MAC Announces Updated 2017 Football Schedule
MAC ANNOUNCES UPDATED 2017 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
2017 schedule features 22 late October and November nationally televised games on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network
Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced an updated version of the 2017 football schedule today. Highlighting the schedule will be 22 nationally televised games during late October and November slated for national television on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network as the conference race unfolds in both the East and West divisions.
All other Conference home contest kick times and television will be announced 12 days prior to the scheduled game.
The regular season will conclude with the 21st Marathon MAC Football Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 2nd at a time to be determined from Ford Field in Detroit. This will mark the 14th 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 10th 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 and Notre Dame. In addition, the Conference will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Independent Army.
Last year’s MAC champion Western Michigan was ranked No. 15 in the final Associated Press Top 25 Poll. MAC programs will face six non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Clemson (1), USC (3), Penn State (7), Miami (20), Louisville (21) and San Diego State (25).
A total of nine non-conference games will feature a Big Ten opponent (Illinois; Michigan State (2); Minnesota; Nebraska; Northwestern; Penn State; Purdue; Rutgers). The MAC will face foes from the ACC (6—Boston College (2), Clemson, Louisville, Miami, Syracuse), SEC (1—Kentucky), Pac-12 (1-USC), Big 12 (3—Iowa State; Kansas (2)); and Independent Notre Dame and Army (2).
The MAC will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference (2— Cincinnati, Tulsa), Mountain West (2—Nevada, San Diego State), Conference USA (7—Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Marshall (2), Middle Tennessee, UAB, Western Kentucky) and Sun Belt Conference (2—Idaho, Troy).
This season the MAC will host nine games against FBS non-conference opponents.
MAC Home Games vs. FBS Non-Conference opponents:
-Boston College (ACC) at NIU on Sept. 1 at 9:30 pm ET/8:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network);
-Charlotte (C-USA) at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 1 at 6:30 pm ET (ESPN3);
-UAB (C-USA) at Ball State on Sept. 9 at 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3);
-Cincinnati (American Athletic) at Miami on Sept. 16;
-Idaho (Sun Belt) at Western Michigan on Sept. 16 at 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3);
-Iowa State (Big 12) at Akron on Sept. 16 at Noon ET (CBS Sports Network);
-Kansas (Big 12) at Ohio on Sept. 16 at 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3);
-Tulsa (American Athletic) at Toledo on Sept. 16 at 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3);
-Florida Atlantic (C-USA) at Buffalo on Sept. 23.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
Current MAC schools that hold full membership and the year they joined are -- East Division: University of Akron (1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946). West Division: Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, rejoined in 1997), University of Toledo (1950), Western Michigan University (1947). The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
2017 MAC Football Schedule (composite by date)
All times listed ET
*Conference Game
Aug. 31 – Thursday
Elon at Toledo, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Rhode Island at Central Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Buffalo at Minnesota, 7:00 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Sep. 1 – Friday
Charlotte at Eastern Michigan, 6:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
Boston College at NIU, 9:30 pm ET/8:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)
Sep. 2 – Saturday
Akron at Penn State, Noon ET (ABC)
Ball State at Illinois, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
Bowling Green at Michigan State, Noon ET (ESPNU)
Kent State at Clemson, Noon ET (ESPN)
Western Michigan at USC, 5:15 pm ET (Pac-12 Networks)
Miami at Marshall, 6:30 pm ET (TBA)
Hampton at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Sep. 8 – Friday
Ohio at Purdue, 8:00 pm ET (FS1)
Sep. 9 – Saturday
Buffalo at Army, Noon ET (CBS Sports Network)
UAB at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Austin Peay at Miami, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
Eastern Illinois at NIU, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN3)
Eastern Michigan at Rutgers, 3:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Howard at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
Western Michigan at Michigan State, 3:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Central Michigan at Kansas, 4:00 pm ET (FSN)
South Dakota at Bowling Green, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Akron, 6:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
Toledo at Nevada, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Sep. 16 – Saturday
Iowa State at Akron, Noon ET (CBS Sports Network)
NIU at Nebraska, Noon ET/11:00 am CT (FS1)
Kansas at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Tennessee Tech at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Central Michigan at Syracuse, 3:30 pm ET (ACC Network Extra)
Colgate at Buffalo, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Kent State at Marshall, 6:30 pm ET (TBA)
Idaho at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Tulsa at Toledo, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Bowling Green at Northwestern, 7:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Cincinnati at Miami, 8:00 pm ET (WXIX TV-19 Cincinnati/WUAB TV-43 Cleveland/ESPN3)
Sep. 23 – Saturday
Akron at Troy
Ball State at Western Kentucky, 7:00 pm ET (ASN/Stadium)
Bowling Green at Middle Tennessee
Florida Atlantic at Buffalo
Kent State at Louisville
*Miami at Central Michigan
*Ohio at Eastern Michigan
Toledo at Miami (Fla.)
Wagner at Western Michigan
Sep. 30 – Saturday
*Akron at Bowling Green
*Ball State at Western Michigan
*Buffalo at Kent State
Central Michigan at Boston College
Eastern Michigan at Kentucky
Miami at Notre Dame
NIU at San Diego State, 10:30 pm ET/9:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)
Ohio at UMass
Oct. 7 – Saturday
*Ball State at Akron, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
*Bowling Green at Miami
*Central Michigan at Ohio
*Eastern Michigan at Toledo
*Kent State at NIU, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
*Western Michigan at Buffalo, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
Oct. 14 – Saturday
Eastern Michigan at Army, Noon ET (CBS Sports Network)
*Akron at Western Michigan, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
*Miami at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
*NIU at Buffalo
*Ohio at Bowling Green, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
*Toledo at Central Michigan, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
Oct. 21 – Saturday
*Akron at Toledo
*Buffalo at Miami
*Central Michigan at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (12-day selection)
*Kent State at Ohio
*NIU at Bowling Green
*Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan, 2:00 pm ET (12-day selection)
Oct. 26 – Thursday
*Eastern Michigan at NIU, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
*Toledo at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Oct. 28 – Saturday
*Buffalo at Akron, 11:30 am ET (CBS Sports Network)
Oct. 31 – Tuesday
*Bowling Green at Kent State, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Miami at Ohio, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 1 – Wednesday
*Central Michigan at Western Michigan, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
Nov. 2 – Thursday
*Ball State at Eastern Michigan, 6:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*NIU at Toledo, 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 7 – Tuesday
*Akron at Miami, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Bowling Green at Buffalo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 8 – Wednesday
*Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan, 7:00 pm ET, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Kent State at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Toledo at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 9 – Thursday
*Ball State at NIU, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 14 – Tuesday
*Central Michigan at Kent State, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Ohio at Akron, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 15 – Wednesday
*Eastern Michigan at Miami, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Toledo at Bowling Green, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Western Michigan at NIU, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT or 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 16 – Thursday
*Buffalo at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 21 – Tuesday
*Bowling Green at Eastern Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN3)
*Kent State at Akron, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN3)
*Miami at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Nov. 24 – Friday
*NIU at Central Michigan, TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
*Ohio at Buffalo, TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
*Western Michigan at Toledo, TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Dec. 2 – Saturday
East Division Champion vs. West Division Champion
Marathon MAC Championship Game, Time TBA (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2)
At Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
2017 MAC Bowl Agreements (primary & secondary)
Dec. 16 – Saturday
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, AL), 8:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Dec. 19 – Tuesday
^Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, FL), 7:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Dec. 20 – Wednesday
^Frisco Bowl (Frisco, TX), 8:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Dec. 21 – Thursday
^St. Petersburg Bowl (St. Petersburg, FL), 8:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Dec. 22 – Friday
Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas), 12:30 pm ET (ESPN)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, ID), 4:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Dec. 23 – Saturday
Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, AL), 7:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Dec. 26 – Tuesday
^Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, MI), TBD (ESPN)
^MAC secondary bowl agreements with ESPN
2017 MAC Football Schedule (composite by school)
All times listed ET
*Conference Game
EAST DIVISION
Akron
Sep.
2 at Penn State, Noon ET (ABC)
9 Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 6:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
16 Iowa State, Noon ET (CBS Sports Network)
23 at Troy
30 *at Bowling Green
Oct.
7 *Ball State, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
14 *at Western Michigan, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
21 *at Toledo
28 *Buffalo, 11:30 am ET (CBS Sports Network)
Nov.
7 *at Miami, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
14 *Ohio, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)
21 *Kent State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Bowling Green
Sep.
2 at Michigan State, Noon ET (ESPNU)
9 South Dakota, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
16 at Northwestern, 7:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
23 at Middle Tennessee
30 *Akron
Oct.
7 *at Miami
14 *Ohio, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
21 *NIU
31 *at Kent State, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
7 *at Buffalo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
15 *Toledo, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
21 *at Eastern Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Buffalo
Aug.
31 at Minnesota, 7:00 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Sep.
9 at Army, Noon ET (CBS Sports Network)
16 Colgate, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
23 Florida Atlantic
30 *at Kent State
Oct.
7 *Western Michigan, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
14 *NIU
21 *at Miami
28 *at Akron, 11:30 am ET (CBS Sports Network)
Nov.
7 *Bowling Green, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
16 *at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
24 *Ohio, TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Kent State
Sep.
2 at Clemson, Noon ET (ESPN)
9 Howard, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
16 at Marshall, 6:30 pm ET (TBA)
23 at Louisville
30 *Buffalo
Oct.
7 *at NIU, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
14 *Miami, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
21 *at Ohio
31 *Bowling Green, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
8 *at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
14 *Central Michigan, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)
21 *at Akron, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Miami
Sep.
2 at Marshall, 6:30 pm ET (TBA)
9 Austin Peay, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
16 Cincinnati, 8:00 pm ET (WXIX TV-19 Cincinnati/WUAB TV-43 Cleveland/ESPN3)
23 *at Central Michigan
30 at Notre Dame
Oct.
7 *Bowling Green
14 *at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
21 *Buffalo
31 *at Ohio, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
7 *Akron, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
15 *Eastern Michigan, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
21 *at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Ohio
Sep.
2 Hampton, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
8 at Purdue, 8:00 pm ET (FS1)
16 Kansas, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
23 *at Eastern Michigan
30 at UMass
Oct.
7 *Central Michigan
14 *at Bowling Green, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
21 *Kent State
31 *Miami, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
8 *Toledo, 7:00 pm ET, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
14 *at Akron, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)
24 *at Buffalo, TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
WEST DIVISION
Ball State
Sep.
2 at Illinois, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
9 UAB, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
16 Tennessee Tech, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
23 at Western Kentucky, 7:00 pm ET (ASN/Stadium)
30 *at Western Michigan
Oct.
7 *at Akron, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
21 *Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (12-day selection)
26 *Toledo, 7:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Nov.
2 *at Eastern Michigan, 6:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
9 *at NIU, 7:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
16 *Buffalo, 7:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
21 *Miami, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Central Michigan
Aug.
31 Rhode Island, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Sept.
9 at Kansas, 4:00 pm ET (FSN)
16 at Syracuse, 3:30 pm ET (ACC Network Extra)
23 *Miami
30 at Boston College
Oct.
7 *at Ohio
14 *Toledo, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
21 *at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (12-day selection)
Nov.
1 *at Western Michigan, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
8 *Eastern Michigan, 7:00 pm ET, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
14 *at Kent State, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)
24 *NIU, TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Eastern Michigan
Sep.
1 Charlotte, 6:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
9 at Rutgers, 3:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
23 *Ohio
30 at Kentucky
Oct.
7 *at Toledo
14 at Army, Noon ET (CBS Sports Network)
21 *Western Michigan, 2:00 pm ET (12-day selection)
26 *at NIU, 7:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Nov.
2 *Ball State, 6:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
8 *at Central Michigan, 7:00 pm ET, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
15 *at Miami, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
21 *Bowling Green, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN3)
Northern Illinois (NIU)
Sep.
1 Boston College, 9:30 pm ET/8:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)
9 Eastern Illinois, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN3)
16 at Nebraska, Noon ET/11:00 am CT (FS1)
30 at San Diego State, 10:30 pm ET/9:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)
Oct.
7 *Kent State, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (12-day selection)
14 *at Buffalo
21 *at Bowling Green
26 *Eastern Michigan, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Nov.
2 *at Toledo, 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
9 *Ball State, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)
15 *Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT or 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
24 *at Central Michigan, TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Toledo
Aug.
31 Elon, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Sep.
9 at Nevada, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
16 Tulsa, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
23 at Miami (Fla.)
Oct.
7 *Eastern Michigan
14 *at Central Michigan, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
21 *Akron
26 *at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Nov.
2 *NIU, 6:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
8 *at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
15 *at Bowling Green, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
24 *Western Michigan, TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
Western Michigan
Sep.
2 at USC, 5:15 pm ET (Pac-12 Networks)
9 at Michigan State, 3:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
16 Idaho, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
23 Wagner
30 *Ball State
Oct.
7 *at Buffalo, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
14 *Akron, 3:30 pm ET (12-day selection)
21 *at Eastern Michigan, 2:00 pm ET (12-day selection)
Nov.
1 *Central Michigan, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
8 *Kent State, 7:00 pm ET, 7:30 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
15 *at NIU, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
24 *at Toledo, TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)
