MAC East
– MAC Weekly Schedule Analysis, Top Ten Games
– MAC 2021 Pre-Spring Rankings & Breakdown
Akron Zips
There’s going to be a win against someone other than Bryant somewhere, but where? The Zips have to go to Bowling Green and it’ll take something magical to get by anyone else in a rough-looking MAC schedule with no Northern Illinois, Central Michigan or Eastern Michigan to face.
2018: 4-8 2019: 0-12 2020: 1-5
Realistic Best Case Record: 4-8
Realistic Worst Case Record: 1-11
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 1-11
Sept. 4 at Auburn
Sept. 11 Temple
Sept. 18 Bryant
Sept. 25 at Ohio State
Oct. 2 Ohio
Oct. 9 at Bowling Green
Oct. 16 at Miami University
Oct. 23 Buffalo
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 Ball State
Nov. 9 at Western Michigan
Nov. 20 Kent State
Nov. 27 at Toledo
– Full Schedule Analysis
Bowling Green Falcons
Sort of like Akron, there’s going to be a win over someone other than Murray State somewhere, and it’s probably going to come against Akron at home. There’s a chance the Falcons really have improved in a big way in Scot Loeffler’s third year, but it’s going to take something massive for that to happen.
2018: 3-9 2019: 3-9 2020: 0-5
Realistic Best Case Record: 1-11
Realistic Worst Case Record: 2-10
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 2-10
Sept. 4 at Tennessee
Sept. 11 South Alabama
Sept. 18 Murray State
Sept. 25 at Minnesota
Oct. 2 at Kent State
Oct. 9 Akron
Oct. 16 at Northern Illinois
Oct. 23 Eastern Michigan
Oct. 30 at Buffalo
Nov. 6 OPEN DATE
Nov. 10 Toledo
Nov. 16 at Miami University
Nov. 26 Ohio
– Full Schedule Analysis
Buffalo Bulls
It’s not going to be a lovely walk in the park, but Nebraska is the only Power Five game and there’s no Toledo to face from the West. The problem will be the November road games against Miami University and Ball State, but the first half of the season isn’t bad if the Bulls can get by Coastal Carolina and/or Western Michigan and/or Ohio.
2018: 10-4 2019: 8-5 2020: 6-1
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Realistic Worst Case Record: 4-8
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 7-5
Sept. 2 Wagner
Sept. 11 at Nebraska
Sept. 18 Coastal Carolina
Sept. 25 at Old Dominion
Oct. 2 Western Michigan
Oct. 9 at Kent State
Oct. 16 Ohio
Oct. 23 at Akron
Oct. 30 Bowling Green
Nov. 6 OPEN DATE
Nov. 9 at Miami University
Nov. 17 Northern Illinois
Nov. 23 at Ball State
– Full Schedule Analysis
Kent State Golden Flashes
Assume losses to Texas A&M, Iowa and Maryland on the road, and assume wins over VMI, Northern Illinois and Bowling Green at home and Akron on the road. Those other five games are mostly toss-ups, but there should be enough winnable games to get to six and bowl eligibility.
2018: 5-7 2019: 7-6 2020: 3-1
Realistic Best Case Record: 8-4
Realistic Worst Case Record: 4-8
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Sept. 4 at Texas A&M
Sept. 11 VMI
Sept. 18 at Iowa
Sept. 25 at Maryland
Oct. 2 Bowling Green
Oct. 9 Buffalo
Oct. 16 at Western Michigan
Oct. 23 at Ohio
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 3 Northern Illinois
Nov. 10 at Central Michigan
Nov. 20 at Akron
Nov. 27 Miami University
– Full Schedule Analysis
Miami University RedHawks
The RedHawks should be able to find a way to get to six wins, but it’ll be a fight. Starting out with September road games at Cincinnati, Minnesota and Army isn’t a plus, and the Akron and Bowling Green games at home means some of the 50/50 MAC games are on the road.
2018: 6-6 2019: 8-6 2020: 2-1
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Realistic Worst Case Record: 4-8
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Sept. 4 at Cincinnati
Sept. 11 at Minnesota
Sept. 18 LIU
Sept. 25 at Army
Oct. 2 Central Michigan
Oct. 9 Eastern Michigan
Oct. 16 Akron
Oct. 23 at Ball State
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 at Ohio
Nov. 9 Buffalo
Nov. 16 Bowling Green
Nov. 27 at Kent State
– Full Schedule Analysis
Ohio Bobcats
Frank Solich’s team will have a problem getting off to a good start with Syracuse, at Louisiana and at Northwestern before October, but the MAC slate isn’t all that bad with Buffalo the toughest road game. There’s no Ball State or Western Michigan from the West – there’s no excuse to not get to six wins.
2018: 9-4 2019: 7-6 2020: 2-1
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Realistic Worst Case Record: 4-8
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Sept. 4 Syracuse
Sept. 11 Duquesne
Sept. 18 at Louisiana
Sept. 25 at Northwestern
Oct. 2 at Akron
Oct. 9 Central Michigan
Oct. 16 at Buffalo
Oct. 23 Kent State
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 Miami University
Nov. 9 at Eastern Michigan
Nov. 16 Toledo
Nov. 26 at Bowling Green
– Full Schedule Analysis
MAC West
– MAC Weekly Schedule, Top Games To Watch
Ball State Cardinals
2020 wasn’t totally awful for everyone. Ball State had a terrific season with a MAC Championship and bowl win, but it’ll be a stretch to do that again with road games against Penn State and Wyoming early, and a brutal run of four road games in five dates in MAC play. There aren’t enough layup home games to get comfortable.
2018: 4-8 2019: 5-7 2020: 7-1
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Realistic Worst Case Record: 4-8
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 7-5
Sept. 2 Western Illinois
Sept. 11 at Penn State
Sept. 18 at Wyoming
Sept. 25 Toledo
Oct. 2 Army
Oct. 9 at Western Michigan
Oct. 16 at Eastern Michigan
Oct. 23 Miami University
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 at Akron
Nov. 10 at Northern Illinois
Nov. 17 Central Michigan
Nov. 23 Buffalo
– Full Schedule Analysis
Central Michigan Chippewas
The Chippewas should be a bit stronger in Jim McElwain’s third season, but the team will catch a beating early on with road games at Missouri and LSU. Making matters worse, the MAC season starts out with two straight tough dates. They’ll be good enough to pull off a good conference road win to push for bowl eligibility.
2018: 1-11 2019: 8-6 2020: 3-3
Realistic Best Case Record: 8-4
Realistic Worst Case Record: 5-7
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Sept. 4 at Missouri
Sept. 11 Robert Morris
Sept. 18 at LSU
Sept. 25 FIU
Oct. 2 at Miami University
Oct. 9 at Ohio
Oct. 16 Toledo
Oct. 23 Northern Illinois
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 3 at Western Michigan
Nov. 10 Kent State
Nov. 17 at Ball State
Nov. 26 Eastern Michigan
– Full Schedule Analysis
Eastern Michigan Eagles
EMU had a setback season in the short 2020 run, but it’ll still be competitive and good enough to hang with anyone in the MAC. Unlike most conference teams, September should be fun with three winnable games, and it’ll need them with a rough conference slate in the final two months.
2018: 7-6 2019: 6-7 2020: 2-4
Realistic Best Case Record: 8-4
Realistic Worst Case Record: 4-8
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Sept. 3 Saint Francis
Sept. 11 at Wisconsin
Sept. 18 at UMass
Sept. 25 Texas State
Oct. 2 at Northern Illinois
Oct. 9 Miami University
Oct. 16 Ball State
Oct. 23 at Bowling Green
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 at Toledo
Nov. 9 Ohio
Nov. 16 Western Michigan
Nov. 26 at Central Michigan
– Full Schedule Analysis
Northern Illinois Huskies
It might have been a brutal 2020 for Thomas Hammock’s team, but it’s the MAC – it’s easy to go from zero to championship in a snap. The program is too good to be that bad again, but it should be a rough first half of the season and without enough layup wins in the second half to make up for it.
2018: 8-6 2019: 5-7 2020: 0-6
Realistic Best Case Record: 6-6
Realistic Worst Case Record: 2-10
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 4-8
Sept. 4 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 11 Wyoming
Sept. 18 at Michigan
Sept. 25 Maine
Oct. 2 Eastern Michigan
Oct. 9 at Toledo
Oct. 16 Bowling Green
Oct. 23 at Central Michigan
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 3 at Kent State
Nov. 10 Ball State
Nov. 17 at Buffalo
Nov. 23 Western Michigan
– Full Schedule Analysis
Toledo Rockets
A disappointment over the last few seasons – the program should always be in the MAC Championship mix – there’s a chance to roar out of the gate with – possibly – a 5-1 start if it can get by Colorado State at home. Missing Buffalo, Kent State and Miami University from the East is a big plus.
2018: 7-6 2019: 6-6 2020: 4-2
Realistic Best Case Record: 11-1
Realistic Worst Case Record: 5-7
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 7-5
Aug. 31 at Kentucky
Sept. 7 OPEN DATE
Sept. 14 Murray State
Sept. 21 at Colorado State
Sept. 28 BYU
Oct. 5 Western Michigan
Oct. 12 at Bowling Green
Oct. 19 at Ball State
Oct. 26 Eastern Michigan
Nov. 2 OPEN DATE
Nov. 5 Kent State
Nov. 13 Northern Illinois
Nov. 20 at Buffalo
Nov. 29 at Central Michigan
– Full Schedule Analysis
Western Michigan Broncos
In normal times, the home game against San Jose State would be a layup – not anymore. The Spartans will be strong again, the MAC opener is at Buffalo, and it all means a possible 1-4 start before dealing with defending conference champions Ball State. There will be enough wins to go bowling, but it’s not going to be easy.
2018: 7-6 2019: 7-6 2020: 4-2
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Realistic Worst Case Record: 5-7
2021 Prediction, Spring Football Version: 6-6
Sept. 4 at Michigan
Sept. 11 Illinois State
Sept. 18 at Pitt
Sept. 25 San Jose State
Oct. 2 at Buffalo
Oct. 9 Ball State
Oct. 16 Kent State
Oct. 23 at Toledo
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 3 Central Michigan
Nov. 9 Akron
Nov. 16 at Eastern Michigan
Nov. 23 at Northern Illinois
– Full Schedule Analysis
2021 Early College Football Predictions, Schedules
ACC | American Athletic | Big Ten
Big 12 | C-USA | Independents
MAC | Mountain West | Pac-12
SEC | Sun Belt