College Football Preview: Mid-American Conference (MAC)
The start of college football opened with a bang. Although the season is already underway, there are still five conferences left to review.
Up next on my list is the Mid-American Conference, or better known as the MAC conference.
East Division
No. 1 Bowling Green
2014 Record: 8-6 (5-3)
2015 Prediction: 8-5 (7-1)
The Skinny: The Bowling Green Falcons will be led by quarterback Matt Johnson. Johnson was the Falcons’ go-to man two years ago, when he started 13 games. The senior ended up suffering a season-ending injury in last year’s opener.
Two seasons ago, Johnson was a 3,467 yard passer that added 25 touchdowns through the air. Now, Johnson isn’t the only weapon on this Bowling Green Team, but he is definitely the most important.
Along with Johnson, the Falcons return their stud receiver, Roger Lewis. Lewis was a first team all-conference selection as a freshman. The Ohio native ran for more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
The 6-foot receiver is a threat on the edge, and will be a great deep threat for Johnson.
No. 2 UMass
2014 Record: 3-9 (3-5)
2015 Prediction: 6-6 (5-3)
The Skinny: Senior quarterback Blake Frohnapfel will be a huge contributor for the Minutemen this season. Frohnapfel threw for more than 3,300 yards and 23 touchdowns. The former Marshall quarterback has been a huge bright spot for this UMass team. The Virginia native will kick off the season on the road at Colorado this Saturday.
Lucky for Frohnapfel, he will have one of the top receivers in the MAC next season in Tajae Sharpe. Sharpe snagged 85 receptions last season for 1,281 yards and seven touchdowns. The New Jersey native stands at 6-foot-3 and can use his height to separate himself from MAC cornerbacks.
It will be interesting to see if UMass can hang with Colorado this weekend. The Buffaloes lost an unpredictable game to Hawaii in week 1.
No. 3 Ohio
2014 Record: 6-6 (4-4)
2015 Prediction: 7-5 (4-4)
The Skinny: Ohio will be led by senior quarterback Derrius Vick. Although Vick is not related to ‘that’ Vick family, he has still been a beast in Athens. Vick was a thousand yard passer last season, and impressed in his first start of the season going 13-16 for 192 yards and two touchdowns.
Lucky for Vick and Bobcat fans, almost all of Ohio’s offense will be back next season. Sophomore running back A.J. Ouellette is one of those star offensive players back this season. Ouellette had an unbelievable freshman campaign carrying the ball 160 times for 785 yards.
Although the Ohio native wasn’t that efficient on the ground, he still provided a viable offensive option for the Bobcats. If Vick and Ouellette can come together and lead this offense, Ohio can make some moves late in the year.
No. 4 Akron
2014 Record: 5-7 (3-5)
2015 Prediction: 6-6 (4-4)
The Skinny: Akron has had a rough time under coach Terry Bowden. Bowden has gone 11-25 in his first three years and only seven total conference wins. This is a big year when it comes to deciding whether or not Bowden will return for another season.
The Zips are going to be reliant on their defense for this entire season. Akron is led by nose guard Cody Grice and linebacker Jatavis Brown. Grice and Brown are two seniors that have big aspirations for this season. The two defensive anchors were both named first-team All-MAC in 2014.
Akron got smoked in week 1 against Oklahoma and things won’t get any easier at home against Pittsburgh. It will be up to Grice and Brown to carry Akron to bowl eligibility.
No. 5 Buffalo
2014 Record: 5-6 (3-4)
2015 Prediction: 5-7 (2-6)
The Skinny: Buffalo is seven years removed since it last won the MAC championship, but it has only been two years since their last bowl appearance. With that being said there is some hope for this Bulls team.
Senior halfback Anthone Taylor will be a cornerstone of this Buffalo offense. Taylor is entering his final year of college football eligibility and many believe it will be his biggest season ever. The Ohio native darted for more than 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
The 5-foot-10 tailback put up some impressive numbers in week 1 when the Bulls took on Albany. Taylor carried the ball 17 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns. He is a player I will be keeping tabs on this weekend as the Bulls take on a stunned and disheartened Penn State team.
No. 6 Kent State
2014 Record: 2-9 (1-6)
2015 Prediction: 2-10 (1-7)
The Skinny: Kent State has always been a bit of a laughing stock when it comes to competitive college football. The Golden Flashes have been to a lowly three bowl games in their 50 plus years of being a division one college football program.
I got to witness a beat down of epic proportions last weekend as my beloved Illini took on Kent State. Although it was a giant mismatch, I expected a little fight out of Kent State.
The Golden Flashes didn’t show much, but quarterback Colin Reardon did get unlucky. Reardon wasn’t as bad as his statistics may come off, giving that two of his interceptions were off of his receivers’ hands. The junior did have a 58 yard bomb, and was able to tear up the Illini secondary at times.
If Reardon can get some protection and improve his accuracy, Kent State might have a chance for a few wins this season.
No. 7 Miami (OH)
2014 Record: 2-10 (2-6)
2015 Prediction: 1-11 (0-8)
The Skinny: Miami Ohio is another bottom of the barrel MAC team that has struggled mightily over the last decade. The Redhawks went 2-22 in the first two years of coach Chuck Martin’s tenure. Martin still has an enormous amount to do in his rebuilding project, but things won’t get any easier this season.
Miami is anchored by their defensive front. The defensive line is easily the strongest unit of this Redhawks team. Bryson Albright and J’Terius Jones are the two big names to keep your eyes on regarding Miami’s defense. Wisconsin is next for the Redhawks–we’ll see if they can put up any sort of fight.
West Division
No. 1 Toledo
2014 Record: 9-4 (7-1)
2015 Prediction: 9-4 (6-2)
The Skinny: Toledo has been one of the most impressive MAC teams over the last five seasons. The Rockets have had five straight winning seasons, dating all the way back to the one and only Tim Beckman.
Toledo has also been to four bowl games, winning two, during the last half of a century. Running back Kareem Hunt is the undeniable leader of this team. Hunt has been an absolute monster on the ground over the past two seasons, rushing for 2,497 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Hunt is only a junior and will be the biggest key to a solid campaign from the Rockets. Toledo starts the season off this Saturday as they take on nationally ranked (18) Arkansas.
No. 2 Northern Illinois
2014 Record: 11-3 (7-1)
2015 Prediction: 8-4 (6-2)
The Skinny: When you think of the MAC, the first thing that comes to most minds is Northern Illinois. The Huskies have dominated college football winning 11 or more games for the last five seasons. Coach Rod Carey has this team focused and ready to compete for yet another double digit win season and MAC championship.
The Huskies already knocked off a pesky UNLV team and have cupcake Murray State before they head to Columbus, Ohio to take on the #1 Buckeyes. The Huskies used quarterback Drew Hare’s 360 yard passing performance and running back Joel Bouagnon’s 152 yard rushing performance to muscle past the Running Rebels.
Hare and Bouagnon will be that two headed monster that teams are going to fear. Who knows, maybe the Huskies can knock off the mighty Buckeyes. Crazier things have happened.
No. 3 Western Michigan
2014 Record: 8-5 (6-2)
2015 Prediction: 7-5 (6-2)
The Skinny: Western Michigan is coached by the youngest and most inspirational guy there is in college football: P.J. Fleck. Fleck did only go 9-16 in his first two seasons at Western Michigan, but the former MAC coach of the year has this Bronco team heading in the right direction.
So much so, that many think he will be given a bigger offer from a power-five team when the year is over. There has been a lot of talk surrounding Fleck and my Illini, but we will just have to wait and see what the season brings.
The Broncos fought tough in a home matchup with in-state rival, Michigan State, but couldn’t steal the upset when it was all said and done. Quarterback Zach Terrell was impressive in that one, completing 66 percent of his passes for 365 yards and two scores.
Terrell did have two interceptions, but the junior showed promise. The Broncos have two cupcakes coming up as they take on Georgia Southern and Murray State. Then week 4 brings the toughest challenge of the year for Western Michigan when they travel to Ohio State. Fleck is a heck of a coach, but what can he do to Ohio State? The sky is the limit.
No. 4 Ball State
2014 Record: 5-7 (4-4)
2015 Prediction: 6-6 (4-4)
The Skinny: Sophomore quarterback Jack Milas is back after throwing for more than 1,000 yards last season. The Illinois native showed off his skills in the Cardinals’ first game of the 2015 season.
Milas threw for 338 yards on 34 of 52 passing with a touchdown as Ball State took down VMI 48-36. On the other side of the ball, Ball State returned all but one of their front seven. With that experience and leadership back, there is no reason why Ball State can’t surprise a few people this season.
No. 5 Central Michigan
2014 Record: 7-6 (5-3)
2015 Prediction: 3-9 (2-6)
The Skinny: Junior quarterback Cooper Rush is back and is ready to have a record setting season. Rush has thrown for more than 5,700 yards in his career and will have plenty of weapons around him to surpass another 3,000 yard season.
The Chippewas fought tough against Oklahoma State last week, but fell. Although I see Central Michigan being at the bottom of the MAC conference, Rush could lead this team to some shocking wins.
No. 6 Eastern Michigan
2014 Record: 2-10 (1-7)
2015 Prediction: 1-11 (1-7)
The Skinny: Eastern Michigan is another Michigan team that is fighting to not be at the bottom of the MAC West division. However, the Eagles had a tough time beating Old Dominion last weekend. EMU fell 38-34 against the Monarchs.
Although it was a disappointing loss, there was one bright spot for the Eagles; his name is Darius Jackson. Jackson is a senior tailback that has been waiting for his breakout season. The Illinois native dashed for 117 yards and two touchdowns in EMU’s loss last weekend.
If Eagle fans want anything to cheer about this season they better hope their 6-foot speedster, Jackson, keeps it up.
———-
Conference Championship: Bowling Green vs. Toledo
Conference Champion: Toledo