Miami (OH) preseason favorite to win MAC per coaches poll

The Miami RedHawks are the favorites to once again win the MAC championship after taking down Toledo last season.

Last year’s MAC champion Miami RedHawks are the heavy favorites to go back-to-back, according to the coaches poll which was released on Friday during the conference’s media day.

Miami took down Toledo, who was ranked in the AP top 25, in a nationally-televised title game in 2023, and they are well-equipped to do it again after returning multiple key pieces from last year’s roster.

The MAC opted to remove the East and West divisions in favor of a pod scheduling system ahead of the 2024 season, which will ensure every team plays each other at least once over a three-year stretch, and will make the title game more competitive.

The RedHawks received nine of the 12 available first place votes, with the other three going to the second ranked team in the poll, Toledo.

Almost time to get some #MACtion ⏳

The 2024 MAC Football Head Coaches Preseason Poll is LIVE! 👀 pic.twitter.com/jJAj5BwhcP

— #MACtion (@MACSports) July 19, 2024

Bowling Green and Northern Illinois tied for third place, and the rest of the poll was ordered as follows: Ohio, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Ball State, Buffalo, Akron, and Kent State.

Ohio offense explodes in Myrtle Beach Bowl victory over Georgia Southern

The Bobcats started the game with 27 unanswered points to build an insurmountable lead over Georgia Southern in 2023’s first bowl game.

The Myrtle Beach Bowl kicked off the 2023 bowl season in college football, and the Ohio Bobcats wasted no time putting up a tour-de-force performance, beating Georgia Southern 41-21 for their 10th win of the season.

Ohio scored the first 27 points of the game powered by a huge day by running back Ricky Hunt. The freshman scored all five of Ohio’s touchdowns on the day, rushing for 115 yards and four touchdowns on just 17 carries and adding an 18-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

When Hunt wasn’t bulldozing his way through the Georgia Southern defense, the Ohio defense was stifling Georgia Southern on the other end. The Bobcats forced five Eagles turnovers, picking off Georgia Southern quarterback Davis Brin three times and forcing two fumbles.

The Eagles ended the day with more offensive yards than the Bobcats, outgaining Ohio 383 to 352, but the Bobcats never surrendered the ball and converted 10 of their 15 third downs.

Georgia Southern finally got on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run by David Mbadinga in the third quarter, but Hunt answered again with a 40-yard scoring rumble just five minutes later to stretch the lead back to 27.

Ohio’s lead never shrunk below 13 points for the entire second half, and Hunt’s last touchdown in the final three minutes cemented the final margin.

Here are the best images from the Bobcats’ dominant day.

Best images from Miami of Ohio’s upset win for the MAC crown

The RedHawks came into Saturday’s game against Toledo as 6.5-point underdogs with a backup quarterback. They left with a 23-14 victory.

Miami (Ohio) came into Saturday’s MAC Championship game as 6.5-point underdogs. Starting quarterback Brett Gabbert was lost for the season in October after a right leg injury. The RedHawks’ opponent, Toledo, came into the game with 11 straight wins with its only loss to a Power 5 opponent.

The RedHawks left with a 23-14 victory.

Backup quarterback Aveon Smith, who scored three total touchdowns and threw two interceptions in his last five games of work, came through with multiple hero plays down the final stretch. In the final minute of the third quarter, with Miami down a point, he converted a long third down to keep the drive alive and set up a go-ahead 40-yard field goal.

Two drives later, with the RedHawks still clinging to that 1-point lead, he rumbled free for a 50-yard run on another third down to carry Miami deep into Toledo territory. The RedHawks found the end zone three plays later, and after a blocked Toledo field goal and an interception, the conference crown belonged to Miami.

Smith threw for 109 yards and led both teams with 99 yards on the ground. The victory gives the RedHawks an 11-2 final record and their first conference title since 2019.

Here are the best images from Miami’s stunning victory.

LSU vs Central Michigan: Three facts about the game

Three facts about Saturday’s game between LSU and Central Michigan.

The LSU Tigers are just days away from their third game of the 2021 season. Following the perfect 2019 campaign, the Tigers find themselves playing .500 football ever since. With a 6-6 record in that time, they have a chance to get above that mark for the first time since they won the natty.

Last season LSU started 3-5 and needed back-to-back wins just to get to that .500 mark. Wipe the slate clean, the Tigers need to focus on getting a win this week against the Chippewas before heading to Starkville, Mississippi next Saturday. LSU looks to get revenge over last year’s demoralizing season opener against Mike Leach and the Bulldogs. Before we get to that game, the team from Death Valley needs to take care of Central Michigan.

In recent years this game would be viewed as a tune-up game for the Tigers. Get the offense and defense rolling early on and allow the younger players to get in on mop-up duty in a majority of the second half. However, there seems to be a bit of anxiety heading into this year’s game with CMU.

More on the game soon, but first let’s start with three facts about this game.

Pages: 1234

MAC Preseason Predictions For Every Game: Preview 2021

The College Football News MAC preseason predictions for every game, predicted order of finish, and lookahead to the 2021 season.

The College Football News MAC preseason predictions for every game, predicted order of finish, and lookahead to the 2021 season.

MAC Preseason Predictions: East

MAC East Predicted Finish

T1. Ohio*
T1. Kent State
T1. Miami University
4. Buffalo
T5. Akron
T5. Bowling Green

Akron Zips

2021 Preseason Prediction: 2-10
2021 MAC Prediction: 1-7
2018: 4-8 2019: 0-12 2020: 1-5

Sept. 4 at Auburn  L
Sept. 11 Temple  L
Sept. 18 Bryant W
Sept. 25 at Ohio State  L
Oct. 2 Ohio  L
Oct. 9 at Bowling Green W
Oct. 16 at Miami University  L
Oct. 23 Buffalo  L
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 Ball State  L
Nov. 9 at Western Michigan  L
Nov. 20 Kent State  L
Nov. 27 at Toledo  L
Akron 2021 Preview

Bowling Green Falcons

2021 Preseason Prediction: 2-10
2021 MAC Prediction: 1-7
2018: 3-9 2019: 3-9 2020: 0-5

Sept. 4 at Tennessee  L
Sept. 11 South Alabama  L
Sept. 18 Murray State W
Sept. 25 at Minnesota  L
Oct. 2 at Kent State  L
Oct. 9 Akron  L
Oct. 16 at Northern Illinois  L
Oct. 23 Eastern Michigan W
Oct. 30 at Buffalo  L
Nov. 6 OPEN DATE
Nov. 10 Toledo  L
Nov. 16 at Miami University  L
Nov. 26 Ohio  L
Bowling Green 2021 Preview

Buffalo Bulls

2021 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 MAC Prediction: 4-4
2018: 10-4 2019: 8-5 2020: 6-1

Sept. 2 Wagner W
Sept. 11 at Nebraska  L
Sept. 18 Coastal Carolina  L
Sept. 25 at Old Dominion W
Oct. 2 Western Michigan W
Oct. 9 at Kent State  L
Oct. 16 Ohio  L
Oct. 23 at Akron W
Oct. 30 Bowling Green W
Nov. 6 OPEN DATE
Nov. 9 at Miami University  L
Nov. 17 Northern Illinois W
Nov. 23 at Ball State  L
Buffalo 2021 Preview

Kent State Golden Flashes

2021 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 MAC Prediction: 5-3
2018: 5-7 2019: 7-6 2020: 3-1

Sept. 4 at Texas A&M  L
Sept. 11 VMI W
Sept. 18 at Iowa  L
Sept. 25 at Maryland  L
Oct. 2 Bowling Green W
Oct. 9 Buffalo W
Oct. 16 at Western Michigan  L
Oct. 23 at Ohio  L
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 3 Northern Illinois W
Nov. 10 at Central Michigan  L
Nov. 20 at Akron W
Nov. 27 Miami University W
Kent State 2021 Preview

Miami University RedHawks

2021 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 MAC Prediction: 5-3
2018: 6-6 2019: 8-6 2020: 2-1

Sept. 4 at Cincinnati  L
Sept. 11 at Minnesota  L
Sept. 18 LIU W
Sept. 25 at Army  L
Oct. 2 Central Michigan W
Oct. 9 Eastern Michigan W
Oct. 16 Akron W
Oct. 23 at Ball State  L
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 at Ohio  L
Nov. 9 Buffalo W
Nov. 16 Bowling Green W
Nov. 27 at Kent State  L
Miami 2021 Preview

Ohio Bobcats

2021 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 MAC Prediction: 5-3
2018: 9-4 2019: 7-6 2020: 2-1

Sept. 4 Syracuse  L
Sept. 11 Duquesne W
Sept. 18 at Louisiana  L
Sept. 25 at Northwestern  L
Oct. 2 at Akron W
Oct. 9 Central Michigan W
Oct. 16 at Buffalo  L
Oct. 23 Kent State W
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 Miami University W
Nov. 9 at Eastern Michigan  L
Nov. 16 Toledo  L
Nov. 26 at Bowling Green W
Ohio 2021 Preview

NEXT: MAC Preseason Predictions: West

Pages: 12

College Football News Preseason All-MAC Football Team: Preview 2021

Preview 2021: Previewing and looking ahead to the MAC season with the College Football News Preseason All-MAC Team & Top 30 players.

Preview 2021: Previewing and looking ahead to the MAC season with the College Football News Preseason All-MAC Team & Top 30 players.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews

2021 Preseason CFN MAC Offensive Player of the Year

QB Dustin Crum, Sr. Kent State

Really? The Kent State starting quarterback is getting interest from the NFL world? Yup, and that’s because 6-3, 207-pound guys who can run a fast-paced offense and can move work at the next level.

Phenomenal at the end of the 2019 season as he led the team to comeback wins and a bowl victory, he was brilliant last year hitting 74% of his throws with 12 touchdowns and two picks – to go along with 240 rushing yards and four scores – in just four games. Now he should take the FlashFast style of O to another level.

2021 Preseason CFN MAC Defensive Player of the Year

DE Troy Hairston, Sr. Central Michigan

The MAC is full of big-time pass rushers and excellent defensive linemen who’ll put up big stats and huge plays. The best of the returning lot is a 5-11, 245-pound undersized end and oversized linebacker who’ll once again play in a hybrid role to make a whole lot of big things happen.

He was okay as a junior, but last year he took off with 42 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in just six games. It’s going to keep on rolling on a veteran D.

2021 CFN Preseason All-MAC Team
2021 CFN MAC Top 30 Players

NEXT: CFN 2021 Preseason All-MAC Team

Pages: 123

Michigan State Football projected to play in Quick Lane Bowl

In a bowl projection released by USA Today’s Erick Smith, he has Michigan State going to the Quick Lane Bowl in a matchup against Buffalo.

[jwplayer TkR436JB-PROpJzTY]

In a bowl projection released by USA Today’s Erick Smith, he has Michigan State going to the Quick Lane Bowl in a matchup against the Buffalo Bulls. The Quick Lane Bowl is between a bowl eligible team from the Big Ten and then a bowl eligible team from either the ACC or MAC. It takes place at Ford Field in Detroit and used to be known as the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

Neither Michigan State or Buffalo have played yet this season, but MSU begins this season on Saturday at Noon against Rutgers. Buffalo begins their season on November 3rd against Northern Illinois. MSU and Buffalo both won their bowl appearances last year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

MAC 2020 Football Schedule: 5 Game Season Starting November

MAC football schedule 2020 composite. Week-by-week ranking of all of the games.

MAC football schedule 2020 composite. Week-by-week ranking of all of the games.

MAC Football Schedule Composite 2020

Each week’s games ranking from most interesting to least.

[jwplayer sE8XeTgs]

MAC Football Schedule Week 1

Wednesday, Nov. 4
Buffalo at Northern Illinois
Ball State at Miami University
Eastern Michigan at Kent State
Ohio at Central Michigan
Bowling Green at Toledo
Western Michigan at Akron

MAC Football Schedule Week 2

Tuesday, Nov. 10
Miami University at Buffalo
Akron at Ohio
Kent State at Bowling Green

Wednesday, Nov. 11
Central Michigan at Northern Illinois
Eastern Michigan at Ball State
Toledo at Western Michigan

MAC Football Schedule Week 3

Tuesday, Nov. 17
Akron at Kent State
Buffalo at Bowling Green
Ohio at Miami

Wednesday, Nov. 18
Northern Illinois at Ball State
Toledo at Eastern Michigan
Western Michigan at Central Michigan

MAC Football Schedule Week 4

Saturday, Dec. 5
Ball State at Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan
Toledo at Northern Illinois
Bowling Green at Akron
Buffalo at Ohio
Kent State at Miami

MAC Football Schedule Week 5

Saturday, Dec. 12
Central Michigan at Toledo
Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan
Western Michigan at Ball State
Akron at Buffalo
Miami at Bowling Green
Ohio at Kent State

Friday, Dec. 18
MAC Football Championship Game
Ford Field, Detroit, MI

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

PODCAST: MAC, Mountain West Cancel Football

MAC and Mountain West are the only two leagues to cancel football this fall.

[jwplayer jF5wU66N-sNi3MVSU]

PODCAST: MAC, Mountain West Cancel Football

What went into the MAC’s decision?

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Safety over money.

Jeremy is joined by James Jimenez of Hustle Belt who covers MAC sports as the assistant site manager and creative director. We go over the reasons behind MAC canceled the football season and if it was the right choice (which is the right move).

Health was clearly at the top as to why to not play football from both leagues, plus with actual football not happening yet, we don’t know how much COVDI-19 will be transferred once the players get in close contact. We also discuss if there is any way a spring season can happen safely even without a vaccine for coronavirus.

You can find the Mountain West Wire podcast below or subscribe to the show via Anchor, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, Spotify, iTunes, and more. Listen in, subscribe and rate it and let us know what you think!

[protected-iframe id=”23d26f03bcf75d5b1c754eee8dc198bc-137729785-123448869″ info=”https://anchor.fm/mwwire/embed/episodes/MAC–Mountain-West-are-sitting-out-football-this-fall-ei2c68″ width=”400px” height=”102px” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1360]

[protected-iframe id=”f7652191f99ba13728097498e8a79cd8-137729785-123448869″ info=”https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/show/48681pqFq0kB9dhrtPPoNd” width=”100%” height=”232″ frameborder=”0″]

MAC players issues statement after cancellation of 2020 football season

The Mid-American Conference announced it cancelled its season on Saturday.

On Saturday, the Mid-American Conference decided to cancel its 2020 college football per advice from medical advisors.

The players of the MAC issued a statement later on Saturday on the decision.

“While we are disappointed by the loss of our fall competitive seasons, we applaud our leaders for prioritizing our health and safety,” the statement read. “Moving forward we want to make sure this does not equate to the loss of eligibility for our athletes. As the spring approaches we call on Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher to use the coming months to develop uniformed protocols and guidelines to avoid a similar scenario for our spring athletes. #MACUNITED #SPRINGINTOMACTION”

The MAC became the first FBS conference to cancel its season, a decision that became likely after the Power 5 conferences decided to go to a conference-only schedule, meaning many of the schools would miss out on huge pay days.