CFB: Mid-American Conference Week 1 Release

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, August 31
Saint Francis at Western Michigan, 7 pm ET…………………………..ESPN+
Kent State at UCF, 7 pm ET ………………………………………………………….FS1

Friday, September 1
Howard at Eastern Michigan, 6:30 pm ET ……………………………..ESPN+
Miami at Miami (FL), 7 pm ET ……………………………………..ACC Network
Central Michigan at Michigan State, 7 pm ET ……………………………..FS1

Saturday, September 2
Ball State at Kentucky, Noon ET ……………………………………SEC Network
NIU at Boston College, Noon ET …………………………………ACC Network
LIU at Ohio, Noon ET ……………………………………………………………..ESPN+
Bowling Green at Liberty, Noon ET…………………..CBS Sports Network
Akron at Temple, 2 pm ET ……………………………………………………..ESPN+
Buffalo at Wisconsin, 3:30 pm ET ………………………………………………..FS1
Toledo at Illinois, 7:30 pm ET………………………………………………………BTN

2 MINUTE DRILL

• Toledo, Ohio Selected as Favorites in Football Head Coaches Preseason Poll Toledo and Ohio were selected to win their respective divisions in the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Football Head Coaches Preseason Poll. The Rockets also received seven votes to win the MAC Football Championship Game title, while the Bobcats received four votes when it came to selecting who will take home the MAC crown. Buffalo claimed the other Championship vote.
• MACtion on the 2023 Preseason Watch List The Mid-American Conference was represented by 57 selections across 18 preseason watch list given to the top student- athletes to look out for during the 2023 season. Ohio’s Kurtis Rourke and Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell led the way with four watch list selections, while Buffalo’s Shaun Dolac and Toledo’s Dequan Finn landed on a trio of preseason lists.
• Going Bowling
  Six Mid-American Conference institutions accepted bowl bids in 2022, the seventh time in MAC history to have six or more programs receive a bowl invitation (2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) in a single season. This also marks the 13th time in MAC history to have five or more programs receive a bowl invitation (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) in a single-season.
• Two New Faces
  Lance Taylor (Western Michgian) and Kenni Burns (Kent State) begin their MAC coaching career on Thursday night. The Broncos open the Taylor Era with a home matchup against Saint Francis at 7 p.m. while the Golden Flashes will take on Big-12 opponent UCF in Burns’ first game at the helm of the program. Kickoff is also slated for 7 p.m.

MAC NOTES
Toledo, Ohio Selected as Favorites in Football Head Coaches Preseason Poll

• Toledo and Ohio were selected to win their respective divisions in the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Football Head Coaches Preseason Poll. The Rockets also received seven votes to win the MAC Football Championship Game title, while the Bobcats received four votes when it came to selecting who will take home the MAC crown. Buffalo claimed the other Championship vote.

MAC East Division (First Place Votes)

1. Ohio – 63 points (9)
2. Miami – 52 points (2)
3. Buffalo – 51 points (1)
4. Bowling Green – 35 points
5. Akron – 26 points
6. Kent State – 19 points

MAC West Division (First Place Votes)

1. Toledo – 66 points (11)
2. Eastern Michigan – 55 points (1)
3. Northern Illinois – 38 points
4. Central Michigan – 37 points
5. Ball State – 27 points
6. Western Michigan – 23 points
   MAC Champs: Toledo (7), Ohio (4), Buffalo (1)