Mid-American Conference

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE 2016 BOWL SCHEDULE
Dec. 17: Raycom Media Camellia Bowl -- Montgomery, Ala.; 5:30 pm ET (ESPN) 
Toledo (9-3, 6-2 MAC) vs. Appalachian State (9-3, 7-1, Sun Belt)
Toledo finished second in the MAC West Division. First-year head coach Jason Candle will be leading the Rockets to his second-bowl game, as last year Candle replaced Matt Campbell as Toledo defeated Temple, 32-17, in the 2015 Marmot Boca Raton Bowl. Toledo will be making its third consecutive bowl appearance and its Conference leading 16th bowl appearance in program history (11-4 record). 
 
Dec. 19:  Miami Beach Bowl -- Miami, Fla.; 2:30 pm ET (ESPN)
Central Michigan (6-6, 3-5 MAC) vs. Tulsa (9-3, 6-2, American Athletic)
Second-year head coach John Bonamego led Central Michigan to non-conference wins over Oklahoma State and UNLV. The program will be making its third consecutive bowl appearance and its fourth in the last five years. Quarterback Cooper Rush ranks second in MAC history in career passing yards (12,390), third in total offense (12,291) and tied for fifth in career passing touchdowns (90).
 
Dec. 23: Popeyes Bahamas Bowl -- Nassau, Bahamas, 1:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Eastern Michigan (7-5, 4-4 MAC) vs. Old Dominion (9-3, 7-1, C-USA)
Eastern Michigan is making its first bowl appearance since 1987 and had the program’s first winning season since 1995. Head coach Chris Creighton led the Eagles and were tied for the biggest turnaround in FBS by improving its win total from one win in 2015 to seven this season. This is Eastern Michigan’s second bowl appearance (30-27 win vs. San Jose State in 1987 California Raisin Bowl).
 
Dec. 23:  Dollar General Bowl -- Mobile, Ala. 8:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Ohio (8-5, 6-2 MAC) vs. Troy (9-3, 6-2, Sun Belt)
Ohio are the MAC East Division Champions and suffered a 29-23 loss to Western Michigan in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game. Head coach Frank Solich is the third-winningest head coach in MAC history with an 88-66 record.  The Bobcats have been bowl eligible in 10 of the 12 years under Solich and will be making their eighth bowl appearance during his coaching tenure. 
 
Dec. 26: St. Petersburg Bowl -- St. Petersburg, Fla., 11:00 am ET (ESPN)
Miami (6-6, 6-2 MAC) vs. Mississippi State (5-7, 3-5, SEC)
Miami set an FBS record as the first program to win six consecutive games after starting the season with an 0-6 record. Third-year head coach Chuck Martin and the RedHawks will be making the program’s first bowl game since 2010. This will be Miami’s 11th overall bowl appearance (7-3 bowl record).
 
Jan. 2: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic -- Arlington, Texas, 1:00 pm ET (ESPN)
No. 15 Western Michigan (13-0, 8-0 MAC) vs. No. 8 Wisconsin (10-3, 7-2, Big Ten)
Western Michigan is one of two programs undefeated in FBS this season and has the second-longest current winning streak in the nation (15 games). Western Michigan won the 2016 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with a 29-23 win over Ohio, the program’s first MAC Championship since 1988. Broncos’ 13-0 record set a school mark and making its first ever New Year’s Six Bowl appearance.
 
MAC Notes
• Western Michigan won the 2016 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with a 29-23 win over Ohio on Dec. 2. The win was Western Michigan’s first championship since 1988 and the second football title in program history.
• Western Michigan is ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 14 in the Amway/USA Today Coaches Poll.  The No. 12 AP ranking is the highest in the MAC since Ball State was ranked No. 12 on Nov. 30, 2008 after a 12-0 start.
• The Broncos were also ranked No. 15 in the sixth and final College Football Playoff ranking on Dec. 4. Western Michigan is one of only two teams (Alabama 13-0) that remain undefeated. Western Michigan is bowl eligible for the third straight year. 
• Western Michigan’s 13-0 mark is the first for the MAC since former member Marshall finished the 1999 season with a 13-0 record and a No. 10 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.     
• Six MAC programs received bowl invitations this 2016 bowl season -- Western Michigan (13-0), Toledo (9-3), Ohio (8-5), Eastern Michigan (7-5), Central Michigan (6-6) and Miami (6-6). The MAC record for bowl invitations in a single-season is seven in both the 2012 and 2015 bowl seasons.
• Western Michigan (Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic), Ohio (Dollar General Bowl), Toledo (Raycom Media Camellia Bowl), Eastern Michigan (Popeyes Bahamas Bowl), Central Michigan (Miami Beach Bowl) and Miami (St. Petersburg Bowl) will represent the MAC this 2016 bowl season.
• This marks the ninth time in MAC history to have five or more programs receive a bowl invitation (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016) in a single-season.
• In the previous five bowl seasons, the MAC has a record of 11-18 in 29 bowl games – 2015 (3-4); 2014 (2-3); 2013 (0-5); 2012 (2-5); 2011 (4-1) as ten different MAC programs have appeared in a bowl game during this span (2011-15). 
• Ohio (8-5, 6-2 MAC) won the MAC East Division for the fourth time in the last 11 seasons under head coach Frank Solich. The Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with Western Michigan and Ohio ended a streak of the previous three games (2013-2015) featuring Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green.
 
WESTERN MICHIGAN’S COREY DAVIS SETS FBS MARK
Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis added eight receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game over Ohio. Davis ended the regular season with eight receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown in a 55-35 win over Toledo on Nov. 25.  This season Davis set the MAC career leader in receiving yards, receptions and touchdown receptions. Davis also set the FBS career receiving yards record with 5,212 career yards, surpassing the career mark of 5,005 yards receiving set by Trevor Insley of Nevada from 1996-99. For his career, Davis holds the MAC career receiving records in receptions (326), yards (5,212) and touchdowns (51). Davis also leads the nation with 18 touchdown receptions this year.
 
WESTERN MICHIGAN GARNERS NATIONAL ATTENTION
Western Michigan is ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, No. 13 in the Amway/USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 15 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Western Michigan (13-0) joins Alabama (13-0) as the only two programs that remain undefeated in FBS football this season. The Broncos have now won a program-record 15 straight games, which is the second longest current winning streak in the country behind Alabama (25). Western Michigan is 20-2 in its last 22 games, which is also the best record over 22 games in program history. Western Michigan’s 29 wins over the last three years are the most in a three-year span in program history.  
 
On Saturday, Nov. 19, Western Michigan hosted ESPN College GameDay, college football’s longest running and most-celebrated pregame show, for only the second time in MAC history. The ESPN GameDay crew with host Rece Davis, analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack, as well as contributors Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica, Samantha Ponder, Tom Rinaldi, George Whitfield and Gene Wojciechowski, were joined in Kalamazoo by Western Michigan and NFL alum Greg Jennings. The previous visit by ESPN College GameDay to a MAC campus came in 2003 with Northern Illinois at Bowling Green. 
 
WOODSIDE & TERRELL LEADERS IN PASS EFFICIENCY
Key quarterback play continues to be on display each week with some of the elite MAC football programs. The MAC features two of the top four quarterbacks in the country in pass efficiency. Toledo junior quarterback Logan Woodside ranks second in the nation with a 183.9.0 pass efficiency rating as the Rockets finished second in the MAC West with a 9-3 overall record, 6-2 in the MAC. Woodside has thrown for 3,882 yards on 271-392 passing for 43 touchdowns. Woodside leads the nation with his 43 passing touchdowns. Western Michigan’s Zach Terrell ranks fourth in the country with a 180.6 rating. The Broncos won the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game and West Division as Terrell has the Bronco offense cruising with his 247-349 passing for 3,376 yards and 32 touchdowns.
 
WOODSIDE HAS ROCKETS OFFENSE SOARING
Toledo junior quarterback Logan Woodside is having his best season as a collegiate signal caller in leading the Rockets offense. Woodside leads the nation with 43 passing touchdowns, ranks second in passing efficiency and seventh with 3,882 passing yards. Woodside’s 43 passing touchdowns are the second most in MAC single-season history, behind last year’s record setting performance by Bowling Green’s Matt Johnson (46 touchdowns, 2015). In addition, Woodside’s 3,882 yards passing this season is the eighth highest in MAC single-season history.
 
MIAMI SIX-GAME WIN STREAK SETS FBS HISTORY
Miami is riding a six-game winning streak to end the regular season bowl eligible with a 6-6 overall record, 6-2 in the MAC.  Miami set the record as the only program in FBS history to begin a season 0-6, then win six consecutive games to finish 6-6 overall.  Miami is bowl eligible for the first time since the 2010 season. Miami will face Mississippi State in the St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 26 at 11:00 am ET.
 
FOUR MAC STUDENTS CLIMB CAREER RECORD BOOK
Four MAC seniors continue to climb up the MAC career record book this 2016 season. Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis has re-written the MAC career record book this season as the new leader in career receptions, yards and touchdowns. Quarterbacks Cooper Rush (Central Michigan) and Zach Terrell (Western Michigan) rank among career leaders in total offense, attempts, completions, yards passing, touchdowns and completion percentage. Toledo running back Kareem Hunt has climbed in career rushing records.
 
Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
• Career Receptions – 326 (1st MAC history)
• Career Receiving Yards – 5,212 (1st MAC history)
• Career TD Receptions – 51 (1st MAC history)
 
Central Michigan QB Cooper Rush
• Total Offense – 12,546 yards (3rd MAC history)
• Career Attempts – 1,598 (5th MAC history)
• Career Completions – 997 (5th MAC history)
• Career Yards Passing – 12,646 (2nd MAC history)
• Career Passing TDs – 90 (6th MAC history)
• Career Pass Completion % - 62.4 (997-1,598) (22nd MAC history)
 
Western Michigan QB Zach Terrell
• Total Offense – 12,537 yards (4th MAC history)
• Career Attempts – 1,359 (tied for 13th MAC history) 
• Career Completions – 899 (10th MAC history)
• Career Yards Passing – 11,931 (4th MAC history)
• Career Passing TDs – 95 (4th MAC history)
• Career Pass Completion % - 66.15 (899-1,359) (3rd MAC history)
 
Toledo RB Kareem Hunt
• Career Yards Rushing – 4,825 (4th MAC history)
• Career Rushing TDs – 42 (14th MAC history)
• Career Rushing Attempts – 760 (19th MAC history)
 
2016 ANOTHER HISTORIC YEAR IN THE MAC
The 2016 season witnessed several special historical accomplishments in league history, including both the high-powered offenses from Western Michigan and Toledo. Western Michigan’s 6,457 yards of total offense is the ninth highest in the history of the MAC, while Toledo’s 44 passing touchdowns rank second in MAC history and the 3,949 yards passing is 10th best in league history. Also, consider the following individual statistical accomplishments and where they rank in single-season MAC historical records. 
 
Toledo junior quarterback Logan Woodside offensive numbers:
• 3,882 yards passing: 8th in MAC history
• 43 passing touchdowns: 2nd in MAC history (46, Matt Johnson, Bowling Green, 2015)
 
Western Michigan quarterback Zach Terrell offensive numbers:
• 70.77 completion percentage (247-349): 3rd in MAC history
• 32 passing touchdowns: tied for 10th in MAC history 
 
Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis offensive numbers:
• 18 touchdown receptions:  3rd in MAC history
• 1,427 receiving yards: 9th in MAC history
• 91 receptions: tied for 25th in MAC history
 
Ohio redshirt freshman kicker Louis Zervos scoring numbers:
• 26 field goals made: 1st in MAC history
 
DAVIS FIRST BRONCO CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICAN
Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis has earned the title of NCAA Consensus All-American after being named to the first-team in three of the five official organizations used to determine the honor. Davis becomes the first player in Western Michigan history and the first from the MAC since Dri Archer of Kent State in 2012 to earn the honor and the eighth league selection in MAC history.
 
Davis earned Consensus All-American status after receiving first-team all-america honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association of America. He was named Second-Team All-American from the Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the other two official organizations in the pool. To be considered a Consensus All-American one must receive three first-team honors from the above mentioned organizations.
 
Davis posted his third straight 1,400 yard season this year with a career-high 91 catches for 1,427 yards and 18 touchdowns. Earlier this year he became the all-time leading FBS receiver in history. He now has 5,212 yards in four seasons and is the first receiver in FBS history with four seasons of 900+ yards.
 
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
 
2016 MAC ALL-AMERICANS
Since the conclusion of the regular season, the MAC has been represented with several post-season All-American honors.
 
The Associated Press:
• First-Team All-American:  Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
USA Today:
• First-Team All-American:  Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
Sports Illustrated:
• First-Team All-American:  Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
CBS Sports:
• First-Team All-American:  Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
Walter Camp Football Foundation:
• Second-Team All-American:  Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
The Sporting News:
• Second-Team All-American:  Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
Football Writers Association of America (FWAA):
• First-Team All-American: Western Michigan WR Corey Davis 
• First-Team All-American: Toledo TE Michael Roberts 
• Second-Team All-American: Western Michigan OL Taylor Moton
American Football Coaches Association (AFCA):
• First-Team All-American: Western Michigan WR Corey Davis 
• Second-Team All-American: Western Michigan OL Taylor Moton
 
2016 MAC NON-CONFERENCE WINS
The MAC concluded its non-conference regular season schedule with 14 FBS wins, which tied for second most for the MAC since 2000. The MAC posted 16 FBS wins in 2012, while this year’s 14 FBS wins matched the 2008 mark and surpassed last year’s total of 12 FBS wins.In 2016 the MAC also has four ‘Power Five’ wins over Northwestern and Illinois (Big Ten) and Oklahoma State and Kansas (Big 12).  Among the ‘Group of Five’ Conferences this season, the MAC posted a 3-2 regular season record vs. both Conference USA and the Sun Belt Conference, while sporting a 3-3 record vs. the Mountain West Conference and a 0-3 mark vs. the American Athletic Conference.  
 
MAC HISTORY IN TOP 25 RANKINGS IN NATIONAL POLLS
Western Michigan ended the 2016 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with a 13-0 record and invitation to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 2. Western Michigan is ranked No. 12 (AP), No. 14 (Amway/USA Today Coaches Poll) and No. 15 in the College Football Playoff Ranking.  Western Michigan’s No. 12 (AP) ranking on Dec. 4, 2016 is the highest ranking since Ball State was ranked No. 12 (AP) after finishing the 2012 season (Nov. 30) with a 12-0 record. 
 
MAC Highest Ever Ranking (Top 10) in National Polls:
• No. 10 (AP) – Miami – Jan. 2 at the end of the 1974 season (10-0-1).
• No. 10 (AP) – Miami – Jan. 5 at the end of the 2003 season (13-1).
• No. 10 (BCS) – Northern Illinois – Oct. 19 after a 7-0 start in 2003.
• No. 10 (AP) – former member Marshall on Jan. 5 end of 1999 (13-0).
 
MAC HISTORY OF TOP 10 WINS
Western Michigan will face No. 8 Wisconsin in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 2. In MAC history, the Conference has four wins over teams ranked in the Top 10:
 
MAC Wins Over Top 10 Programs:
No. 6: 2003: Marshall 27-20 win at No. 6 Kansas State (9/20/03)
No. 8: 1986: Miami 21-12 win at No. 8 LSU (9/20/86)
No. 9: 1962:  Miami 10-7 win at No. 9 Purdue (10/13/62)
No. 9: 2003:  Toledo 35-31 win vs. No. 9 Pittsburgh (9/20/03)
 
MAC PROGRAMS IN BOWL GAMES
In the last six bowl seasons, every MAC football program will have received a bowl invitation. Leading the way are Northern Illinois, Ohio and Toledo with bowl invitations in five of the last six bowl seasons.
 
2011-16 MAC Programs and Years Invited to Bowl Games
Northern Illinois (5): 2011; 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015
Ohio (5): 2011; 2012; 2013; 2015; 2016
Toledo (5): 2011; 2012; 2014; 2015; 2016
Bowling Green (4): 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015
Western Michigan (4):  2011; 2014; 2015; 2016
Central Michigan (4):  2012; 2014; 2015; 2016
Ball State (2):  2012; 2013
Akron (1):  2015
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 and Akron
2016:  Western Michigan, Ohio, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Miami
 
EASTERN MICHIGAN’S 2016 DRAMATIC TURNAROUND
Eastern Michigan is headed to a bowl game for the first time since the 1987 season. Eastern Michigan finished the season with a 7-5 overall record, 4-4 in the grueling MAC West Division, and a winning season for the first time since the 1995 season. Led by head coach Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan was tied for the biggest turnaround in FBS in 2016 by improving on its win total from one win in 2015 to seven wins this 2016 season. Eastern Michigan will face Old Dominion in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 23 at 1:00 pm ET on ESPN. This is Eastern Michigan’s second bowl appearance as the only other appearance was a 30-27 win over San Jose State in 1987 in the California Raisin bowl in Fresno, Calif.