2022 Week 11 MAC Conference Round-Up

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Results

Eastern Michigan def. Toledo 44-9

#7 Bowling Green def. Buffalo 22-16

Kent State def. Nebraska 14-13

Ohio def. Rice 13-0

#22 Central Michigan def. Ball State 6-3

Miami (OH) - BYE

Akron - BYE

#3 Western Michigan - BYE

Northern Illinois - BYE

 

Best performance of the week: Kent State def. Nebraska 14-13

Kent State has been pretty bad this season, with their only win going into this game coming against Ohio. Nebraska hasn't been amazing by any standards, but they're greatly improved over last season, having flirted with rankings early in the year and still being in contention for the Big Ten West. Kent State QB Kent Ernsberger was near unstoppable on the ground, rushing for 111 yards and a TD on only 7 carries and the Golden Flashes combined for 308 total yards on the ground. It was enough as ILB Chase Britton was all over the place, tying the MAC record with 17 total tackles, including 4.5 TFLs. Britton has been one of the few bright spots for Kent State all season, but it could just be he's the best player on a bad defense. Regardless, Kent State secured their 2nd win of the season, this one coming against a Big Ten opponent I don't think many thought they could beat.

 

Worst performance of the week: #7 Bowling Green def. Buffalo 22-16

Bowling Green had a bit of a scare coming off the back of their win over Western Michigan. It's tough to point at any one player who underperformed, but Bowling Green left a lot of points out on the field. 4 points left due to the kicker sure. Poor decisions to go for 4th downs yes. I think what was most alarming were the interceptions from QB Dexter Reed late in the game that nearly gave the game away. For Bowling Green to make it through the year and have a chance at the College Football Playoffs Reed will need to be much smarter with the ball. 2 remaining games on the road will determine just how high Bowling Green can go this season.

 

Offensive Player of the Week: Eastern Michigan QB Tyler Clarkson; 31-54 437 pass yards, 3 TDs, 3 Ints vs Toledo

 

Defensive Player of the Week: Kent State ILB Chase Britton; 17 tackles (t-MAC record), 4.5 TFLs vs Nebraska

 

Special Teams Player of the Week: Eastern Michigan K Daniel Richardson; 3-3 FGs, 5-5 XPs vs Toledo

 

MAC Snapshot

West Division

Team	Conference	Overall	Next game	Remaining games
Western Michigan	5-1	9-1	Northern Illinois	at Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan	5-2	6-4	at Ball State	Boise State
Central Michigan	4-2	7-2	at Akron	Notre Dame, Western Michigan
Ball State	2-4	4-6	Eastern Michigan	Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois	2-4	4-6	at Western Michigan	at Ball State
Toledo	2-4	3-9	at Buffalo	Bowling Green

Little has changed at the top of the standings with the directional schools still holding spots 1-3. Western's loss to Bowling Green gives them no room for mistake the rest of year, specifically hitting the road against Central to decide the division. Eastern Michigan technically still has a chance to win the division, but the results that need to happen for them to win aren't going to happen. Eastern has been the pleasant surprise of the MAC this season, exceeding my expectations and reaching bowl eligibility behind a really fun offense. Ball State will have to pull off a bit of an upset this week against Eastern to reach bowl eligibility. They're capable of it if QB Scott Romero can perform at home, something he has been known to do. The Huskies of Northern Illinois can also reach bowl eligibility but very few would back them on the road against Western.

 

East Division

Team	Conference	Overall	Next game	Remaining games
Bowling Green	6-0	8-2	at Ohio	at Toledo
Akron	4-2	6-4	Central Michigan	at Kent State
Buffalo	3-4	4-7	Toledo	N/A
Ohio	2-4	4-6	Bowling Green	at Miami (OH)
Miami (OH)	1-5	3-7	Kent State	Ohio
Kent State	1-5	2-7	at Miami (OH)	LSU, Akron

Bowling Green's win last week against Buffalo locked up the East Division and a trip to Detroit in the MAC Championship Game. The Falcons were one of the leading candidates to win the East in the preseason but to do it with wins over Western and Central Michigan will have surprised most viewers. Akron has a chance to pull an upset in what could be a really good game against Central Michigan this weekend. Akron can move the ball on the ground and through the air so it will be a really interesting matchup against one of the best defenses in the country.