Mid-American Conference

MAC ANNOUNCES 2016 PRESEASON MEDIA FOOTBALL POLL
 
Western Michigan Picked to Win MAC West Division and MAC Football Championship Game;
Bowling Green Picked to win MAC East Division
  
Detroit, Mich. – The Western Michigan Broncos and Bowling Green Falcons have been selected to win the West and East Divisions respectfully in the 2016 Mid-American Conference Football Preseason Poll.  The poll was announced at the league’s annual MAC Football Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit and was determined by members of the league’s media members. Western Michigan was also selected to win the 2016 MAC Football Championship Game.
 
In the East Division, three-time defending East Division Champion Bowling Green was selected first with 136 total points, only two points greater that second-place selection Ohio Bobcats with 134 total points.  Akron finished third with 107 points followed by Buffalo, Miami and Kent State.
 
In the West Division, Western Michigan was selected first in the Division and led the entire poll with 144 total points.  Following the Broncos there was a narrow race for second as the Toledo Rockets ranked second with 113 points, while the NIU Huskies finished third with 112 total points.  Central Michigan ranked fourth with 98 points, followed by Ball State and Eastern Michigan.
 
This reflects on the competitive nature of the MAC.  In the last six years the conference has witnessed five different programs compete in the MAC Football Championship Game and in the last five years 11 different MAC football programs have received an invitation to a bowl game.
 
Bowling Green garnered 12 first-place votes en route to the favorite spot in the East Division.  The Falcons return 43 letter-winners and 12 starters from last year’s 10-4 team that won the MAC East Division for the third consecutive year and the MAC Football Championship Game for the second time in the last three years.  Bowling Green lost to Georgia Southern in the GoDaddy Bowl and will look to sustain the program’s overall success this year under first-year head coach Mike Jinks.  The Falcons will have to replace MAC Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Matt Johnson, and the trio of running back Travis Greene and wide receivers Roger Lewis and Gehrig Dieter.
 
Western Michigan racked up 19 first-place votes in the West Division to propel the Broncos to first place with a league-best 144 total points.  Western Michigan welcomes back 48 letter-winners and 13 starters from last year’s team that went 8-5 overall, 6-2 in Conference play. The Broncos shared the West Division title and went on to the program’s first ever bowl victory with a 45-31 win over Middle Tennessee in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
 
The Broncos offense will be paced by senior quarterback Zach Terrell, who threw for 3,510 yards and 29 touchdowns last season.  Wide receiver Corey Davis is his favorite target as the senior collected 90 receptions for 1,436 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.  Western Michigan’s running game is very impressive with sophomore Jamauri Bogan (1,051 yards and 16 touchdowns) and junior Jarvion Franklin (735 yards, 5 touchdowns) as the Broncos ranked second in the league last season with 204.6 yards rushing per game.
 
The 2016 season kicks off on Thursday, September 1 with Central Michigan hosting Presbyterian. The 2016 MAC Football Championship Game is Friday, December 2 at 7:00 pm from Ford Field in Detroit. The complete poll follows:
 
Team (First Place Votes) -- Points
MAC East Division
1.  Bowling Green (12) -- 136
2.  Ohio (10) -- 134
3.  Akron (4) -- 107
4.  Buffalo -- 75
5.  Miami -- 52
6.  Kent State -- 42
 
MAC West Division
1.     Western Michigan (19) -- 144
2.     Toledo (2) -- 113
3.     Northern Illinois (3) -- 112
4.     Central Michigan (2) -- 98
5.     Ball State -- 44
6.     Eastern Michigan -- 35
 
2016 MAC Championship Game Winner:  Western Michigan (19); Toledo (2); Northern Illinois (2); Central Michigan (1); Bowling Green (1); Akron (1).