2021 CFN MAC Preseason Rankings: West
1. Toledo Rockets
Quick Take: Loaded, the Rockets have the best overall talent on both sides of the ball, they’ve got the experience, and they have the upside to win in a variety of ways. If they can get by Ball State on the road in the MAC opener, they should be able to roll through the slate.
Toledo Preview | Schedule
2. Ball State Cardinals
Quick Take: It wasn’t a fluke, and this year’s team will prove it. The defending MAC champions have a fantastic linebacking corps, a great receiving corps, and enough to pull off a repeat – but it won’t be easy. The MAC West is far, far stronger.
BSU Preview | Schedule
3. Western Michigan Broncos
Quick Take: The Broncos have as much talent as any offense in the MAC and the defense is rock-solid – now they have to find ways to take care of business after collapsing late over the last few years. The talent is there to win the conference title, but they had the guys last year, too.
WMU Preview | Schedule
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4. Central Michigan Chippewas
Quick Take: The West hype will be around Ball State, Western Michigan and Toledo, but Central Michigan rebuild last season and might have just enough to make a surprise run to the division title. The MAC schedule doesn’t help, but Jim McElwain has the talent in place.
CMU Preview | Schedule
5. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Quick Take: The Eagles have the bad break of being in the West, but they’ve got enough defensive talent and some interesting options on offense to be a problem for the rest of the division. There are enough winnable games, though, to make a push for a bowl game.
EMU Preview | Schedule
6. Northern Illinois Huskies
Quick Take: Northern Illinois is too good of a program to keep being so bad. The defense didn’t show up in the 0-6 2020 season, but the secondary is experienced and should be terrific, and on the other side there should be more of a running game … hopefully.
NIU Preview | Schedule
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