In Week 3 of the college football season, the Mid-American Conference went 3-5 in nonconference play, and two teams picked up their first conference wins of the season.
The biggest win was Akron’s 39-34 upset over Big 10 opponent Northwestern. It was the Zips' first win over a team from that conference since 1894, when the University of Akron was named Buchtel College.
Check out some quick notes from this week’s MAC conference call:
Akron coach Terry Bowden
- Excited after last weekend’s win over Northwestern, Bowden has to keep his team’s emotions in check as the Zips head to Iowa State to take on former Toledo coach Matt Campbell at Jack Trice Stadium. It’s supposed to be one of the hardest places to play in the country.
- Alvin Davis was named the Chuck Bednarik National Defensive Player of the Week and the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the second half.
- “I’m thrilled by the way we play, the victory had and the way our players responded by coming behind,” Bowden said. “I would’ve never been able to write the script how it came out. Now that it’s been played it’s truly exciting. You have to make them believe they can win because all the odds are stacked against them, each week someone in the MAC will pull something off.”
Western Michigan coach Tim Lester
- The Broncos picked up their first win of the 2018 season with a 68-0 win over Delaware State after two losses to start the season. The losses were to Syracuse and Michigan.
- “Happy with all the way all three phases played,” Lester said about his team in its first win of the season. “We moved the ball in the air and on the ground. Special teams came alive, we had two punt returns. We played a clean game.”
Miami coach Chuck Martin
- After struggling a season ago with closing out games, the Miami RedHawks haven’t won a game entering Week 4. Losses to Marshall, Cincinnati and most recently Minnesota put the RedHawks at 0-3 entering conference play. Miami doesn’t play a Football Championship Subdivision school this season.
- “We just haven’t been efficient enough on offense, but we really need to improve on all facets headed into Week 4,” Martin said.
Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton
- A week after upsetting Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana, the Eagles faced a setback at Buffalo, picking up their first conference loss. EMU jumps back into nonconference play this week with a trip to San Diego State.
- “We’re going to go Thursday evening,” Creighton said on playing on and traveling to the West Coast. “Playing late on Saturday isn’t ideal, but I really think we’re going to be in great shape in terms of rest and ready to go. Where it’s going to be challenging is coming home, and the following week.”
