2022 Week 13 MAC Conference Round-Up

[PoopyRhinoPickle]

Results

Ball State def. Northern Illinois 13-10

Kent State def. LSU 34-28

Miami (OH) def. Ohio 41-17

#15 Central Michigan def. #22 Notre Dame 24-20

#9 Bowling Green def. Toledo 19-16

Akron - BYE

Buffalo - BYE

Eastern Michigan - BYE

#2 Western Michigan - BYE

 

Best performance of the week: Kent State def. LSU 34-28

Kent State has ended the season on a bit of a hot streak, even if it came way too late. Sitting at 1-8 and easily the worst team in the conference, the Golden Flashes have rattled off consecutive home wins against Nebraska in Week 11 and now LSU. Keep in mind LSU beat highly touted Alabama by 20 and can still make it to the SEC Championship! The thing about Kent State is that they're tricky to stop on the ground. Scrambling QB Keion Ernsberger didn't have much of an impact on this game, running for just 37 yards, but he keeps defenses honest and that likely allowed RB Jalen Armah to have the game that earned him MAC OPOTW, 211 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. The biggest thing, and it's something Ernsberger has struggled with this season, is that they didn't turn the ball over. Smart football plus 402 rushing yards means a very impressive win for Kent State.

 

Other Best performance of the week: #15 Central Michigan def. #22 Notre Dame 24-20

It's time to give Central Michigan some credit. They don't find themselves earning many honors this season, mostly due to a sluggish offense that never wows but is steady, and relying on their magnificent D that has earned them many wins but not many scorelines that make you say "wow." But this was an opportunity for them to take on a talented roster from out of conference and prove that they can perform and aren't just potential. It nearly wasn't meant to be, but behind a 17-point 4th quarter, they were able to come from behind and secure the game winning TD with just 1:25 left in the game. QB Brandon Alexander threw the ball more than normal, having to play catchup to Notre Dame, limiting All-MAC candidate RB Mark Davis to just 16 carries, but he managed to have 98 yards rushing while also hauling in a 22 yard receiving TD. The game will likely prove a good warmup for the upcoming week.

 

Offensive Player of the Week: Kent State RB Jalen Armah; 20 carries, 211 yards, 2 TDs, 3 recs, 18 rec yards vs LSU

 

Defensive Player of the Week: Northern Illinois DT Cayson Rodgers; 11 tackles, 7 TFLs (MAC record), 2 sacks vs Ball State

 

Special Teams Player of the Week: Ball State K Alex Parker; 2-2 FGs, 1-1 XPs vs Northern Illinois

 

MAC Snapshot

West Division

Team	Conference	Overall	Remaining Game
Western Michigan	6-1	10-1	at Central Michigan
Central Michigan	5-2	9-2	Western Michigan
Eastern Michigan	5-3	6-5	Boise State
Ball State	4-4	6-6	N/A
Northern Illinois	2-6	4-8	N/A
Toledo	2-6	3-9	N/A

Well this is what it has all come down to in the West Division. Western and Central at the top of the standings with 1 game to play for a chance to make it to Detroit and face Bowling Green to win a conference championship. Western has to like their chances to make it into the College Football Playoff even if they lose, but you know they want to not just have a chance at a conference championship but also avenge 2021's 33-34 loss to their biggest rival that kept them out of last year's championship game. There's a lot on the line and you know a lot of eyes will be on Kelly/Shorts Stadium this weekend. Eastern Michigan has a chance at home to exceed everyone's expectations for the year and reach 7 wins. Good on Ball State to get the wins they needed to reach bowl eligibility. That has to feel like a relief to the coaching staff after coming so close last year against a stacked out of conference schedule.

 

East Division

Team	Conference	Overall	Remaining game
Bowling Green	8-0	10-2	N/A
Akron	4-3	6-5	at Kent State
Buffalo	4-4	5-7	N/A
Ohio	3-5	5-7	N/A
Miami (OH)	2-6	4-8	N/A
Kent State	1-6	3-8	Akron

Bowling Green has locked up the East Division for a couple weeks now but they still have to be happy about reaching 10 wins this year. Will it be enough to reach the Playoffs even with a loss? That remains to be seen, and will likely be dependent on how remaining games play out. Keep in mind they have played and beaten both Central and Western Michigan already this season. Can Kent State keep up the momentum at home this week? It won't mean much but you know Akron has to think 7-5 looks a lot better than 6-6. Mediocrity and plain bad football has plagued the bottom half of this division all season and the result of that is only 2 teams reaching bowl eligibility.

Edited October 12, 2022 by PoopyRhinoPickle