The 2018 Mid-American Conference football season will be the 73rd season for the Mid-American Conference (MAC). and is part of the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season will begin on August 30 and will end on November 24. The entire schedule was released on February 22. The MAC Championship Game will be held on November 30, 2018.
Preseason
Preseason poll The MAC Preseason Media Poll was released at the MAC Media Day on July 24, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
East
Ohio (21) Buffalo (1) Miami (2) Akron Bowling Green Kent State
West
Northern Illinois (15) Toledo (7) Western Michigan (1) Eastern Michigan Central Michigan (1) Ball State
(first place votes)
MAC Championship Ohio received 13 votes as the predicted 2018 MAC Championship Game winner. Toledo (5), Northern Illinois (4), Miami (1), and Central Michigan (1) also received votes.
Head coaches
Coaching changes On November 22, 2018, one day after Kent State's final game of the season against Akron, the school fired head coach Paul Haynes after five losing seasons. On December 19, the school hired Sean Lewis as head coach.
Coaches Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record MAC record MAC titlesAkron Terry BowdenNorth Alabama70Ball State Mike NeuNew Orleans Saints (QB Coach)30Bowling Green Mike JinksTexas Tech (Assist. Head Coach)30Buffalo Lance LeipoldWisconsin-Whitewater40Central Michigan John BonamegoDetroit Lions (Special Teams Coordinator)40Eastern Michigan Chris CreightonDrake50Kent State Sean LewisSyracuse (Co-Off. Coordinator) 10Miami Chuck MartinNotre Dame (Off. Coordinator)50Northern Illinois Rod CareyNorthern Illinois (Off. Coordinator)61Ohio Frank SolichNebraska140Toledo Jason CandleToledo (Off. Coordinator)31Western Michigan Tim LesterPurdue (QB coach)20 Notes:
All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Records are through the beginning of the 2018 season only.
Schedule
Regular season Index to colors and formattingMAC member wonMAC member lostMAC teams in bold
Week One
Akron at Nebraska was canceled following a three-hour delay for lightning and thunderstorms.
Players of the week:MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK ONE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-09-03). Retrieved on 2018-09-05. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamTyree JacksonBuffaloJim JonesKent StateDL KnockOhio + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamD'Wayne EskridgeWestern MichiganDevonni ReedCentral MichiganCody ThompsonToledo
Week Two
Players of the week:MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK TWO FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-09-10). Retrieved on 2018-09-10. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamTyree JacksonBuffaloCameron LewisBuffaloNick GasserAkron + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamTyler WiegersEastern MichiganSutton SmithNorthern IllinoisChad RylandEastern Michigan
Week Three
Players of the week:MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK THREE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-09-17). Retrieved on 2018-09-18. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamK. J. OsbornBuffaloAlvin DavisAkronMichael FarkasOhio + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamDiontae JohnsonToledoMalik FountainCentral MichiganJake JulienEastern Michigan
Week Four
Players of the week:MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK FOUR FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-09-24). Retrieved on 2018-09-25. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamAlonzo SmithMiami (OH)Khalil HodgeBuffaloNick GasserAkron + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamMitchell GuadagniToledoMaxx CrosbyEastern MichiganGavin PeddieWestern Michigan
Week Five
Players of the week:MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK FIVE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-10-01). Retrieved on 2018-10-01. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamNathan RourkeOhioKhalil HodgeBuffaloMaurice ThomasMiami (OH) + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamJayden ReedWestern MichiganAntonio Jones-DavisNorthern IllinoisJake JulienEastern Michigan
Week Six
Players of the week:MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK SIX FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-10-08). Retrieved on 2018-10-08. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamNathan RourkeOhioBrad KoenigMiami (OH)Matthew TrickettKent State + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamEli PetersToledoRalph HolleyWestern MichiganJake JulienEastern Michigan
Week Seven
Players of the week:MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK SEVEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-10-15). Retrieved on 2018-10-15. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamKenny YoungMiami (OH)Khalil HodgeBuffaloMichael FarkasOhio + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamJamauri BoganWestern MichiganSutton SmithNorthern IllinoisMorgan HageeBall State
Week Eight
Players of the week:MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK EIGHT FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-10-22). Retrieved on 2018-10-28. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamNathan RourkeOhioBrad KoenigMiami (OH)Derek AdamsKent State + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamTyler WiegersEastern MichiganAlex GraceWestern MichiganJake JulienBailey FlintEastern MichiganToledo
Week Nine
Players of the week:MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK NINE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-10-29). Retrieved on 2018-10-29. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamA. J. OuelletteOhioJohn LakoAkronLouie ZervosOhio + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamCody ThompsonToledoMykelti WilliamsNorthern IllinoisMatt FerenceNorthern Illinois
Week Ten
Players of the week:ANNOUNCES WEEK TEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-11-5). Retrieved on 2018-11-8. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamTyree JacksonBuffaloDalton HicksKent StateAlvin FloydOhio + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamTre HarbisonNorthern IllinoisJalen McKieNorthern IllinoisJameson VestToledo
Week Eleven
Players of the week:ANNOUNCES WEEK 11 FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-11-12). Retrieved on 2018-11-28. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamJaret PattersonBuffaloJustin BrandonBuffaloKyle KramerMiami (OH) + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamTre HarbisonNorthern IllinoisMaxx CrosbyEastern MichiganSutton SmithNorthern Illinois
Week Twelve
Players of the week:ANNOUNCES WEEK TWELVE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-11-19). Retrieved on 2018-11-28. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamA. J. OuelletteOhioRucker FurlowMiami (OH)Sam SlomanMiami (OH) + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamDrew PlittBall StateJosh CorcoranNorthern IllinoisDiontae JohnsonToledo
Week Thirteen
Players of the week:ANNOUNCES WEEK THIRTEEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK. http://getsomemaction.com (2018-11-26). Retrieved on 2018-11-28. + East Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamAlonzo SmithMiami (OH)Brad KoenigMiami (OH)Kylan NelsonOhio + West Division Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamIan EriksenEastern MichiganSutton SmithNorthern IllinoisJake JulienEastern Michigan
Week Fourteen
This game was added after Akron's game vs Nebraska was canceled due to lightning and South Carolina's game vs Marshall was canceled due to Hurricane Florence.
MAC Championship Game
Postseason
Postseason awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Tyree Jackson, QB, Buffalo Defensive Player of the Year: Sutton Smith, DE, Northern Illinois Special Teams Player of the Year: Diontae Johnson, KR/PR, Toledo Coach of the Year: Lance Leipold, Buffalo Freshman of the Year: Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo Vern Smith Leadership Award: Sutton Smith, DE, Northern Illinois
All-Conference Teams
Position Player Team First Team OffenseQB BuffaloRB OhioRB Western MichiganWR BuffaloWR OhioWR ToledoWR ToledoTE BuffaloOL BuffaloOL Northern IllinoisOL OhioOL OhioOL Western Michigan First Team Defense DL Buffalo DL Central Michigan DL Eastern Michigan DL Northern Illinois LB Buffalo LB Central Michigan LB Miami LB Northern Illinois DB Akron DB Central Michigan DB Central Michigan DB Ohio First Team Special Teams P Ohio K Kent State KR Miami PR Toledo
Position Player Team Second Team OffenseQB OhioRB BuffaloRB Northern IllinoisWR Ball StateWR Bowling GreenWR BuffaloWR Western MichiganTE ToledoOL BuffaloOL Northern IllinoisOL OhioOL ToledoOL Western Michigan Second Team Defense DL Akron DL Kent State DL Miami DL Northern Illinois LB Akron LB Eastern Michigan LB Northern Illinois LB Ohio DB Akron DB Buffalo DB Eastern Michigan DB Northern Illinois Second Team Special Teams P Eastern Michigan K Central Michigan KR Toledo PR Western Michigan
Bowl games
Legend MAC win MAC loss
Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (EST)MAC teamOpponentScoreAttendanceCamellia BowlDecember 15Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, ALESPN5:30 p.m.Eastern MichiganGeorgia Southern21–2317,710Boca Raton BowlDecember 18FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FLESPN7:00 p.m.Northern IllinoisUAB13–3722,614Frisco BowlDecember 19Toyota Stadium • Frisco, TXESPN8:00 p.m.OhioSan Diego State27–011,029Bahamas BowlDecember 21Thomas Robinson Stadium • Nassau, BahamasESPN12:30 p.m.ToledoFIU32–3513,510Famous Idaho Potato BowlDecember 21Albertsons Stadium • Boise, IDESPN4:00 p.m.Western MichiganBYU18–49 18,711Dollar General BowlDecember 22Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALESPN7:00 p.m.BuffaloTroy32–4231,818
Home game attendance TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Total Average% of CapacityAkronInfoCision Stadium–Summa Field27,88118,41322,437 †17,58216,40117,74292,75718,51566.4%Ball StateScheumann Stadium22,5009,80115,873 †9,3677,15914,0225,50361,72510,28845.7%Bowling GreenDoyt Perry Stadium24,00016,14217,54214,38018,551 †13,13110,51890,26415,04462.7%BuffaloUB Stadium29,01317,95918,38423,671 †19,50615,68215,078110,28018,38063.4%Central MichiganKelly/Shorts Stadium30,25518,127 †16,47414,04410,25510,0978,04166,94111,15736.9%Eastern MichiganRynearson Stadium30,20014,35714,77917,99822,627 †13,46812,40395,63215,93952.8%Kent StateDix Stadium25,31915,24220,062 †18,7745,3876,12565,59013,11851.8%Miami (OH)Yager Stadium24,28615,82715,0125,00315,97517,639 †69,45613,89157.2%Northern IllinoisHuskie Stadium24,00016,762 †12,35412,1385,8874,87852,01910,40443.3%OhioPeden Stadium24,00018,27519,05619,492 †13,77413,83912,93897,37416,22967.6%ToledoGlass Bowl26,24824,13628,117 †23,67524,68518,11415,21415,521124,77717,82567.9%Western MichiganWaldo Stadium30,20020,62823,24424,282 †11,38911,93518,27898,02116,33754.1% Bold – Exceed capacity †Season High
References