WEEK 13 GAME SCHEDULE
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Akron Zips vs Kent State Golden Flashes
Series History
• Kent State is 28-36-2 all-time against Akron. • The Golden Flashes had a 4-game winning streak in the rivalry ended last season in a 31-27 defeat. • At home, Kent State has gone 17-10. • Of the 32 meetings since the Zips joined the Mid-American Conference in 1992, 14 have been decided by 8 or fewer points. • Kent State is 4-10 in those games.
Akron Zips Notes
Game notes not available.
Kent State Golden Flashes Notes
The Opening Kick
• Kent State seeks to regain the Wagon Wheel rivalry trophy as year two of the #KentGRIT era under the direction of head coach Kenni Burns continues with a mid-week #MACtion game Tuesday night against Akron. • OL Tony Georges switched sides in the rivalry during the offseason and has started at the center position each of the past seven games for the Golden Flashes. The redshirt senior played in 33 games and made 19 starts for the Zips from 2021-23. • Kent State has been among the most disciplined teams in the country, ranking 2nd among FBS teams in fewest penalty yards per game (30.20) and 6th in fewest penalties per games (4.20). • WR Chrishon McCray caught his 8th TD of the season on the opening possession of last week’s game at first-place Miami. McCray is tied for 7th on Kent State’s all-time receiving TDs list with 12 in only 20 career games. • In his first Wagon Wheel Game last November, McCray helped the Flashes build a 27-10 lead with 6 catches for 161 yards and 2 scores before suffering a season-ending injury on the second possession of the third quarter. The offense totaled just 22 yards the rest of the night as Akron scored 21 unanswered in the fourth quarter for the come-from-behind victory.
BATTLE FOR THE WAGON WHEEL
Dating back to 1946, Kent State and Akron have play for one of the more unique trophies in college football, the Wagon Wheel. The trophy is displayed in a neutral location during the (now) annual rivalry game, with the winner painting the wheel in its school colors. The Golden Flashes lead the series 27-25-1 since the trophy was introduced. The schools first met on the gridiron in 1923 and played nearly every season through 1954. After not playing in the 1960s and meeting just three times in the 1970s, the rivalry game took place nine times from 1981-90. The teams have played every season Akron joined the MidAmerican Conference in 1992, with the Zips holding a 19-13 advantage during this era. The Wagon Wheel history dates back to the spring of 1870 when Akron industrialist John R. Buchtel set out for the town of Kent in search of a site to establish a college. It was muddy in the Ohio fields and his wagon became stuck in the area where Kent State University is now located. When horses pulled the wagon, a wheel came off and became buried, not to be discovered until 1902, during the construction of a pipeline along the Western Reserve Trail. Dr. Raymond Manchester, Kent State dean of men, acquired the wagon wheel and, in 1945, suggested the local historic artifact be given as the trophy to the winner of the annual Kent State – Akron football game.
Western Michigan Broncos vs Central Michigan Chippewas
THE SERIES
Tuesday is the 95th meeting all-time between the Broncos and the Chippewas. The Broncos lead the all-time series 53-39-2, have won the last two meetings and have won the last six games played at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Between 2006 and 2010, the Chippewas won all five games, since then the Broncos are 10-3 in the rivalry game. Last season, Western Michigan retained the Victory Cannon after scoring 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to overcome a 28-21 deficit. While it’s the 95th meeting, it is just the 17th Battle for the Victory Cannon. The Broncos have won the trophy 10 times to the Chippewas 6. The Victory Cannon Trophy was established as a nod to both WMU and CMU’s ROTC programs that shoot off a cannon after its team scores.
Western Michigan Broncos Notes
THIS WEEK
Western Michigan heads to Mount Pleasant, Mich., for the annual Battle for the Victory Cannon against rival Central Michigan on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The game can be watched live on ESPN2 and heard live on the Bronco Media Network.
DAZZLING DEBUTS
A lot of Broncos got their first taste of the Western Michigan/Central Michigan rivalry last season and many rose to the occasion. WMU quarterback Hayden Wolff was 25- for-36 passing for 333 yards and three touchdowns. The 333 yards are his high as a Bronco and the most passing yards by a Western Michigan quarterback in the rivalry game since Kaleb Eleby threw for 382 in a wild 52-42 win at CMU in 2020. Running back Jalen Buckley had 117 yards rushing on 23 carries and two touchdowns. His second touchdown of the night came in the fourth quarter, with Buckley taking it 52 yards to the house to tie the game up at 28-28. Wide receiver Kenneth Womack had 12 catches for 135 yards in his first game against the Chippewas. The 135 yards is still his most as a Bronco since transferring from Sacred Heart ahead of the 2023 season. WMU head coach Lance Taylor became the first Bronco Head Coach to secure the Victory Cannon Trophy in his first try.
TOP 10
Although junior running back Jaden Nixon had a rough outing in terms of running the ball in WMU’s loss at Bowling Green last week, Nixon posted a career-high 94 yards on kickoff returns, giving him a total of 128 all-purpose yards. That performance moved Nixon into the Top 10 in the nation in all-purpose yards per game, coming in at ninth with 139.20. Nixon has now amassed 1,392 all-purpose yards on the season, also a new career high. Nixon is also fifth in the nation in yards per carry at 7.07. In addition to Nixon, the Broncos also hold Top 10 ratings in fewest penalties (7th) and most fumbles recovered (3rd), leading the MAC in both.
GROUND AND POUND
Redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Buckley was one of 45 players to run for at least 1,000 yards last season. Buckley is just one of 27 of those that will play collegiately in 2024. The Aurora, Ill., native rushed for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns to pace the Broncos. He was fifth in the MAC in rushing yards and was one of only two freshmen in the nation that reached 1,000 yards.
INTO THE BACKFIELD
Last season, the Bronco defense recorded 62.0 tackles for loss and 24.0 sacks. When it comes to getting to the quarterback, WMU returns most of its numbers. Marshawn Kneeland led the team with 4.5 sacks last season and is now impressive with the Dallas Cowboys, but the next six players with the highest sack totals all return. Linebacker Donald Willis is the top returner after making 3.5 last season and is followed by Mason Nelson at 3.0, defensive end Corey Walker and linebacker Boone Bonnema at 2.5, and defensive tackle Isaiah Green at 2.0. The same goes for stopping the ball in the backfield. The Broncos return 45.5 of those tackles for loss, including last year’s leader in Walker, who had a career-high 8.5. Willis and fellow linebacker Jacob Wahlberg each had 6.5, while Nelson returns with 5.0. Green had 4.5 in his first season of FBS football, while Bonnema had 3.5. Cornerback Bilahl Kone, and defensive ends Tyson Lee and Marcel Tyler each had 2.0.
Central Michigan Chippewas Notes
ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan (3-7, 1-5 MAC) plays its third #MACtion weeknight game when it battles Western Michigan (5-5, 4-2 MAC) for the rights to the Victory Cannon Trophy on Tuesday evening. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET at Kelly/Shorts Stadium for an ESPN2 nationally televised game. The game also represents Senior Day and the final home contest for Central Michigan as the Chippewas will honor 21 seniors in a pregame ceremony. Two regular season games remain in the 2024 season for Central Michigan: vs. Western Michigan (Nov. 19), and at Northern Illinois (Nov. 30). Mathematically, Central Michigan has been eliminated from bowl eligibility. Central Michigan enters Tuesday’s rivalry contest on a five-game losing skid. Those games include a 27-25 home loss to Ohio, a 38-34 road loss at Eastern Michigan, a 46-7 loss at Miami (OH), a 23-13 home loss to Bowling Green, and a 37-10 loss at Toledo last Tuesday. The Ohio and Eastern Michigan games were decided at the last minute. Prior to the Miami (OH) game, the Chippewas played four consecutive close games, defeating both Ball State (37-34) and San Diego State (22-21) in the closing seconds and dropping contests to Ohio (27-25) and at Eastern Michigan (38-34). All four contests were decided by four points or less and were decided in the final minute.
Central Michigan is down to its fourth-string quarterback, while five of its top wide receivers are out for the season. The Chippewas have also suffered numerous other injuries on offense. CMU is coming off a 37-10 loss at Toledo last Tuesday night. Five turnovers (three fumbles lost and two interceptions) doomed the Chippewas. CMU trailed 17-3 just 22 seconds before halftime but the Rockets scored on a 45-yard interception return, then recovered a fumble and converted a field goal to take a commanding 27-3 lead into halftime. Toledo outgained CMU in total yardage (299-236), outrushed CMU 159-86, and held a huge 5-0 advantage in turnover margin. True freshman quarterback Jadyn Glasser made his first career start and completed 16 of 27 passes for 150 yards and Marion Lukes scored a touchdown and led CMU in rushing yards (80 on 19 carries) and all-purpose yards (85), and Chris Parker tied a career-high with five receptions. On defense, Jordan Kwiatkowski led the Chippewas with eight tackles, Dakota Cochran added six tackles, a forced fumble, and a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss, and Caleb Spann added six tackles. Prior to the season, Central Michigan returned 17 players who started a significant number of games in 2023, including eight players on offense and nine on defense. Several transfers were added in who have played significant roles in 2024, several players returned from injury, and a variety of players improved over the offseason and were ready to contribute. The Chippewas entered the year a bit older across the board with most of their talent returning. Last year, CMU narrowly missed advancing to a bowl game as it entered its season finale against No. 23 Toledo needing one more win to become bowl eligible. CMU dropped a 32- 17 decision. Combining the last three seasons (2022-24), CMU has accumulated a 12-22 record and the Chippewas are coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2010 and 2011 when they went 3-9 in consecutive years. These seasons are a drastic change from the course that Head Coach Jim McElwain has put the Chippewas on since his arrival in 2019. In his first year guiding the program in 2019, he took over a team that finished 1-11 and 0-8 in MAC play and led the Chippewas to one of the nation’s top turnarounds, an 8-6 record, 6-2 in the MAC with a berth in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl. After a COVID-shortened 2020 season, he led CMU to a 9-4 overall, 6-2 MAC record and berth in the 2021 Sun Bowl, where the Chippewas closed the year on a five-game win streak, including a 24-21 Sun Bowl win over Washington State
A WIN OVER WMU WOULD…
• Give Central Michigan possession of the Victory Cannon Trophy for the first time since Nov. 3, 2021. • Snap a five-game losing streak. • Snap a two-game home losing streak. • Snap a six-game losing streak to Western Michigan in home games.
CMU IS MAC LEADER ON DEFENSE
Central Michigan is a leader in the MAC in two key pressure defensive statistics: No. 1 in tackles for loss and No. 2 in sacks. With 81 tackles for loss on the year, 8.1 tackles for loss per game, CMU leads the MAC and is ranked No. 6 in the nation in that statistical category. The Chippewas have 27 sacks on the year, average 2.70 sacks per game and rank No. 26 in the nation. Individually, CMU’s Jordan Kwiatkowski ranks No. 1 in the MAC and No. 17 nationally in tackles for loss with 13.0 overall and 1.30 per game. Other players who are ranked among MAC leaders in tackles for loss are Dakota Cochran (No. 5, 10.5) and Jonah Pace (No. 9, 8.5). Michael Heldman (No. 13, 4.0) ranks among MAC leaders in sacks. Pace and Jason Williams are ranked No. 22 and 23 respectively
HOME SWEET, HOME
Under Head Coach Jim McElwain, Central Michigan has enjoyed a tremendous home field advantage. The Chippewas are a combined 21-10 under Coach Mac with a .678 win percentage within the confines of Kelly/ Shorts Stadium since 2019. CMU will enter its final home game vs. Western Michigan (Nov. 19) after having won three of its last five and seven of its last 10 home contests. The last time CMU completed a season with an undefeated home record was during McElwain’s first year in 2019, when the Chippewas went a perfect 6-0. The last several seasons, CMU went 1-2 in 2020, 5-1 in 2021, 2-4 in 2022, 4-1 in 2023, and now 3-2 in 2024 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs Miami-Ohio Redhawks
SERIES HISTORY:
Miami has won three straight games over NIU – in 2018, 2019 and 2022 – to take an 11-9 lead in the all-time series. The teams have split the 10 previous meetings in Oxford with NIU’s last win at Yager Stadium in 2015. Prior to 2018, NIU had won seven of eight meetings from 2002 to 2015 with the lone exception a 26-21 Miami win in the 2010 MAC Championship game (Dec. 3, 2010) in Detroit. The first game in the series was played on Oct. 3, 1970, a 48-0 win by Miami. NIU’s last victory was a 45-12 win in Oxford in 2015.
Northern Illinois Huskies Notes
DOG TREATS
• The NIU Huskies travel to Oxford, Ohio for a Tuesday night match-up with Miami (Ohio). The teams will play for the Mallory Cup for the fourth time and meet for the 21st time overall. • The Mallory Cup was created to honor the late Bill Mallory, who coached both NIU and Miami to MAC Championships during a hall of fame career. The RedHawks have claimed each of the first three Mallory Cup games – in 2018, 2019 and 2022. • Miami leads the all-time series 11-9 after winning the last three games over NIU, with all three one-score affairs. NIU has won five of the 10 games played in Oxford with its last win at Yager Stadium in 2015. • In the last meeting between the teams, NIU jumped out to a 10-0 lead before Miami came back to score 16 straight points behind quarterback Aveon Smith. Antario Brown rushed for 97 yards and scored on a career-long 86-yard carry in the third quarter. NIU out-gained Miami but was 0-for-9 on third down conversions; a turnover stopped the Huskies’ late comeback attempt • NIU defeated Akron, 29-16, Wednesday at Huskie Stadium to earn its sixth win of 2024. With the win, the Huskies will play in a bowl game for the 15th time since 2003, more than any other MAC team. NIU has won six or more games in a season 19 times since 2000. • Senior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph became the first NIU non-quarterback since Tommylee Lewis in 2011 to throw a touchdown pass and run for a touchdown in the same game. • NIU has held 18 of its last 23 opponents over the last two seasons to 25 points or less, including nine of its 10 2024 foes. • NIU opponents are converting just 26.3 percent of their third downs, the second lowest rate in the FBS behind only Utah. • NIU has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in its last 14 games, dating back to the 2023 game at Central Michigan. • Last week, Akron gained just 50 rushing yards, the fourth opponent this season NIU has held to less than 100 yards on the ground. Eight of the Huskies’ 10 opponents this year have been held to less than 150 yards. • True freshman running back Telly Johnson Jr. has recorded back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, adding 107 yards versus Akron to the 141 he gained at Western Michigan which earned him MAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. • NIU ranks first in the MAC in total offense (402.7 yards/game) and total defense (284.4) and is also No. 1 in the league in scoring defense, red zone defense, passing yards allowed and rushing offense.
BOWL ELIGIBLE:
NIU secured bowl eligibility with its win over Akron as the Huskies improved to 6-4 on the season. The Huskies are bowl eligible for the third time in the last four seasons and in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2017-18. NIU’s 14 bowl appearances since 2003 (not including 2024) lead all MAC teams. The Huskies have won six games or more 19 times this century.
THE LAST MEETING:
After NIU took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on a John Richardson field goal and 15-yard touchdown catch by tight end Liam Soraghan, Miami took advantage of Huskie miscues to take a 16-10 halftime lead. The Huskies scored on redshirt freshman quarterback Nevan Cremascoli’s 53-yard touchdown pass to Kacper Rutkiewicz to re-take the lead before the RedHawks came back with 10 straight points. Antario Brown’s 86-yard TD run brought NIU back within three, while Miami added a fourth-quarter field goal. The Huskies advanced to the MU 25 in the final five minutes, but Cremascoli’s final pass was intercepted at the 18-yard line and the RedHawks ran out the clock.
LAST TIME OUT:
Telly Johnson Jr. and Gavin Williams each eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark as NIU defeated Akron, 29-16, on a rainy Tuesday night at Huskie Stadium to earn its sixth win of the season. NIU held Akron to just 255 yards of total offense and shutout the Zips in the second half. All four of NIU’s touchdowns came on plays longer than 30 yards with Trayvon Rudolph accounting for one rushing (58 yards) and one passing (39 yards to Dane Pardridge) touchdown, Grayson Barnes scoring on a 32-yard reception and Williams icing the win with a 71-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
HUSKIES IN THE MAC:
In 38 seasons as a member of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies are 168-121-2 all-time. The Huskies own a winning percentage of .636 (138-79) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 81-35 (.698) 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. ON THE MAC ROAD: NIU is 2-1 on the road in the MAC this year with wins at Bowling Green (17-7, October 12) and Western Michigan (42-28, November 6) and a 25-23 loss at Ball State (October 26). The Huskies are 29-16 in conference road games since 2013 and 93-102-1 all-time in league games away from Huskie Stadium for a 47.7 percent win percentage. The Huskies are 3-2 overall on the road this year with a win at No. 5 Notre Dame and a loss at NC State in non-conference action. NIU is 11-11 on the road versus league opponents under Thomas Hammock.
Miami-Ohio Redhawks Notes
ABOUT MIAMI
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (730), conference wins (322), MAC Championships (17) and bowl wins (8). • Historically, Miami’s 730 career wins are third all-time among Group-of-Five programs, behind just Navy (744) and Army (735). • Miami was 4-14 in Coach Martin’s first 18 Mid-American Conference games. Since then, the RedHawks are 47-18 in their last 65 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. • With last week’s win over Kent State, Miami is bowl eligible for the seventh-straight year and eight of the last nine 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 NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois is 6-4 on the year and 3-3 in MAC play. Offensively, the Huskies are led by a strong rushing attack that averages 219.7 yards per game. Antario Brown (70.9) and Gavin Williams (63.1) handle most of the rushing work each week. Defensively, they allow 18
MALLORY CUP
This will be the fourth time these two teams will compete for the Mallory Cup (began in 2018), honoring, Bill Mallory, one of the all-time great Mid-American Conference coaches. Mallory was 64-31 all-time as a head coach in the Mid-American Conference for both Miami and NIU. His 64 wins and .674 win percentage rank eighth in conference history. Mallory is the only football coach in history to win a championship with two different MAC schools. He also won MAC Coach of the Year in 1973 with Miami and 1983 with NIU.
SLOW STARTS
Slow starts are nothing new for Miami football, mostly due to the tough non-conference schedule the team plays every year. Since 2016, Miami continues to improve as the season moves forward. In the months of Aug./Sept. Miami is 13-23. In October, Miami is 19-14 and by the time they reach November, the RedHawks are 20-5 under Coach Martin.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Buffalo Bulls vs Eastern Michigan Eagles
THE SERIES:
Eastern holds a 7-4 lead in the all-time series with Buffalo that was first played Oct. 27, 2001, a 24-20 home win for the Eagles. The series saw Eastern jump out to a 5-0 record before the Bulls won, 42-14, Oct. 5, 2013, in Buffalo. Since then, the Bulls have won four the last six meetings, however, EMU notched a 24-11 victory last season in Buffalo, Nov. 21, 2023,to punch its ticket to the postseason. The last time the two teams met in Ypsilanti was Sept. 24, 2022, with the Bulls claiming a 50-31 win.
Buffalo Bulls Notes
STORYLINES
• Buffalo and Eastern Michigan have split the last eight meetings in the series. The Bulls have won their last two trips to Rynearson Stadium (2022, 2019). • Pete Lembo is the first UB head coach to win six games in his debut season since Bob Deming went 6-3 in 1969. The last coach to win seven games in their first season was C.W. Dibble in 1897. • Eastern Michigan quarterback Cole Snyder started for the Bulls in 2022 and 2023. He went 10-15 as the UB starter. It’s not the first time Buffalo will face a former starting quarterback. The Bulls went up against former starter Kyle Vantrease after he transferred to Georgia Southern in the 2022 Camellia Bowl. Ironically, Snyder was UB’s starting quarterback in that game. • After averaging 125 yards passing over the first six games, quarterback C.J. Ogbonna has averaged 260 passing yards over the last four games, including a career-best 309 yards against Western Michigan. He has thrown eight touchdown passes over that same four-game stretch. • Linebackers Shaun Dolac (137) and Red Murdock (126) rank first and second in the nation in tackles, respectively. • Running back Al-Jay Henderson is averaging 111 yards rushing over the last five games. He is averaging 6.2 yards per carry over the same five-game span. He has gone over 100 yards of total offense in each of the last five games. • The Bulls are bowl eligible for the eighth time in program history and the first time since 2022.
Bulls Continue Midweek MACtion at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday Night
The University at Buffalo football team continues midweek MACtion play at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday night. Buffalo is 6-4 overall, 4-2 in MAC play and is coming off a 51-48 overtime win over Ball State last Tuesday night. Wide receiver J.J. Jenkins led the Bulls with a career-high eight catches for 131 yards and a touchdown in the game. Eastern Michigan is 5-5 overall, 2-4 in the MAC and is coming off a 35-10 loss at Ohio last Wednesday night. The Eagles are led by wide receiver Oran Singleton who has 62 receptions for 627 yards and two touchdowns on the season. Eastern Michigan leads the all-time series, 7-4. The Eagles won the last meeting, 24-11, at UB Stadium last season.
Bulls are Bowl Eligible
Buffalo is bowl eligible for the eighth time in program history. The Bulls have gone to six bowl games in their history, most recently winning the 2022 Camellia Bowl. Buffalo’s bowl history includes the 2008 International Bowl (L, UConn), 2013 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (L, San Diego State), 2018 Dollar General Bowl (L, Troy), 2019 Bahamas Bowl (W, Charlotte), 2020 Camellia Bowl (W, Marshall) and 2022 Camellia Bowl (W, Georgia Southern).
Working Overtime
Buffalo beat Ball State, 51-48, in overtime for its second overtime win of the season. UB also beat Northern Illinois in OT earlier in the year. In both games, the Bulls rallied from double-digit second-half deficits. It marks just the second time in program history UB has won two overtime games in a season. The Bulls won three overtime games in 2008.
Eastern Michigan Eagles Notes
CLOSING IN NOVEMBER
EMU is 17-13 in the month of November since the beginning of 2016. In the six seasons prior, Eastern combined for a total of 15 wins across all regular-season games. Furthermore, if you exclude 2020’s COVID-adjusted season when the schedule began in November, EMU’s winning percentage jumps to .607 (17-9).
QUICK HITTERS
• Since 2016, Eastern Michigan has posted the fifth most victories of any team in the Mid-American Conference. • In total, EMU has brought in 53 new student-athletes with 28 of them coming via the transfer portal. • EMU is 17-12 in the month of November since the beginning of 2016. In the six seasons prior, Eastern combined for a total of 15 wins across all regular-season games. Furthermore, if you exclude 2020’s COVID-adjusted season when the schedule began in November, EMU’s winning percentage jumps to .680 (17-8). • 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 57 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. His 33 MAC wins are the most of any EMU coach in program history. • 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. • A win for the Eagles would grant them bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season and tie with the 2016 and 2022 squads for the quickest qualification in team history at 10 games. • In 13 games last year, the EMU offense tallied 206 first downs, ranking 113th nationally. Through 10 games in 2024, Eastern is 15th nationally and first in the MAC with 223 first downs.
GOING BOWLING?
With a win versus Buffalo, the Eagles would become bowl eligible at 6-5. It would mark the fourth year in a row- and sixth consecutive when taking out the COVID season of 2020 -that the Eagles would become bowl eligible. It also would mark the seventh time EMU has been bowl eligible under Chris Creighton in his 11 years with the program.
QUICK TO THE PINS?
Not only would a win against Buffalo gain bowl eligibility for the Eagles, but it would also do so in a tie for the second fewest games in program history. Ahead of the 2024 season, Eastern has earned bowl eligibility six times with the earliest in the season qualification occurring after 10 games in both 2022 and 2016. It took EMU 11 games three times and 12 games once (last year) to reach the magical sixth win.
LAST MEETING WITH UB
Austin Smith threw a touchdown pass and ran for another TD, Samson Evans had 127 yards rushing and a touchdown on 22 carries to help Eastern Michigan beat Buffalo, 24-11, to become bowl eligible in the regular season finale for both teams, Nov. 21, 2023. Smith was 19-of-27 passing for 141 yards and his five-yard touchdown run opened the scoring midway through the first quarter. JB Mitchell III had seven receptions for 75 yards for Eastern Michigan. Jaylon Jackson caught a 19-yardTDpassfromSmithto cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive and make it 14-0 with 8:58 left in the second quarter. Jesus Gomez kicked a 23-yard field goal about 4 minutes later and the Eagles went 95 yards in eight plays to take a 24-0 lead when Evans scored on a 1-yard run with seven seconds left in the half. Ron Cook Jr. got Buffalo (3-9, 3-5) on the scoreboard with a 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Alex McNulty kicked a 40-yard field goal to cap the scoring with 6:01 left. The Bulls lost three of their four fumbles.
Ohio Bobcats vs Toledo Rockets
SERIES HISTORY:
The Bobcats and the Rockets have met 55 times since 1925, posting a 21-33-1 record. They last faced off in Detroit, Mich. In the 2022 MAC Football Championship. Ohio fell, 17-7.
Ohio Bobcats Notes
THE OPENING KICK
The Ohio football team (7-3, 5-1 MAC) is set to continue midweek MACtion when they hit the road to take on the Toledo Rockets (7-3, 4-2 MAC) on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN2 with Clay Matvick and Steve Addazio 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-by-play role and will be joined by Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades.
SCOUTING TOLEDO
The Rockets are currently 5-4 overall and 2-3 against MAC opponents. On Nov. 12, they took down Central Michigan, 37-10. Toledo sustained two conference losses in October, falling to Buffalo (Oct. 12) and Bowling Green (41-26). As a team, Toledo averages 29.90 points per game on 122.9 rushing yards and 294.20 passing yards. Their opponents average 21.10 points per game. Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason is 167-for-274 on 2,032 yards over nine games, throwing 19 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. Gleason isn’t afraid to use his legs, recording 69 carries and a team-best six rushing touchdowns so far this season. Sophomore running back Connor Walendzak currently leads Toledo on the ground, recording 102 touches and one touchdown on 368 yards. Senior running backs Jacquez Stuart and Sevaughn Clark are neck-and-neck, with Stuart at 53 carries and two touchdowns on 214 yards while Clark has recorded 56 attempts on 209 yards. Junior running back Willie Shaw III is responsible for three of the Rockets’ 12 rushing touchdowns this season. Senior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton leads the Rockets’ receivers with 823 yards and 10 touchdowns on 52 catches. Senior tight end Anthony Torres trails with six touchdowns on the season, while junior wide receiver Junior Vandeross III has scored four times on 58 catches and 653 yards in the air. Defensively, senior safety Maxen Hook has a team-best 87 tackles, including 52 solo stops and one tackle for loss. Additionally, Hook has recorded four pass break-ups, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on the season. Senior linebacker Daniel Bolden trails with 75 total tackles, with junior safety Emmanuel NcNeil-Warren trailing with 61 tackles on the season. Senior linebacker Jackson Barrow leads the Rockets in tackles for loss (8) while junior defensive end Anthony Dunn Jr. leads in sacks (4). Sophomore safety Braden Awls is responsible for three of Toledo’s nine picks; junior defensive back Nasir Bowers and junior cornerback Avery Smith are credited with two interceptions apiece. Freshman placekicker/punter Dyan Cunanan is the Rockets’ leading scorer and is credited with 72 points. Currently, Cunanan is 33-for-33 on PATs and 13-for-16 on field goals, with his longest hitting 54 yards. Senior placekicker Michael Denning is responsible for 48 of Toledo’s 57 kickoffs, accumulating 2,942 yards. Punter Emilio Duran’s longest punt of the season clocks in at 70 yards, recording 45 punts on 1,851 total yards.
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are currently 7-3 overall and 5-1 against MAC opponents. They average 27.60 points per game on 201.8 rushing yards and 187.10 passing yards per game. In the air, graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro is 138-for-210 on 1,636 yards with seven touchdowns. Navarro is also a threat on the ground, recording 103 carries for 662 yards and nine touchdowns. Notably, Navarro broke his single-game rushing yards record against CMU (176) and is the fourth quarterback in program history to score four rushing touchdowns in a game (Nov. 13 vs. EMU). Redshirt junior Nick Poulos made his Bobcat debut against Morgan State (Sept. 14) and his first start against Kentucky (Sept. 21). He is currently 20-for-45 with one interception on 235 yards in the air while recording 134 rushing yards on 25 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-rushing-yardsmark in a single game. On the season, Tyus has 138 carries on a team-leading 726 yards and eight touchdowns (seven rushing, one receiving). Redshirt freshman running back Rickey Hunt Jr. has made appearances in nine games for the Bobcats, recording 366 yards and two touchdowns on 65 attempts. Hunt owns the longest rush of the year (59 yards). Freshman running back Duncan Brune net 87 rushing yards on 26 carries so far this season, scoring his first collegiate touchdown against Central Michigan (Oct. 12).
Toledo Rockets Notes
Rocket Launches
• Toledo leads the series with Ohio, 33-21-1. The Rockets have won 14 of the last 16 meetings, dating back to 1989. Toledo won the last battle between the schools, a 17-7 win in the 2022 MAC Championship Game. • Toledo’s win over CMU was its seventh game of the season, clinching its 15th consecutive season without a losing record, the fifth-longest streak in the FBS. • Toledo is 4-2 in MAC play, tied with Buffalo and Western Michigan for fourth place, a game behind first-place Bowling Green, Ohio and Miami (all 5-1). • Toledo holds the tie-breaker vs. Miami, but lost to Buffalo and BGSU. The Rockets do not play WMU this year. • Jason Candle (72-38) needs two more wins to pass Gary Pinkel (73-37-3 from 1991-2000) as Toledo’s all-time leader. • Toledo forced five turnovers (three fumble recoveries, two interceptions) vs. CMU, its most since forcing five vs. Ball State Oct. 31, 2018. The all-time Toledo record is 10 vs. Ball State in 1984. • Toledo leads the MAC in passing offense (261.3) and is second in passing efficiency (143.01). • Jerjuan Newton is tied for second in the country with 10 TD receptions, trailing only San Jose State’s Nick Nash (13). Newton is Toledo’s career touchdown receptions leader with 31.
ROCKET UPDATE • Toledo is 7-3, 4-2 MAC coming off a 37-10 victory over Central Michigan on Nov 12. • Tucker Gleason threw for one touchdown and ran for two more in the CMU win. • Gleason scored from nine and 30 yards out in the first half as the Rockets built a 27-3 halftime lead. Toledo scored 10 points in the final 22 seconds of the half on a pick-six by Nasir Bowers and a 32-yard field goal by Dylan Cunanan following a fumble recovery. • Toledo’s defense was dominant, holding the Chippewas to 236 yards of total offense. • Toledo forced five turnovers (three fumble recoveries, two interceptions), its most since forcing five vs. Ball State Oct. 31, 2018. The all-time Toledo record is 10 vs. Ball State in 1984. • Senior Jacquez Stuart ran for a season-high 65 yards. It was his most yards rushing since he ran for 99 vs. Wyoming in 2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. • Nasir Bowers’ pick-six in the second quarter was Toledo’s first since Chris McDonald took one 25 yards vs. San Jose State on Sept. 1, 2023. It was the second interception of his career, with his first coming in Toledo’s last game vs. EMU. • Junior defensive end Anthony Dunn had a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss. • Freshman Dylan Cunanan made three field goals for the second time this season. • Toledo is bowl-eligible for the 15ht consecutive season, the eighth-longest streak in the nation and second-longest among G5 schools behind Boise State (27 years). • Since the 2016 season, Jason Candle’s first full season as Toledo’s head coach, the Rockets have 71 victories, the most in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio is second with 65.
MAC TITLE RACE UPDATE
Toledo is 4-2 in MAC play, tied with Buffalo and Western Michigan for fourth place, a game behind first-place Bowling Green, Ohio and Miami (all 5-1). Toledo holds the tie-breaker vs. Miami, but lost to Buffalo and BGSU. The Rockets do not play WMU this year. The top two teams in the league will play in the MAC Championship Game at Detroit’s Ford Field on Saturday, Dec. 7. Ties will be broken by the following criteria:
Scenario – Two Teams
1. Head-to-head competition between the two tied teams. 2. Win percentage versus all common opponents. 3. Win percentage versus common opponents based upon their order of finish (overall conference win percentage, with ties broken) and proceeding through other common opponents based upon their order of finish. 4. Combined conference win percentage of conference opponents. 5. The tied team with the higher ranking by the Team Rating Score metric provided by SportSource Analytics following the conclusion of regular season games. 6. The representative shall be chosen by a draw as administered by the Commissioner or Commissioner’s designee.
Scenario – More than Two Teams
1. Combined head-to-head win percentage among the tied teams if all tied teams are common opponents. 2. If all the tied teams are not common opponents, the tied team that defeated each of the other tied teams’ advances. 3. Win percentage versus all common opponents. 4. Win percentage versus common opponents based upon their order of finish (overall conference win percentage, with ties broken) and proceeding through other common opponents based upon their order of finish. 5. Combined conference win percentage of conference opponents. 6. The tied team with the higher ranking by the Team Rating Score metric provided by SportSource Analytics following the conclusion of regular season games. 7. The representative shall be chosen by a draw as administered by the Commissioner or Commissioner’s designee.
Bowling Green Falcons vs Ball State Cardinals
BOWLING GREEN VS. BALL STATE
• Bowling Green and Ball State are meeting for just the second time since 2015, when the Cardinals last hosted the Falcons in Muncie. Last year, BSU made its first trip to Doyt Perry Stadium since 2014. • Bowling Green has won eight of its last nine games against BSU dating back to 1999. The lone loss in that span (24-41) occurred during the 2014 meeting in Bowling Green. • Saturday marks the 32nd all-time meeting between Bowling Green and Ball State.
Bowling Green Falcons Notes
FALCONS FLY WEST FOR FINAL ROAD GAME
• Bowling Green State University heads to Muncie, Ind., on Saturday to face the Ball State Cardinals in the Falcons’ final road contest of the 2024 regular season.
FIVE TOP STORYLINES
• A win on Saturday would extend Bowling Green’s winning streak to five games, its longest since a seven-game streak from Sept. 26 to Nov. 11, 2015. The victory would also secure BGSU’s sixth MAC win, the most since the Falcons went 7-1 in conference play in 2015. • TE Harold Fannin Jr. leads all tight ends nationally in receptions (83), receiving yards (1,170), yards after catch (646), first downs (56), broken tackles (25), and receiving touchdowns (8). According to Pro Football Focus, Fannin has the nation’s highest overall grade (96.9) and ranks No. 1 in pass routes grade (96.9) among all receivers. He’s also ranked No. 3 in receptions, No. 2 in receiving yards, T-No. 1 in broken tackles, No. 2 in first downs, and No. 1 in yards after catch. • Fannin ranks No. 5 all-time in FBS history for single-season receiving yards recorded by a tight end. He needs 183 receiving yards to break the FBS record held by Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro, who set the record in 2013 with 1,352 yards. His 83 receptions are tied for No. 11 all-time in FBS history for single-season receptions by a tight end. • During BGSU’s current four-game winning streak, RB Terion Stewart has rushed for 490 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 8.0 broken tackles a game, and 363 of his rushing yards have come after contact. On the season, his 7.5 broken tackles per game rank No. 2 in the nation behind only Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. • Stewart needs 176 rushing yards to become the 15th Falcon in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. If he reaches that plateau, BGSU could become the nation’s first team this year with a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver (Fannin). Arizona State, Louisville, and Texas Tech also could reach the milestone in the coming weeks.
LAST TRIP TO MUNCIE WAS IN 2015
• Due to the unbalanced MAC schedule, you have to go back to 2015 for the last time BGSU played Ball State in Muncie. • BGSU wrapped up the regular season by defeating Ball State, 48-10, at Scheumann Stadium. • Matt Johnson – who completed 24-of-31 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns – tied the school and MAC record for touchdown passes in a single season when he found Gehrig Dieter for a one-yard score in the third quarter, pushing BGSU’s advantage to 34-0. • The touchdown pass was Johnson’s 41st of the season, tying fellow Falcon Omar Jacobs’ mark set in 2004. • BGSU nearly had three 100-yard rushers in the game. Fred Coppet rushed for 109 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries. Travis Greene – who finished with 97 yards on 17 touches – put the Falcons up 41-10 with 6:16 remaining in regulation. Greene also rushed for a score in the first half. Donovan Domer had just three carries but rushed for 105 yards. His 95-yard touchdown with 39 seconds to play – which concluded the game’s scoring – was the second-longest touchdown run in school history. • Leading all Falcon receivers, Dieter caught 11 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Roger Lewis finished with four catches for 59 yards. Ronnie Moore added three catches for 52 yards. Ryan Burbrink hauled in three catches for 17 yards, while Greene and Scott Miller chipped in with two receptions apiece.
Ball State Cardinals Notes
Game notes not available.
2 MINUTE DRILL
• Bowling Green secured a 31-13 win over Western Michigan Tues- day night (Nov. 12) at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. The Falcons fell behind 7-3 early in the second quarter, but rattled off 28 unanswered points with two touchdowns in both the second and third quarters. The win clinches bowl eligibility for BGSU for the third-straight season and pro- pels the Falcons to 5-1 within the Mid-American Conference. Harold Fannin Jr. tallied 10 catches for 137 yards and two scores, breaking the program’s career record for touchdown receptions by a tight end. The yardage also put Fannin at the top of the nation’s receivers list for receiving yardage. • Tucker Gleason threw for one touchdown and ran for two more while Toledo’s defense forced five turnovers as the Rockets rolled to a 37-10 victory over Central Michigan at the Glass Bowl on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Gleason scored from nine and 30 yards out in the first half as the Rockets built a 27-3 halftime lead. Toledo scored 10 points in the final 22 seconds of the half on a pick-six by Nasir Bowers and a 32-yard field goal by Dylan Cunanan following a fumble recovery. • The Buffalo Bulls rallied from 14 points down, late in the fourth quar- ter, to tie the game and then defeated Ball State, 51-48, in overtime at UB Stadium on Tuesday night. It was the Bulls’ sixth win of the season, making them bowl eligible for the first time since 2022. • The Ohio football team took down Eastern Michigan 35-10 Wednes- day evening (Nov. 13) to improve to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the MAC. Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro had a career night, tying the school record for most rushing touchdowns in a game (4), marking the fourth quarterback in program history to hit this bench- mark. Additionally, Navarro set a personal record for single-game passing yards (277). • Miami posted a 34-7 victory over Kent State Wednesday night to become bowl eligible for the seventh-consecutive season. Keyon Mozee rushed for a career-high 196 yards and a touchdown for the RedHawks (6-4, 5-1 MAC), who won their fifth consecutive game. Brett Gabbert, who threw for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns, went over 10,000 passing yards for his career. • Northern Illinois defeated Akron, 29-16, on a rainy Wednesday night (Nov. 13) at Huskie Stadium to reach bowl eligibility for the third time in the last four seasons. NIU held Akron to just 255 yards of total offense and shut out the Zips in the second half of the victory. Telly Johnson Jr. gained 104 yards on 21 carries while Gavin Williams picked up 101 yards on nine carries. It marked the first time NIU had two 100-yard rushers in the same game since the 2021 Cure Bowl.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MAC Football Offensive Players of the Week
Parker Navarro, Ohio, QB
Graduate, Tempe, Ariz. (Desert Vista)
Parker Navarro had a career night as he led the Bobcats to a 35-10 victory over Eastern Michigan on Wednesday (Nov. 13). On the ground, Navarro was a force to be reckoned with, recording his third game this season with over 100 rushing yards (106). Additionally, he scored four rushing touchdowns, matching the program record for most rushing touchdowns in a game and marking the fourth quarterback in program history to hit this benchmark. In the air, the graduate student set a personal record for single-game passing yards (277).
MAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Shaun Dolac, Buffalo, LB
Graduate, West Seneca, NY (West Seneca East)
Shaun Dolac had 17 tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and a pass breakup in Buffalo’s overtime win over Ball State. Once again he made a game-changing interception. With the Bulls trailing, 28-17, in the closing seconds of the half, Dolac intercepted a pass and returned it 42 yards to the Ball State 2-yard line. The Bulls scored just two plays later to change their fortune in the game.
MAC Football Special Teams Players of the Week
Emilio Duran, Toledo, P
Sophomore, Ottawa Hills, Ohio (Ottawa Hills)
Emilio Duran averaged 46.0 yards per punt in Toledo’s 37-10 win over CMU including a career-long 70-yarder from the UT seven-yard line with 52 seconds left in the second quarter that flipped the field and set the stage for Toledo pick-six two plays later.
