WEEK 7 GAME SCHEDULE
Saturday October 12, 2024
Akron Zips vs Western Michigan Broncos
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is encountering Western Michigan for the 22nd time in program history with the Broncos owning a 16-5 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools (Nov. 9, 2021), Akron battled to the final play of the game with a chance to secure the victory only to come up five points shy in 45-40 setback at Western Michigan. In the previous meeting (Nov. 4, 2020), Western Michigan registered a 58-13 season-opening triumph over the Zips at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. The series between the two schools dates back to the 1938 campaign when Akron earned a 6-0 home victory over Western Michigan.
Akron Notes
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan opened MAC play with a 45-42 win over Ball State and currently sits 2-3 overall on the season, defeating Bethune-Cookman (59-31) and falling to Wisconsin (28-14), No. 2 Ohio State (56- 0), and Marshall (27-20). The Broncos average 27.6 points per game on 299.0 total yards of offense per game. The WMU balanced attack averages 181.8 yards on the ground and 181.4 yards through the air. Defensively, opponents average 36.80 points on 345.0 yards per game, allowing 244.8 yards in the air and 183.8 on the ground. QB Hayden Wolff leads the offense, completing 76 of 109 attempts with two INT’s for 907 yards (181.4 avg) and seven touchdowns. Jaden Nixon does the bulk of the work on the ground, averaging 7.1 yards per carry for 484 total yards (96.8 yds/g) with six TDs. Jean Buckley and Zahir Abdus-Salaam add 56.0 and 45.0 yards per game with both having two TDs each. Anthony Sambucci leads the receiving corps with 22 catches for 286 yards and two TDs (57.2 yds/g and 13.0 yards/reception), followed by Blake Bosma (15-157 yds-31.4 yds/g-2 TD) and Kenneth Womack (13-111 yds-8.54 yds/g). WMU generated 29 tackles for loss of 104 yards with 11 sacks (69 yds). Donald Wilis paces the defense with 43 tackles and 3.5 TFL for 10 yards. Tate Hallock follows with 2.5 tackles for loss (6 yds) on 31 total takedowns. In addition, Isaiah Green and Cory Walker lead the squad in sacks with 3.0 each. Bilhal Kone and Jacob Wahlberg are the third and fourth best tacklers on the team with 29.0 and 28.0 takedowns
ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron has recorded 70 or more tackles four times this season (85 at Ohio, 75 at South Carolina, 73 vs Bowling Green, 71 at Rutgers). • The Zips have had a player record 10 or more tackles in four games this season. • Bryan McCoy led the Zips with 12 tackles (Bowling Green 10/6/24) • Bennett Adler has recorded a sack in three straight games. • After going 2-for-2 against the Falcons, Garrison Smith is now 7-of-8 (87.5%) on field goals this season. • 5-of-7 of Smith’s FG have been from 40+ yards • Ben Finley has completed over 65 percent of his passes in back-to-back games • Akron is 5th in the MAC for passing yards (1,165) • The Zips are 5th in the MAC for passing TDs (7) • Akron is 2nd in the MAC for FG percentage (87.5) • The Zips are 4th in the MAC for Fumbles Forced (4) • The Zips are tied for 2nd in the MAC for Fumbles Recovered (5) • Jordan Simmons is 9th in the MAC with 255 total rushing yards and 14th in the MAC with 42.5 yards per game • Finley is tied for 4th in the MAC for passing TDs with seven • Adrian Norton is tied for 4th in the MAC for receiving TDs with three • Norton is 5th in the MAC for total receiving yards with 373 • Norton is 2nd in the MAC for Yards per catch with 18.7 • Norton is 8th in the MAC for Yards per game with 18.7 • Bobby Golden is 14th in the MAC for total receiving yards with 239 • Golden is 5th in the MAC for Yards per catch with 15.9 • Golden is 20th in the MAC for Yards per game with 39.8 • Avery Book is 1st in the MAC for punting yards (1763), punts inside the 20 (12), punts of 50 or more yards (18) and average punt yards per game (46.4) • Book is 3rd in the MAC for longest punt (61 yards) • Smith is 4th in the MAC for made field goals (7) field goal percentage (87.5) and 3rd in the MAC for longest field goal (49 yards) • Akron is 7th in the NCAA for recovered fumbles (5) • Nathan Kapongo is tied for 1st in the NCAA for recovered fumbles (2) • Book is 11th in NCAA for punting yards (46.0) • Norton is 37th in the NCAA for yards per reception (18.65) • Golden is 89th in the NCAA for Yards per reception (15.93) • The Zips recorded a season-high 75 tackles at South Carolina. • Senior Antavious Fish and junior Bryan McCoy led the defense with 16 combined tackles with eight each at South Carolina. • Three players (D. Lewis 12, McCoy (9), Paul Lewis III (9) had at least nine tackles against Colgate • Akron recorded 416 yards on offense while holding Colgate to 243. • Golden set a career-high for longest reception with a 56-yard catch for a TD from Finley. • Golden’s 56-yard reception was the longest since Alex Adams had a 54-yard and 61-yard reception against Eastern Michigan on November 8, 2022. • Akron featured a pair of 100-yard receivers as Norton (125) and Golden (119) both hauled in over 100 yards. The pair were the first Zips to both have a 100-yard game since November 1, 2023, when the Zips defeated Kent State for the Wagon Wheel. • Akron saw 31 of its 61 tackles come from D.Lewis (12), McCoy (9) and P.Lewis (9). • Zips recorded the first two sacks of the season as Lama Lavea recorded Akron’s first Sack and CJ Nunnally IV had a strip sack to close the game. Nathan Kapongo recovered the fumble. • Akron converted 7 of 14 third downs vs Rutgers • Jordon Simmons recorded the TD longest run from scrimmage (73 yds) since 2015 • Jordon Simmons collected 109 yards rushing, averaging 12.1 yards per carry • Daymon David INT marked the Zips first takeaway and appearance of the turnover tire in 2024 • Adrain Norton scored the Zips first TD in 2024 32 yd pass from Ben Finley • McCoy (11) and Fish (10) combined for 21 tackles vs Rutgers •Garrison Smith converted on two field goals of 48 and 49 yards, marking longest since 2015 for Akron (Robert Stein, 50 yards (11-14-15) • Akron converted 4 of 16 third downs while Ohio State was successful on 9 of 14. • Avery Book punted six times with an average of 48.2 yards per punt • Akron went 2-for-3 on fourth down, converting on 66.7 percent of attempts.
Western Michigan Notes
NEWS & NOTES
THIS WEEK
Western Michigan welcomes Akron to Waldo Stadium on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+. Fans can also listen live on the Bronco Media Network. Tickets are available at www. wmubroncos.com/tickets.
THE SERIES
The Broncos and the Zips have not met since the 2021 season, with WMU winning 45-40 in a Tuesday night Midweek #MACtion game. Saturday is just the 22nd match up between the two teams, with Western Michigan holding the all-time series lead at 16-5-0.
SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron (1-5, 0-2 MAC) is still searching for its first MAC win. UA took Bowling Green to the wire last Saturday, with the Falcons scoring a touchdown with under two minutes left to play to take a 27-20 lead. The Zips drove down the field and into BGSU territory but were unable to find the endzone. Akron’s offense is led by fifth-year quarterback Ben Finley. The former Cal Bear and N.C. State Wolfpack transfer has thrown for 1,061 yards on 110-for-185 passing, with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Sophomore wide receiver Adrian Norton leads the team in receiving yards with 373 on 20 catches, with three touchdowns. Norton’s 18.6 yards per catch leads the MAC. Sophomore tight end Jake Newell has been Finley’s favorite target, with 27 catches so far. Newell has more than doubled his total from last season, after making 13 receptions as a freshman. Junior linebacker Bryan McCoy had 95 tackles last season and is track to surpass that, with 57 in five games this season, second-most in the MAC. Bennett Alder and CJ Nunnally IV are tied for the team lead with three sacks each, with the Zips making 11 sacks so far this season. Devonte Golden-Nelson leads the team with four passes defended, while Darrian Lewis has three and the team’s lone interception.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
Junior running back Jaden Nixon has now rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the last three games. He’s the first Bronco to do so since LeVante Bellamy in 2019. Bellamy rushed for 192 yards at Georgia State, 165 at Syracuse and 105 against Central Michigan. Nixon rushed for 189 against Bethune Cookman, 146 at Marshall and 124 against Ball State. Nixon also ran for six touchdowns in those three games. Should Nixon put up 100 against Akron, he’d be the first Bronco to rush for 100 in four straight games since…. LeVante Bellamy in 2019. Bellamy rushed for 100 in four straight games later on in the 2019 season.
OPE, JUST GOING TO SLIDE RIGHT BY YOU
Heading into last week, Ball State’s Kadin Semonza led the MAC in completion percentage. After WMU’s win over the Cardinals, Hayden Wolff jumped him and now leads the conference at 69.7 percent. Wolff went 26-for-29 to help the Broncos earn their first MAC win of the season. Wolff also jumped Toledo’s Tucker Gleason in pass efficiency, now leading the conference at 157.1. In his past three games, Wolff has gone 56-for76 (73.7 percent) for 695 yards and seven touchdowns.
CAREER YEAR, ALREADY
Western Michigan senior wide receiver Anthony Sambucci set a new career-high in receptions in a season in the win over Ball State. Sambucci had nine catches for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals. His nine receptions were a new single game career-high, but he also surpassed his season-best with 22 catches. Sambucci had 20 receptions in 2022 and 21 receptions in an injury-riddled 2023 season.
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 impressing 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.
Ball State Cardinals vs Kent State Golden Flashes
Series History
• Kent State is 8-23 all-time against the Cardinals and enters with losses each of the past two seasons. • The Golden Flashes are 5-10 in games played at Dix Stadium • Kent State won three consecutive home matchups from 2010-19, including dramatic contests in 2012 and 2019 in which the game-winning field goal was kicked in the final 20 seconds of the fourth quarter.
Ball State Notes
CARDINALS REGROUP TO BATTLE KENT STATE ON THE ROAD SATURDAY
Ball State seeks its first conference victory this week while traveling to Kent State and continuing play in the Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals enter their third game in the MAC after falling in three-point shootouts against both Central Michigan and Western Michigan.
Ball State has absorbed a pair of gut-wrenching defeats in the MAC so far. The Cardinals engineered a five-play, 97-yard two-minute drill touchdown to take a 34-30 lead at Central Michigan, but a victory was snatched from the Cardinals’ hands in the final seconds. Last Saturday against Western Michigan, Ball State led 35-31 through three quarters but an interception contributed to consecutive WMU fourth-quarter TDs and a 45-35 deficit.
The Cardinals continue to be led on offense by redshirt freshman quarterback Kadin Semonza and junior tight end Tanner Koziol. Semonza completed 21 of 35 passes last week for 307 yards, the first 300-yard passing game of his young career. Koziol, meanwhile, caught exactly nine passes, a career-high, for the third straight week. His 102 receiving yards marked the second time in three weeks (112 at CMU) he has gone over 100 receiving yards.
FCS transfer Braedon Sloan has netted 347 yards on 77 carries this season, in addition to 201 yards on 17 catches. Aside from a 13-yard day at No. 10 Miami, 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, 94 at CMU and 72 at JMU. His two highlights against WMU were a 72-yard reception which was Ball State’s longest offensive play of the season; and a 22-yard TD pass to Christian Abney that was the first pass attempt of his career.
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:
The Cardinals will snap a four-game losing skid and earn its first MAC victory. The fifth winningest coach in Ball State football history, Mike Neu will capture his 39th victory as head coach of his alma mater to move within one victory of tying Dwight Wallace (40) with the fourth-most wins in Cardinals history
INSIDE THE SERIES: KENT STATE
The Cardinals and Golden Flashes have met 31 times on the gridiron with Ball State claiming 23 victories including last year’s 34-3 home win. It was the second-largest win in series history.
The Cardinals arrived at their decisive win last season on the heels of a strong defensive effort, which held Kent State to 97 yards of offense.
Saturday’s clash extends the series’ streak of consecutive meetings to three seasons, marking the longest stretch of consecutive meetings between the Cardinals and Golden Flashes since a 20-year string of meetings from 1977 to 1996.
Ball State has won four of the past five meetings against Kent State and has triumphed in 10 out of 15 matchups on the road. 8 Kent State has won consecutive games in the series just twice. Ball State’s longest streak of consecutive wins was 11 — at one point winning 14 out of 15 meetings between 1986 and 2008. 8 Ball State’s .742 winning percentage against Kent State is the Cardinals’ highest mark against a MAC opponent.
SCORING AND MORE SCORING
The Cardinals and Broncos lit up the scoreboard for 87 combined points last Saturday. Under coach Mike Neu’s direction since 2016, only 89-point games against Eastern Michigan (2016) and Central Michigan (2019) send more points to the scoreboard.
Ball State has scored 76 points in its first two MAC games, the Cardinals’ sixth-highest figure in 50 seasons of MAC play
The Cardinals’ and Broncos’ combined 35 points in the first quarter last Saturday were the most combined points in a first quarter of any Ball State game since at least 2000. The previous mark during that span was in 2015 (Texas A&M 28, Ball State 3).
Cardinals touchdowns last week came on a pass by a running back (Braedon Sloan to Christian Abney) and an offensive TD reception by a nose tackle (Drew Hughes).
CARDINALS COMFORTABLE IN THE RED ZONE
Ball State has scored on 10 of 11 visits inside the Red Zone this season – including 10 in a row. The Cardinals (90.9%) are among 45 schools with a scoring percentage of 90 percent or better in the Red Zone.
The Cardinals’ only scoring “miss” inside the opponents’ 20-yard line was on the season’s second possession against Missouri State. Ball State reached the Bears’ 20 on a second-down run by Braedon Sloan. Kadin Semonza was sacked on third down and Jackson Courville missed a 38-yard field goal on the next play
Kent State Notes
The Opening Kick
• Following a bye week, year two of the #KentGRIT era under the direction of head coach Kenni Burns resumes Saturday against Mid-American Conference foe Ball State. • The offense showed great improvement in its last time out, a 52-33 loss to Eastern Michigan on Sept. 28 • The 33 points scored are the most against a FBS opponent since Nov. 11, 2022, as Kent State found the end zone in all four quarters for the first time during the #KentGRIT era. • QB Tommy Ulatowski had a career performance in his first start of season with 345 yards and three touchdowns through the air and another score on the ground. • Ulatowski’s 345 yards are the most by a Flashes QB since Oct. 1, 2022 and the most by any MAC player this season against a FBS opponent. • WR Chrishon McCray was the favorite target, hauling in five passes for a career-high 188 yards and two scores. This was the best single-game performance by a Kent State player since Dante Cephas’ program record 246 yards against Ohio on Oct. 1, 2022. • McCray displayed why he’s earned the nickname of “Big Play McCray” with touchdowns from 65 and 68 yards out. • LB Rocco Nicholl is having a breakout junior campaign and leads the team with 45 tackles. Nicholl is tied for fourth in the MAC in total tackles (45) and 23rd nationally in tackles per game (9.0).
TOMMY U TIME
Tommy Ulatowski stepped back into the QB1 role for the MAC opener against Eastern Michigan after a pair of Flashes were injured against #10 Penn State the previous week. Ulatowski, who started three games late in the 2023 season, accounted for four TDs while leading Kent State to the highest-scoring game against a FBS opponent of the #KentGRIT era. His career-high 345 yards were the most by a Flashes passer since Oct. 1, 2022.
NEW KIDS IN THE BACKFIELD
Five of the Flashes’ top six rushers did not play a single snap for the team in 2023. Leading rusher Ky Thomas redshirted as a two-time transfer, JD Sherrod (Troy) and Jordan Lowe (Westminster) joined the program as transfers during the offseason, and Ayden Harris and Cade Wolford are true freshmen. Jahzae Kimbrough, who took a couple of direct snaps against Eastern Michigan, did not record any stats during his lone appearance in 2023.
BIG PLAY McCRAY All-MAC
First Team WR Chrishon McCray, who is referred to as “Big Play McCray” within the program, returned to form in the MAC opener against Eastern Michigan by catching five balls for a career-high 188 yards and scores from 65 and 68 yards out. This was McCray’s first big performance since suffering a season-ending injury last November. The redshirt sophomore ranks second in the MAC this season in receiving TDs (4) and yards per catch (18.2) while leading the Flashes with 309 yards.
DYNAMIC DUO All-MAC
WRs Chrishon McCray (309 yds, 4 TD) and Luke Floreia (291 yds, 3 TD) are the second most productive pass-catching duo in the conference this season, combining for 36 receptions for 600 yards and seven TDs. Both wideouts have a 100-yard performance and rank in the top-10 in the MAC for receiving yards. Floriea, who handles punts and is back on kick returns, sits 10th in all-purpose yards (420).
MILLENNIAL CLUB
A trio of Flashes entered the season nearing 1,000 career yards. Ky Thomas eclipsed the milestone in the opener at Pitt on Aug. 31 and now has 1,125 yards. Wideouts Chrishon McCray and Luke Floriea are less than 100 receiving yards away from reaching the mark. McCray has 919 yards and Floreia is at 910. STAYING DISCIPLINED Kent State has been among the most disciplined teams in the nation, ranking seventh in penalty yards against per game (34.6) and 16th in penalties against per game (4.6). The Flashes have been flagged for two or fewer penalties in three of five games this season.
ROCCO’S LINEBACKER LIFE
Rocco Nicholl is having a breakout season after switching from the outside to Will LB position. After totaling just 28 tackles over his first two seasons at Kent State, Nicholl leads the team with 45 stops and is tied for 23rd nationally in tackles per game (9.0). He recorded 10+ tackles in each of the final three non-conference contests, including a career-high 14 against #10 Penn State on Sept. 21. Nicholl also leads the defense in passes broken up (2) and is tied for the lead in QB hurries (3).
SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL PLAYERS
Josh Smith has helped the Flashes flip the field with his combination of powerful and precision kicking. Smith has pinned the opposition inside of its own 20-yard line 11 times and has boomed nine punts of 50+ yards this season, ranking second in the MAC in both categories. The four-year starter is averaging a career-best 42.7 yards per punt in 2024. Elevated to the starting kicker role to start conference play, Will Hryszko drilled all three of his PATs and recorded a touchback on three of four kickoff attempts. Previously, Hryszko was 1/1 on PATs and booted 10 kickoffs during his Flashes career.
SCOOP N’ SCORE
During the second quarter of the season opener at Pitt, cornerback Naim Muhammad scooped up a bouncing ball and raced 34 yards for the score, giving the Flashes their first fumble recovery for a TD since the 2018 campaign. Linebacker Nylan Brown stripped the Pitt punt returner of the ball to ignite the first non-offensive TD of the #KentGRIT era.
STARTING EARLY
Six true freshmen have been in the starting lineup at some point this season for the Flashes. WR Dashawn Martin has started all five games, while OL Elijah Williams was the starting center for each of the first three. WR Jay Jay Etheridge recorded a seven-yard catch on the first play at #7 Tennessee, while RB Ayden Harris, LB Jayden Studio and CB Jaire Rawlison each made their first collegiate start in the MAC opener against Eastern Michigan.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs Bowling Green Falcons
SERIES HISTORY:
Bowling Green leads the all-time series with NIU 12-11. The teams have only met once in the last seven seasons – a 34-26 NIU win in Huskie Stadium in 2021. Prior to that, the last game between the teams was a 48-17 NIU win at Bowling Green in 2017; no current player or coach on the NIU roster has been involved in a game at Bowling Green. NIU and BG met every year from 2013- 2017 and played for the MAC Championship at Ford Field in Detroit in 2013, 2014 and 2015. NIU has won four of the last five games in the series, including the 2014 MAC title game and the last three regular season meetings. The Falcons have won seven of the 10 games played in Ohio.
Northern Illinois Notes
DOG TREATS
• NIU makes its first MAC road trip of the season when the Huskies play at Bowling Green for the first time since 2017 with the only meeting since that season a 34- 26 NIU win in 2021 in DeKalb. • The Huskies are coming off a 34-20 home win over UMass after scoring 27 second-half points behind a dominant performance by the NIU offensive line and the running of backs Gavin Williams (125 yards) and Jaylen Poe (98 yards). • One week after limiting NC State to 1-of-11 on third down conversions, NIU stopped UMass nine times on third down, including a 1-of-6 mark in the second half. For the season, opponents are converting 23.3 percent on third down, which ranks second in the country behind only Tennessee. • Senior running back Antario Brown moved into 10th place on the Huskies’ career rushing chart last week and needs 77 yards to surpass 3,000 for his career. He has nine career 100-yard rushing games after a 114-yard performance (on 28 carries) at NC State. • Defensive end Roy Williams led the Huskies’ defensive effort versus UMass with 1.5 sacks, giving him 3.5 on the season, and five tackles, four solo. Williams leads all NIU defensive linemen with 20 tackles on the year. • NIU now has held 14 of its last 18 opponents over the last two seasons to 24 points or less, including all five of its 2024 foes. • Redshirt freshman running back Jaylen Poe added an 89-yard kickoff return to his 98-yard rushing day Saturday, the longest kickoff return by a Huskie since Trayvon Rudolph’s 100-yard touchdown return versus Bowling Green in 2021. • NIU’s 367-yard rushing day versus UMass was its second of the season and the Huskies’ highest rushing total since last year’s game at Akron. • NIU’s 2024 roster includes 32 seniors, sixth-most in the FBS. Twenty of those seniors have spent their entire careers as Huskies, which is the third highest total in the country. • 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. • Neither Buffalo (184 yards) nor NC State (171) gained more than 200 yards of total offense against the Huskie defense, marking the first time since 2005 that NIU held opponents below that number in back-to-back games. • NIU’s win at fifth-ranked Notre Dame on September 7 marked the first time a Mid-American Conference team defeated a team ranked in the top five of a national poll.
NOTING NIU
OFF TO OHIO:
After closing out its non-conference schedule with a 34-20 win at home over UMass, the NIU Huskies travel to Bowling Green, Ohio to take on the Bowling Green Falcons for the first time since 2021; NIU plays at BG for the first time since 2017.
LAST WEEK:
NIU outscored UMass 27-6 in the second half to claim a 34-20 victory over the Minutemen in Huskie Stadium. Running backs Gavin Williams (125) and Jaylen Poe (98) combined for 123 rushing yards as NIU ran on 24 of its 26 plays in the second half and scored on every possession until a final kneel down. The Huskie defense twice held UM to field goals in the red zone and stopped the Minutemen on downs three times while collecting four sacks and breaking up four passes.
HUSKIES IN THE MAC:
In 38 seasons as a member of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies are 165-119-2 all-time. The Huskies own a winning percentage of .637 (135-77) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 78-33 (.703) 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 plays its first MAC road game of 2024 on Saturday. The Huskies are 27-15 in conference road games since 2013 and 91-101-1 all-time in league games away from Huskie Stadium for a 47 percent win percentage. NIU was 2-2 on the road in league games a year ago. The Huskies have split their two road non-conference games this season.
MOVING ON UP:
With the win at Notre Dame, Thomas Hammock passed Bill Mallory and Jerry Ippoliti for seventh place on the Huskies’ all-time coaching wins chart with his 26th victory and now has 27 wins. Hammock’s 62 games coached over the last five-plus seasons rank seventh all-time at NIU. He is the 23rd head coach in NIU’s 123-year college football history.
CLOSE CALLS:
Three of NIU’s five games this season have been decided by one score or less with a two point win at Notre Dame, a three-point loss in overtime to Buffalo and the seven-point decision at NC State. Eight of NIU’s 13 games a year ago, including the Camellia Bowl win, were within that margin, a trend that predates Thomas Hammock’s tenure as head coach. Since the start of the 2016 season, NIU leads the FBS in one-score games played, ahead of Texas (54) and Eastern Michigan (53).
Bowling Green Notes
FALCONS HOST THE HUSKIES FOR KIDS DAY
• Bowling Green State University returns home to host Northern Illinois in MACtion. • It is the 24th meeting between the Falcons and the Huskies, and the first clash at Doyt Perry Stadium since 2017. • Saturday is Kids Day. To celebrate, BGSU held a helmet design contest, and the winners were Tegan Friemering (age 13) and Ida Falck (age 12). Ida’s design (above) will be worn by the offensive players, and Tegan’s design will be on the defensive players.
BOWLING GREEN VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
• Bowling Green continues Mid-American Conference action on Saturday against Northern Illinois. • BGSU leads the all-time series with NIU, 12-11. NIU has been in the MAC since 1997, after also being in the league from 1973-85. • Since 2000, Bowling Green is 2-1 against NIU when the Falcons hold the Huskies to fewer than 300 yards of total offense. NIU’s lone win in that stretch was in 2008. • Since 2000, Bowling Green is 3-4 against NIU when the Falcons accumulate 350+ yards of total offense. • Since 2000, Bowling Green is 2-1 against NIU when the Falcons win the turnover battle. They are 1-4 when they don’t.
FIVE TOP STORYLINES
• TE Harold Fannin Jr. is on the verge of breaking two BGSU tight end records. He needs four receiving yards to break Mark Dowdell’s single-season receiving yards record (1983, 679) and 27 receiving yards to surpass Alex Bayer’s career receiving record (1,543). • Fannin, a three-time reigning MAC offensive POW, ranks No. 1 in the nation among tight ends in receptions (46), receiving yards (675), YAC (396), first downs (31), broken tackles (18), and is second in receiving touchdowns (4). According to Pro Football Focus, Fannin owns the second-highest overall grade in the nation (95.1) behind only Ashton Jeanty (Boise State). He ranks No. 1 for his pass routes grade (95.4) for all receivers. Among all players, he is tied for No. 3 in receptions and No. 4 in receiving yards. Among all receivers, he ranks highly in broken tackles (1), YAC (2), and first downs (3). • QB Connor Bazelak enters Saturday with 993 career completions, ranking No. 3 among active players (behind Washington State’s Will Rogers and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel). He needs seven more completions to become the 41st player in FBS history to reach 1,000 career completions. Bazelak is also one of six active quarterbacks to surpass 10,000 career passing yards. • OLB Charles Rosser is tied for No. 15 in the nation (No. 1 in the MAC) with 4.5 sacks. He is tied with Suntarine Perkins (Ole Miss) for the nation’s lead in sacks by a linebacker. • Bowling Green has recorded 15 sacks this season. Since the start of the 2022 season, BGSU has accumulated 86 team sacks, ranking 16th in the nation.
Toledo Rockets vs Buffalo Bulls
TOLEDO-BUFFALO SERIES
Toledo leads the series with Buffalo, 8-6. Toledo snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 31-13 win last season in Toledo. This will be the 10th meeting between the schools since Buffalo joined the MAC in 1998, with Toledo holding a 5-4 edge over that 22-year time period.
Toledo Notes
Rocket Launches
• Toledo starts the year 4-1 for the second year in a row. The Rockets opened up last year with an 11-1 mark before finishing 11-3. • The crowd of 25,027 was the largest in the Glass Bowl since 25,361 fans filled the stadium on Sept. 14, 2019 vs. Murray State. It was the largest for a Homecoming game since 30,147 saw Toledo defeat Bowling Green, 42-35, on Oct. 15, 2016. • Jerjuan Newton has now moved past Mel Long, Jr (1997-2000) and Don Fair (1969-71) into 11th place in career receiving yards with 2,252. Newton’s first quarter TD reception vs. Miami gives him five for the season and 26 for his career, moving him past Eric Page and Lance Moore into sole possession of second place on Toledo’s all-time list. • Toledo is 8-6 all-time vs. Buffalo. The Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 31-13 win in Toledo last year. • Senior defensive tackle Darius Alexander was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week while freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan took the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week honor. • Jason Candle’s record as Toledo’s head coach is 69-36. He needs five more wins to pass Gary Pinkel (73-37-3 from 1991-2000) as Toledo’s all-time leader.
LAST TIME VS. BUFFALO
Toledo scored on the opening kickoff and never looked back in its 31-13 victory over Buffalo on a chilly and snowy evening at the Glass Bowl on Halloween night in 2023. The victory was the Rockets’ eighth straight and moved their record to 8-1, 5-0 in MAC play. Junior Jacquez Stuart got Toledo off to a hot start with a 97-yard touchdown right up the middle on the opening kickoff. Moments later, junior Peny Boone bolted 71 yards for a score that gave Toledo a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. Buffalo cut the lead to 14-7 but Toledo scored the final 10 points in the first half to take a 24-7 halftime lead. The Rockets survived a pair of costly turnovers in the second half but their defense kept the Bulls from making a serious rally.
DEFENSE!
Toledo’s defense ranks third in the MAC in total defense (342.0) and first in rushing defense (86.6), which is also 10th best in the nation. Toledo’s opponents are averaging 2.8 yards per rush. The leading rusher for each of Toledo’s five opponents so far this year has gained 39, 44, 59, 36 and 40 yards.
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. He has made 22-of-22 extra points. • Punt returner Bryson Hammer is second in the MAC and fifth in the country with an 18.9 punt return average. He has had punt returns of 43, 41, 32 and 22 among his 10 returns this season. • Toledo is averaging 30.0 yards per kick return, which is second in the MAC and fifth 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 in kickoff coverage, allowing just 16.4 yards per return. • Toledo is 3-of-3 in recovering onside kicks. • Toledo has blocked one punt and has not been blocked.
Buffalo Notes
STORYLINES
• The Bulls are looking to start 2-0 in MAC play for the third straight season. • Buffalo is looking to improve to 3-0 at home this season. The last time the Bulls started the season 3-0 at home was 2020. 2013 was the only other season UB started 3-0 at home as an FBS program (since 1999). • UB has won three of the last four meetings with Toledo. • This will be only the fifth time Toledo will play at UB Stadium since Buffalo joined the MAC in 1999. The Bulls have won three of the previous four meetings at UB Stadium. • The Bulls are averaging 32 points per game at home compared to 8.7 points per game on the road. • Linebacker Shaun Dolac leads the nation in total tackles (72) and tackles per game (14.4). • Shaun Dolac ranks second in the nation in tackles for loss per game (2.1) while Red Murdock ranks third in the nation in tackles for loss per game (2.0). • Shaun Dolac is five tackles shy of 300 for his career. He would become the 13th player in program history to reach the milestone. • Toledo and Buffalo lead the MAC in interceptions. The Rockets have six on the year while the Bulls have 5.
Dolac Off to Historic Start
Through five games, Shaun Dolac has 72 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss. He leads the nation in tackles and ranks second in tackles for loss. He is averaging 14.4 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. Dolac’s 72 tackles through five games are the most to start a season in program history. He has twice been named MAC Defensive Player of the Week already this season earning the award after his performances against Lafayette and Northern Illinois. 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. Injury reports/updates come only from the head football coach. The Athletic Communications Office does not provide any injury information, except in situations in which the head coach has already confirmed that a student-athlete will be out of action for an extended period of time.
TFLs
Buffalo has made a living in opponent’s backfields this season. The Bulls lead the MAC and rank sixth in the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 8.4 TFLs per game. Linebackers Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock are one-two in the MAC. In fact, Dolac ranks second in the nation with 10.5 tackles (2.1 per game) for loss while Murdock ranks third with 10 (2. per game). Dolac and Murdock have combined for 20.5 tackles for loss. The pair has combined for more TFLs than 11 FBS programs.
Upton Funk
Upton Bellenfant earned the starting kicker job in week three and all he has done since is make every one of his kicks. He had the best game of his young career in Buffalo’s win at Northern Illinois as he made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 37-yarder to win the game in overtime. On the year, the redshirt-sophomore is 6-for-6 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra points.
Seeing Red
After a solid season for the Bulls in 2023, linebacker Red Murdock is taking his game to new heights in 2024. The redshirt-sophomore had the best game of his career against UMass, totaling 12 tackles and three tackles for loss. He earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts. Murdock ranks second in the MAC to only teammate Shaun Dolac in tackles (55) and tackles for loss (10). In 2023, he appeared in 12 games and started the final six. He ranked third on the team in tackles with 60 and added 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and four forced fumbles. His four forced fumbles were two shy of the single-season school record. He is equally impressive in the classroom as he was named Academic All-MAC and Academic All-District last season.
Ohio Bobcats vs Central Michigan Chippewas
SERIES HISTORY VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Bobcats and the Zips have met 435 times since 1972, posting a 6-26- 2 record. The two teams last met on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium, with Bobcats securing their first home victory against the Chippewas since 2000. In the 34-20 game, kicker Gianni Spetic finished the day 2-for-3 on field goals and 4-for-4 on PATs, while Shane Bonner snagged his first career pick six in the first quarter. As Ohio built its lead without any passing touchdowns, scoring three rushing touchdowns.
Ohio Bobcats vs Central Michigan Chippewas
THE OPENING KICK
The Ohio football team (3-2, 1-0 MAC) returns to action when they travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich. to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas (3-2, 1-0 MAC) for their first away conference game of the season on Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and can be seen on ESPNU with Matt Schumacker and Dustin Fox 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 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas are currently 3-2 overall and 1-0 against MAC opponents. They closed out nonconference play on Saturday, Sept. 28, defeating the San Diego State Aztecs, 22-21. CMU played their first conference game of the season the week prior (Sept. 21), claiming a 37-34 victory over Ball State when wide receiver Chris Parker snagged a 20-yard receiving touchdown with 16 seconds left on the clock. As a team, CMU averages 30 points per game on 184.6 rushing yards and 245 passing yards. Their opponents average 29.4 points per game. Redshirt junior quarterback Joe Labas is 88-for-151 on 1,078 yards over five games, throwing seven passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. His longest pass clocks in at 72 yards. The Chippewas have utilized two additional quarterbacks so far this season: redshirt freshman
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are currently 3-2 overall and 1-0 against MAC opponents. They average 21.2 points per game on 191.8 rushing yards and 177.2 passing yards per game. In the air, graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro is 62-for-91 on 751 yards with four touchdowns. Navarro is also a threat on the ground, recording 44 carries for 220 yards and three touchdowns. 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.
Central Michigan Notes
Top Storylines
• CMU plays its third straight home game and gets back into MAC play when it hosts Ohio for Homecoming. • Central Michigan is hard to beat at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as it has won three straight home games and seven of its last eight matchups. The Chippewas are a combined 21-8 under Head Coach Jim McElwain with a .724 win percentage in games played at Kelly/ Shorts Stadium. • 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).
GAME NOTES
THE ESSENTIALS
Central Michigan (3-2, 1-0 MAC) plays its third consecutive home contest when it hosts Ohio (3-2, 1-0 MAC) for its 2024 Homecoming Game on Saturday at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.
ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS
Riding a two-game win streak and three-game home win streak, Central Michigan (3-2, 1-0 MAC) plays the second MAC game of its 123rd season of college football on Saturday, Oct. 12 when it hosts Ohio (3-2, 1-0 MAC) at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/ Shorts Stadium. The matchup represents Central Michigan’s 2024 Homecoming Game as the Chippewas will acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the 1974 national championship team and the 100th anniversary of Homecoming on campus. The Chippewas have spent the following month in Mount Pleasant for three consecutive home games as they host Ball State (Sept. 21) and San Diego State (Sept. 28) on consecutive Saturdays, have a bye week on Oct. 5, then host Ohio for the 2024 Homecoming Game on Saturday, Oct. 12. Central Michigan enters the matchup after a 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 and scored 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. The Chippewas played in front of 18,011 fans vs. Ball State, then followed that up with a 27,072 crowd vs. San Diego State. 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. Against Ball State, CMU rushed for 335 yards and 527 total yards of offense. It marked the most rushing yards since CMU rolled up 352 in a 42-28 win over New Mexico State on Oct. 12, 2019. The 527 total yards are the most since the Chippewas finished with 529 in a 41-0 win over Bucknell on Sept. 17, 2022. B.J. Harris, who earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 23, rushed for a career-high 151 yards on only eight carries (18.9 yards per carry), led CMU in all-purpose yards (156), Chris Parker caught two touchdown passes, Labas completed 14 of 20 passes for 185 yards, and quarterback Bert Emanuel, Jr. saw his first game action of the season and was responsible for three touchdowns, including touchdown runs of 20 and 16 yards, and a 7-yard touchdown pass. Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski paced the defense with a career-high 15 tackles (nine solo) and Elijah Rikard had a career-high eight tackles. CMU trailed 10-0 in the first quarter but scored 20 unanswered points to get back into it. Ball State took the lead back in the third quarter, but the Chippewas answered with an Emanuel 16-yard TD run with 5:02 to play. The Cardinals regained the lead with 53 seconds to play on a 97-yard scoring drive spanning five plays which culminated on a 16-yard pass. But CMU was not finished as the Chippewas marched 75 yards in five plays for the gamewinning pass with 16 seconds play. B.J. Harris rambled 25 yards, Labas hit Evan Boyd down the middle of the field for a 34 yards, then Labas found Parker for the 20-yard strike. 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 play significant roles in 2024, several players return from injury, and a variety of players have improved over the offseason and are ready to contribute. The Chippewas are a year older across the board with a majority 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 an 11-17 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. Central Michigan is hoping to erase the memory of those two seasons that saw it finish an identical 3-5 in Mid-American Conference play. The last two seasons were 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 OHIO WOULD…
Give CMU a 2-0 record in MAC play and vault the Chippewas into first place in the MAC. • Give CMU a 2-0 start in MAC play for the first time since the CoVID-shortened 2020 season. Prior to that year, CMU last went 2-0 in the MAC to start a season in 2009. • Give CMU a 4-2 start to a campaign for the first time since the 2016 season. • Give CMU its third straight victory. The last time CMU won three or more consecutive wins was in 2021 when it won five straight games to close out the season, along with a Tony the Tiger Bowl win over Washington State. • Give CMU a perfect 4-0 record in home games. • Give CMU its second straight Homecoming win and fourth win in its last five tries in Homecoming games. • Give CMU its fourth straight home win and eighth win in its last nine home games. • Improve Head Coach Jim McElwain to 22-8 in home games since he became the coach in 2019.
Miami-Ohio Redhawks vs Eastern Michigan Eagles
SERIES VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
Saturday will be the 25th meeting between the two programs with the RedHawks holding an 18-6 advantage. EMU has won the last two meetings, but prior to that, the Red and White had won nine-straight from 1994-2016.
Miami-Ohio Notes
MIAMI TRAVELS TO EMU IN SEARCH OF FIRST MAC WIN
The Miami University football team travels north in search of its first conference win with a Saturday, Oct. 12 contest at Eastern Michigan. Opening kick is slated for 2 p.m.
ABOUT MIAMI
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (725), conference wins (317), MAC Championships (17) and bowl wins (8). • Historically, Miami’s 725 career wins are third all-time among Group-of-Five programs, behind just Navy (743) and Army (732). • Miami was 4-14 in Coach Martin’s first 18 Mid-American Conference games. Since then, the RedHawks are 42-18 in their last 60 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 15-3 following a conference loss, dating back to midway through the 2016 campaign.
ABOUT EMU
Eastern Michigan enters Saturday’s action at 4-1 overall and 1-0 in MAC play. Quarterback Cole Snyder has thrown for 957 yards and four touchdowns, while Delbert Mimms is tops on the team with 314 yards rushing and five scores. JT Killen leads the way on defense with 31 tackles and two forced fumbles.
LAST MEETING VERSUS EMU
Miami out-gained Eastern Michigan 385-257, but settled for four field goals in a 13-12 loss back on Oct. 9, 2021. AJ Mayer threw for 259 yards and Jack Sorenson had a game-high seven grabs for 123 yards. Defensively, Ivan Pace had a team-high 12 tackles, while five different RedHawks recorded sacks.
SLOW START
Playing Power-4 football teams in non-conference play is nothing new for Miami. Since 2019, Miami has won two MAC Championships, but just once in that time has Miami come out of non-conference play with a winning record. Miami has played 13 Power-4 program in non-conference play over the last five years (2.6 per year), but has still found a way to play in a bowl game each season.
TACKLING MACHINE
Linebacker Matt Salopek, the reigning 2023 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, has 437 career tackles and has surpassed 100 stops in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The last time Miami had a player record 100-plus tackles three straight seasons was Matt Pusateri from 2002-04 and no RedHawk has ever secured 100-plus tackles in four-straight seasons. His 437 tackles ranks ninth all-time in program history.
OLE MCDONALD HAVING A SEASON
Senior Cade McDonald had 28 catches for 353 yards last season … all career-bests … until 2024. This year McDonald is tops on the team in receptions (29) and yards (382). He set career-highs in catches (8) and yards (135) in the loss versus Cincinnati after opening the year with eight receptions for 105 yards at Northwestern.
TRENCH WARFARE
Miami’s offensive line is the most experienced unit on the 2024 roster. Reid Holskey has started each of the last 45 games for the Red and White and is followed by Will Jados (29), Kolby Borders (28), and John Young (19). Those four have combined to start 121 games and all four started all 14 games a year ago. Charlie Nank has made five starts at center for the Red and White this year.
ALL-MAC SPECIALTY
Miami has a pair of All-MAC performers on special teams … both punters. Dom Dzobian was named a second-team All-MAC punter in 2022 and Alec Bevelhimer did the same in 2023. Dzobian, now Miami’s placekicker, has converted on 9-of-11 field goals this season, while Bevelhimer is averaging 41.5 yards per punt in 2024.
Eastern Michigan Notes
SEEKING THE BEST START IN 35 YEARS
Should the Eagles defeat the RedHawks, it would mark the best six-game start to a season since 1989 when EMU began 5-0-1. Additionally, Eastern would be riding a four-game winning streak for just the fourth time since 1988 (1993, 1994, and 2022).
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 55 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. • Eastern Michigan is currently tied for the national lead in blocked kicks this year with three after adding a blocked punt against St. Francis. The Eagles and TCU are the only two schools in the FBS that have blocked 3+ kicks while not allowing a blocked kick.
TWO-FOR-TWO?
Not only is Eastern looking for its best start overall since 1989, it will also be seeking its first 2-0 start in MAC play since 2005. That year, the Eagles opened with a 23-20 overtime win at Central Michigan (Sept. 24) before winning at home, 27-20, over Kent State (10/1). A defeat of Miami would mark the ninth time Eastern would open a season 2-0 in MAC play.
TAKING IT BACK TO 2016
Entering the 2024 season, the Eagles had dropped their last seven conference openers dating back to a 28-25 victory at Bowling Green, Oct. 1, 2016. The Eagles also improved to 8-19 all-time when their first MAC game of the season is played away from home following their victory at Kent State, Sept. 28, 52-33.
ONE-AND-ONE?
By winning its MAC road opener with the 52-33 defeat of Kent State on the road, Sept. 28, Eastern will look to not only go 2-0 in MAC play, but also win both its MAC road and MAC home openers in the same season for just the eighth time. The last time it happened was in 2005, when the win was at Central Michigan (23-20 OT) and at home at Kent State (27-20). Prior to that instance, the program accomplished the feat in 1995, 1993, 1990, 1989, 1988, and 1986.
PROTECTING HOME TURF
EMU has won eight of its last nine 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. All told, 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 REDHAWKS
The Eagles and RedHawks have met just 25 times in their respective histories. The two schools first met in 1974, but have only squared off seven times since 2000. MU leads the all-time series, 19-6, but EMU has taken the last two meetings after snapping a nine-game skid in 2017.
STABILITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
In his 11th season in Ypsilanti, EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton is the 11th-longest-tenured Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coach. While they areboth 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.
2 MINUTE DRILL
• Gavin Williams and Jaylen Poe combined to rush for 223 yards, 220 in the second half, as Northern Illinois overcame a 13-7 halftime deficit to defeat UMass, 34-20, on Saturday. The Huskies gained 249 of their season-high 367 rushing yards in the second half, with Williams tallying 124 of his 125 yards in the game after halftime and Poe gaining 91 of his 98. Both running backs, and Ethan Hampton, posted career best rushing totals as all four of NIU’s second half touchdowns came on the ground. • Western Michigan overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to down Ball State, 45-42, on the road in its MAC opener on Saturday. The Broncos racked up 461 total yards and forced two key turnovers in the fourth quarter to open Mid-American Conference play with the victory. Quarterback Hayden Wolff went 26-for-29 for 264 yards and three touchdown passes, while Jaden Nixon became the first Bronco since 2019 to rush for 100 yards in three straight games after totaling 124 on 14 carries, along with three touchdowns. • Harold Fannin Jr. scored a 31-yard rushing touchdown on 4th-and-2 with 2:39 left in regulation to elevate Bowling Green to a 27-20 victory over Akron inside InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. It was the program’s 300th all-time win in MAC play, which ranks No. 3 all-time in league history. • Tucker Gleason threw for 318 yards and Dylan Cunanan made three field goals as the Toledo Rockets came through with a 30-20 Homecoming victory over Miami inside the Glass Bowl Saturday. • 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). 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 CO-Offensive Players of the Week
Hayden Wolff, Western Michigan, Quarterback
Grad., Venice, Fla. (Venice)
Western Michigan’s Hayden Wolff was nearly perfect throwing the football in WMU’s come-from-behind win over Ball State. He finished 26-for-29 with an 89.7 completion percentage, 265 yards and three touchdown passes. Wolff’s first TD pass of the game gave the Broncos a very early 14-0 lead. He then threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to open the third quarter, giving WMU a 28-21 lead. His third touchdown proved to be the game-winner, giving WMU a 45-35 lead in the eventual 45-42 win.
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green, TE
Jr., Canton, Ohio (McKinley)
BGSU’s Harold Fannin Jr. had a standout performanc, catching nine passes for 135 yards and rushing twice for 37 yards, including a game-winning 31-yard touchdown against Akron on a crucial 4th-and-2 play. His 172 all-purpose yards were the highest among the nation’s tight ends for the week, with his 135 receiving yards ranking second among tight ends and 11th among all receivers, leading the MAC. Fannin extended his program record with his fourth consecutive game of 100+ receiving yards and played a pivotal role in the Falcons’ opening drive with 83 yards and a key block for a touchdown. Six of his nine catches resulted in first downs, and he tallied 78 yards after the catch while breaking multiple tackles both receiving and rushing. The victory marked Bowling Green’s 300th MAC win, placing them third in league history.
MAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Darius Alexander, Toledo, Defensive Tackle
Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind. (Wayne)
Toledo senior defensive tackle Darius Alexander finished with career highs in three categories in Toledo’s 30-20 win over Miami: seven tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He also added a pass breakup and a QB hurry.
MAC Football Special Teams Players of the Week
Dylan Cunanan, Toledo, Placekicker
Fr., Phoenix, Ariz. (Sunnyslope)
Toledo freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan connected on field goals of 21, 48 and 47 yards without a miss in Toledo’s 30-20 win over Miami. It was the first time a Toledo kicker made three field goals in a game since Luke Pawlak went 3-for-3 at Illinois on Sept. 2, 2023. Cunanan’s season-long 48-yard field goal was the longest by a Rocket since Thomas Cluckey hit a 50-yarder at Central Michigan on Oct. 16, 2021.
