WEEK 8 GAME SCHEDULE
Saturday, October 19
*Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan 2 pm ET (ESPN+)
SERIES HISTORY
• Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan meet for the 102nd time in a rivalry dating back to 1902. • The series marks the longest-running matchup between any two MAC schools. • Central Michigan holds a 64-31-6 all-time advantage in the series. • CMU has dominated the series as of late, winning nine of the series’ last 12 matchups. • CMU is 26-17-4 vs. EMU in games played in Ypsilanti. • Central Michigan claimed the last matchup in the series, a 26-23 win at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Sept. 30, 2023. • Eastern Michigan won the last game played in Ypsilanti, a 38-19 win over CMU in the 2022 season finale.
Central Michigan Notes
THE ESSENTIALS
Central Michigan (3-3, 1-1 MAC) travels 110 miles south for its first MAC road game when it plays at Eastern Michigan (4-2, 1-1 MAC) on Saturday at Rynearson Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET.
TOP STORYLINES
Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan enter the game with identical 1-1 MAC records. The matchup marks the year’s first Michigan MAC Trophy contest. • CMU and EMU meet for the 102nd time in series history, the longest-running series between any two MAC schools. CMU has won four of the last five, nine of the last 12, and 11 of the last 15 meetings. • McElwain is in search of his third bowl appearance and third winning season at Central Michigan in the last five full years (2019 New Mexico Bowl and 2021 Sun Bowl).
ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan (3-3, 1-1 MAC) travels to Ypsilanti on Saturday to face MAC rival Eastern Michigan (4-2, 1-1 MAC) in the third league contest for both teams. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. ET at Rynearson Stadium. The Chippewas have spent the following month in Mount Pleasant as they hosted three consecutive home games. CMU claimed back-to-back wins over Ball State (37-34 win) and San Diego State (22-21), then following a bye week, dropped a 27-25 decision to Ohio on Homecoming weekend (Oct. 12). All three contests were decided by three points or less and were decided in the final minute. Ohio handed Central Michigan a 27-25 loss last Saturday. The Chippewas battled back from a 24-0 halftime deficit, as they outscored Ohio 25-3 in last two quarters. Marion Lukes led the Chippewas with a career-high three rushing touchdowns, scored 20 of CMU’s 27 points, tallied a team-high 159 all-purpose yards and a season-high 110 rushing yards on 20 carries. Quarterback Tyler Jefferson came on in relief of Joe Labas and threw for 95 yards on 8-13 completions and rushed for 28 yards on 10 carries. CMU, which committed a season-high 15 penalties in the game, had a touchdown on a punt return called back and was whistled for an illegal formation on a field goal attempt that the Chippewas blocked right before halftime. Ohio got the ball back and took advantage of a four-point swing, scoring right before halftime to make it 24-0 Bobcats. But the Chippewas played a dominant second half and made it interesting in the last few minutes. Ohio added a field goal late in the fourth quarter to ultimately seal the win. Prior to the Ohio game, Central Michigan registered back-to-back last-minute, come-from-behind victories which saw the Chippewas win both games in the final minute. CMU registered a 37-34 victory over Ball State after the Chippewas rallied with the go-ahead and game-winning touchdown with 16 seconds to play when quarterback Joe Labas found Chris Parker in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. The following week saw CMU upend San Diego State 22-21 on a 46-yard field goal by Tristan Mattson with five seconds on the clock. Once again, Labas drove the Chippewas into field goal position. Against San Diego State, Central Michigan took advantage of two field goal misses in the last five minutes, took control of the ball at its own 20-yard line and drove down the field with 1:56 remaining. Labas and company set up Mattson at the 28-yard line with five seconds to play. Labas threw for 275 yards on 24-43 passing and the Chippewa run game produced 154 yards, including 76 from Marion Lukes. CMU outgained SDSU 452-364 in total yardage and notched a season-high four sacks in the victory. Mattson earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honor for his heroics.
A WIN OVER EMU WOULD…
• Give CMU a 2-1 record in MAC play. • Give CMU a 4-3 start to a campaign and put CMU in a position to win only two more games to become bowl eligible. • Snap a six-game road losing streak. • Give CMU its fifth in six meetings, 10th in 13 meetings, and 12th win over Eastern Michigan in the last 16 meetings. It would also give CMU its second win in its last three tries in games played at Rynearson Stadium. • Put CMU in position to win the Michigan MAC Trophy.
MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
• The CMU-EMU matchup will mark the first Michigan MAC Trophy game of the year. • Presented annually to one of the Michigan-based, Mid-American Conference institutions (CMU, EMU, WMU), the trophy is awarded to the team which has the best head-to-head record against each other. It is one of just two regularly awarded trophies between three teams (the other is the Commander-in-Chief trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force). • Western Michigan claimed the trophy in 2023 with a win over CMU, Eastern Michigan won the trophy in 2022. • Central Michigan last won the trophy in 2021 with wins over both EMU and WMU.
Eastern Michigan Notes
HOMECOMING: PAINT IT GREEN
Homecoming Week is set to begin Tuesday, Oct. 15, and will culminate with the Eagles facing Central Michigan on the gridiron, Oct. 19. Numerous events are planned on campus throughout the week to celebrate everything that makes Eastern Michigan unique and special. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit emich.edu/homecoming.
BATTLE FOR THE MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
EMU’s first game against an in-state rival also means the beginning of its quest for the “Michigan MAC Trophy.” Given annually to one of the Michigan-based, Mid-American Conference institutions (EMU, WMU, CMU), the trophy is awarded to the team which has the best head-to-head record against each other. It is one of just two regularly awarded trophies between three teams (the other is the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force). Originating in 2005, EMU has claimed ownership five times (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2022).
ONE AWAY FROM A RECORD
Head Coach Chris Creighton, in his 11 seasons, has achieved 32 MAC wins, tying him with Jim Harkema for the most MAC victories in Eastern Michigan football history.
QUICK HITTERS
• Since 2016, Eastern Michigan has posted the fourth most victories of any team in the Mid-American Conference. • In total, the EMU has brought in 53 new student-athletes with 28 of them coming via the transfer portal. • In his 11th season in Ypsilanti, Chris Creighton is the 11th-longest-tenured FBS head coach. While they are both in their 11th season, respectively, Creighton is technically the second-longest tenured head coach in the conference by hiring date, falling just three days short of Miami’s Chuck Martin. • Chris Creighton has 56 wins during his time in Ypsilanti, which makes him the 20th coach in the history of the MAC to record 50+ wins at a MAC school. • A total of 15 EMU football student-athletes were named Preseason All-MAC by Athlon Sports. The total is tied for third-most in the MAC, and it is the most honorees for EMU since the magazine began releasing the list in 2014. • Since the 2016 season, Chris Creighton has led Eastern to a 17-14 record in the month of September. From 2013-15, EMU posted a cumulative September record of 0-9. • After a generous $1 million donation from former Eagle standout and current Las Vegas Raider/NFL All-Pro, Maxx Crosby and his wife Rachel Crosby to the EMU Athletics Department, Eastern’s new gray turf was dubbed “Crosby Field” and was unveiled to the public with Maxx and Rachel back in Ypsilanti, June 21. • Saturday’s game with Central Michigan will mark the 96th Homecoming game for the program. Former Huron great and E-Club Hall of Famer Jim Harkema will return to campus to serve as the team’s honorary coach.
HOMECOMING HISTORY
This week’s contest will mark the 96th Homecoming game in program history with Eastern holding an all-time record of 49-46-2 in such games. The Eagles have won three consecutive Homecoming games, including a 24-10 win over Ball State, Oct. 7, 2023. The trio of wins came after no Homecoming game was played in 2020 because the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to single-season hiatus, the team had dropped five Homecoming games in a row. All told, Central Michigan has served as the Homecoming opponent 14 times previously with Eastern holding a 4-10 record in those games. The Chippewas won the last Homecoming game, 26-23 in overtime, Oct. 10, 1998, and have taken seven in a row in such games with EMU’s last defeat of CMU on Homecoming coming Nov. 6, 1948, in a 6-0 decision in Ypsilanti.
CONTINUING A TREND?
In the last three years, Eastern has not only won its Homecoming contest, it has done so just one game removed from a loss. The trend started in 2021 with a 27-20 loss at Northern Illinois before returning home to down Miami, 13-12. In 2022, EMU dropped a 50-31 score to visiting Buffalo and then-quarterback Cole Snyder before defeating UMass, 20-13. Last year, the Eagles fell, 26-23, at CMU before coming home to defeat Ball State, 24-10.
LOOKING FOR THREE
With a win over Central Michigan this week, the Eagles would move to 3-1 at home and give a Chris Creighton-led EMU squad a trio of home wins for the fourth consecutive season. In his 11th year with the Eagles, Creighton’s teams won at least three home contests in 2016, 2017, and 2018, before not doing so until 2021, which started the current streak of three years in a row.
PROTECTING HOME TURF
EMU has won eight of its last 10 home contests at Rynearson Stadium. It is just off the pace set in 1986-87 when the team was victorious in 10 of 11 home games. Jim Harkema’s then-Hurons won five of six during the 1986 campaign before going 5-for-5 during the 1987 MAC Championship season. EMU followed it up by winning 10 of its next 13 home games from 1988-90. The school record for consecutive home wins is 22 set between 1924-29 when EMU posted an astounding 35- 3-1 mark under the leadership of Elton J. Rynearson.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE CHIPPEWAS
This week’s game will mark the 102nd all-time meeting between the two Michigan schools that was first played Nov. 1, 1902, a 10-0 win for CMU in Mount Pleasant. Overall, CMU holds a 64-31-6 advantage in the series with a 25-20-4 lead when the game is played in Ypsilanti. The two teams have traded wins in the last three seasons with CMU taking a 26-23 win in Mount Pleasant last year (Sept. 30) after EMU was victorious at home in 2022, 38-19 (Nov. 25). The Chippewas won, 31-10, Nov. 26, 2021, which was the last of three wins in a row in the series.
LAST MEETING WITH CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Eastern Michigan came back from a 14-10 halftime deficit to build a 23-19 lead, but Central Michigan’s 24-yard touchdown run with 7:55 remaining in the fourth stood as the winning score to hand the Eagles a 26-23 loss in Mount Pleasant, Sept. 30, 2023. Austin Smith led the way with one rushing and one passing touchdown (to Tanner Knue) while Samson Evans ran one in from two-yards out and Jesús Gómez connected on a 55-yard field goal to pace the offense. Defensively, Chase Kline posted a team-leading 12 tackles while Quentavius Scandrett tallied an interception. Additionally, Justin Jefferson and Joey Zelinsky combined for the team’s lone sack in the game.
*Kent State at Bowling Green 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
SERIES HISTORY
• Kent State is 24-61-6 all-time against Bowling Green following a 49-19 setback last season at Dix Stadium. • The Golden Flashes look to win four straight matchups inside of Doyt Perry Stadium for the first time ever. • Kent State has averaged 45.7 points per game in its last three trips to BG. • The Flashes have left Doyt Perry Stadium with 34- and 38-point margins of victory in the two most recent trips.
Kent State Notes
The Opening Kick
• Kent State aims to reclaim the Anniversary Award as year two of the #KentGRIT era under the direction of head coach Kenni Burns resumes Saturday at Bowling Green. • The Golden Flashes look to put at least 30 points on the scoreboard in three consecutive games for the first time since doing so seven straight contests during the 2021 season. • The offense has exploded since Tommy Ulatowski took over as QB1 to start MAC play, averaging 34.0 points and 441.5 yards per game in two contests against conference opponents. • Ulatowski has set a new passing yards career-high in both starts, recording 345 against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 28 and then 394 last week against Ball State. Ulatowski was responsible for four TDs in both games. • Behind three TD tosses by Ulatowski over the final 6:19 of Saturday’s game, Kent State scored 21 points in a quarter for the first time since the second period against Akron on Oct. 22, 2022. • WR Chrishon McCray earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after catching eight passes for a career-high 213 yards and three scores against the Cardinals. This was the seventh best single-game receiving performance in Flashes history. • Over the past two games, McCray has recorded 13 receptions for 401 yards. Four of his five TDs have been catches of 57+ yards. • WR Luke Floriea also had a career day against Ball State with six catches for 130 yards and one TD.
Bowling Green Notes
BGSU HOSTS KENT STATE ON FAMILY WEEKEND
• Bowling Green State University continues its home- stand, welcoming Kent State to Doyt Perry Stadium. • It is Family Weekend and Senior Day.
BOWLING GREEN VS. KENT STATE
• Bowling Green and Kent State will meet at Doyt Perry Stadium on a Saturday for the first time since 2012. The last five meetings in Bowling Green occurred on Tuesday or Wednesday nights. • Only three of the last seven meetings between the teams have taken place on a Saturday. • Bowling Green’s 49-19 win at Kent State last year snapped a five-game losing streak to the Golden Flashes, which was Kent State’s longest winning streak in the series. • Saturday marks the 92nd all-time meeting between Bowling Green and Kent State. BGSU has faced no opponent more frequently than the Golden Flashes.
FIVE TOP STORYLINES
• TE Harold Fannin Jr. is on the verge of breaking his sixth BGSU tight end record. He needs just one receiving yards to surpass Alex Bayer’s career receiving record (1,543 yards, 2010-13) for a tight end. Bayer is currently Fannin’s position coach. • Fannin, a three-time MAC Offensive Player of the Week, leads all tight ends nationally in receptions (50), receiving yards (702), yards after catch (406), first downs (33), broken tackles (18), and is tied for first in receiving touchdowns (5). According to Pro Football Focus, Fannin has the second-highest overall grade in the nation (95.0), trailing only Ashton Jeanty (Boise State). He also ranks No. 1 for pass routes grade (95.1) among all receivers. Among all players, Fannin is No. 4 in receptions and No. 5 in receiving yards, while ranking highly in broken tackles (1st), yards after catch (2nd), and first downs (4th). • QB Connor Bazelak became the 41st player in FBS history to complete 1,000 career passes, reaching the milestone against NIU. He currently ranks No. 3 among active players, behind Washington State’s Will Rogers and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. Bazelak is also one of six active quarterbacks to surpass 10,000 career passing yards. • OLB Charles Rosser is tied for 20th in the nation (and tied for No. 1 in the MAC) with 4.5 sacks. He is tied with Suntarine Perkins (Ole Miss) for second nationally in sacks by a linebacker. Penn State’s Kydran Jenkins leads with 5.0 sacks. • Bowling Green has recorded 17 sacks this season. Since the start of the 2022 season, BGSU has accumulated 88 team sacks, ranking 16th nationally and first in the MAC.
BOWLING GREEN VS. KENT STATE
• Saturday marks the 92nd all-time meeting between Bowling Green and Kent State, with BGSU leading the series 61-24-6. • Last year, BGSU snapped Kent State’s five-game winning streak in the series, which was the Golden Flashes’ longest in the rivalry. • Bowling Green and Kent State will compete for the annual Anniversary Award, a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of this matchup. Established in 1985 by the alumni departments of both schools, the Anniversary Award commemorates the founding of BGSU and KSU in 1910 due to the Lowry Bill. The trophy was first presented in 1985 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of each institution. Overall, the rivalry has been lopsided, with Bowling Green winning 26 of the 36 meetings since the award’s inception. • Bowling Green has not defeated Kent State at Doyt Perry Stadium since a 42-7 victory in 2016.
*Western Michigan at Buffalo 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Western Michigan Notes
Buffalo Notes
STORYLINES
• The Bulls are looking to start 3-0 in MAC play for the first time since 2022. • Buffalo is looking to improve to 4-0 at home this season. 2013 was the only other year UB started 4-0 at home as an FBS program (since 1999). • UB is 2-8 all-time against Western Michigan and is looking to beat the Broncos for the first time since 2013. • Three of the last seven meetings between Buffalo and Western Michigan went to overtime, including a seven-overtime game won by the Broncos, 71-68, at UB Stadium in 2017. • The Bulls are averaging 31.3 points per game at home compared to 8.7 points per game on the road. • Linebacker Shaun Dolac leads the nation in total tackles (87) and tackles per game (14.5). • Buffalo rushed for a season-best 230 yards in its last game against Toledo. The Bulls had rushed for 281 yards in the previous three games combined. • Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock rank first and second, respectively, in the MAC in tackles (87, 66) as well as tackles for loss (11.5, 10).
Bulls Welcome Western Michigan for Homecoming Game
The University at Buffalo football team will host Western Michigan in their annual homecoming game on Saturday afternoon at UB Stadium. Buffalo is 4-2 overall, 2-0 in MAC play and is coming off a 30-15 win over Toledo last Saturday. Running back Al-Jay Henderson led the Bulls with a career-best 142 yards rushing in the game. Western Michigan is 3-3 overall, 2-0 in the MAC and is coming off a 34-24 win over Akron last Saturday. The Broncos are led by quarterback Hayden Wolff who has thrown for 1,098 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. Western Michigan leads the all-time series, 8-2. The Broncos won the last meeting, 24-17, at UB Stadium in 2021.
Dolac Off to Historic Start
Through six games, Shaun Dolac has 87 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss. He leads the nation in tackles and ranks second in tackles for loss. He is averaging 14.5 tackles per game. He has had double-digit tackles and at least one tackle for loss in every game this season. In UB’s win at Northern Illinois, he had the best game of his career and arguably one of the best outings in program history. He finished with 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a game-changing interception. He has been named MAC Defensive Player of the Week three times already this season earning the award after his performances against Lafayette, Northern Illinois and Toledo. Dolac had a record-breaking season for the Bulls in 2022. A first-team All-MAC selection, he ranked second in the nation in tackles with 147 which were the third-most in program history for a single season. Even more impressive was that he led the nation in solo tackles with 97 – 17 more than any UB player in program history. A local product, Dolac came to UB as a walk-on in 2020. He was a 2022 semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the best player in the country who started their career as a walk-on.
Home Sweet Home
The Bulls have been a different team at home offensively this season. While they are only averaging 8.7 points per game on the road, they are averaging 31.3 points per game at home this season. In fact, the Bulls have yet to trail in a game at UB Stadium this season. UB is averaging 358 yards of offense at home compared to 184 yards on the road. The biggest discrepancy is third down conversions. The Bulls are 18-of-42 at home (43%) compared to 4-of-41 (10%) on the road.
Okay Al-Jay
Running back Al-Jay Henderson rushed for a career-high 142 yards against Toledo. He needed only 18 attempts, averaging 7.9 yards per carry. He was the first UB player to eclipse the 100-yard mark in nearly two seasons. The last UB player to rush for 100 yards in a game was quarterback Matt Myers – 110 yards against Kent State (11/26/22). Henderson leads the Bulls with 277 rushing yards on the season. He is averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
The Kids Are Alright
A pair of young running backs took advantage of the first significant opportunities of their careers against Toledo. Redshirt-freshman Messiah Burch had four carries for 34 yards (8.5 ypc) as well as a 30-yard reception against the Rockets. True freshman Terrance Shelton had five carries for 25 yards (5.0 ypc), including a 17-yard run in the game. Prior to the Toledo game, the pair had combined for 22 carries for 74 yards (3.3 ypc) over the first five games.
TFLs
Buffalo has made a living in the opponent’s backfields this season. The Bulls rank second in the MAC and 12th in the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 7.8 TFLs per game. Linebackers Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock are one-two in the MAC. In fact, Dolac ranks second in the nation with 11.5 tackles (1.9 per game) for loss while Murdock ranks seventh with 10 (1.7 per game). Dolac and Murdock have combined for 21.5 tackles for loss. The pair has combined for more TFLs than four FBS programs.
*Ohio at Miami 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
SERIES HISTORY VS. MIAMI (OHIO)
The Bobcats and the RedHawks have met 99 times since 1908, posting a 42-55-2 record. The two teams last met on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium. Ohio fell, 30-16, snapping their winning streak on the newly-named Frank Solich Field.
Ohio Notes
THE OPENING KICK
The Ohio football team (4-2, 2-0 MAC) returns to action when they travel to Oxford, Ohio to take on rival Miami RedHawks (2-4, 1-1 MAC) for the 100th Battle of the Bricks on Oct. 19. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+ with Kevin Fitzgerald and Charlie Strong on the call. The Bobcats’ matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Veteran Ohio radio personality Marty Bannister is stepping into the 2024 play-byplay role and will be joined by Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades.
SCOUTING MIAMI (OHIO)
The RedHawks are currently 2-4 overall and 1-1 against MAC opponents. After falling to Toledo (Oct. 5), Miami (Ohio) logged its first conference victory against Eastern Michigan (Oct. 12), winning by a solid margin of 38-14.
As a team, Miami averages 17.67 points per game on 99.2 rushing yards and 233.5 passing yards. Their opponents average 22 points per game.
Sixth year quarterback Joe Brett Gabbert is 108-for-191 on 1,384 yards over six games, throwing nine passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. His longest pass clocks in at 75 yards. Gabbert isn’t afraid to use his legs, recording 35 carries so far this season. Redshirt junior quarterback Henry Hesson contributed in two games, logging two completions on 17 yards in the air.
Senior running back Keyon Mozee leads Miami on the ground currently with 55 attempts on 314 yards. He, along with redshirt junior running back Jordan Brunson, has scored one rushing touchdown. Brunson currently sits at 29 attempts on 149 rushing yards. In total, the RedHawks have utilized nine different athletes to move the ball on the ground.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Cade McDonald leads the receiving room with 30 catches and one touchdown on 382 yards. Junior wide receiver Reggie Virgil trails McDonald with 15 receptions on 320 yards but leads the team with three touchdowns, while redshirt sophomore wide receiver Javon Tracy has scored twice on 287 yards. Senior running back Kevin Davis, redshirt freshman wide receiver Cole Weaver and redshirt junior tight end Connor Briggs have all scored one receiving touchdown apiece.
Defensively, sixth year linebacker Matt Saloek leads Miami with 53 total tackles, including 28 solo stops, and one interception while redshirt junior defensive back Eli Blakey trails with 46 total tackles. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Brian Ugwu currently leads the team in tackles for loss (8.5) and quarterback hurries (7), recording 2.5 sacks along with senior linebacker Ty Wise. Redshirt junior linebacker Corban Hondru has snagged two picks on the season.
Redshirt junior kicker/punter Dom Dzioban is the RedHawks’ leading scorer, responsible for 40 of the team’s 106 total points. Currently, Dzioban is 10-for-12 on field goals, with his longest reaching 47 yards, and 10-for-10 on PATs. Senior kicker/punter Alec Bevelhimer has recorded 29 punts so far this season, accumulating 1,228 yards.
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio football program (4-2, 2-0 MAC) continued Mid-American Conference play Saturday (Oct. 12), defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas (3-3, 1-1) 27-25 at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The victory marks the first time Ohio defeated Central Michigan in consecutive seasons since 2001.
Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro went 13-for-22 in the air, recording one touchdown on 147 yards. Navarro broke his single-game record for rushing yards, finishing the game with one touchdown on 176 yards on the ground. Freshman running back Duncan Brune scored his first collegiate touchdown to close the second quarter. On the game, Brune recorded four carries on 12 yards.
Graduate student wide receiver Coleman Owen scored the only receiving touchdown of the day, logging 48 yards on five catches. Sophomore wide receiver Chase Hendricks had a team-best 78 receiving yards, with his longest clocking in at 56 yards.
Defensively, graduate student safety Dustin Johnson recorded nine tackles, including five solo stops, while graduate student linebacker Blake Leake finished the day with five solo tackles and three assisted tackles. Sophomore kicker Gianni Spetic was 2-for-2 on field goals, highlighted by a career-best 46-yard field goal to extend Ohio’s lead in the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, wrapping up a five-play, 57-yard drive with a 35-yard field goal from Spetic. Ohio surged ahead in the second quarter, scoring on three consecutive drives. First, Navarro scored the game’s first touchdown with 10 minutes left in the half, marking his fourth rushing touchdown of the season. Owen kept the momentum going, wrapping up a seven-play, 55-yard drive with a five-yard receiving touchdown. With just over a minute until halftime, a four-yard rush into the end zone by Brune extended Ohio’s lead to 24-0.
Central Michigan struck in the third quarter, wrapping up an eight-play, 67-yard drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown. After a successful two-point conversion, the Chippewas trailed the Bobcats 24-8. On the ensuing drive, CMU scored by way of a 37-yard field goal, cutting Ohio’s lead to 13 points.
With nine minutes remaining in the game, Central Michigan scored their second rushing touchdown of the day, putting the score at 24-18. Spetic answered with a 46-yard field goal, extending Ohio’s lead to nine points and marking a new career high for the sophomore kicker. Central Michigan scored a final rushing touchdown with 1:52 remaining in the game but were unable to take the lead before Ohio regained possession, putting the score at 27- 25.
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are currently 4-2 overall and 2-0 against MAC opponents. They average 22.7 points per game on 206 rushing yards and 172.17 passing yards per game.
In the air, graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro is 75-for-113 on 898 yards with five touchdowns. Navarro is also a threat on the ground, recording 58 carries for 396 yards and four touchdowns. Notably, Navarro broke his single-game rushing yards record against CMU (176). Redshirt junior Nick Poulos made his Bobcat debut against Morgan State (Sept. 14) and his first start against Kentucky (Sept. 21). He is currently 10-for-23 with one interception on 135 yards in the air while recording 62 rushing yards on 13 attempts.
Graduate student running back Anthony Tyus III solidified himself as a force to be reckoned with, finishing the game against Syracuse with 203 rushing yards, marking the first time since 2021 a Bobcat passed the 200-rushingyards-mark in a single game. On the season, Tyus has 104 carries on a team-leading 595 yards and five touchdowns (four rushing, one passing). Redshirt freshman running back Rickey Hunt Jr. has made appearances in all five games for the Bobcats, recording 152 yards on 40 attempts. Freshman running back Duncan Brune net 45 rushing yards on 11 so far this season, scoring his first collegiate touchdown against Central Michigan (Oct. 12).
Kicker Gianni Spetic is the Bobcats’ leading scorer, going 7-for-8 on field goals and 14- for-14 on PATs. Spetic has also accumulated 1,745 yards on 28 kickoffs. Punter Jack Wilson has 29 punts on the season for 1,222 total yards, with his longest clocking in at 56 yards.
Miami Notes
MIAMI HOSTS ARCH-RIVAL OHIO FOR FAMILY WEEKEND
The Miami University football team hosts Ohio Saturday, Oct. 19 at 3:30 p.m. in Miami’s annual Family Weekend game. The 100th meeting between the two schools will be carried live on ESPN+.
ABOUT MIAMI
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (726), conference wins (318), MAC Championships (17) and bowl wins (8). • Historically, Miami’s 726 career wins are third all-time among Group-of-Five programs, behind just Navy (743) and Army (733). • Miami was 4-14 in Coach Martin’s first 18 Mid-American Conference games. Since then, the RedHawks are 43-18 in their last 61 games versus schools from the MAC. • Miami captured its second MAC Championship in the last five years, defeating Toledo 23-14 last season. Chuck Martin won his first MAC Championship back in 2019. • The RedHawks have been bowl-eligible seven of the last eight seasons. From 2006-15, Miami was bowl-eligible just twice. • Since Oct. 15, 2016, Miami has lost back-to-back conference games just twice in that span (2017, 2022). Miami is 16-3 following a conference loss, dating back to midway through the 2016 campaign.
ABOUT OHIO
Ohio is 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play this season. Dual threat quarterback Parker Navarro has thrown for 898 yards and five touchdowns and has added 396 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Defensively, Blake Leake is tops on the team with 43 tackles while Bradley Waver is second in the MAC with 4.0 sacks.
LAST MEETING VERSUS OHIO
Miami scored 30 unanswered points en route to a 30-16 victory over Ohio on Oct. 28, 2023. Rashad Amos rushed for a season-high 163 yards and a touchdown, while the defense held Ohio to 50 yards rushing on 26 attempts. Aveon Smith, filling in for an injured Brett Gabbert, threw for 103 yards and one score and add a second touchdown on the ground, while Cade McDonald had 90 punt return yards and Graham Nicholson was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts. Defensively, Miami had three sacks and Matt Salopek recorded 14 tackles.
SERIES VS. OHIO
Miami leads the all-time series 55-42-2 (Saturday will be the 100th meeting between the two schools) against Ohio in the Battle of the Bricks. The rival programs have faced off every year since 1945 except for 2020 (COVID). This will be just the teams’ second meeting on a Saturday since 2016. Miami is 2-2 over the past four meetings versus the Bobcats and both times the RedHawks beat Ohio they went on to win a MAC Championship (2019, 2023).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS VERSUS BOBCATS
• Brett Gabbert has completed 62-of-99 passes for 885 yards and nine touchdowns (1 INT) in three career starts versus the Bobcats. He threw for a career-best 492 yards and five touchdowns back in 2021 in Athens. • Matt Salopek has 34 career tackles to go along with 2.5 TFL and 0.5 sack in three starts versus Ohio. Last season he recorded 14 stops in the victory at OU.
*Toledo at Northern Illinois 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
TOLEDO-NIU SERIES
Toledo leads the series with Northern Illinois, 34-17. The Rockets won last year in Toledo, 35-33. From 2010-19, the Toledo-NIU game was played in November and either determined the outcome of MAC West Division title race or was played with at least one team still fighting for the crown in all 10 seasons.
Toledo Notes
Rocket Launches
• Toledo leads the series with NIU, 34-17 and has won three of the last four meetings. • Jerjuan Newton caught his 27th and 28th career touchdowns in the Buffalo game. He needs two to tie and three to surpass Cody Thompson (30 from 2014- 18) for Toledo’s all-time mark. • The two touchdown catches mark Newton’s sixth multi-receiving touchdown game of his career. • Newton also set a career high in receiving yards for the second-straight week with 159 on seven catches and was one shy of his career high in receptions. • Junior Junior Vandeross III set a career high with eight receptions to go with 74 yards receiving. • Sophomore John Alan Richter entered the game in the second half, completing 16-of-23 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns, all career bests. •Senior Maxen Hook made 15 tackles to set a career high. Classmate Jackson Barrow tied his career high with nine stops on the afternoon. • Jason Candle’s record as Toledo’s head coach is 69-37. He needs five more wins to pass Gary Pinkel (73-37-3 from 1991-2000) as Toledo’s all-time leader.
ROCKET UPDATE
• Toledo is 4-2 coming off a 30-15 loss at Buffalo on Oct. 12. • Buffalo scored 23 points in the second half to break open a close game. • Toledo’s defense held Buffalo to just one score in the first half, but the Bulls scored on a long drive to open the second half, and then took advantage of a strip sack deep in Toledo territory to take a 21-0 lead, which held up despite a late Rocket rally. • Sophomore quarterback John Alan Richter came off the bench to spark a late rally Toledo. Richter completed 16-of-23 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. • Senior Jerjuan Newton led the receivers with seven receptions for 159 yards and two TDs. • Senior safety Maxen Hook led the defense with a career-best 15 tackles. • Through six games, Toledo leads in the MAC in scoring offense (32.3). The Rockets are second in scoring defense (21.0) and rushing defense (86.6), trailing NIU in both categories. • Toledo has outscored its opponents 49-17 in the first quarter and 107-46 in the first half. • Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason is second in the MAC in total offense (248.2) and passing efficiency (146.63).
LAST YEAR VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Quarterback Dequan Finn threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in Toledo’s 35-33 win over Northern Illinois at the Glass Bowl last season. But it was linebacker Dallas Gant who saved the day on the game’s final play. With time running out and NIU trying to move down the field to attempt a potential game-winning field goal, Gant made a diving tackle on Huskie quarterback Rocky Lombardi at the UT 45-yard line to secure the victory. In front of a Homecoming crowd of 23,417 at the Glass Bowl, Toledo withstood a late NIU surge in which the Huskies scored the final 13 points of the game. After forcing Toledo to punt with 50 seconds left, Huskies got the ball back on their own 14-yard line and drove to midfield, but the Toledo defense held strong and squashed the comeback. Finn completed 16-of-20 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 61 yards and a TD. He threw touchdowns to senior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton and sophomore wide receiver Junior Vandeross III, the latter of whom caught four passes for a career-high 147 yards. Junior tight end Anthony Torres added three catches for 39 yards.
DEFENSE!
Toledo’s defense ranks third in the MAC in total defense (344.5) and second in rushing defense (110.5), which is also 33rd best in the nation.
SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE BEEN SPECIAL
Toledo’s special teams have made a difference this season. • After missing his first two field goal attempts, freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan has made six straight. He had kicks of 47 and 48 yards in the win over Miami on Oct. 5. He has made 23-of-23 extra points. • Punt returner Bryson Hammer leads the MAC and fifth in the country with an 18.2 punt return average. He has had punt returns of 43, 41, 32 and 22 among his 11 returns this season. • Toledo is averaging 29.6 yards per kick return, which is second in the MAC and sixth in the nation. Jacquez Stuart is averaging 39.6 yards per return on five attempts, including a 98- yard TD vs. UMass. That figure would lead the country but Stuart does not have enough attempts to qualify. • Toledo is second in the MAC and 28th in the country in kickoff coverage, allowing just 16.5 yards per return. • Toledo is 3-of-3 in recovering on-side kicks. • Toledo has blocked one punt and has not been blocked. is among the leaders in the three major career receiving categories. Newton has 28 receiving TDs for his career, putting him in second place on Toledo’s all-time list. The all-time leader is Cody Thompson, who caught 30 scoring passes from 2014-18. Newton’s 159 receiving yards vs. Buffalo gives 2,411 for this career, good for eighth place on Toledo all-time list and passing current Carolina Panther Diontae Johnson (2,276 from 2015-18). Newton also has 165 career receptions, which ranks 13th all-time at Toledo.
Northern Illinois Notes
DOG TREATS
• NIU plays host to former MAC West – now fellow “pod” – foe Toledo Saturday in the Huskies’ 117th Homecoming game. • In 13 games between NIU and Toledo beginning with the 63-60 classic in 2011, NIU has outscored the Rockets by a total of just eight points, 409-401. The Huskies have won eight of those 13 games, but Toledo has claimed three of the last four. • The Huskies defeated Bowling Green, 17-7, last week in Ohio for their first MAC win of the season. The NIU defense collected six sacks and 10 tackles for loss while limiting the Falcons to 205 total yards and just 141 after their first two offensive plays. • The NIU defense is ranked first in the country in third down defense after Bowling Green converted just 1-of-13 third downs last week, the second Huskie opponent this year to be held to one conversion. NC State was just 1-of-11 on third down, while the Huskies stopped UMass nine times on third down, including five of six times in the second half. For the season, opponents are converting just 20.5 percent of their third downs. • NIU now has held 15 of its last 19 opponents over the last two seasons to 24 points or less, including all six of its 2024 foes with Bowling Green held to a season low seven points. • Senior running back Gavin Williams has recorded back-to-back 100-yard rushing games with 102 yards on 29 carries last week after gaining a career high 125 yards on 19 runs versus UMass. He now leads NIU with 409 yards on the year. • Defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard was named the MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after leading NIU with two sacks, three tackles for loss and seven tackles – six solo – at Bowling Green. • NIU’s Isaac Hatfield is one of two long snappers in the Football Bowl Subdivision to score this year after catching a two-point conversion pass from tight end Grayson Barnes last week. • Receiver Andrew McElroy led NIU with five catches for 47 yards at Bowling Green and has 12 catches in the last four games to rank second on the team. • Huskie greats Jordan Lynch and Jimmie Ward – who led NIU to a 24-4 record (16- 0 in the MAC) in 2012 and 2013 while collecting All-America honors – are among the seven individuals being inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. Ward, a defensive back for the Houston Texans, will miss the festivities. • Since the start of the 2016 season, NIU leads the FBS in one-score games played with 58. NIU is 28-30 in those games.
NOTING NIU
HUSKIES COME HOME:
NIU plays the fourth of its six home games Saturday when Toledo comes to Huskie Stadium for the 52nd all-time meeting as the teams play for the 28th consecutive season. Kickoff time for NIU’s 117th Homecoming game is at 2:30 p.m. (CT).
SERIES HISTORY:
Toledo has won 34 of the 51 games played in the all-time series with NIU, and are 13-9 all-time versus the Huskies in DeKalb. NIU won five straight games over the Rockets in Huskie Stadium from 2008-2018 (not including the 2016 contest in Chicago), but the Rockets have now won two straight in DeKalb. Toledo won 15 of the first 21 series games between 1967-89, then defeated NIU 11 times between 1990-2004. Since 2005, the Huskies are 11-6 against the Rockets, including a six-game winning streak from 2010-2015. NIU and Toledo have played every year since 1997.
SLIM MARGIN:
In 13 games played between NIU and Toledo since the classic 63-60 Huskie win in 2011 that spawned #MACtion, the point differential between the teams is exactly eight points. The Huskies, who have won eight of the last 13 games, have scored a total of 409 points in those games, while Toledo has totaled 401. There have been eight one-score games and five games decided by five points or less, including the 2023 contest, a 35-33 UT victory.
HUSKIE HOMECOMING HISTORY:
NIU caps off a full week of Homecoming activities Saturday with its 117th Homecoming game. The Huskies’ annual celebration dates back to an alumni football game played Oct. 10, 1903. NIU’s Homecoming is the oldest major college alumni gathering in the state and the Huskies have one of the longest celebrated Homecoming traditions in the country. The Huskies are 75-31-10 all time in their Homecoming football games and have won 22 of their last 25 games in front of the alums. NIU is 41-15-2 in Homecoming football games in Huskie Stadium, including a 23-13 win over Ohio last year
HUSKIES IN THE MAC:
In 38 seasons as a member of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies are 166-119-2 all-time. The Huskies own a winning percentage of .638 (136-77) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 79-33 (.705) against the MAC with three undefeated campaigns, two one-loss seasons and eight division championships, including a run of six-straight (2010- 15). NIU originally competed in the MAC from 1975-85.
HOME SWEET HOME:
NIU has won nearly 70 percent of its games played in Huskie Stadium since 2003 with an 83-38 (.686) record at home in 21-plus seasons. During that stretch, the Huskies have had 15 winning records at home and five undefeated seasons in DeKalb (2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013). NIU’s all-time record at Huskie Stadium is 185-118-2 for a .610 all-time winning percentage.
AT HOME IN THE MAC:
In 38 seasons of MAC play dating back to 1975, NIU is 89-54-1 (.621) all-time at home in league games, including a 71-34 (.676) mark in Huskie Stadium versus league opponents since rejoining the league in 1997. In 55 MAC home games since 2009, the Huskies are 43-17 (.717).
Ball State at Vanderbilt 7 pm ET (ESPN+)
Ball State Notes
BALL STATE GETS BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN, HEADS TO NASHVILLE TO BATTLE VANDERBILT
• Ball State visits Nashville to battle a Southeastern Conference opponent for the third time in two seasons. Counting its game at Miami (Fla.) last month, Saturday’s game reflects the Ball State’s fourth matchup against a Power Four opponent the past two years. • Ball State used seven sacks and a strong run defense to get past Kent State last Saturday. The Cardinals led 27-7 in the third period, but big plays kept Kent State in the game, cutting the lead to 27-21 early in the fourth. Even after Jackson Courville’s third field goal of the contest staked the Cardinals to a 30-21 lead with 3:19 to play, the Golden Flashes got two more touchdowns to keep applying pressure to the Ball State lead. Vaughn Pemberton’s 41- yard burst with 1:13 was the difference-maker in the 37-35 victory. • For the first time this year, it was the Cardinals’ defense that shone most brightly against Kent State. Brandon Berger had a career-high three sacks and the total defensive effort limited Kent State to just 67 rushing yards. Riley Tolsma and Joey Stemler each had eight tackles, and Stemler added 1.5 sacks. The Cardinals totaled nine stops in the Flashes’ backfield. • Junior TE Tanner Koziol ranks seventh nationally with 7.7 receptions per game, grabbing eight catches at Kent State after corralling exactly nine in each of the previous three weeks. He ranks second among tight ends in catches per game and third with 72.3 yards per game. • FCS transfer Braedon Sloan has netted 423 yards on 99 carries this season, in addition to 222 yards on 19 catches. The versatile Sloan has approached or exceeded the 100-yard mark in all-purpose yards in each game: 155 vs. Western Michigan, 103 vs. Missouri State, 97 at Kent State, 94 at CMU and 72 at JMU. He scored two rushing touchdowns last Saturday. • The 100th anniversary of Ball State’s first season in 1924 coincides with the 100th season on the field, given that the Cardinals didn’t field a team in 1943 due to World War II. Season-long celebrations of the 100th season will be displayed at Scheumann Stadium this season. Similarly, it is the program’s 50th season in the MAC — formally joining the league in 1973 and playing its first football games in 1975.
WHAT A WIN MEANS:
• Currently the fifth winningest coach in Ball State football history, Mike Neu will capture his 40th victory as head coach of his alma mater, tying Dwight Wallace (40) with the fourth-most wins as the Cardinals’ head coach.
INSIDE THE SERIES: VANDERBILT
• While the Cardinals have never met Vanderbilt on the gridiron, Ball State battles an SEC opponent for the third time in two seasons, following season-opening games at Kentucky and Georgia last season.
AGAINST THE SEC
• The Cardinals are seeking their first win against an SEC opponent. Ball State is 0-14 against teams currently in the SEC and 0-10 against SEC foes at the time of the game (Auburn 0-3; Kentucky 0-2; Florida 0-1; Georgia 0-1; Missouri 0-3 and Oklahoma 0-1 while in Big XII; South Carolina 0-1; Tennessee 0-1; Texas A&M 0-1).
VS. NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK
• For the second time in a month, the Cardinals face a team coming off a performance that earned the title as “national team of the week.” Ball State played at James Madison the week after they beat North Carolina, 70-50. The Cardinals face the Commodores just two weeks after they beat No. 1-ranked Alabama.
Vanderbilt Notes
STORYLINES NEXT UP
• Vanderbilt returns home to host Ball State on Saturday after winning back-to-back SEC games against No. 1 Alabama and Kentucky. • The Commodores are receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches polls for the second consecutive week. • Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between Vanderbilt and Ball State. The Commodores are 11-1 all-time versus MAC opponents with the most recent match up coming in 2022 at Northern Illinois when Vandy won 38-28.
LAST TIME OUT
• Vanderbilt won its second consecutive SEC battle with a 20-13 thriller on the road at Kentucky. Vandy’s 20 points was the second most scored against the Kentucky defense this season. The Wildcats had previously held Georgia to 13 points and Ole Miss to 17. • Vandy’s 4-2 start is the best start since the 2008 season when Vanderbilt went 5-1 through its first six games. • Vanderbilt has won back-to-back games at Kentucky for the first time since 1992 and 1994. • De’Rickey Wright grabbed his sixth career interception in the win. Vandy has a pick in 10 of the last 12 games dating to last season. • Diego Pavia finished 15-of-18 with two touchdowns, marking his fourth consecutive game with multiple touchdowns through the air. • Brock Taylor went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts including posting a 50-yarder to improve to 4-of-5 this year from 50-plus yards. • Taylor was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. He is the second Vanderbilt player since the SEC instituted weekly awards in 1985 to win the same award in consecutive weeks. Quarterback Eric Jones was named Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 1987.
BACK-TO-BACK
• Vanderbilt did not trail in either of its back-to-back victories over No. 1 Alabama and at Kentucky. It is the first time since at least 1960 that the Commodores led for the entirety of consecutive SEC contests. • Vandy’s offense did not have a single three-and-out drive in either win, marking the only time since at least 2002 that Vanderbilt has gone two consecutive SEC contests without a three-and-out. • According to ESPN Research, Diego Pavia became the first SEC quarterback to record an 80 percent completion rate, at least two touchdown passes and 50 yards rushing in back-to-back wins.
ROLL DORES ROLL
• Vandy’s historic 40-35 win over top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 5 was the program’s first victory over a No. 1-ranked team and the first top-five win in program history. • The Commodores were 0-60 against AP top-five opponents entering the contest with No. 1/2-ranked Alabama and it was Vandy’s first win over the Crimson Tide since the 1984 season. • Vanderbilt held Alabama to 35 points, the fewest points scored by the Crimson Tide this season entering the contest. • The Commodores converted 12-of-18 third-down opportunities leading to 42:08 of possession. • Vandy’s offense registered 26 first downs in the win, the most in a game this season. • Vandy took the opening drive down the field for a touchdown, the first touchdown allowed by the Alabama defense in the first quarter this season. • The Commodore defense picked up its second pick six of the season when Randon Fontenette grabbed a pass tipped by De’Rickey Wright and took it to the end zone. Alabama had not allowed a pick six since 2022. • Diego Pavia finished the game 16-for-20 with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns. His 80 percent completion rate was the highest mark by an opposing quarterback against the Crimson Tide since 2010, when Stephen Garcia finished with an 85 percent mark for South Carolina, per ESPN Research. • Pavia found Junior Sherrill for a 36-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-1 play that increased Vandy’s lead back to two scores in the third quarter. • Pavia became the 10th quarterback since 2010 to defeat both Auburn and Alabama in his career, joining Jayden Daniels, Stetson Bennett, Zach Calzada, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Knight, Chad Kelly, Bo Wallace and Johnny Manziel. Pavia, Bennett, Watson and Matthew Stafford are the only quarterbacks since 2004 to defeat both without playing in the SEC West.
QUICK HITTERS
2 MINUTE DRILL
• Buffalo improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in MAC play with a 30-15 victory over Toledo last Saturday. The Bulls tallied a season-high 230 rushing yards, while Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock once again led the Bulls’ defensive efforts with 15 and 11 tackles, respectively.
• Ball State earned its first conference win of the 2024 season on Saturday, defeating Kent State, 37-35, on the road. The Cardinals rushed for a season-high 191 yards and rode the efforts of the defense, which notched a season-best seven sacks.
• Brett Gabbert tossed four touchdowns to lead the Miami RedHawks to a 38-14 victory over Eastern Michigan last week. Miami’s defense added a pair of turnovers and held EMU to 18.4 points under its season average.
• A dominant defensive performance helped Northern Illinois earn its first conference win of the season as the Huskies defeated Bowling Green on the road by a final score of 17-7. Skyler Gill-Howard led the defensive effort with two sacks and a tackle for loss among his six tackles, including five solo stops.
• Ohio moved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play with a 27-25 road victory at Central Michigan. The victory marked the first time the Bobcats defeated the Chippewas in consecutive seasons since 2001.
• Western Michigan outlasted Akron and Mother Nature to improve to 2-0 in Mid-American Conference play after a 34-24 win over the Zips on Saturday night. The game was delayed by storms for five hours and five minutes late in the third quarter, before being resumed at 11:05 p.m.
• The MAC has defeated at least seven non-conference FBS opponents in the same season 23 times since 2000 and is currently on a 19-year streak with at least seven victories against FBS foes (minus 2020 due to COVID). Additionally, the MAC has defeated double-digit non-conference FBS opponents in back- to-back seasons for the eighth time since 2000.
• The MAC has established a new football scheduling model that will go into effect starting this season. The new scheduling model will eliminate the MAC East and West Divisions. The top two teams based on conference winning percentage will compete in the MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MAC Football Offensive Players of the Week
Chrishon McCray, Kent State, Wide Receiver
R-Sophomore, Avon, Ind. (Avon)
Chrishon McCray set career-highs with 213 receiving yards and three touchdowns during Saturday’s game against Ball State. McCray, whose scores came from 24, 63, and 57 yards out, totaled 90 yards after the catch on the day. His career performance puts him seventh on Kent State’s all-time single game receiving list and is the best by a MAC player this season. Dating back to last season, McCray has racked up at least 161 yards in three straight games against conference opponents.
MAC Football CO-Defensive Player of the Week
Shaun Dolac, Buffalo, Linebacker
Graduate, West Seneca, NY (West Seneca East)
Shaun Dolac had 15 tackles, including a tackle for loss to lead Buffalo’s defense in a 30-15 victory over Toledo. He had 10 solo tackles in the game. He helped smother the Rockets’ rushing attack as Toledo was held to a season-low 46 yards on 25 carries. Dolac continues to lead the nation in tackles with 87.
Skyler Gill-Howard, NIU, Defensive Tackle
Junior, Milwaukee, Wisc. (Greenfield)
Skyler Gill-Howard led another stellar defensive performance for the NIU Huskies versus Bowling Green with two quarterback sacks and three tackles for loss in a 17-7 Huskie win. Gill-Howard totaled six tackles, five solo. His sack on third and goal from the NIU 2 in the third quarter forced BG to try a field goal that was missed. His TFL came on third down with BG at its own 11, forcing the Falcons to punt from its end zone, giving NIU field position inside Bowling Green territory.
MAC Football Special Teams Players of the Week
Ethan Duane, Buffalo, Punter
Junior, Melbourne, Australia
CFB-FBS: Mid-American Conference Week 8 Release and PreviewsEthan Duane averaged 43.7 yards per punt in Buffalo’s 30-15 win over Toledo. He was consistently pinning the Rockets deep in their own territory as six of his seven punts were downed inside the 20-yard-line. Only one of his seven punts was returned. He had a long punt of 59 yards in the game.
