UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 21
Ohio at Kentucky
12:45 pm ET (SECN)
*Ball State at Central Michigan
1 pm ET (ESPN+)
Saint Francis at Eastern Michigan
2 pm ET (ESPN+)
*Buffalo at No. 23 Northern Illinois
3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Miami at Notre Dame
3:30 pm ET (NBC)
Kent State at Penn State
3:30 pm ET (BTN)
Toledo at Western Kentucky
7 pm ET (ESPN+)
Bowling Green at Texas A&M
7:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Akron at South Carolina
7:30 pm ET (ESPNU)
2 MINUTE DRILL
• Despite being on a bye, the Northern Illinois Huskies moved up two spots to No. 23 in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. On Sept. 7, NIU defeated No. 5 Notre Dame, 16-14, in South Bend to earn its first top-25 ranking since 2013. The victory marked the MAC’s first win over a top five opponent ever.
• Toledo overpowered Mississippi State in Starkville, defeating the Bulldogs by a final score of 41-17 for the MAC’s second Fly the Flag win in as many weeks. Tucker Gleason connected on 23-of-28 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. The victory over the Bulldogs was Toledo’s first win against a Power Four opponent in nine years and just its second ever versus an SEC opponent (Arkansas, 2015). For their performance, Toledo received nine points in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll and one vote in the coaches poll, while being named the Cheez-It National Team of the Week by the FWAA.
• Buffalo scored 24 second-half points to defeat UMass, 34-3, on Saturday afternoon at UB Stadium. Shaun Dolac posted a career-high 16 tackles, while Red Murdock notched a career-high 12 defensive stops, including a career-best three tackles for a loss and a sack. Marquis Cooper returned his first career interception 100 yards for a touchdown, a new program record.
• The Ohio Bobcats improved their record to 2-1 with a 21-6 victory over Morgan State on Saturday. This marked the first time Ohio kept its opposition out of the end zone since 2019 as the Bobcats allowed just 211 yards of total offense. Anthony Tyus III recorded 90 rushing yards and two total touchdowns to lead the Ohio offense.
• Akron earned its first win of the 2024 season, defeating Colgate, 31- 20, in the Zips’ home opener. Ben Finley tallied a career performance, posting career highs in passing yards (358), touchdowns thrown (4) and longest pass (56 yards) in the win. Finely became the first Zip since 2018 to throw four TDs in a game.
• Eastern Michigan captured a thrilling 37-34 double-overtime win at home against Jacksonville State as Jesus Gomez successfully connected on a game-winning 34-yard field goal. The Eagles’ offense finished the game with 447 yards of total offense, the most it has recorded since 2022. • Western Michigan picked up its first victory of the 2024 campaign with a 59-31 win over Bethune-Cookman at Waldo Stadium. The Broncos put up 677 yards of total offense in the win, the most since 2019. The mark was also 34 yards shy of tying the program record of 711. Jaden Nixon notched a career-high 189 yards on the ground with two touchdowns, while Zahir Abdus-Salaam posted his first career 100-yard rushing game.
MAC NOTES
• Fly The Flag: Toledo Dismantles Mississippi State Toledo overpowered Mississippi State in Starkville, defeating the Bulldogs by a final score of 41-17 this past Saturday for the MAC’s second Fly the Flag win in as many weeks. For their performance, Toledo received nine points in this week’s AP Top 25 and one vote in the coaches poll, while being named the Cheez-It National Team of the Week by the FWAA. The victory over the Bulldogs was Toledo’s first win against a Power Four opponent in nine years and just its second ever versus an SEC opponent (Arkansas, 2015). It was also Toledo’s first win over a Power Four opponent since a 30-23 win over Iowa State in 2015, a week after the Arkansas win. Toledo defeated Brigham Young in 2019, which was independent at the time. Additionally, the 24-margin of victory is the largest for Toledo against a Power Four opponent.
• No. 23 NIU Makes History in South Bend Northern Illinois knocked off No. 5 Notre Dame by a final score of 16-14 on Saturday, Sept. 7 for the first win over a top five opponent in MAC history as well as the MAC’s first Fly the Flag victory of the 2024 campaign. Despite being on a bye this previous week, the Huskies moved up two spots to No. 23 in the latest AP Top 25. Thanks to the historic victory, the Huskies were ranked No. 25 AP Poll, its first top-25 ranking since 2013, and earned Cheez-It National Team of the Week honors by the FWAA. NIU’s win over Notre Dame was the Huskies’ seventh win over a Top 25 opponent. Previously, the highest ranked opponent the Huskies defeated was No. 15 Maryland on August 28, 2003, at Huskie Stadium, a 20-13 win in overtime. NIU’s last Fly the Flag Win was last season over Boston College in the season opener. Since 2021, NIU has three Fly the Flag victories under head coach Thomas Hammock. Prior to NIU’s historic win, all of the MAC’s previous wins against top-10 opponents happened on September 20th: MAC Wins Against Top-10 Opponents – Northern Illinois 16, No. 5 Notre Dame 14 (Sept. 7, 2024) – Marshall 27, No. 6 Kansas State 20 (Sept. 20, 2003) – Miami 21, No. 8 LSU 12 (Sept. 20, 1986) – Toledo 35, No. 9 Pitt 31 (Sept. 20, 2003)
• Toledo’s Winning Tradition Toledo has not had a losing season since 2009, the fifth-longest streak in the FBS behind Boise State, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State and Alabama.
• MAC Continues Success over Non-Conference FBS Opponents Heading into Week 4 action, the MAC has defeated seven FBS opponents this year:
– Toledo 41, Mississippi State 17 (Sept. 14)
– Buffalo 34, UMass 3 (Sept. 14)
– Eastern Michigan 37, Jackson State 34, 2OT (Sept. 14)
– Northern Illinois 16, No. 5 Notre Dame 14 (Sept. 7)
– Toledo 38, UMass 23 (Sept. 7) – Ohio 27, South Alabama (Sept. 7)
– Eastern Michigan 28, UMass 14 (Aug. 31)
The MAC has now 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).
The Mid-American Conference claimed four victories over a Power Four opponent as well as 10 wins over a non-conference FBS opponent last regular season, both of which were the most since 2017.
• Special Teams. Special Plays. Special Players.
Through the first three weeks of the season, the MAC stands as the only conference with multiple kickoffs returned for a touchdown:
– 3: MAC
– 2: N/A –
–Â 1: Big 12, AAC, ACC, Big Ten
Bowling Green’s Justin Pegues currently leads the FBS in average return yards (46.0) after returning the opening kickoff of the Falcons’ season 100 yards for a touchdown, setting a new program record.
