College football. Ahh, college football.

The first week of the season is upon us, and the Mid-American Conference has released their annual coaches poll for the upcoming season.

After a 9-3 regular season record paired with a conference title in 2013, the Falcons face lofty expectations for the 2014 season.

Bowling Green received 11 of 12 first place votes for the East division, after receiving 18 of 21 first place votes from the media a month earlier.

While Bowling Green doesn’t appear to have stiff competition out of the East division, the West division looks to feature a tough two-headed monster this year.

Northern Illinois received nine of 12 first place votes from the coaches, while Toledo received the other three. However, the media gave 11 of 21 votes to Toledo with Northern Illinois receiving eight.

Thus, fellow MAC coaches have projected BG to finish the season with an 11-1 record and a trip to their second consecutive MAC championship game.

Receiving 83 total points, Bowling Green is expected to come out of the conference championship game on top of either Northern Illinois or Toledo.

Whether it be the easier road, or the more talented team, the Falcons have garnered these preseason accolades despite a first-year head coach in Dino Babers.

To cap off the Falcons’ preseason highlights, junior quarterback Matt Johnson was ranked as the best player in the Mid-American conference coming into 2014. This is paired with being included on various prestigious award watch lists including the Maxwell, Manning and Walter Camp award lists.

So, after a heartbreaking end to the 2013 season, the Falcons will look to dominate the 2014 season. The coaches and media feel BG will do just that, and Matt Johnson seems poised to make it happen.