Mid-American Conference

MAC Football Schedule
Aug. 30 – Thursday
Central Connecticut State at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
 
Aug. 31 – Friday
Syracuse at Western Michigan, 6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Monmouth at Eastern Michigan, 6:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
 
Sep. 1 – Saturday
Kent State at Illinois, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
Howard at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Central Michigan at Kentucky, 3:30 pm ET (ESPNU)
Marshall at Miami, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
NIU at Iowa, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (Big Ten Network)
Delaware State at Buffalo, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
VMI at Toledo, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Akron at Nebraska, 8:00 pm ET (FOX)
Bowling Green at Oregon, 8:00 pm ET (Pac-12 Network)
 
MAC QUICK NOTES
• MAC football continues its 72nd season of competition and will hold its 22nd championship game in 2018. This year’s Marathon MAC Football Championship game will be Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN2 at Ford Field in Detroit. Toledo is the defending MAC Champion as the Rockets defeated Akron, 45-28, last December.
• The 2018 football season will bring the transition of one new head coach into the Conference. Kent State named former Syracuse co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Sean Lewis as head coach on Dec. 21, 2017. Lewis is the youngest FBS head coach at the age of 31.
• The MAC will open the season by hosting seven games and playing on the road in five others. Ball State opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 30 by hosting Central Connecticut (ESPN+). On Friday, August 31, Western Michigan hosts Syracuse (CBS Sports Network) and Eastern Michigan welcomes Monmouth (ESPN+). MAC programs will play nine others on Saturday, Sept. 1.
• MAC programs will face opponents from the Big Ten (Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska), ACC (Syracuse), Pac-12 (Oregon), SEC (Kentucky) and Conference USA (Marshall) in Week One. The MAC will also face five FCS opponents.

MAC TO FACE TOP RANKED NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
Earlier in August the 2018 Associated Press Top 25 Poll was released and the MAC will face seven of the top ranked teams this season in the country during non-conference play (AP ranking ranking):

No. 8 Miami (Fla.) at Toledo on Sat., Sept. 15 at Noon ET;
No. 10 Penn State vs. Kent State on Sat., Sept. 15 at Noon ET;
No. 11 Michigan State vs. Central Michigan on Sat., Sept. 29 (time TBA);
No. 12 Notre Dame vs. Ball State on Sat., Sept. 8 at 3:30 pm ET;
No. 14 Michigan vs. Western Michigan on Sat., Sept. 8 at Noon ET;
No. 19 Florida State vs. NIU on Sat., Sept. 22 (time TBA);
No. 24 Oregon vs. Bowling Green on Sat., Sept. 1 at 8:00 pm ET

MAC VS. BIG TEN OPPONENTS
This opening week the MAC will face three Big Ten opponents -- Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. 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. Last year, the MAC had two road wins at Big Ten opponents as NIU defeated Nebraska, 21-17, on Sept. 16, 2017 and Eastern Michigan defeated Rutgers, 16-13, on Sept. 9, 2017.

During this 12-year stretch, MAC teams have defeated 12 different Big Ten programs— 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 stretch.

Miami (13), Bowling Green (8), Toledo (6), Central Michigan (6) and Northern Illinois (6) have the most wins vs. Big Ten opponents.

OHIO’S FRANK SOLICH THIRD LONGEST ACTIVE FBS HEAD COACH
Ohio head football coach Frank Solich is entering his 14th season at the helm of the Ohio Bobcat football program and currently ranks third all-time among MAC head coaches with 97 career wins. Solich also ranks tied for third among active FBS head coaches as the longest tenured current head coaches. Only Kirk Ferentz of Iowa (1999-2018 -- 20th season), Gary Patterson of TCU (2000-18 -- 18th season) and Kyle Whittington of Utah (2004-18 -- 14th season) have held their current head coaching positions longer than Solich. Ohio is also the only FBS football program in the country that has kept its head coach, offensive coordinator (Tim Albin) and defensive coordinator (Jimmy Burrow) in place for the past 14 seasons. Solich and his Bobcats open the season on Saturday, Sept. 1 as they host Howard at 2:00 pm ET at Peden Stadium on ESPN+.

MAC BOWL NOTES AND 2017 SEASON
• 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 11-3 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 marked 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 school 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 NON-CONFERENCE WINS
The MAC concluded its non-conference regular season schedule last season with 11 FBS wins. The MAC record is 16 FBS wins in 2012, while the Conference posted 14 FBS wins in both the 2016 and 2008 seasons. In 2017, the MAC also has four ‘Autonomous Conference’ wins over Nebraska and Rutgers (Big Ten) and Kansas twice (Big 12). Among peer Conferences during the 2017 regular season, the MAC posted a 1-1 record against the American Athletic, Mountain West and Sun Belt Conferences, along with a record 3-4 vs. Conference USA.

MAC WITH ONE NEW HEAD COACH FOR 2018
Kent State named Sean Lewis as head coach on Dec. 21, 2017 to replace Paul Haynes, who was Kent State’s head coach for five seasons (2013-17).  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.

MAC PROGRAMS IN BOWL GAMES
In the last six 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
Akron (2): 2015; 2017
Ball State (2): 2012; 2013
Buffalo (1): 2013
Kent State (1): 2012
Eastern Michigan (1): 2016
Miami (1): 2016
former: 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.

ROURKE TO CONTINUE TO LEAD OHIO OFFENSE
Ohio quarterback  Nathan Rourke had a breakout sophomore season 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 win over UAB in the Bahamas Bowl to finish the 2017 on a high note. In 2017, 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 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 WIDE 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, Toledo’s Diontae Johnson; Buffalo’s  Anthony Johnson; Miami’s  James Gardner and Ball State’s  Justin Hall all had breakout seasons.

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 and three touchdowns.

MAC Among Sack & TFL Leaders In The Nation Last Season
In 2017, 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. 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.

NIU’S SUTTON SMITH CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICAN
Northern Illinois 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.

Smith 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

OHIO’S SOLICH THIRD ON MAC CAREER WINS LIST
Ohio head coach Frank Solich and his Bobcats finished 2017 with a 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 97-71 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

MAC 2018 BOWL PARTNERS
• Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl/PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (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)
• Makers Wanted 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

ESPN+ TO FEATURE MAC EVENTS IN 2018
ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App or ESPN.com. The ESPN App also provides fans separate access to all of ESPN’s “TV Everywhere” streaming of its linear television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, etc.) and ESPN3 – to fans with a pay TV subscription. ESPN+ and ESPN’s authenticated streaming is also available on ESPN.com.

MAC fans who have any questions about the new ESPN App or ESPN+, may contact ESPN customer care:
    • Online: support.espn.com
    • Phone: 1-888-549-ESPN
    • ESPN App: Live Chat Feature
    • ESPN Customer Support Available: 9am-1am ET, 7 days a week