marshall by a score of 48–17. The Zips would then reel off three straight wins, upsetting Pittsburgh, defeating Eastern Michigan and Miami (OH). Akron would then lose its next four, beginning with Ohio, then Bowling Green and Buffalo. Akron defeated UMass in its next-to-last game to set up an opportunity to attain bowl eligibility in its last regular season game, but the Zips lost to archrival Kent State by a score of 27–24.