2018 MAC Football Media Day Notes
2018 MAC FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY NOTES
The Mid-American Conference hosts its 2018 MAC Football Media Day on Tuesday, July 24 at Ford Field from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. with all 12 programs head coaches and two students from each program.
2018 MAC Football Media Day Head Coaches and Student Participants
MAC East Division
Akron Head Coach Terry Bowden; LB Ulysees Gilbert III; OL Kyle Ritz
Bowling Green Head Coach Mike Jinks; WR Scott Miller; DB Marcus Milton
Buffalo Head Coach Lance Leipold; WR Anthony Johnson; LB Khalil Hodge
Kent State Head Coach Sean Lewis; LB Matt Bahr; RB Justin Rankin
Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin; WR James Gardner; LB Junior McMullen
Ohio Head Coach Frank Solich; QB Nathan Rourke; RB A.J. Ouellette
MAC West Division
Ball State Head Coach Mike Neu; QB Riley Neal; RB James Gilbert
Central Michigan Head Coach John Bonamego; LB Malik Fountain; RB Jonathan Ward
Eastern Michigan Head Coach Chris Creighton; DL Jeremiah Harris; OL Jimmy Leatiota
Northern Illinois Head Coach Rod Carey; DE Sutton Smith; OT Max Scharping
Toledo Head Coach Jason Candle; WR Cody Thompson; LB Richard Olekanma
Western Michigan Head Coach Tim Lester; RB Jamauri Bogan; QB Jon Wassink
MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher
College Football Executive Director, Bill Hancock
CFO National Coordinator of Officials, Rogers Redding
Football Bowl Association, Executive Director, Wright Waters
MAC 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
The 2018 football schedule will feature 16 nationally televised games during late October and November on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network as the conference race unfolds in both the East and West divisions.
The regular season will conclude with the 22nd Marathon MAC Football Championship game on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2) from Ford Field in Detroit. This will mark the 15th Marathon MAC Football Championship game at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, Super Bowl XL, and the 2009 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
For the 11th year in a row, league schools will face a formidable non-conference slate of opponents from the following Football Bowl Subdivision conferences – ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, Notre Dame and BYU. In addition, the Conference will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Independents Army and UMass.
MAC programs will face five non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Penn State (9), Notre Dame (11), Miami-Fla. (13), Michigan State (15) and Northwestern (17).
A total of 12 non-conference games will feature a Big Ten opponent (Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Maryland; Michigan; Michigan State; Minnesota; Nebraska; Northwestern; Penn State; Purdue; Rutgers). The MAC will face foes from the ACC (5—Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), Syracuse, Virginia), SEC (2—Kentucky, Ole Miss), Pac-12 (2-Oregon, Utah), Big 12 (2—Iowa State; Kansas); and Independent Notre Dame, BYU, Army (3 games) and UMass.
The MAC will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference (3— Cincinnati (2), Temple), Mountain West (3—Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State), Conference USA (2—Marshall, Western Kentucky) and Sun Belt Conference (1—Georgia State). This season the MAC will host 10 games against FBS non-conference opponents.
MAC PART OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF ERA
The 2018 college football season enters the fifth year of the current four-team playoff era with the College Football Playoff. The two College Football Playoff Semifinals will be played in bowl games this year (Capital One Orange Bowl; Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic) and the College Football Playoff National Championship will be played in the Bay Area (Levi Stadium) on Jan. 7.
The two Semifinals and four other premier bowl games AllState Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl presented by Northwestern Mutual (Jan. 1), PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1) and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Dec. 29) highlight the annual bowl season calendar. The Semifinal games will rotate among these six different bowls. All MAC programs will join every FBS team in college football with equal access to the playoff based upon its performance. No team will qualify automatically.
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee will choose four teams for the playoffs based on body of work, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, comparison of results against common opponents, championships won and other factors.
The highest ranked program by the Selection Committee from either the MAC, American Athletic, Conference USA, Mountain West or Sun Belt Conferences will play annually in one of the premier bowl games.
MAC BOWL NOTES
• Toledo won the 2017 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with a 45-28 win over Akron on Dec. 2, 2017. The win was Toledo’s first championship since 2004 and the 11th football title in program history. The Rockets have been a model of consistency in winning as Toledo has won at least nine games in six of the last seven years, and the 2017 record of 11-2 is the ninth time in Toledo history to win at least 10 games in a season.
• Five MAC programs received bowl invitations in the 2017 bowl season -- Toledo (11-3), Akron (7-7), Ohio (9-4), Central Michigan (8-5) and Northern Illinois (8-5). The MAC record for bowl invitations in a single-season is seven in both the 2012 and 2015 bowl seasons.
• Toledo (Dollar General Bowl), Akron (Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl), Ohio (Bahamas Bowl), Central Michigan (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) and Northern Illinois (Quick Lane Bowl) represented the MAC in the 2017 bowl season.
• This marks the 10th time in MAC history to have five or more programs receive a bowl invitation (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017) in a single-season.
• In the previous seven bowl seasons, the MAC has a record of 12-28 in 40 bowl games – 2017 (1-4); 2016 (0-6); 2015 (3-4); 2014 (2-3); 2013 (0-5); 2012 (2-5); 2011 (4-1) as all 12 MAC programs have appeared in a bowl game during this span (2011-17).
• Akron (7-7, 6-2) won the MAC East Division for the first time since 2005. Akron secured its third MAC East Division title as the Zips were bowl eligible for the second time in the last three years, also a record.
• Over the last three seasons, the MAC has witnessed six different programs participate in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game. In 2015 Bowling Green defeated NIU, 34-14, while 2016 witnessed Western Michigan with a 29-23 win over Ohio and Toledo defeated Akron, 45-28 in the 2017 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game.
• In 2017 the MAC had 11 FBS wins, including four wins over Autonomous Conferences with two wins vs. Big Ten opponents (Nebraska, Rutgers) and two wins over Big 12 opponents (both wins over Kansas).
MAC 2017 BOWL RESULTS
• Cheribundi Tart Bowl Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.) Florida Atlantic 50, Akron 3
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.) Wyoming 37, Central Michigan 14
• Bahamas Bowl (Nassau) Ohio 41, UAB 6
• Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, Ala.) Appalachian State 34, Toledo 0
• Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, Mich.) Duke 36, Northern Illinois 14
MAC PROGRAMS IN BOWL GAMES
In the last seven bowl seasons, every MAC football program has received a bowl invitation. Leading the way are Toledo, Ohio and Northern Illinois with bowl invitations in six of the last seven bowl seasons.
2011-17 MAC Programs and Years Invited to Bowl Games
Northern Illinois (6): 2011; 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015; 2017
Ohio (6): 2011; 2012; 2013; 2015; 2016; 2017
Toledo (6): 2011; 2012; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017
Central Michigan (5): 2012; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017
Bowling Green (4): 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015
Western Michigan (4): 2011; 2014; 2015; 2016
Ball State (2): 2012; 2013
Akron (2): 2015; 2017
Buffalo (1): 2013
Kent State (1): 2012
Eastern Michigan (1): 2016
Miami (1): 2016
former member Temple (1): 2011
Year; MAC Programs Invited to Bowl Games
2011: Northern Illinois; Ohio; Toledo; Western Michigan; Temple
2012: Northern Illinois; Kent State; Ohio; Bowling Green; Ball State; Central Michigan; Toledo
2013: Northern Illinois; Bowling Green; Ball State; Ohio; Buffalo
2014: Northern Illinois; Bowling Green; Toledo; Central Michigan; Western Michigan
2015: Bowling Green; Northern Illinois; Toledo; Western Michigan; Central Michigan; Ohio; Akron
2016: Western Michigan, Ohio, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Miami
2017: Toledo, Akron, Ohio, Central Michigan; Northern Illinois.
2017 MAC ALL-AMERICANS
Since the conclusion of the 2017 regular season, the MAC was represented with several post-season All-American honors.
The Associated Press:
• Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith
USA Today:
• First-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith
Sports Illustrated:
• Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith
CBS Sports:
• Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith
Walter Camp Football Foundation:
• First-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith
• Second-Team All-American: Western Michigan OT Chukwuma Okorafor
The Sporting News:
• Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith
Football Writers Association of America (FWAA):
• First-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith
• First-Team All-American: Western Michigan OT Chukwuma Okorafor
American Football Coaches Association (AFCA):
• Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith
NIU’s Sutton Smith Named Consensus 2017 All-American
Northern Illinois University defensive end Sutton Smith was a 2017 Consensus All-American, as determined by the NCAA. Smith became the ninth MAC player earn Consensus All-American status. To be selected as a Consensus All-American, a player must be named to the first team of at least two of the five selected All-America teams, announced over the last week by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), The Sporting News and Walter Camp Foundation. Second team selections are used to break ties. Players who earned the
honor were listed on the most first team All-America teams, competing against players at that position only.
Smith is actually one of five defensive linemen on the 2017 Consensus All-America team as he and Maurice Hurst of Michigan tied for the final spot. The St. Charles, Mo. native was named a first team All- American by Walter Camp and the FWAA, and was a second team selection on the AP, AFCA and Sporting News teams.
Smith is the fourth NIU player – joining Jordan Lynch, Jimmie Ward and Shuwan Lurry – to garner first team All-America recognition in the last five seasons, surpassing the total number of Huskie All-Americans in the school’s FBS history. He is the most decorated defensive player in NIU Football history and in addition to the five All-America teams mentioned above, was selected to six more All-America teams by media organizations.
Smith was the 2017 MAC Defensive Player of the Year was also a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s best defensive end. He finished the season and led the MAC with 29.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. He was 2.5 tackles for loss shy of the NCAA single season record of 32, set by Western Michigan’s Jason Babin in 2003.
MAC Consensus All-Americans
1971 Mel Long, Toledo, DT
1995 Brad Maynard, Ball State, P
1996 Brad Maynard, Ball State, P
1997 Randy Moss, Marshall, WR
2000 Dwight Smith, Akron, DB
2010 Eric Page, Toledo, KR/AP
2012 Dri Archer, Kent State, KR/AP
2016 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, WR
2017 Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois, DE
ROURKE TO CONTINUE TO LEAD OHIO BOBCATS OFFENSE
Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke had a breakout sophomore season under center in leading the Ohio Bobcats to a 9-4 overall record, including a 5-3 second-place finish in the MAC East Division. Rourke led the Bobcats to a 41-6 over UAB in the Bahamas Bowl to finish the 2017 campaign on a high note. Last season, Rourke was a dual threat with 912 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns on the ground, while passing for 2,203 yards and 17 touchdowns on 161-292 passing for 169.5 yards passing per game.
Rourke was part of the Ohio offensive engine that tied a MAC single season record as Ohio totaled 44 rushing touchdowns, which tied with NIU in 2012 as the most in MAC history. Rourke’s 21 rushing touchdowns led the MAC and ranked seventh most in a single-season in MAC history. His 38 total offensive touchdowns ranked tied for 16th best in a single season in MAC history and his 132 total points ranks tied for ninth best in MAC history.
MAC RECEIVERS CONTINUE TO SHINE
The depth of the MAC at the wide receiver position continues to blossom with plenty of playmakers at this skill position. In 2017, four MAC wide receivers had breakout seasons – Toledo’s Diontae Johnson; Buffalo’s Anthony Johnson; Miami’s James Gardner; and Ball State’s Justin Hall.
Buffalo’s Anthony Johnson was the top target by both Tyree Jackson and Drew Anderson last season for the Bulls. Buffalo finished with a 6-6 overall record, 4-4 in the MAC, and Johnson opened plenty of eyes within the MAC and the entire country. Johnson led the MAC with 1,356 yards receiving (17.8 avg.) and 14 touchdowns, while his 76 catches ranked second in the league. Johnson collected four touchdown receptions in a win at Ball State on Nov. 16, 2017, which tied for third most in MAC single-game history. Johnson’s 14 touchdowns ranks tied for 11th best in MAC single-season history and his 1,356 yards receiving is 19th most in MAC single-season history.
Toledo’s Diontae Johnson as a sophomore last season became Logan Woodside’s top target after the season ending injury to Cody Thompson. Johnson led the Rockets with 74 receptions for 1,278 yards (17.3 avg.) and 13 touchdowns. Johnson ranked second in the MAC with his 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, while his 74 catches ranked third in the league. Johnson’s 13 touchdowns is tied for 17th most in a single-season in MAC history, while his 1,278 yards receiving ranks tied for 22nd most in MAC history.
Miami’s James Gardner led the RedHawks last season with his 47 receptions for 927 yards (19.7 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. Gardner had perhaps his finest game of the year on the road at No. 22 ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 30, 2017 with five catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Gardner’s 11 receiving touchdowns ranked third in the MAC and are tied for 29th most in single-season in MAC history.
Ball State’s Justin Hall had an impressive freshman season as he led the MAC with 78 receptions, however, the fact that Ball State had to start four different quarterbacks during the 2017 season due to injury makes it even more impressive. Hall had 78 catches for 801 yards (10.3 avg.) and three touchdowns last season and led the MAC with an average of 6.5 catches per game.
MAC AMONG SACK & TFL LEADERS IN THE NATION DURING 2017
Last season the MAC witnessed four different defensive players rank among the leaders in college football in sacks and tackles for loss – NIU’s Sutton Smith, Ball State’s Anthony Winbush, Central Michigan’s Joe Ostman and Eastern Michigan’s Maxx Crosby. Winbush and Ostman are currently in NFL camps, while Smith and Crosby enter the 2018 campaign as redshirt juniors.
The MAC had four of the top six defensive players in total sacks last season as Smith’s 16 led the nation, while Ostman’s 14 sacks ranked second, Winbush’s 11.5 ranked fourth and Crosby’s 11 sacks ranked tied for sixth most in the country. All four also ranked among the nation’s best in tackles for loss as Smith’s 29.5 tackles for loss led the nation, Ostman’s 20.5 tackles for loss ranked seventh, while Winbush and Crosby each had 16.5 tackles for loss with ranked tied for 20th in the country.
Smith led the nation and the MAC with 16 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss on his way to consensus All-American status last season. Smith’s 16 sacks tied for second most in a single-season in MAC history.
Crosby led Eastern Michigan with his 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss as the Eagles finished with a 5-7 record, which included a win at Rutgers for the program’s first ever win in program history against a Big Ten opponent.
OHIO’S SOLICH THIRD ON MAC CAREER WINS LIST
Ohio head coach Frank Solich and his Bobcats finished 2017 with an 9-4 overall record and a second-place finish in the East Division. Solich continues to rise up the MAC career head coaching win list with 97 wins, which ranks third most in MAC history.
Solich has been the model for consistency in coaching in the MAC. Solich arrived in Athens, Ohio in 2005 and now is in his 14th season running the Bobcats program. Solich and the Ohio Bobcats have garnered a bowl appearance in eight of the last nine seasons and nine of his 13 seasons at Ohio. Solich has a 97-69 career coaching record at Ohio.
Most MAC Head Coaching Wins, Career
1. 110, Herb Deromedi, Central Michigan, 1978-93
2. 108, Bill Hess, Ohio, 1958-77
3. 97, Frank Solich, Ohio, 2005-present
4. 79, Bob Pruett, Marshall, 1997-03
5. 77, Doyt Perry, Bowling Green, 1955-64
OHIO’S ZERVOS ONE OF MAC’S MOST ACCURATE KICKERS
Ohio junior Louie Zervos has been a key figure in the success of the Ohio Bobcats during the last two seasons. Zervos in two seasons had converted 44-of-53 field goal attempts for an 83.0% percentage which ranks second best in MAC history. Last season, Zervos converted 15-of-18 field goal attempts and totaled 106 total points for the 9-4 Bobcats. Zervos already holds the MAC record with 29 field goals made set during his freshman season in 2016 when he connected on 29-of-35 field goal attempts for 122 total points.
KENT STATE NAMES SEAN LEWIS AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
The MAC will welcome a new football coach to the mix for the 2018 season as Kent State named Sean Lewis to lead the Golden Flashes on Dec. 21, 2017. Lewis became the 22nd head football coach at Kent State after serving as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Syracuse. His background stretches from his four-year playing career at Wisconsin under Barry Alvarez, to winning the 2015 Marathon MAC Championship as the co-offensive coordinator at Bowling Green.
Lewis’ ascension has led him to become the youngest Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coach in the nation at the age of 31. That distinction was previously held by Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley at age 34. Lewis has spent his last six seasons alongside head coach Dino Babers at Syracuse (2016-17), Bowling Green (2014-15) and Eastern Illinois (2012-13).
Lewis' coaching career began as the offensive coordinator for his alma mater Richards High School in Illinois. He transitioned to the college level in 2010 as tight ends coach at Division II University of Nebraska Omaha. He made his first MAC stop in 2011 as a graduate assistant for the University of Akron. Lewis earned a bachelor's degree from Wisconsin in agricultural sciences in 2007.
TOLEDO WINS 2017 MAC FOOTBALL TITLE
The Toledo Rockets capped an historic season with a resounding 45-28 victory over Akron at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 2, 2017 to claim their 11th Mid-American Conference Championship and first since 2004. In the 100th anniversary season of their founding as a football program, and the two-year anniversary of the hiring of Jason Candle as head coach, the Rockets (11-2) dominated the game from start to finish, scoring three times in the second quarter to take a 28-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. Toledo outgained the Zips, 561-396, holding them to just 98 yards of total offense in the first half. The 561 yards of total offense are the third-most by a team in a MAC Championship Game.
Toledo senior quarterback Logan Woodside, who threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns, was named the Offensive Player of the Game. Sophomore Diontae Johnson led the receiving corps with nine receptions for 118 yards and two scores, followed by junior Jon’Vea Johnson (six receptions, 103 yards, and a touchdown). Senior running back Terry Swanson piled up 180 yards and two TDs. On the other side of the ball, senior defensive end Zach Quinn led the Rockets with 10 tackles, junior defensive end Olasunkanmi Adeniyi added three tackles for loss and a forced fumble, and senior cornerback Trevon Mathis came up with an interception and a key pass breakup.
2018 MAC BOWL PARTNERS (2018-19)
2018 Bowl Season:
• College Football Playoff Host Bowls (Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl/PlayStation Fiesta Bowl)
• Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt)
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.; vs. Mountain West)
• Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt)
• Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas; vs. Conference USA)
• Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas; vs. American Athletic Conference)
• Secondary to Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.)
• Secondary to Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, Mich.)
• Secondary to ESPN owned and operated bowl games
2019 Bowl Season:
• College Football Playoff Host Bowls
• Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt)
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.; vs. Mountain West)
• Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt)
• Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.; vs. American Athletic Conference)
• Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas; vs. Conference USA)
WINS OVER NON-CONFERENCE FBS OPPONENTS
In 2017 the MAC earned 11 non-conference FBS wins. The MAC set the Conference single-season record with 16 wins over FBS opponents during the 2012 season, and also posted 14 wins in both the 2008 and 2016 seasons.
Regular Season Wins vs. non-conference FBS opponents:
Year: Wins; FBS Opponents Defeated:
2017: 11; Nebraska, Rutgers, Kansas (2); Charlotte, UAB; Nevada; Tulsa; Idaho; Florida Atlantic; UMass
2016: 14; Northwestern; Arkansas State; Georgia State; Oklahoma State; Kansas; Illinois; Fresno State; UNLV; Marshall; Charlotte; Army; Florida Atlantic; Georgia Southern; Wyoming
2015: 12; Arkansas; Maryland; Iowa State; Purdue; FAU; Marshall; Wyoming; UNLV; Idaho; Arkansas State; Louisiana; FIU
2014: 8; Purdue; Northwestern; Indiana; Idaho (2); UNLV, Pitt; Army
2013: 10; Iowa; Purdue; Virginia; UConn; Tulsa; Marshall; Army; North Texas; Idaho; Navy
2012: 16; Penn State; Wyoming; Idaho; New Mexico St.; Army (4); UConn; Marshall; Indiana; Iowa; South Florida; Kansas; Cincinnati; Rutgers
2011: 10; Indiana; Army (4); UConn; Idaho; New Mexico State; Marshall; Maryland
2010: 7; Minnesota; Purdue; Marshall; Colorado State; UConn; Army; Louisiana-Lafayette
2009: 9; Michigan State; Purdue; Colorado; Florida International; Troy; UTEP; North Texas; Army; Navy
2008: 14; Navy; Indiana (2); Western Kentucky; Michigan; Idaho; Illinois; Syracuse; Army (3); Pittsburgh; Wyoming; UTEP
2007: 10; Navy; Army (2); Idaho; Iowa State (2); Iowa; Minnesota; Syracuse; La-Lafayette
2006: 11; Temple (5); Kansas; Virginia; North Carolina State; North Texas; FIU; Illinois
2005: 9; Army; Louisiana-Lafayette; Temple (4); Pittsburgh; Middle Tennessee State; Cincinnati
2004: 3; Temple (2); Kentucky
2003: 9; Kansas State; Northwestern; Colorado State; Cincinnati; Purdue; Maryland; Alabama; Iowa State; Pittsburgh
2002: 10; Rutgers; Troy; North Carolina; Cincinnati; UConn; Missouri; Kansas; Wyoming; Wake Forest; UNLV
2001: 11; UConn (2); Army; Cincinnati; Missouri; Temple (2); Minnesota; Northwestern; South Florida; Navy
2000: 9; Central Florida (2); Vanderbilt; Minnesota; UConn (2); Navy; Penn State; Iowa
MAC HEAD COACHES IN HIGH DEMAND
Football programs continue to take notice of MAC head coaches. There are 11 former head coaches from the MAC in a current FBS head coaching position–including three of the last four National Champion’s with 2017 and 2015 Alabama’s Nick Saban (Toledo) and 2014 Ohio State’s Urban Meyer (Bowling Green), and nearly one-third of the ACC (four total). For the 2018 season, 23 of the 131 FBS coaches (17.6%) will be either current or former MAC head coaches.
ACC – Steve Addazio-Boston College (Temple), Dave Doeren-NC State (Northern Illinois), Dave Clawson-Wake Forest (Bowling Green), Dino Babers-Syracuse (Bowling Green).
Big Ten – Urban Meyer-Ohio State (Bowling Green), P.J. Fleck-Minnesota (Western Michigan).
Big 12 – Matt Campbell-Iowa State (Toledo).
Ind. – Brian Kelly-Notre Dame (Central Michigan), Mark Whipple (UMass).
SEC-Nick Saban-Alabama (Toledo)
Sun Belt – Doug Martin-New Mexico State (Kent State).
MAC VS BIG TEN OPPONENTS
With NIU’s 21-17 win at Nebraska and Eastern Michigan’s 16-13 win at Rutgers on Sept. 9, 2017, the MAC has won a regular season game vs. Big Ten opponents in each of the last 12 consecutive seasons (2006-2017), the longest streak in MAC history.
During this 12-year stretch, MAC teams have defeated 12 different Big Ten teams—Illinois (3); Indiana (5); Iowa (3); Maryland (1); Michigan (1); Michigan State (1); Minnesota (2); Nebraska (1); Northwestern (2); Penn State (1), Purdue (5) and Rutgers (1) for a total of 26 wins during this span of time.
2006: Ohio beat Illinois
2007: Bowling Green beat Minnesota; Western Michigan defeated Iowa
2008: Western Michigan beat Illinois; Central Michigan beat Indiana; Toledo beat Michigan; Ball State beat Indiana
2009: NIU beat Purdue; Central Michigan beat Michigan State
2010: Toledo beat Purdue; NIU beat Minnesota
2011: Ball State beat Indiana
2012: Ohio beat Penn State; Ball State beat Indiana; Central Michigan beat Iowa
2013: NIU beat Purdue; NIU beat Iowa
2014: Bowling Green beat Indiana; NIU beat Northwestern; Central Michigan beat Purdue
2015: Bowling Green beat Maryland and Purdue
2016: Western Michigan beat Northwestern and Illinois
2017: Northern Illinois beat Nebraska and Eastern Michigan beat Rutgers
FORMER MAC ALUM RANDY MOSS NAMED TO PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Joining the list of MAC alum heading to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, former Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss will increase this number to three, as Moss will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2018 Hall of Fame Class. Moss, who was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 1997, posted 78 catches for 1,709 yards and 28 touchdowns with Marshall in 1996 and added 96 receptions for 1,820 yards and 26 touchdowns in 1997.
Moss was selected in the first round, 21st overall, of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Moss spent 14 seasons in the NFL with Minnesota, Oakland, New England, Tennessee and San Francisco and amassed 982 career receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns and was selected to five Pro Bowls. Moss becomes the third former MAC football standout to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Moss joins Jason Taylor of Akron and former Kent State linebacker Jack Lambert of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Moss was a member of the Marshall Thundering Herd, who competed in the MAC before departing after the 2004 season.
MAC WITH SIX STUDENTS SELECTED IN THE 2018 NFL DRAFT
The MAC had six draft selections in the 2018 NFL Draft. Western Michigan OT Chukwuma Okorafor was the highest player selected as the Pittsburgh Steelers made him a third-round selection, 92nd overall. Also from the Broncos, DB Sam Beal was selected by the New York Giants during the July NFL Supplemental Draft with a third-round pick.
In recent years the MAC has had students selected among the top five overall in the NFL Draft. In the last six years (2013-18), the MAC has had three players selected in the top five in the NFL Drafts.
In the 2017 NFL Draft, Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis was selected as the fifth overall selection in the first round by the Tennessee Titans. Davis’ selection was the highest ever for Western Michigan and tied the second-highest in MAC history.
In 2014, Buffalo Bulls linebacker Khalil Mack was the fifth overall selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 2014 NFL Draft. Mack’s selection was the highest ever for the Buffalo program and the second-highest ever selection for a MAC student-athlete.
In 2013, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher became the first MAC football player to be selected as the overall No. 1 selection in the NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Fisher as No.1 choice in the 2013 NFL Draft. The previous highest player drafted from the MAC was Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich, who was selected No. 7 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, in the 2003 NFL Draft.
MAC Students Selected In 2018 NFL Draft
3rd rd, 92nd overall OL Chukwuma Okorafor (Western Michigan) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
5th rd, 157th overall TE Tyler Conklin (Central Michigan) by the Minnesota Vikings
5th rd, 170th overall DB/KR Darius Phillips (Western Michigan) by the Cincinnati Bengals
7th rd, 227th overall LB Quentin Poling (Ohio) by the Miami Dolphins
7th rd, 249th overall QB Logan Woodside (Toledo) by the Cincinnati Bengals
MAC Students Selected In 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft
3rd rd, DB Sam Beal (Western Michigan) by the New York Giants
MAC EAST VS. MAC WEST
In 2017, the East and West Divisions faced each other in 18 crossover regular season games and the West Division finished with an 11-7 advantage. Over the previous 10 years (2008-2017), the MAC West has had the upper hand in crossover regular season games against the MAC East, winning the head-to-head regular season series in nine of the last 10 years. The West holds a 120-60 (.667%) regular season record in crossover games over the East during that span.
The West Division has a 6-4 lead in the last 10 Marathon MAC Football Championship Games. From the West Division, Toledo (2017), Western Michigan (2016), Northern Illinois (2011, 2012, 2014) and Central
Michigan (2009) have won the Conference Championship six times, while the East Division has won four crowns with Bowling Green (2015, 2013), Miami (2010) and Buffalo (2008).
Year; Regular Season East vs. West; MAC Champion
2017 West 11-7; Toledo (West) def. Akron (East), 45-28.
2016 West 12-6; Western Michigan (West) def. Ohio (East), 29-23.
2015 West 11-7; Bowling Green (East) def. NIU (West), 34-14.
2014 West 15-3; NIU (West) def. Bowling Green (East), 51-17.
2013 West 12-6; Bowling Green (East) def. NIU (West), 47-27.
2012 West 12-6; NIU (West) def. Kent State (East) 44-37 in 2 OT.
2011 West 14-4; NIU (West) def. Ohio (East), 23-20.
2010 West 12-6; Miami (East) def. NIU (West), 26-21.
2009 East 11-7; Central Michigan (West) def. Ohio (East), 20-10.
2008 West 14-4; Buffalo (East) def. Ball State (West), 42-24.
