The official kickoff to conference play is in the rearview mirror and now we’re off to a full slate of MACtion for week five. After last week’s Homecoming loss to Ohio, Bowling Green kicks off a three-game road trip in the final game of their out of conference schedule down in Atlanta.  They take on the 2-2 (1-1 ACC) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who are coming off a big win against ACC foe Wake Forest.   

STANDINGS: 

MAC EAST-

1. Ohio: 4-1 (1-0) (W, 38-7 @ Bowling Green) (-) 
2. Miami: 3-1 (W, 62-20 vs Delaware State) (-) 
3. Akron: 1-3 (L, 29-27 @ Indiana 4OT) (-) 
4. Kent State: 1-3 (L, 53-10 @ Fresno State) (+1) 
5. Bowling Green: 1-3 (0-1) (L, 38-7 vs Ohio) (-1) 
6. Buffalo: 0-4 (L, 45-38 @ Louisiana) (-) 

MAC WEST-

1. Toledo: 3-1 (1-0) (W, 49-31 vs Western Michigan) (+1) 
2. Central Michigan: 2-2 (W, 34-30 @ South Alabama) (+2) 
3. Eastern Michigan: 2-2 (L, 21-0 @ Jacksonville State) (-2) 
4. Ball State: 1-3 (L, 40-3 vs Georgia Southern) (-1) 
5. Northern Illinois: 1-2 (L, 22-14 vs Tulsa) (-) 
6. Western Michigan: 1-2 (0-1)  (L, 49-31 vs Toledo) (-) 

STORYLINES: 

1. Reigning division champs start strong: Last Saturday was the official start of conference play, featuring two MAC matchups. Last year’s division winners got off to a strong start. Reigning MAC Champion Toledo rallied from a four-point halftime deficit en route to getting revenge on Western Michigan 49-31. The incumbent MAC East champion Ohio showed why they’re a lot of people’s favorites to win the conference this year, steamrolling Bowling Green on the road 38-7. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke completed his first 10 passes and finished 14/16 on the day, throwing for 196 yards and three touchdowns. But his defense stole the show, forcing four turnovers and scoring two touchdowns. They held Bowling Green to just 10 first downs in the game, 2/11 on third down conversions, and 73 yards in the first half.  
2. Injury bug hits Toledo: In Saturday’s matchup with WMU, Toledo lost a lot of key starters to injury, including some of their key guys. Starting quarterback Dequan Finn had to be carted off the field in the third quarter. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and wide receiver Devin Maddox also left the game early while the team was already down safety Maxen Hook and running back Jacquez Stuart. “Backups, the guys who started the season on the second team got their moment today and were bright stars in front of that, and some were behind the scenes,” Toledo’s Jason Candle said after Saturday’s game. “That gives you confidence moving forward.”  One of those second teamers, who Bowling Green fans might be familiar with, was backup quarterback Tucker Gleason, who led the Rockets’ comeback. He completed six of his 10 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns, nearly outplaying Finn.  
3. Full slate of MACtion: Week five is where the MAC unofficially starts, with all but two teams starting their MACtion campaigns.  

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: September 30: 

• BUFFALO (0-4) @ AKRON (1-3): Noon kickoff 
• EASTERN MICHIGAN (2-2) @ CENTRAL MICHIGAN (2-2): 1:30 p.m. kickoff 
• MIAMI (OH) (3-1) @ KENT STATE(1-3): 2:30 p.m. kickoff 

• BALL STATE (1-3) @ WESTERN MICHIGAN (1-3, 0-1 MAC): 3:30 p.m. kickoff 
• NORTHERN ILLINOIS (1-3) @ TOLEDO (3-1, 1-0 MAC)): 3:30 p.m. kickoff 
• BOWLING GREEN (1-3, 0-1 MAC) @ GEORGIA TECH (2-2, 1-1 ACC): 3:30 p.m. kickoff 
• BYE: OHIO (4-1, 1-0 MAC) 

*All times are EST