Week two for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) has officially come and gone. With another week in the history books, it gives many within the MAC some new things to discuss from each program.
Akron (0-2, 0-0)
This past weekend, for the Akron Zips, was one they would like to forget, traveling out west to Lincoln, Nebraska, to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-1, 0-0) of the Big 10.
Not much of a surprise, so the Cornhuskers would run all over the Zips in a one-sided affair, 68-0.
Not only is the group led by head coach Joe Moorhead still seeking its first win, but they are also looking for their first points of the year. As the Zips have faced two consecutive shutouts to start the season, they have become the first FBS team since the FIU Panthers back in 2007.
Ball State (0-2, 0-0)
Just like the Zips, the Ball State Cardinals are already looking forward to week three. Against the Auburn Tigers (2-0, 0-0) of the South Eastern Conference (SEC), the Cardinals only managed a single field goal from junior kicker Carson Holmer to prevent the game from being a shutout.
Auburn would win in dominating fashion, 42-3.
Bowling Green (1-1, 0-0)
The undefeated streak for Bowling Green in the Falcons Vs. Bearcats’ matchup history finally came to an end on Saturday, 34-20.
Despite the early first-half struggles for the Orange and Brown, they only managed a field goal before halftime. The Falcons had a much better showing in the second, scoring 17 more points before it was all said and done.
In the post-game press conference, head coach Eddie George did not shy away from the fact that more work for this Falcon squad needs to be done sooner rather than later.
“This is an awesome opportunity for us to grow,” George said. “I was very curious to see how we would grow from adversity.”
Buffalo (1-1, 0-0)
To say that it was a dominating rebound for the Buffalo Bulls would be the understatement of the week. Hosting the St. Francis Red Flash (0-2, 0-0) for the very first time, the Bulls made sure this game didn’t get away from them.
Throughout three quarters, it looked as if Buffalo would score their first shutout victory since October 19, 2019, over the Akron Zips, but a late touchdown from sophomore running back Jordan Theodore of the Red Flash ended that possibility.
The Bulls finally captured their first win in dominating fashion, 45-6.
Central Michigan (1-1, 0-0)
Week two for the Chippewas of Central Michigan was nothing to write home about, as the first-ever matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0, 0-0) of the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) went in a bad direction for coach Matt Drinkall’s squad.
Although the Chippewas got within 24-17 late in the third quarter, it would be the closest CMU would get to changing the landscape of the game, as Pitt would add 21 more points to their total before it was all said and done.
Coach Drinkall’s squad looks to move forward and reset as the team will travel nearly two hours southeast to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to face the No. 23-ranked Michigan Wolverines.
Eastern Michigan (0-2, 0-0)
One of two teams in the conference that lost to an FCS program, Eastern Michigan returned home to Ypsilanti, Michigan, after an abysmal week one against Texas State (2-0, 0-0).
This time around they faced the Long Island Sharks (1-1, 0-0) from the Northeast division, and what was widely considered a winnable game for the Eagles turned out to go in a different direction, as the running game for the Sharks, led by junior dual-threat quarterback Ethan Greenwood, would trounce the Eagles with 231 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
If the Eagles want to show signs of being a contender within the MAC this year, the ball has to get rolling starting week three against the Kentucky Wildcats (1-1, 0-1) of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Kent State (1-1, 0-0)
The week one fireworks for the Golden Flashes came to an abrupt end when they arrived in Lubbock, Texas, as the Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0, 0-0) would steamroll Kent State in a 62-14 shellacking.
While ending the losing streak was a sight many of the Kent State fandom loved to see, it’s apparent that there is still work that needs to be done with the squad led by interim head coach Mark Carney.
Massachusetts (0-2, 0-0)
While the Minutemen of Massachusetts were one step better than the previous week, their efforts were not enough to rebound for a win.
The Bryant Bulldogs (1-1, 0-0) from the FCS put up a surprising fight against UMass, with sophomore quarterback Brennan Myer taking full control over the game. Myer completed 22 of 44 attempts for 318 yards and three touchdowns. Leading Bryant to an upset win over the Minutemen, 27-26.
UMass being one point short of victory will sting before they return to hit the ground running on Monday to prepare for week three.
Miami OH (0-2, 0-0)
Chuck Martin and the Redhawks had hoped for a better start to the season, and week two was evidence of that analogy.
Facing the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-0, 0-0) of the Big Ten, it was another week of struggles for this young Redhawks group, losing 45-17.
The Redhawks will soar all the way back home to Oxford, Ohio, to reset for week three when the UNLV Rebels (3-0, 0-0) come into town, the first time since the programs first met back in 1988.
Northern Illinois (1-1, 0-0)
The first game of the weekend for any in-conference opponent took place on Friday for the Northern Illinois Huskies as they traveled east to face the Maryland Terrapins (2-0, 0-0) of the Big Ten.
As with other MAC teams that encountered a Big Ten opponent in week one, this game was nowhere near close.
The Huskies would only manage one offensive touchdown late in the fourth quarter from freshman running back Telly Johnson Jr, with a 74-yard burst of speed for six.
Despite the amazing play from the true freshman, the damage for NIU had already been done as Maryland would storm over the Huskies, 20-9.
Ohio (1-1, 0-0)
Perhaps the biggest winner of any team in the conference this past weekend. The Ohio Bobcats stormed into Morgantown, West Virginia, with a fire lit underneath them after a close battle against Rutgers, and a fire it was.
While the Bobcats’ offense didn’t have the greatest showing, the defense was a much different story. Junior linebacker Michael Molnar led the way, recording seven tackles, one and a half tackles for loss, and one and a half sacks, earning him MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
“It’s a good feeling,” Brian Smith replied. “They’re excited at what they’ve accomplished and the opportunity to win this game.”
Toledo (1-1, 0-0)
Coming off a road loss to Kentucky, the Toledo Rockets returned home to square off against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (2-1, 0-0).
Like the Bobcats, the Rockets needed a shot in the arm for week two, and winning by 24 points over the Hilltoppers was that shot in every sense of the word.
The star of this game was senior transfer running back Chip Trayanum. In the 45-21 victory, Trayanum recorded 14 carries for a career-high 163 yards and two touchdowns, a performance that would earn MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Another huge takeaway from this game happened to be coaching, as head coach Jason Candle became the winningest coach in program history with his 74th win on Saturday.
“Those personal things are something that I’ll look back on someday when I’m doing this,” Candle said.
Western Michigan (0-2, 0-0)
A close game between the Western Michigan Broncos and the North Texas Mean Green (2-0, 0-0) wasn’t on a lot of fans’ radar, but did that notion ever change after all four quarters were played?
The Broncos at one point had a 24-10 lead in the late stages of the third quarter, but it would fall apart in the fourth after a North Texas touchdown from senior receiver Cameron Dorner, and a field goal from Kali Nguma in back-to-back drives would send the game into overtime, 27-27.
After a WMU field goal from junior kicker Palmer Domschke would give the Broncos a three-point lead, but another touchdown from the Mean Green’s sophomore running back Makenzie McGill would seal the deal for North Texas, 33-30.
Looking to the brighter side of things for the Broncos, Domschke would claim MAC Special Teams Player of the Week after going three-for-three on field goals.
