MAC Announces Updated 2018 Football Schedule
MAC ANNOUNCES UPDATED 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Features 16 late October and November nationally televised games on ESPN Platforms and CBS Sports Network
Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced today an updated 2018 football schedule. Highlighting the schedule are 16 games available nationally during the last month of the regular season, slated for 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 22nd Marathon MAC Football Championship game on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2) from Ford Field in Detroit. This will mark the 15th 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 11th 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 Army and UMass.
MAC programs will face five non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Penn State (9), Notre Dame (11), Miami-Fla. (13), Michigan State (15) and Northwestern (17).
A total of 12 non-conference games will feature a Big Ten opponent (Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Maryland; Michigan; Michigan State; Minnesota; Nebraska; Northwestern; Penn State; Purdue; Rutgers). The MAC will face foes from the ACC (5—Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), Syracuse, Virginia), SEC (2—Kentucky, Ole Miss), Pac-12 (2-Oregon, Utah), Big 12 (2—Iowa State; Kansas); and Independent Notre Dame, BYU, Army (3 games) and UMass.
The MAC will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference (3— Cincinnati (2), Temple), Mountain West (3—Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State), Conference USA (2—Marshall, Western Kentucky) and Sun Belt Conference (1—Georgia State).
This season the MAC will host 10 games against FBS non-conference opponents.
MAC Home Games vs. FBS Non-Conference opponents:
-Syracuse (ACC) at Western Michigan, on Aug. 31 at 6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network);
-Cincinnati (American) at Miami on Sept. 8 at 8:00 pm ET (Raycom/ESPN3) (at Paul Brown Stadium);
-Kansas (Big-12) at Central Michigan on Sept. 8 at 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+);
-Maryland (Big Ten) at Bowling Green on Sept. 8 at 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+);
-Utah (Pac-12) at NIU on Sept. 8 at 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (ESPNews);
-Miami (Fla.) (ACC) at Toledo on Sept. 15 at Noon ET (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU);
-Western Kentucky (C-USA) at Ball State on Sept. 22;
-Army (Independent) at Buffalo on Sept. 29;
-UMass (Independent) at Ohio on Sept. 29;
-Army (Independent) at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 27.
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.
2018 MAC Football Schedule (composite by date)
All times listed ET
*Conference Game
Aug. 30 – Thursday
Central Connecticut State at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Aug. 31 – Friday
Syracuse at Western Michigan, 6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Monmouth at Eastern Michigan, 6:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Sep. 1 – Saturday
Kent State at Illinois, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
Howard at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Central Michigan at Kentucky, 3:30 pm ET (ESPNU)
Marshall at Miami, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
NIU at Iowa, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (Big Ten Network)
Delaware State at Buffalo, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
VMI at Toledo, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Akron at Nebraska, 8:00 pm ET (FOX)
Bowling Green at Oregon, 8:00 pm ET (Pac-12 Network)
Sep. 8 – Saturday
Eastern Michigan at Purdue, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
Western Michigan at Michigan, Noon ET (FS1)
Kansas at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Ball State at Notre Dame, 3:30 pm ET (NBC)
Buffalo at Temple, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
Howard at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Morgan State at Akron, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Maryland at Bowling Green, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Utah at NIU, 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (ESPNews)
Cincinnati at Miami, 8:00 pm ET (Raycom/ESPN3) (at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio)
Sep. 15 – Saturday
Ball State at Indiana, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
Kent State at Penn State, Noon ET (FS1)
Miami (Fla.) at Toledo, Noon ET (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
Ohio at Virginia, 3:00 pm ET (ACC Network Extra)
*Central Michigan at NIU, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN+)
Miami at Minnesota, 3:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Eastern Kentucky at Bowling Green, 4:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
*Eastern Michigan at Buffalo, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Delaware State at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Akron at Northwestern, 7:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Sep. 22 – Saturday
Akron at Iowa State
Buffalo at Rutgers
Eastern Michigan at San Diego State, 10:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Kent State at Ole Miss
Maine at Central Michigan
*Miami at Bowling Green
Nevada at Toledo
NIU at Florida State
Ohio at Cincinnati
Western Kentucky at Ball State
Western Michigan at Georgia State
Sep. 29 – Saturday
*Western Michigan at Miami, 3:30 pm ET
*NIU at Eastern Michigan, 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Army at Buffalo
Bowling Green at Georgia Tech
Central Michigan at Michigan State
*Kent State at Ball State
Toledo at Fresno State, TBA (ESPN Networks)
UMass at Ohio
Oct. 6 – Saturday
*Bowling Green at Toledo, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
*Miami at Akron, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
*Ohio at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET(ESPN+)
*Buffalo at Central Michigan
*Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan
*NIU at Ball State
Oct. 13 – Saturday
*Western Michigan at Bowling Green, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
*Ohio at NIU, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN Networks)
*Akron at Buffalo
*Ball State at Central Michigan
*Kent State at Miami
*Toledo at Eastern Michigan
Oct. 20 – Saturday
Miami at Army, Noon ET
*Bowling Green at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
*Eastern Michigan at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
*Western Michigan at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
*Akron at Kent State
*Buffalo at Toledo
Oct. 25 – Thursday
*Ball State at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
*Toledo at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
Oct. 27 – Saturday
Army at Eastern Michigan
*Central Michigan at Akron
NIU at BYU
Oct. 30 – Tuesday
*Kent State at Bowling Green, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Miami at Buffalo, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Oct. 31 – Wednesday
*Ball State at Toledo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2)
Nov. 1 – Thursday
*NIU at Akron, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Ohio at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 3 – Saturday
*Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan
Nov. 6 – Tuesday
*Kent State at Buffalo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU)
Nov. 7 – Wednesday
*Ohio at Miami, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Toledo at NIU, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT or 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 10 – Saturday
*Akron at Eastern Michigan
*Bowling Green at Central Michigan
Nov. 13 – Tuesday
*Western Michigan at Ball State, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
Nov. 14 – Wednesday
*Buffalo at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Miami at NIU, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT or 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 15 – Thursday
*Toledo at Kent State, 6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 17 – Saturday
*Bowling Green at Akron
Nov. 20 – Tuesday
*Ball State at Miami, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)
*NIU at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT (ESPNU/ESPN+)
Nov. 23 – Friday
*Akron at Ohio, TBA
*Buffalo at Bowling Green, TBA
*Central Michigan at Toledo, TBA
*Eastern Michigan at Kent State, TBA
Nov. 30 – Friday
2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game
East Division Champion vs. West Division Champion
Marathon MAC Championship Game, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
2018 MAC Football Schedule (composite by school)
All times listed ET
*Conference Game
EAST DIVISION
Akron
Sep.
1 at Nebraska, 8:00 pm ET (FOX)
8 Morgan State, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
15 at Northwestern, 7:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
22 at Iowa State
Oct.
6 *Miami, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
13 *at Buffalo
20 *at Kent State
27 *Central Michigan
Nov.
1 *NIU, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
10 *at Eastern Michigan
17 *Bowling Green
23 *at Ohio, TBA
Bowling Green
Sep.
1 at Oregon, 8:00 pm ET (Pac-12 Network)
8 Maryland, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
15 Eastern Kentucky, 4:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
22 *Miami
29 at Georgia Tech
Oct.
6 *at Toledo, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
13 *Western Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
20 *at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
30 *Kent State, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
10 *at Central Michigan
17 *at Akron
23 *Buffalo, TBA
Buffalo
Sep.
1 Delaware State, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
8 at Temple, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
15 *Eastern Michigan, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
22 at Rutgers
29 Army
Oct.
6 *at Central Michigan
13 *Akron
20 *at Toledo
30 *Miami, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
6 *Kent State, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU)
14 *at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
23 *at Bowling Green, TBA
Kent State
Sep.
1 at Illinois, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
8 Howard, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
15 at Penn State, Noon ET (FS1)
22 at Ole Miss
29 *at Ball State
Oct.
6 *Ohio, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
13 *at Miami
20 *Akron
30 *at Bowling Green, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
6 *at Buffalo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU)
15 *Toledo, 6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
23 *Eastern Michigan, TBA
Miami
Sep.
1 Marshall, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
8 Cincinnati, 8:00 pm ET (Raycom/ESPN3) (at Paul Brown Stadium)
15 at Minnesota, 3:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
22 *at Bowling Green
29 *Western Michigan, 3:30 pm ET
Oct.
6 *at Akron, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
13 *Kent State
20 at Army, Noon ET
30 *at Buffalo, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov.
7 *Ohio, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
14 *at NIU, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT or 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2/ESPNU)
20 *Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)
Ohio
Sep.
1 Howard, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
15 at Virginia, 3:00 pm ET (ACC Network Extra)
22 at Cincinnati
29 UMass
Oct.
6 *at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
13 *at NIU, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN Networks)
20 *Bowling Green, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
25 *Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
Nov.
1 *at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
7 *at Miami, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
14 *Buffalo, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
23 *Akron, TBA
WEST DIVISION
Ball State
Aug.
30 Central Connecticut State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Sep.
8 at Notre Dame, 3:30 pm ET (NBC)
15 at Indiana, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
22 Western Kentucky
29 *Kent State
Oct.
6 *NIU
13 *at Central Michigan
20 *Eastern Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
25 *at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
31 *at Toledo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2)
Nov.
13 *Western Michigan, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
20 *at Miami, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)
Central Michigan
Sept.
1 at Kentucky, 3:30 pm ET (ESPNU)
8 Kansas, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
15 *at NIU, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
22 Maine
29 at Michigan State
Oct.
6 *Buffalo
13 *Ball State
20 *Western Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
27 *at Akron
Nov.
3 *at Eastern Michigan
10 *Bowling Green
23 *at Toledo, TBA
Eastern Michigan
Aug.
31 Monmouth, 6:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Sep.
8 at Purdue, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
15 *at Buffalo, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
22 at San Diego State, 10:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
29 *NIU, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
Oct.
6 *at Western Michigan
13 *Toledo
20 *at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
27 Army
Nov.
3 *Central Michigan
10 *Akron
23 *at Kent State, TBA
Northern Illinois (NIU)
Sep.
1 at Iowa, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (Big Ten Network)
8 Utah, 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (ESPNews)
15 *Central Michigan, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN+)
22 at Florida State
29 *at Eastern Michigan, 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT (ESPN+)
Oct.
6 *at Ball State
13 *Ohio, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN Networks)
27 at BYU
Nov.
1 *at Akron, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
7 *Toledo, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT or 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2/ESPNU)
14 *Miami, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT or 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2/ESPNU)
20 *at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT (ESPNU/ESPN+)
Toledo
Sep.
1 VMI, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
15 Miami (Fla.), Noon ET (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
22 Nevada
29 at Fresno State, TBA (ESPN Networks)
Oct.
6 *Bowling Green, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
13 *at Eastern Michigan
20 *Buffalo
25 *at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
31 *Ball State, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2)
Nov.
7 *at NIU, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT or 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2/ESPNU)
15 *at Kent State, 6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
23 *Central Michigan, TBA
Western Michigan
Aug.
31 Syracuse, 6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Sep.
8 at Michigan, Noon ET (FS1)
15 Delaware State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
22 at Georgia State
29 *at Miami, 3:30 pm ET
Oct.
6 *Eastern Michigan
13 *at Bowling Green, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
20 *at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
25 *Toledo, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
Nov.
1 *Ohio, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
13 *at Ball State, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
20 *NIU, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)
