Mid-American Conference

This Week’s MAC Schedule:  Saturday, September 17
Akron at Marshall, Noon ET (CBS Sports Network)
Middle Tennessee at Bowling Green, Noon ET (American Sports Network/ESPN3)
Ohio at Tennessee, Noon ET (SEC Network)
Eastern Kentucky at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Fresno State at Toledo, 3:00 pm ET (WTOL TV Toledo/ESPN3)
UNLV at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Monmouth at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
San Diego State at NIU, 3:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Western Kentucky at Miami, 3:30 pm ET (BCSN/Time Warner Cable SportsChannel/ESPN3)
Western Michigan at Illinois, 4:00 pm ET (ESPNews)
Eastern Michigan at Charlotte, 6:00 pm ET (C-USA Network)
Buffalo at Nevada, 9:00 pm ET (Mountain West Network/Campus Insiders)

*Middle Tennessee at Bowling Green at Noon ET (American Sports Network affiliate listings)
Nationwide:  NESN Direct TV Channel 628; NESN Dish Network Channel 434)
Ohio:  Cincinnati (WKRC-3 (ASN); Columbus (WTTE-3 (ASN), WSYX-2 (MyTV/This TV); Dayton (WKEF-2 (ASN); Toledo (WNWO-2 (ASN)
Illinois:  CSN Chicago Plus in Chicago, Champaign, Peoria, Quincy and Rockford
Indiana:  CSN Chicago Plus in Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Lafayette, South Bend and Terre Haute; Indianapolis (WHMB-Independent); South Bend (WHME-Independent)
Michigan:  Flint (WBSF-CW); Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo (WWMT-2 (CW)
New York:  Buffalo (WNYO-2 (ASN); New York (WRNN-2 (ASN)
Tennessee:  Chattanooga (WFLI (MyTV); Nashville (WNAB-2 (ASN)

MAC Quick Notes
• Week Three will feature the MAC facing four opponents from both Conference USA (Akron at Marshall; Eastern Michigan at Charlotte; Middle Tennessee at Bowling Green; Western Kentucky at Miami) and the Mountain West Conference (UNLV at Central Michigan; San Diego State at NIU; Fresno State at Toledo; Buffalo at Nevada). MAC programs will play at Big Ten (Western Michigan at Illinois) and SEC (Ohio at Tennessee) opponents. In addition, the MAC will also face two FCS opponents.
• Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis topped the 4,000 career yard mark with a seven catch for 150 yards and three touchdown performance in a 70-21 win over North Carolina Central. Davis, who ranks third in MAC history with 4,005 career receiving yards, needs only 183 yards to become the MAC’s all-time leader in career receiving yards. Davis also sports the second-longest current consecutive reception streak in FBS with a catch in 38 straight games.
 
CENTRAL MICHIGAN AND OHIO DEFEAT BIG 12 OPPONENTS
The Mid-American Conference went 2-0 last week vs. Big 12 opponents as Central Michigan defeated No. 22 ranked Oklahoma State, 30-27, and the Ohio Bobcats beat Kansas, 37-21.
 
For Central Michigan, it marked the first win over a Top 25 opponent since 1991 (a 20-3 win at No. 18 Michigan State on Sept. 14, 1991). Chippewas quarterback Cooper Rush threw for 361 yards and four touchdowns, and completed 71.4% of his passes to 12 different receivers. Central Michigan led Oklahoma State in total yards (418-338), rushing yards (57-50), passing yards (361-288), time of possession (35:27-24:33), third down offense (8-of-15; 1-of-11) and sacks (4-3).
 
The Ohio Bobcats won their first game vs. a Big 12 opponent since beating Kansas in 1967. Ohio quarterback Greg Windham threw for 167 yards and one touchdown, while adding 146 yards rushing and one score. Ohio racked up 496 yards of offense and held Kansas to 232 yards of offense.
 
Following the Central Michigan - Oklahoma State contest, the MAC provided a statement on the officiating regarding the end of the game.
 
“The Mid-American Conference officiating crew from Saturday afternoon’s Central Michigan at Oklahoma State contest made an error on the final play of regulation. The crew made a misapplication of the rule and should not have extended the contest with one final play. Despite the error, this will not change the outcome of the contest.” Bill Carollo, Coordinator of Football Officials, Collegiate Officiating Consortium.
 
Rule 3, Section 2, Article 3.a.1. Periods, Time Factors & Substitutions
Exception: The period is not extended if the foul is by the team in possession and the statement of the penalty includes loss of down.
 
“The NCAA playing rules do not allow extension of the period when the penalty includes loss of down, under Rule 3-2-3. Intentional grounding of a forward pass during a down in which time in the quarter expires is such a play, because loss of down is part of the penalty. Thus the quarter should not have been extended,” said Rogers Redding, Secretary-Rules Editor, NCAA Football Rules Committee.
 
“As in all games involving the Mid-American Conference, every play within every game is thoroughly reviewed and graded on its accuracy and has impact on the evaluation for every official,” said Bill Carollo. On Sunday, Sept. 11 the MAC announced a two-game suspension for the eight-person crew that worked the Central Michigan at Oklahoma State game. The suspension will begin immediately.
 
THREE MAC STUDENTS CLIMB CAREER RECORD BOOK
Three MAC seniors have the opportunity to continue to climb up the MAC career record book this 2016 season. Senior 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. Also, Western Michigan senior wide receiver Corey Davis needs only 183 receiving yards to set the MAC career receiving record.
 
Central Michigan QB Cooper Rush
• Total Offense – 9,853 yards (17th MAC history)
• Career Attempts – 1,251 (18th MAC history)
• Career Completions – 790 (16th MAC history)
• Career Yards Passing – 9,952 (12th MAC history)
• Career Passing TDs – 72 (14th MAC history)
• Career Pass Completion % - 63.1 (790-1,251) (t-15th MAC history)
 
Western Michigan QB Zach Terrell
• Total Offense – 9,443 yards (22nd MAC history)
• Career Completions – 693 (22nd MAC history)
• Career Yards Passing – 9,028 (19th MAC history)
• Career Passing TDs – 68 (t-17th MAC history)
• Career Pass Completion % - 64.2 (686-1,068) (t-9th MAC history)
 
Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
• Career Receptions – 249 (12th MAC history)
• Career Receiving Yards – 4,005 (3rd MAC history)
• Career TD Receptions – 36 (4th MAC history)
 
MAC Announces Multi-Year Extension With Marathon Petroleum
The MAC announced on Sept. 5th a multi-year contract extension with Marathon Petroleum Company LP as the title sponsor for the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game through the 2018 college football season. This year marks the 20th anniversary for the MAC Football Championship Game, with Marathon as title sponsor for the 14th consecutive season with the previous 13 Championship Games at Ford Field in Detroit.
 
This year’s Marathon MAC Football Championship Game will be held Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN2. The Marathon MAC Football Championship Game is the second-longest running college football conference championship game in the nation. In addition, with Ford Field as the host, this also makes the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game is the second-longest consecutive venue outside of the SEC’s title game from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
 
Marathon Petroleum became the title sponsor of the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game in 2003 when No. 14 ranked Miami, led by Ben Roethlisberger, defeated No. 20 ranked Bowling Green, 49-27. This season’s 2016 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game will be the 14th year for Marathon as title sponsor and this three-year contract extension will ensure the continuation of this relationship with the MAC through the 2018 college football season.
 
The MAC began staging a conference football championship game in 1997 and originally the game was played on campus sites through 2003. The game moved to Detroit in 2004 and this year’s 2016 Marathon MAC Football Championship will mark the 13th season for the game at Ford Field.

HERB DEROMEDI NAMED TO CFP SELECTION COMMITTEE
Herb Deromedi, the winningest football coach in MAC and Central Michigan history, was named this past January as one of four new members on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. Deromedi will serve a three-year term on the 13-member committee that ranks the top 25 teams and determines the matchups for the four-team football playoff and the host bowls. Deromedi was selected by members of the College Football Playoff Management Committee, which is made up of all 10 Football Bowl Subdivision commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick.
 
Deromedi, who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007, started at Central Michigan in 1967 as an assistant coach under Roy Kramer. He succeeded Kramer as head coach in 1978 and compiled a 110-55-10 record, including 90 MAC victories. His teams earned three MAC titles and beat Michigan State in 1991 and 1992. Deromedi is also a member of the Central Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame (2000), the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (2004) and the MAC Hall of Fame (2012).
 
He left coaching after the 1993 season to become the director of athletics at Central Michigan for 12 years, and he previously served on the NCAA Football Issues Committee and is a former chair of the NCAA Football Rules Committee. His tenure was highlighted by an extensive upgrade of the campus’s athletic facilities, 34 MAC championships and eight MAC Institutional Academic Achievement Awards in a nine-year span.
 
MAC BOWL NOTES
• The MAC tied a Conference record with seven teams bowl eligible during the 2015 bowl season. The seven MAC bowl invitations for Bowling Green (10-4), Northern Illinois (8-6), Toledo (10-2), Ohio (8-5), Central Michigan (7-6), Western Michigan (8-5) and Akron (8-5) matched the Conference record for programs receiving a bowl invitation in a single season, which also occurred during the 2012 bowl season.
• Bowling Green (GoDaddy), Northern Illinois (San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia), Toledo (Marmot Boca Raton), Ohio (Raycom Media Camellia), Central Michigan (Quick Lane), Western Michigan (Popeyes Bahamas) and Akron (Famous Idaho Potato) represented the MAC during the 2015 bowl season.
• This marked the eighth time in MAC history for the Conference to have five or more programs receive a bowl invitation (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) 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 11 different MAC programs have appeared in a bowl game in that span (2011-15).
• Bowling Green won the 2015 Marathon MAC Football Championship with a 34-14 win over NIU on Dec. 4 at Ford Field in Detroit. This marked the second MAC Championship for Bowling Green in the last three seasons and the programs 12th overall Conference Championship (2015, 2013, 1992, 1991, 1985, 1982, 1965, 1964, 1962, 1961, 1959 and 1956). Bowling Green (10-4, 7-1 in the MAC) also clinched the East Division title for the program’s third consecutive East Division crown.
• Northern Illinois (8-6, 6-2) won its sixth consecutive MAC West Division title as the Huskies won the tie-breakers in the four-way tie for first place in the West with NIU, Toledo, Western Michigan and Central Michigan. All four teams are considered 2015 Co-West Division Champions, NIU won the tie-breaker to represent the West in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game.
• 2015 marked the third consecutive season that Bowling Green faced NIU in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game. In 2013, Bowling Green upset No. 14 ranked NIU, 47-27. In 2014, NIU defeated Bowling Green, 51-17, while the Falcons won the 2015 Championship with a 34-14 win over NIU.
• Northern Illinois has won six consecutive MAC West Division titles and appeared in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game since 2010. From the East Division, there have been four different programs during this period – Miami (2010); Ohio (2011); Kent State (2012) and Bowling Green (2013, 2014, 2015).
 
MAC 2015-16 BOWL RESULTS
• Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State 31, Ohio 29
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Akron 23, Utah State 21
• Marmot Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo 32, Temple 17
• San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia: Boise State 55, NIU 7
• GoDaddy Bowl: Georgia Southern 58, Bowling Green 27
• Popeyes Bahamas: Western Michigan 45, Middle Tennessee 31
• Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota 21, Central Michigan 14
 
MAC PROGRAMS IN BOWL GAMES
In the last five bowl seasons, 11 different MAC programs have received a bowl invitation, as Northern Illinois leads the MAC with five invitations during this span. Bowling Green (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), Ohio (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015) and Toledo (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) rank second with four invitations.
 
Central Michigan (2012, 2014, 2015), and Western Michigan (2011, 2014, 2015) each received three invitations in the last five years. Ball State (2012, 2013) had two bowl appearances, while Akron (2015), Buffalo (2013), Kent State (2012) and former MAC-member Temple (2011) received one bowl invite during the last five seasons. The only two members to not receive a bowl invitation in the last five years are Eastern Michigan and Miami.
 
MAC WITH THREE NEW HEAD COACHES FOR 2016
Three new head football coaches have joined the MAC for the 2016 season. Toledo named Jason Candle head coach on Dec. 2, 2015, while Bowling Green tabbed Mike Jinks to lead the Falcons program on Dec. 9, 2015. Ball State named Mike Neu as head football coach on Jan. 7, 2016.
 
Toledo: Jason Candle:  Candle was named head football coach at Toledo on Dec. 2. Candle, who previously served as Toledo’s associate head coach/offensive coordinator, replaces Matt Campbell, who left after four seasons as the Rockets’ leader to become the head coach at Iowa State. Candle becomes the 27th head football coach in the 95-year history of Toledo football.
 
Candle, 36, has been on the Rocket staff since 2009, when he was hired by former Toledo head coach Tim Beckman to coach the receivers. Candle was named the team’s offensive coordinator in 2012 shortly after Campbell assumed the head coaching position. Candle assumed the title of associate head coach in 2014. Under Candle’s guidance, the Toledo offense has been prolific. In 2015, the Rockets ended the regular season ranked second in the MAC in scoring offense (35.3) and third in total offense (463.3 yards per game). In 2014, Toledo led the MAC in just about every major offensive category, including scoring offense (36.6), total offense (490.5) and rushing offense (256.4).
 
Bowling Green: Mike Jinks:  Bowling Green tabbed Texas Tech Associate Head Coach Mike Jinks to lead the defending MAC Champion football program. Jinks, who also coached running backs for the Red Raiders, will become the 19th head coach in program history. Jinks, who comes to Bowling Green after spending the 2015 season as Associate Head Coach, has coached the Red Raiders’ running backs for the past three seasons.
 
Prior to his time at Texas Tech, he was a National Coach of the Year finalist while winning the 2010 Texas State Championship and compiling a record of 43-4 in his final three seasons at San Antonio powerhouse, Steele High School. Known for their prolific offense, Texas Tech has seen great success in 2015 under Jinks. The Red Raiders own the second-best offense in the country, totaling 7,134 yards in 12 games (594.5 yards per game). Texas Tech also had the second-best passing offense. The Red Raiders averaged 46.6 points per game (second in FBS) and had 33 touchdown drives under two minutes last season. Texas Tech also ranked inside the top five nationally for third-down conversions (.519), first downs offense (346), and offensive plays (1,002).
 
Mike Neu, Ball State:  Ball State University welcomed back one of its own as Mike Neu was named the new head coach for the Cardinal football program. Neu played collegiate football at Ball State where he was named 1993 MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Neu has 15 years of coaching experience with stops in the National Football League, Division I FBS football and the arena leagues. Most recently, Neu served the previous two seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints. In 2014 under Neu’s guidance, quarterback Drew Brees was selected to his franchise-record eighth Pro Bowl as a Saint. Brees led the league in completions (456), tied for first in passing yardage (4,952), ranked second in completion percentage (69.2) and tied for fifth in touchdown passes (33). In 2015, Brees once again led the NFL in passing yardage (4,870) while ranking second in completion percentage (68.3) and completions (428).
 
Neu, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, started 38-of-41 games at quarterback in his four seasons at Ball State (1990-93). He was honored with the MAC’s Vern Smith Award as the league’s most valuable player and the MAC Offensive Player of the Year award as a senior. That year, Neu and the Cardinals went 8-3-1 overall and 7-0-1 in league action to capture the MAC championship. In one of his greatest games as a collegiate quarterback, Neu threw for a Ball State record 469 yards and completed 28-of-40 passes against Toledo in 1993 to help the Cardinals rally from a 30-3 deficit and record the largest comeback in Ball State history, a 31-30 Homecoming victory.
 
NIU HUSKIES A LEADER FOR MOST WINS SINCE 2003
Northern Illinois has built an impressive resume over the last decade. Specifically, NIU has won the MAC West Division for the last six consecutive years, winning three Marathon MAC Football Championship Games (2011, 2012, 2014) and extending its MAC record with eight consecutive bowl invitations.
 
The Huskies have racked up 57 wins over the last five years which ranks fourth among all FBS football programs behind Oregon (62), Alabama (60) and Florida State (60). Since 2003, NIU ranks 18th in the nation with 113 wins among the current 128 FBS football programs.  Ranking: 1. Boise State (148); 2. Ohio State (142); 3. Oklahoma (137); 4. LSU (134); 5. Alabama (132); 6. USC (131); 7. Oregon (130); 8. TCU (128); t9. Florida State (127); t9. Wisconsin (127); t9. Georgia (127); 12. Virginia Tech (122); 13. Florida (121); t14. Texas (120); t14. Clemson (120); 16. Utah (117); 17: Auburn (116); 18. West Virginia (114); t19. Northern Illinois (113); t19. BYU (113); t19. Navy (113); 22. Nebraska (112); 23. Louisville (111); t24. Missouri (110); t24. Cincinnati (110).
 
In addition, the Huskies have earned wins against non-conference opponents from the larger conferences, or so-called ‘Power Five’ Conferences.  Since 2003, NIU, along with the Toledo Rockets, have each won nine games against opponents from the ‘Power Five’ Conferences, which ranks tied for eighth most among FBS Conferences. Ranking: 1. Navy (22); 2. BYU (21); 3. Fresno State (14); t4. Houston (13); t4. Boise State (13); t4. East Carolina (13); 7. Hawaii (10); t8. Northern Illinois (9); t8. Toledo (9).
 
NIU has won a game vs. the ‘Power Five’ programs in three of the last four years and five of the last seven years. NIU wins vs. ‘Power Five’ programs since 2003: 2014 at Northwestern; 2013 at Iowa; at Purdue; 2012 vs. Kansas; 2010 at Minnesota; 2009 at Purdue; 2003 vs. Maryland; at Alabama; vs. Iowa State.
 
In 2015 Toledo defeated both Arkansas and Iowa State. Toledo had a stretch of five consecutive years with wins over ‘Power Five’ Conference opponents from 2006-2010. Toledo wins vs. ‘Power Five’ programs since 2003: 2015 vs. Arkansas and Iowa State; 2012 vs. Cincinnati; 2010 at Purdue; 2009 vs. Colorado; 2008 at Michigan; 2007 vs. Iowa State; 2006 vs. Kansas; 2003 vs. Pittsburgh.
 
SIX MAC STUDENTS SELECTED IN 2016 NFL DRAFT; MAC WITH 73 FORMER STUDENTS ON NFL ROSTERS
This past Spring the MAC witnessed six former students selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. Leading the way was Western Michigan offensive tackle Willie Beavers, who was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round, 121st overall. Beavers and the six MAC draft choices will pursue their professional careers in the NFL and join the lengthy list of former MAC students now in the NFL. Beavers is one of 73 former MAC students on current NFL rosters.
 
MAC Students Selected In 2016 NFL Draft
4th rd. (121): OT Willie Beavers (Western Michigan) by Minnesota
5th rd. (140): WR Tajae Sharpe (UMass) by Tennessee
5th rd. (175): LB Jatavis Brown (Akron) by San Diego
6th rd. (212): S Kavon Frazier (Central Michigan) by Dallas
6th rd. (216): RB Darius Jackson (Eastern Michigan) by Dallas
7th rd. (230): WR Daniel Braverman (Western Michigan) by Chicago
 
OHIO’S SOLICH MOVING UP MAC CAREER WINS LIST
Ohio head coach Frank Solich and his Bobcats finished 2015 with an 8-5 overall record. Solich continues to rise up the MAC career head coaching win list with 81 wins, which ranks third most in MAC history. Last year he surpassed former Toledo head coach, Gary Pinkel (73 career victories), former Bowling Green head coach Doyt Perry (77 career wins) and former Marshall head coach Bob Pruett (79 career wins) on this list.
 
Solich has been the recent model for consistency in coaching in the MAC. Solich arrived in Athens, Ohio in 2005 and now in his 12th season running the Bobcats program has garnered a bowl appearance in six of the previous 10 seasons. During his coaching career at Ohio, Solich has a record of 81-62.
 
Most MAC Head Coaching Wins, Career
1. 110, Herb Deromedi, Central Michigan, 1978-93
2. 108, Bill Hess, Ohio, 1958-77
3. 81, Frank Solich, Ohio, 2005-present
4. 79, Bob Pruett, Marshall, 1997-03
 
FLECK SECOND YOUNGEST FBS HEAD COACH
For the fourth consecutive year, Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck, 36, is one of the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I (FBS). Fleck is entering his fourth year at the helm of the Broncos with a 17-21 record as head coach. In 2016 Fleck is the second youngest head coach at the FBS level, only to Memphis’ new head coach Mike Norvell. The previous three seasons (2013-15) Fleck was the youngest head coach at the FBS level.
 
Fleck led the Broncos to the program’s first ever bowl win with a 45-31 win over Middle Tennessee in the 2015 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl and finished the season with an 8-5 overall record, 6-2 in the MAC with a tie for first place in the West Division. Western Michigan was bowl eligible for the second consecutive year for the first time in program history. In 2014, Western Michigan posted an impressive turnaround season with an 8-5 overall record, including an invitation to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, after a 1-11 record in 2013.
 
Coach, School, Age (Date of Birth)
Mike Norvell, Memphis 34 (11-11-81)
P.J. Fleck, Western Michigan 35 (11-29-80)
Neal Brown, Troy 36 (3-11-80)
Kliff Klingsbury, Texas Tech 36 (8-9-79)
Matt Campbell, Iowa State 36 (11-29-79)
 
MAC VS BIG TEN OPPONENTS
With Western Michigan’s 22-21 win over Northwestern to open the 2016 season on Sept. 3, the MAC has won a regular season game vs. Big Ten opponents in each of the last 11 consecutive seasons (2006-2016), the longest streak in MAC history. During this 11-year span, MAC teams have defeated 10 different Big Ten teams—Illinois (2); Indiana (5); Iowa (3); Maryland (1); Michigan (1); Michigan State (1); Minnesota (2); Northwestern (2); Penn State (1) and Purdue (5) -- for a total of 23 wins during this span.
 
2006: Ohio beat Illinois
2007: BGSU beat Minnesota; WMU defeated Iowa
2008: WMU beat Illinois; CMU 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 St.; Ball State beat Indiana; CMU beat Iowa
2013: NIU beat Purdue; NIU beat Iowa
2014: BGSU beat Indiana; NIU beat NW; CMU beat Purdue
2015: BGSU beat Maryland and Purdue
2016: WMU beat Northwestern
 
In 2015, the MAC finished with a 2-10 overall record against Big Ten opponents -- with two wins by Bowling Green over Purdue and Maryland. In 2014, the MAC had three wins vs. Big Ten opponents — Purdue, Northwestern and Indiana, which marked the fourth time in MAC history with three wins vs. Big Ten opponents (2000, 2003, 2012 and 2014). The most wins in a single season by the MAC over Big Ten opponents is four games (2008).
 
MAC HEAD COACHES IN HIGH DEMAND
Football programs continue to take notice of MAC head coaches. There are 12 former head coaches from the MAC in a current FBS head coaching position–including each of the last two National Champion’s with 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 2016 season, 25 of the 128 FBS coaches (19.5%) will be either current or former MAC head coaches. The 25 current FBS coaches include the current 12 MAC head football coaches and 13 former MAC head football 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), Darrell Hazell-Purdue (Kent State).
Big 12 – Jim Grobe-Baylor (Ohio), Matt Campbell-Iowa State (Toledo).
Ind. – Brian Kelly-Notre Dame (Central Michigan), Mark Whipple (UMass).
SEC-Nick Saban-Alabama (Toledo), Butch Jones-Tennessee (Central Michigan)
Sun Belt – Doug Martin-New Mexico State (Kent State).
 
HUSKIES EXTEND MAC CONSECUTIVE BOWL MARK
Northern Illinois extended its MAC record for consecutive bowl appearances by a member of the Conference. The Huskies were bowl eligible for the eighth straight year and faced Boise State in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23. Their current eight consecutive bowl appearances is the best ever in the 70-year history of the MAC. Beyond appearing in eight consecutive bowl games, the Huskies will have done so with four different head coaches-- Jerry Kill (2008, 2009), interim Tom Matukewicz (2010), Dave Doeren (2011) and current Head Coach Rod Carey (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015).
 
Eight (8) Northern Illinois Consecutive Bowl Appearances:
2008: Independence Bowl: 17-10 loss to Louisiana Tech
2009: International Bowl: 27-3 loss to South Florida
2010: Humanitarian Bowl: 40-17 win over Fresno State
2011: GoDaddy.com Bowl: 38-20 win over Arkansas State
2012: Discover Orange Bowl: 31-10 loss to Florida State
2013: S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia: 21-14 loss to Utah St.
2014: Boca Raton Bowl: 52-23 loss to Marshall
2015: S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia: 55-7 loss to Boise St.
 
MAC 2016 BOWL PARTNERS
In 2014 the MAC announced the creation of newly created bowl games in Boca Raton, Fla., Nassau, Bahamas and Miami Beach, Fla. for a six-year period (2014-2019), in addition to the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.  These new bowl games increase the guaranteed bowl invitations for the MAC to five each football season.
 
The Marmot Boca Raton Bowl, Popeyes Bahamas Bowl and Raycom Media Camellia Bowl join MAC bowl partners Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, Ala.) and Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.) as primary bowl partners.
The MAC is a partner with the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl as a primary partner in 2017 and 2019, and a secondary partner in 2016 and 2018 bowl seasons. The MAC will play the Mountain West in both the 2017 and 2019 bowl seasons, played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. In the fall of 2014, the MAC announced a six-year (2014-9) backup agreement with the newly-formed Quick Lane Bowl, owned and operated by the Detroit Lions and Ford Field. The MAC also is a backup to various ESPN owned and operated bowl games (St. Petersburg, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.).
 
2016 Bowl Season:
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)
Miami Beach Bowl (Miami, Fla.; vs. American Athletic)
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas; vs. AAC/C-USA)
Marmot Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla., vs. AAC/C-USA)
*Secondary in San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
*Secondary to ESPN owned and operated bowl games
*Secondary to Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, Mich.)
 
WINS OVER NON-CONFERENCE FBS OPPONENTS
In 2015 the MAC had 12 non-conference FBS wins and topped the 2014 non-conference win total (8) vs. FBS opponents during the regular season. The MAC set the Conference single-season record with 16 wins over FBS opponents during the 2012 season. Dating back to the 2000 season, the previous mark for MAC’s number of wins vs. FBS opponents was 14 regular season wins in the 2008 season.
 
Regular Season Wins vs. non-conference FBS opponents:
Year: Wins; FBS Opponents Defeated:
2016: 5; Northwestern, Arkansas State, Georgia State; Oklahoma State; Kansas
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