Before the season began, Akron coach Terry Bowden noted that the Mid-American Conference brings the total package in terms of what it can provide to a player — with bowl trips, high draft picks and nationally televised games increasing the conference’s visibility. With “MACtion” officially beginning next week for an Ohio team whose main goal is to bring home a conference championship, here’s a look at what the Bobcats will face each week:
At Akron (1-3) Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.
Akron almost put together the largest upset of the college football season, losing 28-24 at Michigan after being unable to punch the ball into the end zone from inside the Wolverine five-yard line.
Heading into a weekend tilt with Bowling Green, the Zips have displayed a strong passing attack, throwing for 258.8 yards per game, which is good for 45th best in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Central Michigan (1-3, 0-1 MAC) Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.
Prior to the season, there were big expectations for the Chippewas, but a season-ending injury to second-team All-MAC running back Zurlon Tipton and a lingering injury to quarterback Cody Kater both suffered in a 59-9 opening week loss to Michigan have limited Central Michigan’s offensive attack.
At Eastern Michigan (1-3, 0-1 MAC) saturday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m.
Eagles coach Ron English hoped the inexperience and high expectations that plagued his team last season would be a thing of the past and that his squad could make a run at the 6-6 mark his team achieved in 2011 when he was named MAC coach of the year.
Things haven’t run smoothly for Eastern Michigan thus far, as its defense has allowed 443.8 yards per game.
Miami (0-3) Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.
The RedHawks had a tough task in front of them when it came to replacing third-team All-MAC quarterback Zac Dysert, but the results under senior Austin Boucher thus far have been dismal.
Miami’s offense ranks dead last, averaging only 149.3 yards per game, while scoring only seven points per game, which is tied for second-worst in the FBS.
At Buffalo (1-2) Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.
Buffalo’s offense hasn’t found a rhythm yet this season, as coach Jeff Quinn has been working with his team on improving a struggling running game that has averaged only 96.3 yards per game.
But the Bulls do have perhaps the best defensive player in the MAC in senior linebacker Khalil Mack, who is a two-time All-MAC performer and is projected by some as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
At Bowling Green (3-1, 1-0 MAC) Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Perhaps Ohio’s greatest threat in its attempt to win the MAC East is a Falcons team that handed Ohio a 26-14 loss at home last season.
The Falcons return nine starters to a defense that ranked at the top of the conference in points allowed and yards allowed last season.
Kent State (1-3, 0-1 MAC) Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m.
It’s been a disappointing start for the Golden Flashes this season, but much of that trouble can be attributed to the loss of first-team All-MAC running back Dri Archer for most of the team’s first four games.
The senior has just three carries and one reception this season because of a lingering sprained ankle. In his absence, Kent State’s rushing attack ranks 108th in the FBS with 104.8 yards per game.
UMass (0-4) Friday, Nov. 29 at TBA
Things don’t look much rosier for the Minutemen in their second season at the FBS level, as they’ve dropped their first four contests, including a 24-14 defeat to Football Championship Subdivision opponent Maine.
Nothing seems to be clicking for the squad, as they rank in the bottom 10 in both total offense and total defense. And they’ve already resorted to benching starting quarterback Mike Wegzyn after a poor start.
Elsewhere in the MAC
Ohio was fortunate in its cross-division matchups, as it avoided three of the stronger squads in the MAC West, with Northern Illinois, Toledo and Ball State absent from the schedule this season.
The Huskies (4-0), despite allowing 493.7 yards per game on defense, appear to be a strong contender to repeat as the conference champion. Redshirt senior quarterback Jordan Lynch continues to confound defenses, accumulating 355.3 yards of total offense per game, which is the ninth-best average in the FBS.
Toledo (2-2, 1-0 MAC) is riding on senior running back David Fluellen, who, after earning first-team All-MAC honors last season, is having a dominant campaign this season with 497 rushing yards.
And Ball State (3-1, 1-0 MAC) has aired the ball out this season, as senior quarterback Keith Wenning has thrown for 1,315 yards thus far, which is the second-highest mark in the FBS.
Western Michigan (0-4) has brought up the rear of the MAC West, unable to gain traction in coach P.J. Fleck’s first season at the helm.
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