The MAC has launched headlong into their weird November schedule, leaving no more than two games on any day from now to Thanksgiving. While it makes weekly previews & wrapups short and easy, there will be weeknight game previews scattered about for a month. It also means that the league standings are in near-constant flux. But, for the moment, here’s where we’re at in the Mid-American:
MAC Standings
| East | ||
| Conf | Overall | |
| Temple | 4-0 | 7-2 |
| Ohio | 4-1 | 6-3 |
| Kent State | 4-2 | 5-5 |
| Bowling Green | 3-2 | 4-5 |
| Buffalo | 1-4 | 3-6 |
| Akron | 1-4 | 2-7 |
| Miami | 1-5 | 1-9 |
| West | ||
| Conf | Overall | |
| Central Michigan | 5-0 | 7-2 |
| Northern Illinois | 4-1 | 6-3 |
| Western Michigan | 3-3 | 4-6 |
| Toledo | 2-3 | 4-5 |
| Ball State | 1-4 | 1-8 |
| Eastern Michigan | 0-5 | 0-9 |
This Week
Michigan State 49, Western Michigan 14- A disappointing if not surprising loss for WMU, who must have hoped to catch a reeling Spartans team off guard, but it was not to be. A pre-season contender, the Broncos are now on the verge of being eliminated from bowl consideration for good.
Akron 28, Kent State 20- Until this game, Kent State was on track for a title-game showdown against Temple in week 12. Instead, they’re back to third in the division and are back to needing help to make it to Detroit. Akron took the lead in this one midway through the first quarter and never gave it back, earning only their second win of the season. Next up, they’ll have a chance to foul up Temple’s run through the schedule.
MAC Power Rankings
- Temple
- Central Michigan
- Ohio
- Northern Illinois
- Bowling Green
- Kent State
- Western Michigan
- Buffalo
- Akron
- Toledo
- Miami
- Ball State
- Eastern Michigan
Conference Championship Outlook
The path in the East is a little clearer, but no more predictable- just like before, if Temple and Ohio win their way to the last week, their game at that point will settle the East. However, if Temple and Ohio both pick up losses before then, the whole division could be thrown into chaos- the possibility actually exists of a four-way tie at 6-2, and I haven’t got the slightest idea who would win that.
The West picture hasn’t really changed- it’s down to Central Michigan and Northern Illinois still. NIU can’t stumble between now and the final game, while CMU has a little room for error. Central Michigan plays tomorrow night, and if they beat Toledo, the rest of the West division will be eliminated.
Further complicating matters on both sides is that Ohio plays Northern Illinois on November 21. Still hard to say for sure, but the loser of that game will most likely be knocked out of the race for their division before they get to play the leaders.
Tuesday Night Football Preview:
Ohio at Buffalo, 7 PM, ESPN2: As mentioned above, Ohio has to get through Buffalo tonight and NIU in 11 days to stay alive for the East crown. Winning this one will do that and help raise their bowl profile as well, which will be especially important for the teams kept out of the championship game. Last time out, Buffalo took Bowling Green to the wire, nearly saving their season and ruining Bowling Green’s in the process, but came up short on defense at the very end. The Bulls will be looking to finish the job this week, in their final home game of the season. Whether they can remains to be seen, but I expect another close-fought Tuesday nighter.