Mid-American Conference – Page 2

Back 4 MAC teams in Week 4: Mid-American Conference’s best bets

Analyzing Mid-American Conference betting odds and lines for Week 4, with picks and predictions for the best MAC bets to make.

We were stuck in neutral a little in Week 3 of the MAC slate, and kept kicking ourselves that we didn’t at least have one unit on Bowling Green to win on the money line. How nice would that have been? As it stands, Bowling Green picked up the cover. Let’s keep it rolling into Week 4.

Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the MAC’s Week 4 slate, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

Check out: AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports

Stream select live college football games and full replays: Get ESPN+

MAC best bets for Week 4

– All games listed are Saturday and ET unless noted

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 7:15 a.m. ET.

Bowling Green at Mississippi State (Over 52.5, -110) – noon (SEC Network)

The Falcons picked up a giant home win at Doyt Perry Stadium last weekend, bouncing back from a disappointing loss in Week 2 when they lost a heartbreaker to Eastern Kentucky of the FCS in 7 OTs. Instead of sulking, going into a hole and ruining the season, Bowling Green picked up a win over Marshall in overtime.

Marshall was just coming off an emotional roller coaster win at Notre Dame the week before, so there was definitely a hangover, as predicted. There was no way we expected the Falcons to win outright, but that’s what we got.

Can Bowling Green avoid the hangover? They’re now coming off a giant win, and have to get the emotion up to a high level for a tough trip down to Stark Vegas while trying to solve the Air Raid offense of Mike Leach. That might not end well.

Backing Bowling Green +30.5 (-110) with the Over 52.5 is a nice parlay opportunity, with the Over being the better standalone bet. In fact, Mississippi State could take care of business on its own against a Bowling Green defense yielding 45.0 PPG.

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Buffalo at Eastern Michigan (-6.5, -110) – noon (CBS Sports Network)

The Bulls of UB are off to a difficult start this season. While a loss at Maryland was expected and is nothing to be ashamed about, a setback in the home opener against Holy Cross of the FCS is inexcusable. The Bulls showed some signs of life last week in a road trip to Coastal Carolina, but the result was the same – a loss.

Eastern Michigan has picked up 2 wins in its first 3 games, including a stunning 30-21 road win at Arizona State which ultimately cost coach Herm Edwards his job in Tempe. This offense has averaged 31.0 PPG, and it is likely licking its chops to face a Buffalo defense that has coughed up 31 or more points in all 3 of its outings.

Buffalo has struggled on the road across the past couple of seasons, going 2-6-1 ATS in the past nine trips away from western New York. It is also 0-4 ATS in the past four conference games, too, while going 0-7-1 ATS in the past eight following a straight-up loss.

On the flip side, Eastern Michigan hasn’t been much better against the number, according to the trends. EMU is just 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games dating back to last season. However, the home team and the favorite are both 4-1 ATS in the past 5 in this series. The series trends point to EMU, and the Over is an added bonus for a solid parlay opportunity.

Ball State at Georgia Southern (-9.5, -108) – 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Cardinals hit the road for the first time since Sept. 1, a 59-10 loss at Tennessee. Ball State is down south again and looking to prove itself against an FBS team. So far, the Cards are 0-2 SU/ATS against FBS opponents, and you shouldn’t put too much stock into last week’s 31-0 win over Murray State last week.

Georgia Southern, like Eastern Michigan above, posted an upset so bad that it cost a coach his job. The Eagles stunned Nebraska 45-42 as a 23-point underdog, and that was the last straw for Scott Frost in Lincoln.

Georgia Southern is 2-1 SU/ATS, looking to rebound from a loss at UAB last weekend. However, the Blazers are no joke and one of the favorites to win Conference USA.

Ball State is 102nd in the nation in scoring defense, coughing up 32.0 PPG, while allowing 387.0 total yards per contest, and 170.7 rushing yards per outing. Look for Georgia Southern to win by at least double digits, giving Ball State the Statesboro Blues.

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Western Michigan at San Jose State Spartans (-6.5, -120) – 10:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

It’s one of the rare West Coast games for the MAC, but you hopefully don’t need to chase at the end of the day. But, if you do, San Jose State is where it’s at — especially if this stays under a flat seven or seven and a hook.

Western Michigan was dropped 34-13 against Pittsburgh, struggling on its home field. Now the Broncos have to jump a plane for the Bay Area to face a Spartans team that has QB Chevan Cordeiro, the former Hawaii signal caller.

Cordeiro and the Spartans kept it close at Auburn last weekend, falling 24-16. The Spartans dropped 275 passing yards on the Tigers, and they should be able to sling it around on a Broncos defense that allows 432.0 total yards per game and 33.0 PPG.

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Back 4 MAC teams in Week 3: Mid-American Conference’s best bets

Analyzing Mid-American Conference betting odds and lines for Week 3, with picks and predictions for the best MAC bets to make.

After a bit of a shaky opening weekend, we had a nice bounce-back in Week 2, including a winner in the 1stt conference game of the season. Let’s continue to build that bankroll into Week 3.

Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the MAC’s Week 3 slate, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

Check out: AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports

Stream select live college football games and full replays: Get ESPN+

MAC best bets for Week 3

– All games listed are Saturday and ET unless noted

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 8:09 a.m. ET.

Cincinnati (-22.5, -108) at Miami (Ohio) – noon (ESPNU)

These rivals meet at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, technically a neutral site, for their annual game. The Bearcats demolished the Redhawks 49-14 last season, and Cincinnati has won each of the previous 3 meetings by at least 21 points.

Miami will be looking for a little payback. Cincinnati was a little sloppy in its opening loss at Arkansas, but it cleaned things up in a win against overmatched Kennesaw State from the FCS.

The Redhawks hung tough at Kentucky in the opener before falling by the wayside, and never really threatened to cover a 30.5-point number in a 31-14 win over Robert Morris last week.

Miami’s defense hasn’t been the problem, but the offense has struggled mightily. This is a rivalry game, and anything can happen, but lately Cincinnati has been heads and tails better, and it will prove it again Saturday.

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Marshall at Bowling Green (+16.5, -108) – 5 p.m.

The Thundering Herd is coming off 1 of the biggest victories in program history, topping Notre Dame on the road 26-21 last weekend.

Meanwhile, Bowling Green was unable to get past Eastern Kentucky of the FCS last weekend, falling 59-57 at Doyt Perry Stadium in 7 OTs. Yes, 7. It was one of those crazy games which came down to who had the better 2-point conversion offense.

So why back the Falcons, a team which lost to an FCS team? The answer is simple, the Thundering Herd is going to have a hangover.

These teams used to meet frequently as members of the MAC, but Marshall left for Conference USA, and eventually the Sun Belt. Bowling Green leads the all-time series 21-8, and it won the most recent meeting in 2010. The Falcons won’t be pulling off an upset Saturday, but it has the offense to hang with the Herd and make things interesting.

Akron at Tennessee (-47.5, -108) – 7 p.m. (ESPN+ | SEC Network)

The Zips hit the road for another payday in Knoxville, but Akron is unlikely to offer up much resistance in this Power 5 matchup. The Zips were pounded 52-0 at Michigan State last week, rushing 27 times for just 22 yards while losing 4 fumbles.

The Volunteers are coming off an emotional overtime road win at Pittsburgh, and the No. 16 team in the nation is on the rise. Tennessee already has a win over a MAC team this season, destroying Ball State 59-10 in the opener, covering a 37-point number as the Over cashed.

Tennessee is 2-0 ATS in 2 games so far. The Volunteers seem like a potential hangover game victim here, especially after expending so much energy and emotions in Pittsburgh, but the Vols look like a brand new team this season, and you can expect them to cover the nearly 7-TD line, especially since the Zips are unlikely to score much, if anything.

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Pittsburgh at Western Michigan (+10.5, -117) – 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

The Panthers had their issues at home last weekend against the aforementioned Volunteers. Pitt couldn’t keep the Vols pass rush off of QB Kedon Slovis, who was eventually knocked out of the game. Backup QB Nick Patti kept the Panthers alive, forcing overtime, before the team eventually lost.

The news kept getting bad for Patti, however, as he was walking with a noticeable limp near the end of the game. He soldiered on and finished up, but like Slovis, he is questionable for Saturday’s game. As such, either redshirt freshman Nate Yarnell or Dartmouth graduate transfer Derek Kyler might be tasked with the start.

Pitt’s QB issues are the gain of Western Michigan. The Panthers won the ACC with a strong quarterback presence last season, never having to replace QB Kenny Pickett. Even with Pickett, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Panthers lost to the Broncos 44-41 at Acrisure Stadium in the Steel City on Sept. 18, 2021.

Normally, coach Pat Narduzzi would be yelling to his team about revenge, but instead, he is simply scrambling to find someone to step in under center. And, he is busy trying to get his offensive line to keep either Kyler or Yarnell, should they start the game, healthy and through a whole game.

Western Michigan hung tough at Michigan State, trailing just 21-13 late in the fourth quarter before the Spartans pushed away. The Broncos went on the road to beat Ball State 37-30 in the MAC opener. This team can score, and it’s a dangerous foe for a beaten up Panthers side.

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Back 4 MAC teams in Week 2: Mid-American Conference’s best bets

Analyzing Mid-American Conference betting odds and lines, with college football picks and predictions for the best MAC bets to make in Week 2.

It’s Week 2 of the college football regular season, and the Mid-American Conference schedule kicks off for 2 teams. A few other MAC schools are cashing a fat paycheck for their troubles, while a couple of other teams pick on some FCS institutions. It should be another fun week of MACtion.

Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the MAC’s Week 2 slate, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

Check out: AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports

Stream select live college football games and full replays: Get ESPN+

MAC best bets for Week 2

All games listed are Saturday and ET unless noted

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 6:39 p.m. ET.

Ohio at Penn State OVER 54.5 (-108) – noon (ABC)

The Ohio offense looked pretty impressive last week against FAU in the opener at Peden Stadium. The Bobcats outlasted the Owls 41-38, as the teams easily smashed the Over of 50.5. Ohio managed 26 first downs, 131 rushing yards and 345 passing yards. The kicking game was sound, too, connecting on both field goal attempts.

Defensively, Ohio was gouged for 364 yards through the air, and another 114 yards on the ground. Penn State had an impressive 35-31 win at Purdue and should be able to move the ball up and down the field without much resistance.

These teams have met 6 times, with Penn State winning 5 of them. The Nittany Lions lost the last meeting 24-14 in 2012. Penn State has scored 32 or more points in all 5 of the victories, however.

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Western Michigan -5.5 (-115) at Ball State – 2 p.m. (ESPN+)

We have to make a pick in the 1st league game of the 2022 season, right?

Western Michigan actually held a brief lead at Michigan State, up 3-0 with less than five minutes to go in the first quarter, until the Spartans rattled off 21 unanswered points. The Broncos fought back in the 3rd quarter, making it a 1-score game. Michigan State was up just 21-13 until it scored 2 late TDs, backdooring the cover, and handing anyone holding a WMU +21.5 (-110) ticket a little bit of a bad beat.

Western Michigan looked pretty good at times against a Power 5 opponent. The same cannot be said for Ball State.

The Cardinals were routed at Tennessee, and at no point was it anything more than a nuisance to the Vols. Ball State allowed a touchdown just 23 seconds into the game, and it was 17-0 at the end of the 1st quarter, and 38-0 at halftime. The Cardinals didn’t score until midway through the third quarter, making it a 45-7 game.

It should help that Ball State is back at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie for this one. However, the Cardinals are just 2-5 ATS in the last 7 home games dating back to 2020, and 1-4 ATS in the last 5 MAC games, with an 0-5 ATS mark in the last 5 played in September.

We’re going to buck a lot of trends here picking WMU, though, as the underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings, Western Michigan is 0-4 ATS in the last 4 against Ball State, and the Broncos are just 2-8-1 ATS in the last 11 MAC contests.

Akron at Michigan State OVER 55.5 (-110) – 4 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

The Zips struggled with St. Francis of the FCS last week, scratching out a 30-23 overtime victory at InfoCision Stadium. The undersized Red Flash piled up 189 rushing yards on 40 carries (4.7 yards per attempt). Imagine how much the larger Spartans will be able to gash the Zips very giving D.

Akron also allowed 264 yards through the air, so QB Payton Thorne and the Spartans receivers have to licking their chops as well.

Michigan State took care of another MAC team, Western Michigan, by a 35-13 margin last week. The Under did cash in that game, and Sparty was strong on defense, allowing 141 yards on the ground and just 193 passing yards. It also had 7 sacks, so Akron will have a strong pass rush to contend with, too.

Don’t expect the Zips to contribute much to the point total, but that’s OK. Sparty could take care of the Over mostly on their own against one of the worst teams in FBS.

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Northern Illinois at Tulsa OVER 62.5 (-110) – 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Northern Illinois got the job done last weekend against Eastern Illinois of the FCS. It certainly wasn’t pretty, and NIU came nowhere near covering a 35-point number in the 34-27 victory. But NIU did have a very balanced attack, going for 187 yards on the ground, 192 yards through the air and it was sound in the return game.

The Huskies had 7 penalties, and will need to clean that up a bit, and there was a misfire in the kicking game, too. The good news is that NIU recorded 2 sacks, allowed just 1, and NIU was plus-2 in the turnover department.

On the flip side, Tulsa suffered a heartbreaking 40-37 loss in overtime at Wyoming. The Golden Hurricane defense offered little to no resistance against the pass, allowing 460 yards. QB Rocky Lombardi should be able to rock and roll against the Tulsa pass D, keeping the Huskies close.

Betting the Over, albeit a rather high total, looks to be a sound investment, and perhaps pair that with NIU (+6.5, -110) for a small-unit parlay opportunity. It would be even more attractive if NIU can get to a flat 7, or 7 and a hook.

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Back 4 MAC teams in Week 1: Mid-American Conference’s best bets

Analyzing Mid-American Conference betting odds and lines, with college football picks and predictions for the best MAC bets to make in Week 1.

All 12 Mid-American Conference teams open their seasons this weekend. Some of the MACtion will be in mismatch games and some of the programs will be home in winnable affairs. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the MAC’s Week 1 slate, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

The Kent State Golden Flashes look to defend their East Division title, while the Northern Illinois Huskies aim for a second consecutive West crown. After both teams went 6-2 in conference play, the two met for the MAC Championship with NIU coming out on top 41-23.

Check out: AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports

Stream select live college football games and full replays: Get ESPN+

MAC best bets for Week 1

– All games listed are Saturday and ET

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 6:34 a.m. ET.

Bowling Green +22.5 (-108) at UCLA – 2:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

The Falcons and Bruins tangle for the first time in school history.

Bowling Green pulled off a 14-10 upset win at Minnesota last season, toppling a Power 5 team. Can the Falcons do it again? This time in the Rose Bowl? It’s doubtful, although this Falcons team is expected to be much better than the 2021 version.

Falcons QB Matt McDonald is experienced, and he has a solid pair of receivers, as well as a tight end who is getting better. McDonald and the BGSU offense could surprise against a UCLA pass D, which struggled allowing the big play in 2021. Plus, the Falcons offense is versatile, with RB Terion Stewart returning to the backfield.

UCLA returns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and he looks to remain on his upward trajectory. Chip Kelly’s team lost TE Greg Dulcich and WR Kyle Philips to the NFL Draft, so that will hurt.

Will Bowling Green pull off the upset to open the season? The answer is no. But this is a team which should easily keep it within 3 touchdowns. BACK BOWLING GREEN +22.5 (-108).

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FAU -3.5 (-112) at Ohio – 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Owls (1-0) and Bobcats meet for the first time.

FAU looked awfully impressive last week in a 43-13 undressing of Charlotte in Boca Raton. The Owls piled up 218 yards on the ground and another 264 through the air. The kicking game was sound, too. QB N’Kosi Perry threw for 256 yards and a score, while also rushing for another TD, and RB Larry McCammon III rumbled for 118 yards and a touchdown in a well-balanced attack.

Ohio begins its second season under the direction of coach Tim Albin. The Bobcats stumbled to a 3-9 record last season. The good news is that QB Kurtis Rourke returns, but all-everything RB De’Montre Tuggle is gone, and those are huge shoes to fill.

Meanwhile, FAU will look to carve up an Ohio defense, which ranked 7th in the MAC against the run in 2021, while ranking near the basement in pass efficiency defense. FAU -3.5 (-112) is the way to go.

Miami-Ohio +16.5 (-110) at Kentucky – 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

The RedHawks are considered the favorites to win the MAC East, but that’s still a far cry from being a team capable of knocking off an SEC foe. This is the 14th meeting between the programs with Kentucky holding an 8-4-1 series edge.

The Wildcats finished 10-3 last season – capped by a 20-17 win against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl – behind an offense that rolled up 32.3 points per game in 2021. Sure, QB Will Levis is back but he made a lot of miscues last season. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen left UK for a job with the Super Bowl champ Los Angeles Rams. The Wildcats have to fill 3 vacant spots on the offensive line, while finding someone to pick up the slack with WR Wan’Dale Robinson now in the NFL, too.

Kentucky will rely heavily on defense early on, but Miami could move the ball with proven QB Brett Gabbert and an experienced O-line. Plus, it has a solid stable of backs and WRs Mac Hippenhammer and Jalen Walker.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Miami play Kentucky tough, well into the second half, keeping it within 2 TDs. BANK ON MIAMI-OHIO +16.5 (-110) to cash a winning ticket.

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Kent State +22.5 (-110) at Washington – 10:30 p.m. (FS1)

Washington hit rock-bottom last season, and it now turns to Kalen DeBoer to turn things around and bring the wins back to Seattle. The Huskies welcome the Golden Flashes to the shores of Puget Sound for this first-ever matchup.

Kent State is getting a sizeable payday for this game at Washington. Last season the Golden Flashes played several big-money games, only to lose by 21 or more points at Texas A&M, Iowa and Maryland. That was with QB Dustin Crum, a top-flight signal caller. But QB Collin Schlee takes over, and he proved to be adequate in limited duty in 2021.

The Huskies had a strong pass defense last season, but they lost a pair of starting corners. Kent State should be able to make a game of it in the first half, before speed and talent takes over in the second half. Still, Washington has no business laying 3 touchdowns against anybody, let alone a bowl team from 2021. Remember, Washington lost to FCS Montana in the opener last season, too.

TAKE THE POINTS WITH KENT STATE +22.5 (-110).

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Big 12 second in win percentage from the 2021 college football season

Despite the narrative, the Big 12 finished the 2021 season with the second-highest win percentage among FBS conferences.

Over the last decade, there’s been a prevailing narrative that the Big 12 is one of the worst conferences among the Power Five in football. While they haven’t had the playoff success that the SEC, ACC (Clemson), or Ohio State have had, they’ve been a very competitive league. 2021 was no different.

The Big 12 has always stood strong on the depth of the conference that has provided some parity throughout the league. Last season saw several teams with an opportunity to play for the conference title entering the final month of the regular season. Baylor, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Iowa State were in a tight race and after it was all said and done, Baylor and Oklahoma State made the trip to Arlington, Texas to replace the teams that played in the Big 12 championship in 2020; Oklahoma and Iowa State.

And although Baylor jumped out to a big first-half lead in the Big 12 title game, Oklahoma State rallied back at the end and were within inches of taking the lead on a goalline play that came up just short.

The Big 12 then sent seven of its 10 members to Bowl games. The only teams that didn’t participate were Texas, Kansas, and TCU. The conference went 5-2 in the bowl season, outscoring their opponents by 8.71 across all seven games. The only games they lost were Iowa State’s 20-13 loss to Clemson and West Virginia’s 18-6 loss to Minnesota. In their wins, the conference outscored their opponents by an average of 16 points per game. Against the Power Five, the Big 12 went 4-2, including a 2-0 record over the SEC.

Looking at how the conference compares to others, the Big 12 finished second only to the SEC in 2021. The only Power Five conference to not have a win percentage greater than .500 was the Pac-12. The teams that have historically been the standard-bearers for the league, USC, Stanford, and Washington, went a combined 11-25 last season. The Pac-12 had two teams with 10 or more wins. By comparison, the Big 12, SEC, ACC, and Big 10 each had three or more teams with 10 or more wins. The SEC and Big 10 had four teams with at least 10 wins last season.

Oklahoma and Texas will one day be moving to the Big 12 and Cincinnati, BYU, Houston, and UCF will be joining the Big 12. The conference’s present and future remain in really good shape as the league continues to evolve.

Notre Dame vs. Toledo: Third-Quarter Analysis

Getting nervous here.

Suddenly, the possibility of Notre Dame dropping its home opener to a Mid-American Conference team is very real. While the Irish defense has held its own against a Toledo offense that still can’t find the end zone, the Irish offense still is searching for answers after three quarters. Those lingering questions better be answered quickly as the Rockets still have a 16-14 lead.

The Rockets went three-and-out on their first two possessions of the second half, and it didn’t matter. Although the Irish got a first down the first time they touched the ball, they moved backwards after that on a sequence that included back-to-back sacks of Tyler Buchner and Jack Coan. The Irish’s second possession began near midfield before stalling out at the Rockets’ 37-yard line. Jonathan Doerer came on to attempt a 55-yard field goal and put his team back in front, but the kick that would have given him his career long went wide left.

The Rockets finally got a first down on their next drive but nothing more. Back on offense, the Irish converted on a pair of third downs to hold onto the ball, and that’s where we stand. Hold onto your hats, folks. This is gonna be quite a finish.

Notre Dame vs. Toledo: First-Quarter Analysis

How are we feeling so far, gang?

One quarter into Notre Dame’s game against Toledo, and things don’t look so different from last week so far. The Irish’s offense has been a mixed bag, and the defense still has a tendency to give up big plays. Nevertheless, Notre Dame will be happy with a 7-6 lead.

Jack Coan came out riding the momentum he had for much of his time playing Florida State. A couple of big completions aided by some Rockets penalties put the Irish deep into the red zone quickly. The first drive ended with a 4-yard touchdown reception from Michael Mayer, who remains hot in his own right.

The Rockets broke through on the first third down of their opening drive when Carter Bradley found Devin Maddox, who had plenty of open field to get to the Irish’s 11-yard line on a 66-yard gain. Kyle Hamilton appeared to snuff the drive out with an interception on a tipped ball, but replay reviews ruled that he did not catch the ball before it hit the ground. Despite the break, the Rockets couldn’t take advantage and had to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Thomas Cluckey.

Coan completed three passes on the next drive to get into Rockets territory. With the Irish on the cusp of field-goal range, Quinyon Mitchell sacked Coan, forced a fumble and recovered it himself. The Rockets once again found the red zone with a couple of nice plays but stalled out afterwards. Cluckey kicked another field goal, this time, from 32 yards.

Things then settled down a bit as three-and-outs occurred on each of the game’s next three possessions. That might be just what the Irish need to regroup. However, it has to be frustrating to see progress not being made. At the moment, this does not appear to be your typical Mid-American Conference opponent coming to South Bend.

Mid-American Conference Becomes Last FBS Conference to Resume Football

Every Football Bowl Subdivision conference will see action in 2020.

Every Football Bowl Subdivision conference will see action in 2020. On Friday, the Mid-American Conference’s 12 presidents voted unanimously to have football this season. Only six games will be played by each team in conference-only schedules. A championship game is set for Dec. 18 or 19.

The conference initially canceled its season, but its stance has changed just like every other conference that previously announced a season cancelation. This announcement came a day after the Pac-12 and Mountain West both announced that they would have football after all in 2020. The Big Ten also recently announced it will have a season. Also like with every other conference, daily testing will be implemented.

Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher released the following statement:

“I am pleased to inform our student-athletes, coaches, and fans, that the Mid-American Conference will resume the fall football season, Our decisions, in August and again today, have been guided by an overriding concern for the well-being of the student-athletes, institutions, and the community at large. Our medical advisory group, presidents, directors of athletics, and others, have worked hard to develop a plan that provides the opportunity for student athletes to compete. We will be diligent in monitoring the dynamic health environment across the Conference footprint and the country.”

Pac-12, Mountain West Will Have Football in 2020

It appears the demand for college football in 2020 has become too great.

It appears the demand for college football in 2020 has become too great. On Thursday, the Pac-12 announced it will play a seven-game conference schedule beginning Nov. 6. Soon after, the Mountain West announced a eight-game season that will begin the weekend of Oct. 24. That leaves the Mid-American Conference as the only Football Bowl Subdivision conference without a season, but a vote on what could be a six-game season is expected Friday.

All of that talk about keeping college football players safe during the COVID-19 pandemic officially was for naught. The conferences can discussing daily testing all they want, but it doesn’t change the fact that they’re going back on their word and have decided to chase the dollars after all. Pressure from players, parents and others didn’t help, but the conferences couldn’t or wouldn’t stand their ground. Any compassion and goodwill they’ve gained over the past couple of months is gone, and if you haven’t figured it out by now, they never had souls.

Power Five Conference Commissioners Meet Regarding Fall Football

It appears the 2020 college football season has reached a tipping point as far as playing in the fall.

It appears the 2020 college football season has reached a tipping point as far as playing in the fall. Sources have told ESPN that commissioners of the Power Five conferences had an emergency meeting Sunday. This comes as college athletics officials have expressed concerns about playing football and other fall sports during their typical time of year while COVID-19 remains a heavy presence. Should such an announcement come, it likely will be collaborative.

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick is credited in the report as saying the following regarding one issue with the season potentially moving to the spring:

“My view is if we change course, we better be able to articulate the reason for doing so to our student-athletes.”

With the Mid-American Conference already having postponed its fall sports season and major conference athletic directors and administrators talking both in-house and beyond, the announcement that our autumn Saturdays will be quiet this year seems inevitable. The good news is everyone involved seems more on board with playing in the spring than not at all. Of course, this is all uncharted territory for everybody, so who knows what’s going to happen seven months from now? All we know for sure is that if anyone thinks football can just happen as it always has right now, they’re only kidding themselves.