MAC ANNOUNCES 2020 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Features 14 November nationally televised games on ESPN Platforms-CBS Sports Network
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced today the 2020 football schedule, which includes every game carried nationally once again. Following the action-packed September and October schedule, the MAC will take center stage in November with 14 mid-week games and multiple Saturday games slated for ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network as the Conference race unfolds in both the East and West divisions.
The MAC 2020 football season will also kickoff the 75th anniversary celebration for the Conference throughout the entirety of the 2020-21 academic year.
The MAC will release an updated schedule in late May or early June with kick times and television for the first three weeks of the regular season. All remaining game kick times and television will be announced 12 days prior to the scheduled game.
The regular season will conclude with the 24th MAC Football Championship game on either Friday, Dec. 4 or Saturday, Dec. 5 at a time to be announced. This will mark the 17th MAC Football Championship game at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, Super Bowl XL, and the 2009 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
In addition, five MAC rivalry games will highlight Saturdays in October with Akron at Kent State in the ‘Battle of the Wagon Wheel’ on Saturday, Oct. 10th, while Bowling Green at Toledo in the ‘Battle of I-75’, Ohio at Miami in the ‘Battle of the Bricks’, Western Michigan at Central Michigan in the ‘Battle of the Cannon’ and NIU at Ball State in the ‘Battle of the Bronze Stalk’ will all kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 17th.
MAC programs will face eight non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Clemson (2), Ohio State (3), Alabama (8), Penn State (9), Notre Dame (12), Iowa (15), Michigan (18) and Cincinnati (21).
A total of 11 non-conference games will feature a Big Ten opponent (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State (2), Penn State). The MAC will face foes from the ACC (4—Boston College, Clemson, Pitt, Syracuse), SEC (4—Alabama, Kentucky (2), Missouri), Big 12 (1—Kansas State); and Independent Notre Dame, BYU, Liberty, New Mexico State and UMass.
The MAC will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference (3— Cincinnati (2), Tulsa), Mountain West (3—San Diego State, San Jose State, Wyoming), Conference USA (1—Marshall) and Sun Belt Conference (2—Coastal Carolina, Texas State).
This season the MAC will host 11 games against FBS non-conference opponents.
MAC Home Games vs. FBS Non-Conference opponents:
-San Jose State (Mountain West) at Central Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 5
-Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt) at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 12
-San Diego State (Mountain West) at Toledo on Saturday, Sept. 12
-Cincinnati (American Athletic) at Miami on Saturday, Sept. 19
-Marshall (Conference USA) at Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 19
-Wyoming (Mountain West) at Ball State on Saturday, Sept. 26
-Syracuse (Atlantic Coast Conference) at Western Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 26
-Liberty (Independent) at Bowling Green on Saturday, Oct. 3
-Army (Independent) at Miami on Saturday, Oct. 3
-UMass (Independent) at Akron on Saturday, Oct. 17
-BYU (Independent) at NIU on Saturday, Oct. 24
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. For more information visit www.GetSomeMACtion.com.
2020 MAC Football Schedule (composite by date)
All times listed ET
*Conference game
Sept. 3 – Thursday
Maine at Ball State
Sept. 4 – Friday
Colgate at Western Michigan
Sept. 5 – Saturday
Bowling Green at Ohio State
Buffalo at Kansas State
Eastern Michigan at Kentucky
Kent State at Penn State
Miami at Pitt
NC Central at Ohio
Rhode Island at NIU
San Jose State at Central Michigan
Toledo at Tulsa
Youngstown State at Akron
Sep. 11 – Friday
Western Michigan at Cincinnati (ESPN Networks)
Sep. 12 – Saturday
Akron at New Mexico State
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Miami
Ball State at Michigan
Central Michigan at Nebraska
Coastal Carolina at Eastern Michigan
Kennesaw at Kent State
NIU at Maryland
Ohio at Boston College
Robert Morris at Bowling Green
Saint Francis at Buffalo
San Diego State at Toledo
Sep. 19 – Saturday
Akron at Clemson
Ball State at Indiana
Bowling Green at Illinois
Buffalo at Ohio State
Central Michigan at Northwestern
Cincinnati at Miami
Kent State at Kentucky
Marshall at Ohio
*NIU at Eastern Michigan
Toledo at Michigan State
Western Michigan at Notre Dame, 2:30 pm ET (NBC)
Sep. 26 – Saturday
Bryant at Central Michigan
*Buffalo at Bowling Green
Central Connecticut at Toledo
Eastern Michigan at Missouri
Kent State at Alabama
*Miami at Akron
NIU at Iowa
Ohio at Texas State
Syracuse at Western Michigan
Wyoming at Ball State
Oct. 3 – Saturday
*Akron at Buffalo
Army at Miami
*Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan
*Kent State at NIU
Liberty at Bowling Green
*Ohio at Toledo
*Western Michigan at Ball State
Oct. 10 – Saturday
*Akron at Kent State
*Ball State at Buffalo
*Central Michigan at NIU
*Eastern Michigan at Ohio
*Miami at Bowling Green
*Toledo at Western Michigan
Oct. 17 – Saturday
*Bowling Green at Toledo
Eastern Michigan at Army
*Kent State at Buffalo
*NIU at Ball State
*Ohio at Miami
UMass at Akron
*Western Michigan at Central Michigan
Oct. 24 – Saturday
*Akron at Ball State
*Bowling Green at Ohio
Buffalo at Army
BYU at NIU (at SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.)
*Miami at Central Michigan
*Toledo at Eastern Michigan
*Western Michigan at Kent State
Oct. 31 – Saturday
*Ball State at Miami
*Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan
*Toledo at Akron
Nov. 3 – Tuesday
*Buffalo at NIU (ESPN2)
Nov. 4 – Wednesday
*Kent State at Bowling Green (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
*Ohio at Central Michigan (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 10 – Tuesday
*Eastern Michigan at Ball State (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*Miami at Buffalo (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
*NIU at Western Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
Nov. 11 – Wednesday
*Central Michigan at Toledo (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Ohio at Kent State (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 14 – Saturday
*Bowling Green at Akron
Nov. 17 – Tuesday
*Kent State at Miami (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Toledo at NIU (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 18 – Wednesday
*Ball State at Central Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU)
*Buffalo at Ohio (ESPN2/ESPNU)
Nov. 21 – Saturday
*Bowling Green at Eastern Michigan
*Western Michigan at Akron
Nov. 24 – Tuesday
*Ball State at Toledo (ESPNU/ESPN+)
*Central Michigan at Kent State (ESPNU/ESPN+)
Nov. 27 – Friday
*Akron at Ohio (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
*Eastern Michigan at Miami (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
*NIU at Bowling Green (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
*Buffalo at Western Michigan (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
2020 MAC Football Championship Game – Friday, Dec. 4 or Saturday, Dec. 5 - TBA
East Division Champion vs. West Division Champion
Marathon MAC Championship Game
Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
2020 MAC Bowl Partners
• College Football Playoff Host Bowl
• Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas; vs. Conference USA);
• Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl (Tucson, Ariz.; vs. Mountain West);
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.; vs. Mountain West);
• Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, Mich.; vs. Big Ten);
• Rotate annually as a primary in two (2) ESPN owned and operated games from the following:
• Cure Bowl, Orlando, Fla.;
• Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl, Frisco, Texas;
• Myrtle Beach Bowl, Myrtle Beach, S.C.;
• Camellia Bowl, Montgomery, Ala.;
• Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl, Boca Raton, Fla;
• LendingTree Bowl, Mobile, Ala.;
2020 MAC Football Schedule (composite by school)
All times listed ET
*Conference game
EAST DIVISION
Akron
Sep.
5 Youngstown State
12 at New Mexico State
19 at Clemson
26 *Miami
Oct.
3 *at Buffalo
10 *at Kent State
17 UMass
24 *at Ball State
31 *Toledo
Nov.
14 *Bowling Green
21 *Western Michigan
27 *at Ohio (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
Bowling Green
Sep.
5 at Ohio State
12 Robert Morris
19 at Illinois
26 *Buffalo
Oct.
3 Liberty
10 *Miami
17 *at Toledo
24 *at Ohio
Nov.
4 *Kent State (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
14 *at Akron
21 *at Eastern Michigan
27 *NIU (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
Buffalo
Sep.
5 at Kansas State
12 Saint Francis
19 at Ohio State
26 *at Bowling Green
Oct.
3 *Akron
10 *Ball State
17 *Kent State
24 at Army
Nov.
3 *at NIU (ESPN2)
10 *Miami (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
18 *at Ohio (ESPN2/ESPNU)
27 *at Western Michigan (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
Kent State
Sep.
5 at Penn State
12 Kennesaw
19 at Kentucky
26 at Alabama
Oct.
3 *at NIU
10 *Akron
17 *at Buffalo
24 *Western Michigan
Nov.
4 *at Bowling Green (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
11 *Ohio (ESPN2/ESPNU)
17 *at Miami (ESPN2/ESPNU)
24 *Central Michigan (ESPNU/ESPN+)
Miami
Sep.
5 at Pitt
12 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
19 Cincinnati
26 *at Akron
Oct.
3 Army
10 *at Bowling Green
17 *Ohio
24 *at Central Michigan
31 *Ball State
Nov.
10 *at Buffalo (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
17 *Kent State (ESPN2/ESPNU)
27 *Eastern Michigan (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
Ohio
Sep.
5 NC Central
12 at Boston College
19 Marshall
26 at Texas State
Oct.
3 *at Toledo
10 *Eastern Michigan
17 *at Miami
24 *Bowling Green
Nov.
4 *at Central Michigan (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
11 *at Kent State (ESPN2/ESPNU)
18 *Buffalo (ESPN2/ESPNU)
27 *Akron (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
WEST DIVISION
Ball State
Sep.
3 Maine
12 at Michigan
19 at Indiana
26 Wyoming
Oct.
3 *Western Michigan
10 *at Buffalo
17 *NIU
24 *Akron
31 *at Miami
Nov.
10 *Eastern Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
18 *at Central Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU)
24 *at Toledo (ESPNU/ESPN+)
Central Michigan
Sept.
5 San Jose State
12 at Nebraska
19 at Northwestern
26 Bryant
Oct.
3 *at Eastern Michigan
10 *at NIU
17 *Western Michigan
24 *Miami
Nov.
4 *Ohio (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
11 *at Toledo (ESPN2/ESPNU)
18 *Ball State (ESPN2/ESPNU)
24 *at Kent State (ESPNU/ESPN+)
Eastern Michigan
Sep.
5 at Kentucky
12 Coastal Carolina
19 *NIU
26 at Missouri
Oct.
3 *Central Michigan
10 *at Ohio
17 at Army
24 *Toledo
31 *at Western Michigan
Nov.
10 *at Ball State (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
21 *Bowling Green
27 *at Miami (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
Northern Illinois (NIU)
Sep.
5 Rhode Island
12 at Maryland
19 *at Eastern Michigan
26 at Iowa
Oct.
3 *Kent State
10 *Central Michigan
17 *at Ball State
24 BYU (at SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.)
Nov.
3 *Buffalo (ESPN2)
10 *at Western Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
17 *Toledo (ESPN2/ESPNU)
27 *at Bowling Green (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
Toledo
Sep.
5 at Tulsa
12 San Diego State
19 at Michigan State
26 Central Connecticut
Oct.
3 *Ohio
10 *at Western Michigan
17 *Bowling Green
24 *at Eastern Michigan
31 *at Akron
Nov.
11 *Central Michigan (ESPN2/ESPNU)
17 *at NIU (ESPN2/ESPNU)
24 *Ball State (ESPNU/ESPN+)
Western Michigan
Sep.
4 Colgate
11 at Cincinnati (ESPN Networks)
19 at Notre Dame
26 Syracuse
Oct.
3 *at Ball State
10 *Toledo
17 *at Central Michigan
24 *at Kent State
31 *Eastern Michigan
Nov.
10 *NIU (ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
21 *at Akron
27 *Buffalo (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN+/ESPN3)
