2019 MAC Football Media Day Notes
2019 MAC FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY NOTES
DETROIT, Mich. – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) will host its 2019 Football Media Day on Tuesday, July 23, from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, from Ford Field in Detroit. The MAC Football Media Day kicks off the 2019 season, which officially begins on Thursday, Aug. 29, and will conclude with the 2019 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 7 from Ford Field.
Once again, this year’s MAC Football Media Day will be shown live on ESPN3 from 11:00 am ET to 2:00 pm ET. The ESPN3 production will highlight the league’s annual kickoff even as hosts Michael Reghi and Dustin Fox will visit with all MAC head coaches and several students during Media Day.
Joining MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher will be head coaches from our member institutions and two students from each university. Commissioner Steinbrecher will begin MAC Football Media Day and address the media at 11:00 am ET. All head coaches and students will be available to the media throughout MAC Football Media Day.
2019 MAC FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY: Tuesday, July 23, Ford Field - Detroit, Mich.
11:00 am – State of the Conference, Commissioner, Dr. Jon Steinbrecher
11:00 am - 2:30 pm - MAC Football Media Preview
2019 MAC Football Media Day Head Coaches and Student Participants
MAC East Division
Akron Head Coach Tom Arth; DB Alvin Davis; QB Kato Nelson
Bowling Green Head Coach Scot Loeffler; RB Andrew Clair; DL David Konowalski
Buffalo Head Coach Lance Leipold; RB Jaret Patterson; LB James Patterson
Kent State Head Coach Sean Lewis; QB Woody Barrett; LB Nick Faulkner
Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin; DL Doug Costin; RB Maurice Thomas
Ohio Head Coach Frank Solich; QB Nathan Rourke; DB Javon Hagan
MAC West Division
Ball State Head Coach Mike Neu; WR Malik Dunner; LB Jacob White
Central Michigan Head Coach Jim McElwain; OL Steve Eipper; DB Da’Quaun Jamison
Eastern Michigan Head Coach Chris Creighton; QB Mike Glass; DB Vince Calhoun
Northern Illinois Head Coach Thomas Hammock; RB Tre Harbison; S Mykelti Williams
Toledo Head Coach Jason Candle; QB Mitchell Guadagni; OL Bryce Harris
Western Michigan Head Coach Tim Lester; QB Jon Wassink; LB Najee Clayton
MAC 2019 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
The 2019 football schedule will feature 14 nationally televised games during the last month of the regular season 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 23rd Marathon MAC Football Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Noon ET (ESPN or ESPN2) from Ford Field in Detroit. This will mark the 16th 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 12th 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 Liberty, New Mexico State and UMass.
MAC programs will face eight non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Ohio State (3), Notre Dame (5), Kentucky (12) twice, Syracuse (15), Penn State (17), Cincinnati (24) and Iowa (25).
A total of 10 non-conference games will feature a Big Ten opponent (Illinois (2); Indiana; Iowa; Michigan State; Nebraska; Ohio State; Penn State; Wisconsin (2)). The MAC will face foes from the ACC (4—Miami (Fla.), North Carolina State, Pitt, Syracuse), SEC (4—Auburn, Kentucky (2), Vanderbilt), Pac-12 (2-Arizona State, Utah), Big 12 (1—Kansas State); and Independent Notre Dame, BYU, Liberty, New Mexico State and UMass.
The MAC will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference (2— Cincinnati, Temple), Mountain West (1—Colorado State), Conference USA (4—Florida Atlantic, La. Tech, Marshall, UAB) and Sun Belt Conference (4—Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy). This season the MAC will host 10 games against FBS non-conference opponents.
MAC PART OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF ERA
The 2019 college football season enters the sixth 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 (Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl; PlayStation Fiesta Bowl) on Dec. 28 and the College Football Playoff National Championship will be played in New Orleans (Mercedes-Benz Superdome) on Jan. 13.
The two Semifinals and four other New Year’s Six games AllState Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl presented by Northwestern Mutual (Jan. 1), Capital One Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Dec. 28) 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 New Year’s Six games.
MAC BOWL NOTES
• Northern Illinois won the 2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with a thrilling 30-29 win over Buffalo on Nov. 30. The win was NIU’s first championship since 2014 and the fifth championship in program history (2018, 2014, 2012, 2011, 1983). The Huskies have been a model of consistency in winning as NIU has won the MAC West Division seven times in the last nine years and the Huskies have been bowl eligible in 10 of the last 11 years.
• Six MAC programs received bowl invitations in the 2018 bowl season -- Northern Illinois (8-6), Buffalo (10-4), Ohio (9-4), Toledo (7-6), Western Michigan (7-6) and Eastern Michigan (7-6). The MAC record for bowl invitations in a single-season is seven in both the 2012 and 2015 bowl seasons. Miami (6-6) was one of four FBS teams to not receive a bowl invitation.
• Northern Illinois (Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl), Buffalo (Dollar General Bowl), Ohio (DXL Frisco Bowl), Toledo (Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl), Western Michigan (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) and Eastern Michigan (Raycom Media Camellia Bowl) represented the MAC during the 2018 bowl season.
• This marked the 11th time in MAC history to have five or more programs receive a bowl invitation (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018) in a single-season.
• In the previous eight bowl seasons, the MAC has a record of 13-33 in 46 bowl games – 2018 (1-5); 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 (2011-18).
• Buffalo (10-4, 7-1 MAC) won the MAC East Division for the first time since 2008. Buffalo’s 10 wins were the most since moving to FBS and joining the MAC in 1999. Buffalo was also bowl eligible for the second consecutive year. The Bulls made their third overall bowl appearance in program history.
• Over the last three seasons, the MAC had six different programs participate in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game. In 2016 Western Michigan defeated Ohio, 29-23, while 2017 witnessed Toledo with a 45-28 win over Akron and last year NIU defeated Buffalo, 30-29.
• In 2018, the MAC had eight FBS wins, including three wins over Big Ten opponents (Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers).
• In MAC crossover games in 2018, the East and West Divisions tied 9-9 in 18 games. Over the previous 11 years (2008-2018), 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 11 years. The West holds a 129-69 (.652%) regular season record in crossover games over the East during that span.
MAC 2018 BOWL RESULTS
• Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.) Georgia Southern 23, Eastern Michigan 21
• Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.) UAB 37, NIU 13
• DXL Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas) Ohio 27, San Diego State 0
• Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas) FIU 35, Toledo 32
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.) BYU 49, Western Michigan 18
• Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, Ala.) Troy 42, Buffalo 32
MAC PROGRAMS IN BOWL GAMES
In the last eight bowl seasons, every MAC football program has received a bowl invitation. Leading the way are Northern Illinois, Ohio and Toledo with bowl invitations in seven of the last eight bowl seasons.
2011-18 MAC Programs and Years Invited to Bowl Games
Northern Illinois (7): 2011; 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015; 2017; 2018
Ohio (7): 2011; 2012; 2013; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018
Toledo (7): 2011; 2012; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018
Central Michigan (5): 2012; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017
Western Michigan (5): 2011; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2018
Bowling Green (4): 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015
Akron (2): 2015; 2017
Ball State (2): 2012; 2013
Buffalo (2): 2013; 2018
Eastern Michigan (2): 2016; 2018
Kent State (1): 2012
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
2018: Northern Illinois; Buffalo; Ohio; Toledo; Western Michigan; Eastern Michigan
OHIO’S SOLICH THIRD ON MAC CAREER WINS LIST
Ohio head coach Frank Solich and his Bobcats finished 2018 with an 9-4 overall record and a second-place finish in the East Division, including a 27-0 shutout victory over San Diego State in the DXL Frisco Bowl on Dec. 19, 2018 for the first MAC shutout in a bowl game in league history. Solich continues to rise up the MAC career head coaching win list with 106 wins, which ranks third most in MAC history. Solich needs five wins to become the all-time winningest coach in MAC history.
Solich has been the model for consistency in coaching in the MAC. Solich arrived in Athens, Ohio in 2005 and is entering his 15th season running the Bobcats program. Solich and the Ohio Bobcats have garnered a bowl appearance in nine of the last 10 seasons and 10 of his 14 seasons at Ohio. Solich has a 106-75 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. 106, Frank Solich, Ohio, 2005-present
4. 79, Bob Pruett, Marshall, 1997-03
5. 77, Doyt Perry, Bowling Green, 1955-64
MAC WITH FOUR NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACHES FOR 2019 SEASON
The MAC will welcome four new football coach to the mix for the 2019 season as Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Northern Illinois all had changes in leadership.
Tom Arth-Akron: Arth was named the 28th head coach at Akron and just the sixth head coach for the Zips since moving up to Division I in 1987. Arth takes the reins at Akron after two seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga. In four seasons at John Carroll University, his alma mater, Arth owned a 40-8 overall record while guiding the Blue Streaks to three postseason appearances. His building of the John Carroll program was highlighted by road victories over two No. 1 ranked opponents in Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Arth was the 2016 Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and guided the Blue Streaks to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the third time in his four-year tenure. In the four seasons under Arth's leadership, John Carroll was among the nation's elite, finishing inside the top 25 every season including top-five finishes in 2016 (No. 3) and 2014 (No. 5). John Carroll won the league's automatic bid for the first time in school history in 2016, breaking Mount Union's run of 24 consecutive OAC titles. The Blue Streaks finished the season ranked No. 3 in the nation, tying a school record with a 12-2 overall tally and a 9-0 mark in league action. It was their first outright conference championship since 1989.
A native of Cleveland, Arth earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from John Carroll in 2003 where he played quarterback. He was a two-time All-American and set 18 school records. As a senior in 2002, he guided JCU to a 12-2 record, and East region championship, and a berth in to the NCAA Division III national semifinals for the first time in program history.
Arth spent three seasons (2003-05) as a backup quarterback to Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts. He spent part of those years playing in NFL Europe and was on the preseason roster with the Green Bay Packers in 2006.
Thomas Hammock-NIU: Hammock, a former Huskie player and assistant coach, returns to DeKalb as the 23rd head coach in the history of the NIU football program. Hammock returns to NIU after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens and is the first African-American head coach in NIU football history.
Hammock began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin, followed by two seasons as an assistant at NIU under Huskie Hall of Famer Joe Novak (2005-06). Hammock then served stints as an assistant coach at Minnesota and Wisconsin before joining the Baltimore Ravens organization for the 2014 season. In five seasons as the running backs coach he helped Baltimore's rushing attack finish in the top 11 in the NFL three times, including last season when the Ravens had the second-best rushing offense in the NFL (152.6 ypg). The Ravens made the playoffs twice in Hammock's time in Baltimore.
As a player, Hammock gained 2,432 rushing yards in his NIU career (1999-2002), which still ranks 13th all-time in Huskie history. He was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American (2000, '01) and a two-time First Team All-MAC honoree (2000, '01).
Scot Loeffler-Bowling Green: Loeffler was named the 20th head coach of the Bowling Green football program. Loeffler comes to Bowling Green after serving as Deputy Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator at Boston College. His coaching career, which spans back to his time as a student assistant at Michigan during the 1996 season, includes stops at Michigan, Central Michigan, Florida, Temple, Auburn, Virginia Tech and Boston College. He also spent a year coaching quarterbacks for the Detroit Lions.
Loeffler has coached seven quarterbacks who went on to play in the NFL – Tom Brady, Tim Tebow, Brian Griese, Chad Henne, Drew Henson, John Navarre and Logan Thomas. In 2018, Boston College scored 40+ points in four of its first five games, including an average of 52.7 points in consecutive wins over UMass, Holy Cross and Wake Forest. Loeffler's teams have played in 15 bowl games in the past 16 seasons he has been a college coach.
Loeffler has familiarity with the MAC as he was Central Michigan's quarterbacks coach from 2000-01. Prior to that, he was a graduate assistant and student assistant at Michigan, working with Brady and Griese. He was part of the Wolverines' undefeated national championship season in 1997. A native of Barberton, Ohio, Loeffler played quarterback at Michigan from 1993-96.
Jim McElwain-Central Michigan: McElwain was named the 29th head coach at Central Michigan and brings nearly 30 years of college coaching experience to Mt. Pleasant. McElwain was named the 2015 SEC Coach of the Year as he led Florida to 19 wins and back-to-back SEC East titles during his first two seasons, and he became the first head coach in the SEC to reach the SEC Championship Game in his first two seasons as head coach. McElwain led Colorado State to a 10-2 record in 2014 and was named the 2014 Mountain West Coach of the Year.
McElwain, a native of Montana, played quarterback in the early 1980s at Eastern Washington. He got his coaching start at that school as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant working with the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
McElwain also worked as an assistant at Montana State, Louisville, Michigan State, Fresno State and at Alabama. He also served as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the NFL in 2006. He was the offensive coordinator/quarterback coach at Alabama in 2009 when Michigan native Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy and the Crimson Tide captured two national championships.
ROURKE CONTINUES TO LEAD OHIO BOBCATS OFFENSE
Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke had another impressive season under center in leading the Ohio Bobcats to a 9-4 overall record, including a second-place finish in the MAC East Division. Rourke led the Bobcats to the first-ever MAC shutout in a bowl game with a commanding 27-0 win over San Diego State in the DXL Frisco Bowl to finish the 2018 season on a high note. Last year, Rourke continued his dual threat role within the Bobcat offense with 860 yards rushing and led the MAC with 15 rushing touchdowns on the ground, while passing for 2,434 yards and 23 touchdowns on 164-274 passing (59.9%) for 187.2 yards passing per game.
Rourke continued to spark the Ohio offensive engine as last year Ohio’s offense led the MAC in rushing offense with 258.3 yards per game, total offense with 466.8 yards per game and pass efficiency with a 154.2 rating, and also ranked second in the MAC in scoring with 40.1 points per game. Rourke’s 38 total touchdowns last season, 23 passing and 15 rushing, was tied for 16th best in a single-season in MAC history and he already has 36 career rushing touchdowns, which ranks tied for 22nd best in MAC history. Rourke is also accurate in the passing game as his 18-20 passing (90.0%) performance in a 27-26 win over Kent State is tied for 10th best single-game pass completion percentage in league history. As a team in 2018, Ohio’s 40 rushing touchdowns tied for fourth best in MAC history, the 3,358 net yards rushing ranked seventh best in league history and the 69 total touchdowns is tied for seventh best in MAC history.
YOUNG MAC RUNNING BACKS IMPACTING OFFENSES
A steady influx of young running backs had a dramatic impact during the 2018 season and should only continue its trend during the 2019 campaign. Last season as freshman running backs, Buffalo’s Jaret Patterson and Toledo’s Bryant Koback led their teams in rushing, while NIU sophomore running back Tre Harbison and Bowling Green sophomore Andrew Clair also led their teams in rushing. All four are returning this 2019 campaign and will be joined by Western Michigan’s LeVante Bellamy in aiming for the league’s rushing title in 2019.
Patterson, a native of Glendale, Md., was named All-MAC Second Team and was named MAC Freshman of the Year as he led Buffalo and ranked fourth in the MAC with 1,013 yards rushing (5.5 avg.) and ranked second in the MAC with 14 rushing touchdowns last season. Buffalo's rushing offense ranked fourth in the MAC with an average of 189.1 yards rushing per game. The Bulls set a program FBS record with a 10-4 overall record and an invitation to the 2018 Dollar General Bowl.
Koback, a native of Holland, Ohio, led the Rockets and ranked fifth in the MAC with 917 yards rushing and tied for second with 14 rushing touchdowns. Koback averaged 70.5 yards rushing per game as he helped Toledo to a 7-6 overall record and an invitation to the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl.
Harbison, a native of Shelby, N.C., was named All-MAC Second Team last season as he paced the Huskie rushing attack with 1,034 yards rushing, which ranked third in the MAC, and added five rushing touchdowns. Harbison carried the load down the stretch as NIU claimed the Marathon MAC Football Championship and earned an invitation to the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl.
Clair, a native of St. Louis, Mo., was named All-MAC Third Team last season as he led Bowling Green with 702 yards rushing (5.2 avg.) and five rushing touchdowns. Clair averaged 63.8 yards rushing per game.
Bellamy, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., was named All-MAC First Team as he led the Broncos and ranked second in the MAC with 1,228 yards (6.0 avg.) and six touchdowns as he averaged 94.5 yards rushing per game last season. Bellamy and the Broncos rushing attack ranked third in the MAC with an average of 199.5 yards rushing per game as Western Michigan received an invite to the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
OHIO’S ZERVOS ONE OF MAC’S MOST ACCURATE KICKERS
Ohio senior Louie Zervos has been a key figure in the success of the Ohio Bobcats during the last three seasons. Zervos has converted 57-70 career field goal attempts for an 81.4% percentage with ranks fifth best in MAC history. Last season, Zervos converted 13-17 field goals and was perfect on all 68 PATs as he ranked second in the MAC in scoring with 107 total points.
Zervos, a native of Tarpon Springs, Fla., has 335 career points, which ranks 13th best in MAC scoring history and his 57 career field goals is tied for 11th best in league history. 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. Zervos is aiming to top Toledo kicker Jameson Vest, who last year as a senior netted 109 points for a career total of 446 career points, which ranks second all-time in scoring in MAC history and ranks first among MAC kickers in career scoring.
2019 MAC BOWL PARTNERS
• College Football Playoff Host Bowl (Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic)
• Mobile Alabama Bowl (Mobile, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt)
• Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.; vs. American Athletic Conference or Conference USA)
• Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt)
• Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas; vs. Conference USA)
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.; vs. Mountain West)
• Secondary to Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, Mich.)
• Secondary to ESPN owned and operated bowl games
MAC TO FACE BIG TEN AS PRIMARY BOWL PARTER IN QUICK LANE BOWL IN 2020
In June, the Mid-American Conference, the Big Ten Conference and the Detroit Lions announced a six-year agreement (2020-2025) as primary partners of the Quick Lane Bowl played annually at Ford Field. Beginning in 2020, the MAC will return as a primary bowl partner of the annual bowl game played in Detroit. Since the start of the Quick Lane Bowl in 2014, MAC programs have been featured in two of the first five Quick Lane Bowls – Central Michigan in 2015 and Northern Illinois in 2017.
The MAC has a long association with Detroit and Ford Field as the MAC has held its Marathon MAC Football Championship Game as a neutral site championship event at Ford Field since 2004. Also, the MAC played the first-ever college football game at Ford Field as Toledo faced Boston College in the 2002 Motor City Bowl. Previously the MAC was a primary bowl partner with the Detroit-based Motor City Bowl (1997-2008) and the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (2009-2013).
With the addition of the Quick Lane Bowl, the MAC has expanded its bowl opportunities during the next six-year cycle beginning in 2020. The MAC will have a minimum six guaranteed bowl opportunities.
MYRTLE BEACH BOWL TO BEGIN IN 2020 BOWL SEASON
The MAC announced last November the creation of a newly created bowl game in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for a six-year period (2020-2025), which will be owned and operated by ESPN. The Myrtle Beach Bowl will be televised nationally on ESPN networks and will be played at Brooks Stadium, an open-air stadium opened in 2003 which seats nearly 21,000 fans on the campus of Coastal Carolina University.
The creation of the Myrtle Beach Bowl is an agreement with ESPN Events and the Mid-American Conference, Conference USA and the Sun Belt Conference, with each Conference participating in the bowl game four times during the six-year span. With the addition of the Myrtle Beach Bowl, the MAC has expanded its bowl opportunities during the next six-year cycle beginning in 2020. The MAC will have a minimum six guaranteed bowl opportunities.
MAC NON-CONFERENCE WINS
Last season the MAC finished the regular season with eight FBS non-conference wins over Purdue, Northwestern and Rutgers from the Big Ten Conference; Temple (American Athletic Conference); Nevada (Mountain West); Georgia State (Sun Belt Conference) and independent BYU and UMass.
In 2017, the MAC concluded its non-conference regular season schedule with 14 FBS wins, which tied for second most for the MAC since 2000. The most non-conference regular season wins by the MAC in a single year is 16 FBS wins in 2012, while the 14 FBS wins during the 2017 season matched the total from 2008. In 2017, the MAC had four ‘Autonomous Conference’ wins over Nebraska and Rutgers (Big Ten) and Kansas twice (Big 12).
WINS OVER NON-CONFERENCE FBS OPPONENTS
In 2018 the MAC earned eight 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:
2018: 8; Purdue, Northwestern, Rutgers, Temple, Nevada, BYU, UMass, Georgia State
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 VS BIG TEN OPPONENTS
With Buffalo’s 42-13 win at Rutgers on Sept. 22, 2018, Akron’s 39-34 win at Northwestern on Sept. 15, 2018 and Eastern Michigan’s 20-19 win at Purdue on Sept. 8, 2018, the MAC extended its streak of a regular season win vs. Big Ten opponents in each of the last 13 consecutive seasons (2006-2018), the longest streak in MAC history.
During this 13-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 (3); Penn State (1), Purdue (6) and Rutgers (2) for a total of 29 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
2018: Eastern Michigan beat Purdue; Akron beat Northwestern; Buffalo beat Rutgers
NIU WINS 2018 MARATHON MAC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Trailing by as many as 19 points late in the third quarter, Northern Illinois rallied to win the Marathon MAC Football Championship game over Buffalo, 30-29, on Nov. 30 at Ford Field. NIU took its first lead of the game with 1:09 to play as the Huskies captured their fourth MAC title in eight seasons. NIU scored the final 20 points of the game, culminating in a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Marcus Childers to wide receiver D.J. Brown as the Huskies completed the comeback. Childers finished 21-of-33 passing for a career high 300 yards and four touchdowns while also gaining 58 yards on 15 carries and was named the game’s Offensive MVP. NIU defensive end Sutton Smith was named the MAC Championship Game Defensive MVP after finishing with 10 tackles, including a pair of sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Trailing 29-10 late in the third quarter, Childers hit Brown for their first touchdown connection of the night, a 28-yard score, as the Huskies pulled within a dozen with 17 seconds left in the third. NIU’s defense allowed only 46 yards in the fourth quarter, came up with a three-and-out to give the ball right back to the offense, which needed four plays to score. Spencer Tears hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Childers as NIU cut the Buffalo lead to 29-24 with 12:51 to play. The Huskies got the ball back with 3:20 to play at their own 30-yard line. Childers looked to Brown down the right side and hauled in a 35-yard score as NIU took its first lead, 30-29, with 1:09 to play. Needing to go 75 yards in 69 seconds, Buffalo picked up a pair of first downs and reached the NIU 41, but the Huskie defense forced four-straight incompletions as the Bulls turned the ball over on downs and NIU claimed its fifth MAC Championship.
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–and three of the last five National Champions are former MAC head football coaches – 2015 and 2017 Alabaman’s Nick Saban (Toledo) and 2014 Ohio State’s Urban Meyer (Bowling Green). For the 2019 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).
American – Rod Carey-Temple (Northern Illinois).
Big Ten –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 WITH NINE STUDENTS SELECTED IN THE 2019 NFL DRAFT
The MAC had nine draft selections in the 2019 NFL Draft. Central Michigan DB Sean Bunting was selected by Tampa Bay in the second round, 39th overall, while NIU OT Max Scharping was picked by Houston in the second round, 55th overall. The nine MAC players selected were the most since the 2017 NFL Draft when 11 MAC players were selected. The MAC modern record for number of selections in an NFL Draft is 11 draft selections from both the 2017 and 2005 NFL Draft.
In recent years the MAC has had students selected among the top five overall in the NFL Draft. In the last seven years (2013-19), 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 2019 NFL Draft (9):
2nd round, 39th overall DB Sean Bunting (Central Michigan) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2nd round, 55th overall OT Max Scharping (Northern Illinois) by the Houston Texans
3rd round, 66th overall WR Diontae Johnson (Toledo) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
4th round, 106th overall DE Maxx Crosby (Eastern Michigan) by the Oakland Raiders
6th round, 175th overall DE Sutton Smith (Northern Illinois) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
6th round, 185th overall DB Ka'dar Hollman (Toledo) by the Green Bay Packers
6th round, 195th overall DB Xavier Crawford (Central Michigan) by the Houston Texans
6th round, 207th overall LB Ulysees Gilbert (Akron) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
6th round, 208th overall WR Scott Miller (Bowling Green) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
MAC EAST VS. MAC WEST
In 2018, the East and West Divisions faced each other in 18 crossover regular season games and tied 9-9 in those games. Over the previous 11 years (2008-2018), 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 11 years. The West holds a 129-69 (65.2%) regular season record in crossover games over the East during that span.
The West Division also has a 7-4 lead in the last 11 Marathon MAC Football Championship Games. From the West Division, Toledo (2017), Western Michigan (2016), Northern Illinois (2011, 2012, 2014, 2018) and Central Michigan (2009) have won the Conference Championship seven 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
2018 Tied 9-9; NIU (West) def. Buffalo (East), 30-29.
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.
STEINBRECHER NAMED TO USA FOOTBALL’S DEVELOPMENT MODEL COUNCIL
USA Football, the national governing body for football and a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, announced last February the formation of its Football Development Model Council to guide the formation of the first national application of a long-term athlete development model for the sport.
USA Football announced its 20-person council, which includes MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher as one of two collegiate administrators, as the council is led by Dr. Brian Hainline, the NCA’s Chief Medical Officer. The council is comprised of leaders across sports science, athletic development, youth, high school and college football.
Aligned with the U.S. Olympic Committee’s American Development Model, the Football Development Model (FDM) centers on physical literacy and developmentally appropriate skill instruction. The FDM serves as a framework for how football is presented, practiced and coached from youth through adulthood, spanning varying game types and options.
MAC COMMISSIONER STEINBRECHER ELECTED VICE CHAIR NCAA DI COUNCIL
Mid-American Conference commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher has been elected vice chair of the NCAA Division I Council. In his role as vice chair, Steinbrecher will serve as a key member of the Division I Council Coordination Committee, which conducts the business of the full Council between regular meetings. In the absence of the Council chair, Steinbrecher is responsible for leading both full Council and Council Coordination Committee meetings and teleconferences. He will also support the Council chair and handle any other responsibilities as requested by the Council chair or full Council.
The Council is comprised of representatives from all 32 Division I conferences and serves as the primary policy-making body for Division I and is responsible for the day-to-day decision making for the Division. Steinbrecher becomes the first commissioner to serve in a Council leadership position.
Steinbrecher is entering his 11th season as MAC Commissioner and is the only Division I Commissioner to have served at all three NCAA Division I Subdivisions (FBS, FCS, DI). Steinbrecher has recently orchestrated the development of a MAC Mental Health, Diversity & Inclusion and Academic Consortium programs.
Steinbrecher previously served on the NCAA Football Oversight Committee and the NCAA Football Competition Committee. Steinbrecher currently serves on the NCAA Transfer Working Group. Steinbrecher was also appointed to USA Football’s Developmental Model Council this past February.
