WEEK 8 MAC PREVIEWS
Saturday, October 23
Eastern Michigan (4-3, 1-2 MAC) at Bowling Green (2-5, 0-3 MAC)
Noon ET | ESPN+
Eastern Michigan (4-3, 1-2 MAC) enters the game in hopes of evening its MAC ledger. The Eagles fell to Ball State, 38-31, inside Rynearson Stadium in their most recent contest, Oct. 16. No team in the Mid-American Conference is more successful on third down than Eastern Michigan. As an offense, Eastern converts 46 percent (42-of-91) of its third down tries. That number ranks 25th in the nation. EMU was 9-of-13 in its most recent contest, against Ball State, Oct. 16. EMU has converted 56 percent of its third-and-short attempts (9-of-16), 68 percent of its third-and-medium tries (22-of-32), and 25 percent of its third-and-long attempts (11-of-43). Bowling Green (2-5, 0-3 MAC) enters the contest with hopes of capturing its first conference victory this season. The Falcons lost to Northern Illinois, 34-26, Oct. 16, in DeKalb, Ill. This year’s BGSU team has allowed the second-fewest passing yards (1,033) through the first seven games of a season in records dating back to 2000. BGSU is forcing opponents to 57.0 percent completion rate through the first seven games of the season. In records dating back to 2000 that is the eighth-lowest rate through the first seven games of the season.
Northern Illinois (5-2, 3-0 MAC) at Central Michigan (4-3, 2-1 MAC)
Noon ET/ 11 AM CT | ESPNU
NIU travels to Central Michigan as the only MAC team to go unbeaten in conference play to date while riding a four-game winning streak. The Huskies are coming off a 34-26 home victory over Bowling Green as NIU gained 319 rushing yards on 59 carries, led by Jay Ducker who ran for 210 yards on 33 attempts. After going 0-6 a year ago, NIU’s turnaround has come with a roster that includes 75 players who finished high school in 2020 or 2021 and 11 more who graduated in 2019. A Central Michigan win over NIU will give Coach McElwain 60 career victories. He tallied his 50th career win against NIU at home in 2019. Marshall Meeder was recognized as the MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week and named a Star of the Week by the Lou Groza Award after kicking four field goals against Toledo including the game winner. Meeder connected from 46, 51, 44 and 38 yards in overtime to becoming the first Chippewa since David Harman in 2012 to make four field goals in a game.
Kent State (3-4, 2-1 MAC) at Ohio (2-5 MAC, 1-2 MAC)
1 PM ET | ESPN+
Ohio (1-6, 1-2 MAC) is back in Athens on Saturday, Oct. 23 when the Bobcats host Kent State (3-4, 2-1 MAC). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
inside Peden Stadium. Overall, the Bobcats are averaging 20.3 points per game to go along with 346.3 total yards per game. De’Montre Tuggle leads the ground game with 494 yards, while averaging 70.6 yards per game with three touchdowns. O’Shaan Allison adds 267 yards on the ground, while Armani Rogers adds 448 yards on 67 carries and a team-leading six touchdowns. Kent State dropped their first MAC game of the season at Western Michigan, 64-31 last Saturday. Dustin Crum tossed two touchdown passes in the loss and has six multi-touchdown games over the last two seasons. Dante Cephas kept his hot streak going, recording 96 yards receiving and one of the two touchdowns Kent State ran for 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Golden Flashes are second in the MAC and 16th in the FBS with a 223 rushing yard per game average.
Western Michigan (5-2, 2-1 MAC) at Toledo (3-4 MAC, 1-2 MAC)
3:30 PM ET | CBS Sports Network
Western Michigan defeated Kent State Golden Flashes, 64-31, in front of 18,716 fans on Homecoming at Waldo Stadium on Saturday. The Broncos (5-2, 2-1 MAC) racked up a season-high 652 yards of offense on the back of 341 yards rushing and 311 yards through the air. Sophomore running back Sean Tyler had a career-high 169 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown. It was the third time that Tyler broke the century mark in his career. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kaleb Eleby was 15-22 passing with 311 yards and three touchdown passes, while rushing for 33 yards and a touchdown. Skyy Moore and Jalen Hall each had 144 yards receiving with Moore leading the game with eight receptions, including two touchdowns. Toledo is coming off a 26-23 overtime setback at Central Michigan last week. Redshirt freshman quarterback Dequan Finn nearly rallied Toledo from a 17-point second-half deficit, but the Rockets came up just short. Toledo ranks first in the MAC in scoring defense (18.7) and total defense (316.7), second in defensive passing efficiency (111.4), and third in rushing defense (143.3). The Rockets also rank sixth in scoring offense (27.7) and total offense (383.9).
Buffalo (3-4, 1-2 MAC) at Akron (2-5 MAC, 1-2 MAC)
3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Akron outscored the Miami RedHawks 14-13 in the second half, but could not overcome a 21-7 first-half deficit as the Miami triumphed 34-21 at Yager Stadium on Saturday. Akron redshirt freshman QB Zach Gibson threw for a career-high 291 yards and matched a career-best three touchdowns which included a 50- yard touchdown pass late in the game to junior WR Andre Williams. Akron freshman WR Konata Mumpfield was recognized for his outstanding campaign as The Athletic tabbed him to its freshmen midseason All-America squad on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Mumpfield was one of only two non-Power Five players selected to the team. The Bulls have won the last three meetings against Akron and have only allowed one touchdown over that three-game span. Running back Dylan McDuffie is enjoying the best season of his career. The junior running back has rushed for 492 yards and a team-best six touchdowns on the season. He has already surpassed his rushing total of his first three seasons combined (225). McDuffie has scored a rushing touchdown in five of the seven games this season.
Miami (3-4, 2-1 MAC) at Ball State (4-3 MAC, 2-1 MAC)
3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Ball State and Miami are set to square off for the 45th time in series history Saturday afternoon at Scheumann Stadium in a matchup between the last two MAC champions. The cross-division foes play each year for the Red Bird Rivalry trophy. Seven weeks into the 2021 season, fifth-year WR Justin Hall is averaging 144.7 all-purpose yards per game, good for 12th-most in the country and first in the MAC. Hall is second in the country in average all-purpose yards among players who have logged at least one yard through rushing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return only to Jayden Reed (Michigan State). Miami’s balanced offensive attack rolled up its highest rushing total of the season vs. Akron with 245 yards on the ground to go along with AJ Mayer’s 229 passing yards. Miami sacked Akron
three times, gaining one apiece for Ivan Pace Jr., Lonnie Phelps and Nasir Washington. Jack Sorenson had five catches for 113 yards, his second-straight 100-yard performance. Miami is 27-10 versus MAC opponents over its last 37 games, best in the conference in that span. Over that time, Miami has outscored its opponents 1,055-799.
