Week nine for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) is poised to cause a major shakeup in the standings, as two of the top three teams finally meet, and possible spoilers emerge that could disrupt the trajectory to Detroit, Michigan, for the conference title game.
Here are the headlining showcases ‘Around The MAC:’
Western Michigan vs. Miami
Two of the best programs in the conference are going head-to-head in Oxford, Ohio. The Western Michigan Broncos (4-3, 3-0), who are riding high on a four-game winning streak, will square off against an experienced Chuck Martin and the Miami RedHawks (4-3, 3-0).
The matchup will see a third-ranked offense from the RedHawks, which averages 26 or more points per game, go up against a Broncos defense that sits second in points allowed per game at 17.7, while only allowing seven and a half in their last four matchups.
Martin acknowledges that Western Michigan will not be an easy opponent, even adding the amount of film preparation being added for the matchup.
“Yeah, I’ve probably watched over 30 hours of Western football,” Martin said in his weekly press release. “They’ve given up 220 yards over the last four weeks, which is hard; we hardly held anyone to that.”
Regardless of the outcome, the top three will see a huge shake-up to the standings, with either side having its undefeated streak come to an end.
Massachusetts vs. Central Michigan
The Central Michigan Chippewas (4-3, 2-1) sit in a very peculiar position in the standings. While winning the game against the Massachusetts Minutemen (0-7, 0-3) isn’t about winning, as CMU is a 15.5-point favorite, the storyline will be about where the Chippewas will be sitting when the weekend wraps up.
As of now, Central Michigan sits fourth in the standings behind both the aforementioned Western Michigan and Miami matchups, which could cause a ripple effect for the outlook season.
No matter the result, the squad led by head coach Matt Drinkall could make the jump inside the top three.
Buffalo vs. Akron
The Buffalo Bulls (4-3, 3-0) come into week nine as one of the more intriguing teams of the MAC. While the record shows an undefeated record, it is important to note the context within.
Despite boasting top-five grades in both offense (fourth) and defense (third), the Bulls have been seen to play ‘very closely’ against teams they were favored 10 or more points against. 23.5 against the Kent State Golden Flashes (2-5, 1-2) 31-28, 10 against the Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-6, 1-3) in overtime, 31-30, and 16.5 against UMass, 28-21.
While the aforementioned games may not be losses, it does leave the question of how legitimate this Buffalo team can be
The team, led by head coach Pete Limbo, will face a struggling Akron Zips (2-6, 1-3) that is no stranger to spoiling the party, having a win over Central Michigan three weeks ago, 28-22.
The Bulls are favored by nine and a half points for Saturday, but could their conservative style of play lead to an upset? Time will tell.
Ohio vs. Eastern Michigan
The Ohio Bobcats (4-3, 2-1) also sit inside the top five, looking to continue to defend their title as they face an 11th-place Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-6, 1-3) team that is looking for any sign of momentum to salvage a tough stretch of games.
Ohio still holds the second-best offense in the MAC, led by senior quarterback Parker Navarro, who averages 210.1 yards a game in both passing and rushing.
Toledo vs. Washington State
An unfamiliar opponent is on the schedule for the Toledo Rockets (4-3, 2-2) this weekend, facing the Washington State Cougars (3-4, 0-0) of the PAC-12 for the first time.
While not a conference game, it will be the best test for the Jason Candle-led group that has already had a tough time playing on the road so far this year, with their record being 0-3.
Ball State vs. Northern Illinois
While the Ball State Cardinals (3-4, 2-1) may not be at the top of the totem poll in contention for Detroit, they are still in the hunt for their first bowl appearance since the 2021 season.
Their next step in the journey will come on the road against the Northern Illinois Huskies (1-6, 0-3), who currently sit on a six-game losing streak, the second most in the MAC.
Ball State sits second in tackles for loss going into the weekend, with senior defensive end Nathan Voorhis having 9 tackles for 63 yards so far this season.
