MAC Conference Championship: What Would’ve Happened Without Divisions
Pretty much every MAC Championship in the long history of the game would’ve been different – at least it seems like it.
Considering the underdog ended up pulling off so many shockers over the years, MAC history would be very, very different if it didn’t go with divisions.
The years when the championship would’ve been different without divisions are in bold, and the ones when the matchup would’ve been what actually happened aren’t. The records are for the regular season conference season only.
2021 Northern Illinois 41, Kent State 23
No Divisions Championship: Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan
Kent State was fun, but it was 6-2 along with Central Michigan – the Chippewas won the head-to-head battle.
2020 Ball State 38, Buffalo 28
2019 Miami University 26, Central Michigan 21
2018 Northern Illinois 30, Buffalo 29
No Divisions Championship: Buffalo vs Miami University
Buffalo was in at 7-1, but Ohio, Miami University, and Northern Illinois were all 6-2. The RedHawks beat both the Bobcats and Huskies.
2017 Toledo 45, Akron 28
No Divisions Championship: Toledo vs Central Michigan
Good luck trying to figure this one out. Toledo was a lock at 7-1, but Akron, Central Michigan, and Northern Illinois were all 6-2. Akron didn’t play the other two, but it lost to Toledo. Northern Illinois lost to both CMU and Toledo.
2016 Western Michigan 29, Ohio 23
2015 Bowling Green 47, Northern Illinois 14
2014 Northern Illinois 51, Bowling Green 17
No Divisions Championship: Northern Illinois vs Toledo
It would’ve been 7-1 NIU vs 7-1 Toledo. Bowling Green was, technically, 6th in line for a spot.
2013 Bowling Green 47, Northern Illinois 27
2012 Northern Illinois 44, Kent State 37 2OT
2011 Northern Illinois 23, Ohio 20
No Divisions Championship: Northern Illinois vs Toledo
Ohio was 6-2. NIU and Toledo both went 7-1.
2010 Miami University 26, Northern Illinois 21
2009 Central Michigan 20, Ohio 10
2008 Buffalo 42, Ball State 24
No Divisions Championship: Ball State vs Central Michigan
Buffalo was 5-3, Central Michigan and Western Michigan were 6-2, and WMU beat CMU. Consider the history in this. Buffalo doesn’t get to the MAC Championship, it doesn’t win, and Turner Gill might not have been the Kansas head coach. Ball State and Brady Hoke probably win and get to 13-0.
2007 Central Michigan 35, Miami University 10
No Divisions Championship: Central Michigan vs Bowling Green
This was a really, really, really weird season. There was an imbalance, so some teams played seven conference games, some teams played eight. Bowling Green had a better winning percentage than Miami University.
2006 Central Michigan 31, Ohio 10
2005 Akron 31, Northern Illinois 30
No Divisions Championship: Northern Illinois vs Toledo
Akron wouldn’t have even made it to the MAC title game going 5-3. Northern Illinois and Toledo were both 6-2.
2004 Toledo 35, Miami University 27
2003 Miami University 49, Bowling Green 27
2002 Marshall 49, Toledo 45
2001 Toledo 41, Marshall 36
No Divisions Championship: Marshall vs Miami University
It was an unbalanced MAC schedule. Marshall was 8-0, but Miami University was 6-2 and eventual champ Toledo 5-2.
2000 Marshall 19, Western Michigan 14
No Divisions Championship: Western Michigan vs Toledo
Marshall ended up pulling off the MAC title, but it was 5-3 in conference play. Western Michigan was 7-1 and Toledo 6-1.
1999 Marshall 34, Western Michigan 30
1998 Marshall 23, Toledo 17
No Divisions Championship: Marshall vs Miami University
Toledo got in from the West at 6-2, but both Marshall and Miami University were 7-1.
1997 Marshall 34, Toledo 14
No Division Championships: What Would’ve Happened?
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