2024 Mid-American Conference football season explained

2024 Mid-American Conference football season
Color:
  1. 2B366E
Color Text:
  1. FFFFFF
League:NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport:Football
Duration:August 29 - December 7
No Of Teams:12
Season:Regular season
Mvp Link:Mid-American Conference football individual awards
Conf1:Mid-American Conference
Conf1 Link:Mid-American Conference
Finals:MAC Championship Game
Finals Link:2024 MAC Football Championship Game
Finals Mvp Link:MAC Football Championship Game
Prevseason Year:2023
Nextseason Year:2025

The 2024 Mid-American Conference football season is the 79th season for the Mid-American Conference (MAC), as part of the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Non-conference play will begin on August 29. Conference will begin on September 21 and will conclude with the MAC championship game on December 7 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.[1] For the first time since 1996 the MAC will not have divisions. The Championship game will feature the teams with the best conference records.[2] This will be the conference's last season with 12 members as it will see its first change in membership since 2015 with the addition of UMass[3]

Previous season

See main article: 2023 Mid-American Conference football season.

Miami won the East division with a 7-1 conference record with their only loss coming against Toledo.[4] Toledo won the West with a perfect conference record.[5] Miami won their first MAC Championship since 2019 with a 23–14 upset victory in the MAC Championship Game.[6]

Preseason

The MAC Football Kickoff was held on Friday, July 19, 2024 at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio from 9:00 am EDT to 1:30 pm EDT.[7] [8] Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher spoke.[9] Each team will have their head coach and a student athlete from both the offense and the defense to speak to the media.[10] [11]

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Defending MAC champion Miami was named the preseason favorite to win the conference while defending West division champion Toledo was picked to finish second.[12] [13]

MAC Coaches poll
1Miami119 (9)
2Toledo109 (3)
T3Bowling Green92
T3Northern Illinois92
5Ohio81
6Eastern Michigan64
7Western Michigan60
8Central Michigan59
9Ball State42
10Buffalo37
11Akron24
12Kent State13
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
1 Miami 10
2 Toledo 2

Individual Award Preseason Watchlists

Lott Trophynone[14]
Dodd TrophynoneHC[15]
Maxwell AwardTerion StewartBowling GreenRBJr.[16] [17]
Antario BrownNorthern Illinois RBSr.
noneLS
Outland TrophyJacob GideonWestern MichiganOLSr.[18] [19]
Reid HolskeyMiamiR-Sr.
Alex WollschlaegerBowling GreenSr.
Maxen HookToledoSSr.[20] [21]
CJ Nunnally IVAkronDLSr.
Matt SalopekMiamiLB6th
Jim Thorpe AwardMaxen HookToledoDB Sr.[22] [23]
Donte KentCentral MichiganSr.
Jordan OladokunBowling GreenSr.
Marion LukesCentral MichiganRBSr.[24] [25]
Trayvon RudolphNorthern IllinoisWRR-Sr.
Jacquez StuartToledoRBSr.
Wuerffel TrophyJordan OladokunBowling GreenCBSr.[26] [27]
Taji JohnsonBuffaloWRGS
Dominic SerapigliaCentral MichiganOLR-Sr.
David Carter Jr.Eastern MichiganDBSr.
Cameron GoldenKent StateOLGS
Cade HabermanNorthern IllinoisDTSr.
Michael DenningToledoPKSr.
Boone BonnemaWestern MichiganLBR-Sr.
Lou Groza AwardnonePK[28]
Ray Guy AwardAlec BevelhimerMiamiPSr.[29] [30]
Mitchell TomasekEastern MichiganSr.
Walter Camp AwardTerion StewartBowling GreenRBJr.[31] [32]
Marion LukesCentral MichiganRBSr.
Antario BrownNorthern IllinoisRBSr.
Jalen BuckleyWestern MichiganRBR-So.
Doak Walker AwardTerion StewartBowling GreenRB Jr.[33] [34]
Marion LukesCentral MichiganSr.
Antario BrownNorthern IllinoisSr.
Jalen BuckleyWestern MichiganR-So.
Comeback Player of the YearDemetrius HardamonBowling GreenLBSr.[35] [36]
Jake OrlandoBuffaloTEGS
Brett GabbertMiamiQB6th
Jack ColdironMiamiTER-Sr.
noneWR[37]
Davey O'Brien AwardBrett GabbertMiamiQB6th[38] [39]
John Mackey AwardHarold Fannin Jr.Bowling GreenTEJr.[40] [41]
Anthony TorresToledoSr.
Rimington TrophyJacob GideonWestern MichiganOLSr.[42] [43]
Bednarik AwardCJ Nunnally IV AkronDESr.[44] [45]
Jordan OladokunBowling GreenCBSr.
Matt SalopekMiamiLB6th
Maxen HookToledoSSr.
Butkus AwardMatt SalopekMiamiLB6th[46] [47]
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardBrett GabbertMiamiQB6th[48]
Hayden WolffWestern MichiganR-Sr.
Manning AwardnoneQB[49]
Polynesian College Football Player Of The Year Awardnone[50]
Rotary Lombardi AwardCJ Nunnally IVAkronDLSr.[51]
Alex WollschlaegerBowling GreenOTSr.
Reid HolskeyMiamiOTR-Sr.
Matt SalopekMiamiLB6th
Jacob GideonWestern MichiganCSr.
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award

Coaches

Coaching changes

The MAC enters the 2024 season with one coaching change from 2023.

Head coaching records

TeamHead coachPrevious JobYears at schoolRecord at schoolMAC recordMAC titles
style=AkronJoe MoorheadOregon (offensive coordinator)30
style=Ball StateMike NeuNew Orleans Saints (QB Coach)91
style=Bowling GreenScot LoefflerBoston College (offensive coordinator/QB coach)60
style=BuffaloPete LemboSouth Carolina (associate head coach/special teams coordinator)10
style=Central MichiganJim McElwainFlorida60
style=Eastern MichiganChris CreightonDrake110
style=Kent StateKenni BurnsMinnesota (associate head coach/running backs)20
style=MiamiChuck MartinNotre Dame (offensive coordinator/QB coach)102
style=Northern IllinoisThomas HammockBaltimore Ravens (running backs coach)61
style=OhioTim AlbinOhio (associate head coach/offensive coordinator)40
style=ToledoJason CandleToledo (offensive coordinator)92
style=Western MichiganLance TaylorLouisville (offensive coordinator)20
Source - [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66]

Rankings

See also: 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings.

  Pre Wk
1
Wk
2
Wk
3
Wk
4
Wk
5
Wk
6
Wk
7
Wk
8
Wk
9
Wk
10
Wk
11
Wk
12
Wk
13
Wk
14
Final
AkronAP
C
CFPNot released
Ball StateAP
C
CFPNot released
Bowling GreenAP
C
CFPNot released
BuffaloAP
C
CFPNot released
Central MichiganAP
C
CFPNot released
Eastern MichiganAP
C
CFPNot released
Kent StateAP
C
CFPNot released
MiamiAP
CRV
CFPNot released
Northern IllinoisAP
C
CFPNot released
OhioAP
C
CFPNot released
ToledoAP
C
CFPNot released
Western MichiganAP
C
CFPNot released
Legend
  Improvement in ranking
 Drop in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
 No change in ranking from previous week
RVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
тTied with team above or below also with this symbol

Source: AP -

Coaches -[67]

Schedule

[68] [69]

Index to colors and formatting
MAC member won
MAC member lost
MAC teams in bold
All times Eastern time.

MAC Conference Championship Game

See main article: 2024 MAC Football Championship Game.

MAC records vs. other conferences

2024–2025 records against non-conference foes:

Regular season

Power Five ConferencesRecord
ACC0–0
Big 120–0
Big Ten0–0
Notre Dame0–0
Pac-120–0
SEC0–0
Power 5 Total0–0
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American0–0
C-USA0–0
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)0–0
Mountain West0–0
Sun Belt0–0
Other FBS Total60–0
FCS OpponentsRecord
Football Championship Subdivision0–0
Total Non-Conference Record0–0

Postseason

Power Five ConferencesRecord
ACC0–0
Big 120–0
Big Ten0–0
Notre Dame0–0
Pac-120–0
SEC0–0
Power 5 Total0–0
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American0–0
C-USA0–0
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)0–0
Mountain West0–0
Sun Belt0–0
Other FBS Total0–0
Total Bowl Record0–0

Mid-American vs Power 5 matchups

This is a list of games the MAC has scheduled versus power conference teams (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, Notre Dame and SEC). All rankings are from the current AP Poll at the time of the game.

Date Conference Visitor Home Site Score
August 31 Big Ten Miami (OH)
August 31 ACC Ohio
August 31 Big Ten Western Michigan
August 31 ACC Kent State
August 31 Big Ten Akron Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH]
September 7 Big Ten Bowling Green
September 7 SEC Buffalo
September 7 Independent Northern Illinois
September 7 Big Ten Eastern Michigan
September 7 Big Ten Akron
September 7 Big Ten Western Michigan Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH
September 14 Big Ten Central Michigan
September 14 Big 12 Miami (OH) Yager Stadium • Oxford, OH
September 14 ACC Ball State
September 14 SEC Kent State
September 14 SEC Toledo
September 21 SEC Akron
September 21 SEC Ohio
September 21 SEC Bowling Green
September 21 Big Ten Kent State Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania
September 21 Independent Miami (OH) Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, IN
September 28 ACC Northern Illinois
October 19 SEC Ball State

Mid-American vs Group of Five matchups

The following games include MAC teams competing against teams from the American, C-USA, Mountain West or Sun Belt.

Date Conference Visitor Home Site Score
September 7 Sunbelt Ohio Peden Stadium • Athens, OH
September 7 CUSA Central Michigan
September 14 CUSA Eastern Michigan Rynearson Stadium • Ypsilanti, MI
September 21 CUSA Toledo
September 28 MWC Central Michigan Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI
September 28 Sun Belt Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH
September 28 Sun Belt Ball State
September 28 Sun Belt Western Michigan

Mid-American vs FBS independents matchups

The following games include MAC teams competing against FBS Independents, which includes Army, UConn, or UMass.

Date Visitor Home Site Score
August 31 Eastern Michigan
September 7 UMass Toledo Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH
September 14 UMass Buffalo UB Stadium • Buffalo, NY
September 28 UMass Miami (OH) Yager Stadium • Oxford, OH
September 28 Buffalo
October 5 UMass Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL

Mid-American vs. FCS matchups

The following games include MAC teams competing against FCS schools.

Date Visitor Home Site Score
August 29 Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH
August 29 Buffalo UB Stadium • Buffalo, NY
August 29 Toledo Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH
August 31 Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL
August 31 Central Michigan Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI
September 7 Ball State Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN
September 7 Kent State Dix Stadium • Kent, OH
September 14 Ohio Peden Stadium • Athens, OH
September 14 Akron InfoCision Stadium • Akron, OH
September 14 Western Michigan Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI

Head to head matchups

2024 MAC Head to head
TeamAkronBall StateBowling GreenBuffaloCentral MichiganEastern MichiganKent StateMiamiNorthern IllinoisOhioToledoWestern Michigan
Akron
Ball State
Bowling Green
Buffalo
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Kent State
Miami
Northern Illinois
Ohio
Toledo
Western Michigan

Awards and honors

Player of the week honors

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024 DETROIT SPORTS CALENDAR. February 25, 2022. detroitsports.org. Detroit Sports Commission.
  2. Web site: MAC to replace divisions with new system for 2024. November 30, 2023. February 22, 2024. sports.yahoo.com. Detroit Free Press. Jared. Ramsey.
  3. Web site: UMass will join Mid-American Conference as a full sports member in 2025, MAC commissioner says. APNews. Tom. Withers. en. 2024-04-20. February 27, 2024.
  4. Web site: Miami clinches East Division title, MAC Championship game berth. November 16, 2023. November 20, 2023. Butler County Journal-News.
  5. Web site: Toledo football clinches MAC West title, punches ticket to conference championship game. November 11, 2023. November 8, 2023. WTOL.
  6. Web site: Miami (Ohio) beats No. 23 Toledo 23-14 to win MAC championship. December 2, 2023. CBS Sports. December 2, 2023.
  7. Web site: 2024 Division I FBS Media Days. June 25, 2024. www.sportswriters.net. FWAA.
  8. Web site: MAC To Host 2024 Football Kickoff at Pro Football Hall of Fame. April 23, 2024. July 1, 2024. www.getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference.
  9. Web site: 2024 MAC Football Media Day Set For July 19 In Canton. April 26, 2024. July 1, 2024. www.athlonsports.com. G5 Football Daily.
  10. Web site: Follow The MAC Football Kickoff On Friday, July 19. July 17, 2023. July 18, 2023. getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference.
  11. Web site: MAC Football Media Day 2024: Coaches + Players Attending, Time, Date, How To Watch. July 13, 2024. July 14, 2024. si.com. G5 Football Daily - Fannation. Joe. Londergan.
  12. Web site: Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll. July 19, 2024. July 19, 2024. getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference.
  13. Web site: MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd. July 19, 2024. July 19, 2024. wtol.com. WTOL 11.
  14. Web site: Lott IMPACT® Trophy Announces 2024 Watch List .
  15. Web site: Dodd Trophy Releases 2024 Preseason Watch List. July 8, 2024. July 8, 2024.
  16. Web site: 2023 Maxwell Award Watch List. July 29, 2024. July 29, 2024. Maxwell Football Club.
  17. Web site: Stewart, Brown Named to Maxwell Award Watch List. July 29, 2024. July 29, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  18. Web site: 2024 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST . July 30, 2023. July 30, 2023.
  19. Web site: Trio of MAC Offensive Linemen Named to Outland Trophy Watch List. July 30, 2023. July 30, 2023. Mid-American Conference.
  20. Web site: 2024 BRONKO NAGURSKI PRESEASON WATCH LIST . July 30, 2024. July 30, 2024. FWAA.
  21. Web site: Six MAC Student-Athletes Named to 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. July 30, 2024. July 30, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  22. Web site: PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST . July 31, 2023. July 31, 2023.
  23. Web site: Buffalo’s Fuqua, Toledo’s Mitchell Named to Jim Thorpe Award Watch List. July 31, 2023. July 31, 2023. Mid-American Conference.
  24. Web site: 48 PLAYERS REPRESENTING 9 CONFERENCES PLUS 1INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SELECTED FOR THE 2024 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD PRE-SEASON WATCH LIST . August 1, 2024. August 1, 2024.
  25. Web site: Three Football Student-Athletes Selected to Paul Hornung Trophy Watch List. August 1, 2024. August 1, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  26. Web site: 2024 Allstate Wuerffel Watch List. August 1, 2024. August 1, 2024.
  27. Web site: Eight Football Student-Athletes Selected to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. August 1, 2024. August 1, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  28. Web site: 2024 Watch List. August 2, 2024. August 2, 2024.
  29. Web site: 2024 Ray Guy Award Watchlist. August 2, 2024. August 2, 2024.
  30. Web site: Bevelhimer, Tomasek Named to Ray Guy Award Watch List. August 2, 2024. August 2, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  31. Web site: Walter Camp 2024 Player of Year Preseason Watch List, presented by David McDermott Lexus of New Haven. August 5, 2024. August 5, 2024. Mike Madera. waltercamp.org.
  32. Web site: Four MAC Running Backs Land on Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List. August 6, 2024. August 6, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  33. Web site: 2024 Doak Walker Award Candidates Announced . August 5, 2024. August 5, 2024.
  34. Web site: Four MAC Running Backs Land on Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List. August 6, 2024. August 6, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  35. Web site: 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List Issued.
  36. Web site: Four Football Student-Athletes Named to Comeback Player of the Year Watch List. August 7, 2024. August 7, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  37. Web site: 2024 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. August 7, 2024. August 7, 2024.
  38. Web site: THREE DOZEN QUARTERBACKS NAMED TO DAVEY O’BRIEN AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST. August 8, 2024. August 8, 2024.
  39. Web site: Gabbert Garners Davey O'Brien Preseason Watch List Recognition. August 8, 2024. August 8, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  40. Web site: 2024 WATCHLIST. August 9, 2024. August 9, 2024. John Mackey Award.
  41. Web site: Fannin Jr., Torres Land on Mackey Award Watch List. August 9, 2024. August 9, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  42. Web site: THE WATCHLIST. August 9, 2024. August 9, 2024. Rimington Trophy.
  43. Web site: Gideon Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List for Third-Straight Year. August 9, 2024. August 9, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  44. Web site: 2024 Bednarik Award Watch List. August 12, 2024. August 12, 2024.
  45. Web site: Four Defensive Standouts Represent MAC on Bednarik Award Watch List. August 12, 2024. August 12, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  46. Web site: 2024 WATCH LIST. August 13, 2024. August 13, 2024.
  47. Web site: Salopek Represents MAC On Butkus Award Watch List. August 13, 2024. August 13, 2024. Mid-American Conference.
  48. Web site: The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Proudly Announces 2024 Preseason Watch List .
  49. Web site: Allstate Sugar Bowl Announces Manning Award Watch List. August 15, 2024. August 15, 2024.
  50. Web site: 2024 POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST .
  51. Web site: Lombardi Award 2024 Watch List .
  52. News: John . Warwow. Maurice Linguist resigns as Buffalo football coach to join DeBoer’s staff in Alabama, AP source says . 16 January 2024 . en.
  53. Web site: Gamecocks to add ace special teams coach with long head coach resume . The State . 27 December 2020. Breiner, Ben. December 26, 2020.
  54. News: Buffalo hires Pete Lembo, former Ball State football coach, South Carolina special teams coordinator . 21 January 2024 . en.
  55. Web site: Joe Moorhead. Sports Reference.
  56. Web site: Mike Neu. Sports Reference.
  57. Web site: Scot Loeffler. Sports Reference.
  58. Web site: Pete Lembo. Sports Reference.
  59. Web site: Jim McElwain. Sports Reference.
  60. Web site: Chris Creighton. Sports Reference.
  61. Web site: Kenni Burns. Sports Reference.
  62. Web site: Chuck Martin. Sports Reference.
  63. Web site: Thomas Hammock. Sports Reference.
  64. Web site: Tim Albin. Sports Reference.
  65. Web site: Jason Candle. Sports Reference.
  66. Web site: Lance Taylor. Sports Reference.
  67. News: US LBM Coaches Poll: August 5, 2024 . . August 5, 2024.
  68. Web site: MAC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE. February 26, 2024. fbsschedules.com. FBS Schedules.
  69. Web site: MAC College Football Schedule. June 1, 2024. espn.com. ESPN.