With the calendar flipping over to 2025, we are officially into Mid-American Conference (MAC) play.
After one game, six teams hold an undefeated conference record, while six teams remain winless within the conference. Miami (OH) sits atop the MAC standings, with Western Michigan rounding out the pack.
Here’s a look at how each team has fared recently:
Miami (9-4, 1-0 MAC)
Miami has been the story of the MAC so far this season. After finishing just sixth in the MAC preseason poll, the RedHawks sit atop the conference standings in the first week of January.
Miami is currently riding a three-game winning streak. After defeating Sacred Heart 94-76 on Dec. 22, they dominated Defiance 141-58 on Dec. 30, marking the most points scored in a game in program history. Miami capped off their recent run with a victory in their conference opener over Buffalo on Saturday, 93-79.
The RedHawk’s offense currently leads the MAC with 83.2 points per game, 49.2% shooting from the field (24th in the country) and 40.8% from beyond the arc (12th in the country). On top of that, Miami has had six players score in double-digits in two straight games.
Akron (8-5, 1-0 MAC)
The reigning MAC Tournament champions appear to have another championship-level squad this season.
After suffering a crushing one-point loss to Princeton to close out non-conference play on Dec. 30, 76-75, the Zips rebounded with a comeback 71-68 win over Bowling Green on Friday in which they led for just 70 seconds in the game.
Along with scoring 79.9 points per game, the second-best mark in the conference, Akron has been dominant on the boards this season. The Zips lead the MAC with 39.9 rebounds per game, while senior forward James Okonkwo leads the conference with 8.5 rebounds per contest.
Ball State (7-6, 1-0 MAC)
After starting just 3-6, Ball State has gotten hot, going on a 4-game winning streak.
The Cardinals closed out non-conference play with an 89-76 win over Anderson on New Year’s Eve before opening MAC play with a 75-67 win over Kent State on Saturday.
Junior guard Jermahri Hill dominated the past couple of games, scoring 25 points against Anderson and 18 against the Golden Flashes, leading the team in scoring in both contests. Hill is currently tied for second in the MAC with 16.6 points per game.
Eastern Michigan (7-6, 1-0 MAC)
While they have the same record as Ball State, Eastern Michigan has had an opposite journey than the Cardinals. After starting the season 5-2, the Eagles have run into some inconsistency.
EMU closed out 2024 with an 86-64 loss to Davidson on Dec. 28 before opening MAC play with a 75-71 victory over Northern Illinois on Jan. 4.
Senior forward Da’Sean Nelson dominated in the conference opener, leading the Eagles with 32 points and nine rebounds in the win. Nelson sits in sixth place in the MAC with 15.7 points per game.
Ohio (7-6, 1-0 MAC)
One thing many people have learned over the years is to never doubt the Ohio Bobcats, as they have finished with a winning season in all five years under head coach Jeff Boals.
After starting the season slow, just 2-5, the Bobcats have rattled off five wins over their past six games to get back above .500 for the first time this season.
OU blew out Muskingum on Dec. 30, 103-52, before beating Central Michigan in a low-scoring affair in their conference opener on Saturday, 57-55.
Senior forward AJ Clayton has been dominant for the Bobcats so far this season. He leads the MAC with 23 blocks while ranking sixth with 6.5 rebounds per game and seventh with 15.6 points per game.
Toledo (7-6, 1-0 MAC)
Toledo still sits above .500 even after a rough finish to non-conference play.
After starting the season 6-3, Toledo finished 2024 with three straight losses, including defeats to nationally-ranked Houston and Purdue.
However, the Rockets bounced back and started 2025 on a high note with a 76-70 win over Western Michigan on Saturday.
Sophomore guard Sonny Wilson continues to improve for Toledo, even after a MAC All-Freshman Team campaign last season. He finished with a team-high 20 points and five assists while adding seven rebounds in the win against the Broncos. Wilson ranks ninth in the MAC with 15.4 points and 3.3 assists per game.
Kent State (9-4, 0-1 MAC)
Although Kent State is currently down in the standings due to starting MAC play with a loss, they are tied for the best overall record and are the highest-ranked MAC team in the latest edition of the NET rankings (110).
After falling to No. 6 Alabama 81-54 on Dec. 22, the Golden Flashes closed out non-conference play by avoiding disaster with an 84-80 win over Division III Heidelberg that left KSU fans holding their breath until the final whistle blew.
The struggles in the Heidelberg game carried over into MAC play, as Kent State fell to Ball State 75-67 on Saturday.
Redshirt senior VonCameron Davis has been a bright spot for KSU recently, scoring 20-plus points in the past two games.
Central Michigan (6-7, 0-1 MAC)
Central Michigan has hit a rough past, losing four of their past five games.
After blowing out Cleary in their final non-conference game on Dec. 30, 85-39, the Chippewas fell in a heartbreaker to Ohio to begin 2025 on Saturday, 57-55.
CMU’s defense has been the biggest strength of the team.
Central Michigan holds opponents to just 28.8% shooting from beyond the arc, the best mark in the MAC. They also hold the opposition to 69.7 points per game and 41.5% shooting from the field, ranking second in the conference.
Bowling Green (5-8, 0-1 MAC)
Bowling Green has been hammered by injuries and inconsistency this season. The Falcons are currently down two starters and have won back-to-back games just once this year.
BG closed out non-conference play with an 87-62 win over Aquinas on Dec. 23 before falling to Akron, even after leading for over 36 minutes, on Friday, 71-68.
Senior forward Marcus Johnson and junior guard Javontae Campbell — the reigning MAC Player of the Week — have been the stars for BGSU so far. Johnson leads the MAC with 17.0 points per game while Campbell ranks third in the nation with 44 steals and recorded the first triple-double by a Falcon since 2007 against Aquinas.
Buffalo (5-8, 0-1 MAC)
Buffalo has struggled to find much team success this season — especially as of late.
The Bulls have lost four straight and five of their past six contests, with none of their last three games being very close.
Buffalo fell to Georgia 100-49 on Dec. 19, 91-71 to Temple on Dec. 29 and 93-79 to Miami in their MAC opener on Saturday.
However, sophomore guard Ryan Sabol has been excellent this season. Sabol scored 25 points on 8-11 shooting Buffalo’s conference opener and ranks second in the MAC with 16.6 points per game this season.
Northern Illinois (4-9, 0-1 MAC)
Northern Illinois has had a rough season up to this point.
The Huskies have lost three of their past four games and have just one win over a Division I team this season — a 79-66 win over Monmouth on Nov. 12 (NIU has also defeated Holy Cross College (Ind.), Benedictine and East-West University).
However, after defeating East-West University 117-50 on Dec. 30, Northern Illinois was competitive in their first conference game of the season, falling to Eastern Michigan by just four points on Saturday, 75-71.
Western Michigan (3-10, 0-1 MAC)
Western Michigan has been an interesting case this season. While they are just 3-10 this season, the Broncos are only 31 combined points away from having a chance at being 9-4.
Western Michigan has suffered six defeats by eight points or less, including five by just two possessions.
That trend showed itself in the first game of conference play, as the Broncos fell to Toledo 76-70 on Saturday.
