It’s hard to believe that a quarter of the college football season has already been completed, which means week four is on the horizon.
With this week comes the final non-conference games for some, but also another Mid-American Conference (MAC) matchup, that being both the Toledo Rockets (2-1, 0-0) and Western Michigan Broncos (0-3, 0-0).
Some programs find themselves in the midst of starting off great, while others are trying to achieve putting a mark in the win column.
Here is the official week four preview for every team around the Mid-American Conference (MAC) this weekend.
UNLV Vs. Miami
Returning from their bye week, head coach Chuck Martin and the Miami Redhawks (0-2, 0-0) return for their home-opener in Oxford, Ohio, against the UNLV Rebels (3-0, 0-0), who sit at the top of the Mountain West Conference (MW).
A program that the Redhawks have not met previously this year. The team that made the conference championship last season hopes to turn the ship around to earn its first win of the year.
Oddly enough, however, Miami started last year 0-3 and ended strong. Could there be a repeat of how last year started? Time will only tell.
Wagner Vs. Central Michigan
Back-to-back losses on the road for the Central Michigan Chippewas (1-2, 0-0) have them floating around the mid-pack area in regards to placement in the standings. As of before week four, CMU currently holds the 6th position.
Head coach Matt Drinkall’s squad returns home for their week four game against the Wagner Seahawks (0-3, 0-0) of the FCS.
Central Michigan hopes to end its non-conference play on a high note after only scoring a combined 20 points in the previous two weeks.
Toledo Vs. Western Michigan
The second in-conference matchup of the season will be held in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with the Western Michigan Broncos (0-3, 0-0) at home against the red-hot Toledo Rockets (2-1, 0-0).
The Rockets are coming off back-to-back wins against Western Kentucky and Morgan State, outscoring their opponents with 105 points for and allowing 21 against, so far the best stretch of games of any MAC team so far this season. Meanwhile, Western Michigan struggles to find its footing as it currently sits in the 12th position in the standings.
Since the first matchup between both programs back in 1939, Toledo leads the all-time series against the Broncos, 46-32. They also have gone 6-4 in their last 10 matchups; however, the last time the matchup took place on WMU’s home turf was Nov 25. In 2022, the Broncos would win with a one-score lead, 20-14.
Gardner-Webb Vs. Ohio
The Ohio Bobcats (1-2, 0-0) enter week four with a chance to put the week three blowout against the Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0, 0-0) behind them.
Despite the stellar start to the season, senior quarterback Parker Navarro returns home to Athens, Ohio, as a question mark for the offense with the wrist injury on his left arm that he sustained late in the first quarter against the Buckeyes.
Navarro is expected to return to business this week as the Bobcats face their final non-conference game against the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (2-1, 0-0) before MAC play for the defending champions of the conference begins.
Kent State Vs. No. 7 Florida State
With the Kent State Golden Flashes (1-2, 0-0) first in-conference loss of the season against the Buffalo Bulls (2-1, 0-0), 31-28, the team dropped to last in the standings at 13th.
The uphill battle for Kent State to climb out of the cellar will grow harder, as the Flashes will travel south to Tallahassee, Florida, to square off against the No.7-ranked Florida State Seminoles (2-0, 0-0). The second time in three weeks that the Flashes will face a team that is ranked inside the top 25 in the country.
Louisiana Vs Eastern Michigan
Barely staying above the bottom three spots in the standings going into week four are the Eastern Michigan Eagles (0-3, 0-0).
Returning home to Ypsilanti, Michigan, to host the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (1-2, 0-0) is on the agenda for the Green and White this weekend. Both programs have faced each other three previous times, with Louisiana claiming victory all three times. The most recent matchup took place on Sept. 10, 2022, with the Cajuns winning, 49-21.
Troy Vs. Buffalo
Coming off earning their first conference win of the season, the Buffalo Bulls (2-1, 1-0) have now jumped to the top of the standings of the MAC after winning against the aforementioned Kent State in a nailbiter, 31-28.
For Buffalo, the momentum going into week four against the Troy Trojans (1-2, 0-0) is some of the highest amongst other front-runners in the race to Detroit. Especially with senior quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson and senior linebacker Mitchell Gosner winning both MAC Offensive and Defensive players of the Week honors after week three.
Massachusetts- Bye Week
Fewer squads in the conference have had a tougher stretch to start the year than the Massachusetts Minutemen (0-3, 0-0). UMass, in their first three out-of-conference matchups, have been outscored by their opponents with 43 for and 116 against. Thankfully for them, the bye-week will be used as a learning tool for the group led by head coach Joe Harasymiak.
With the week off, UMass won’t be back on the field for action until Sept. 27. , with conference play not beginning for them until Oct. 4.
Ball State Vs. UConn
After a win in week three against the New Hampshire Wildcats (2-1, 0-0), 34-29. The Ball State Cardinals (1-2, 0-0) are looking to continue to rebound after the first two weeks to get back to a .500 record.
Their next step of achieving that goal will have the Cardinals flying northeast to Mansfield, Connecticut, to face the independent UConn Huskies (1-2, 0-0) for the fifth time in both programs’ history. Ball State leads the all-time series against the Huskies 4-0, with their last matchup taking place back on Oct 15. 2022, with the Cardinals claiming victory, 25-21.
Northern Illinois Vs. Mississippi State
Like the Redhawks, the off week for the Northern Illinois Huskies (1-2, 0-0) will have given them time to reset for their week four matchup as they’ll travel south to Starkville, Mississippi, to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-0, 0-0) of the Southeast Conference (SEC).
Head coach Thomas Hammock knows the environment that he and the Huskies will be entering will be something they have yet to experience, but one they will gladly accept.
“I think this will be the loudest crowd atmosphere that we’ve played in,” Hammock said. “We put speakers right behind the offense; I asked the players, ‘Would you rather play in an atmosphere like this or one that is quiet? Enjoy it. Embrace it.’”
Duquesne Vs. Akron
While the Akron Zips (0-3, 0-0) avoided a third-straight shutout to start the year, they were unable to prevail in a tight battle against the UAB Blazers (2-1, 0-0), with the Zips falling short in the final minutes, 31-28.
The Zips will make a return home for their week four opponent to try to finally earn their first of the season. The Duquesne Dukes (1-2, 0-0) of the Northeast Conference (FCS) will enter InfoCision Stadium as the final non-conference opponent for the Zips, the first meeting between both respective programs.
Akron has not started a season 0-4 since 2019.
