College Football 2024 Preview: MAC

Photo by Larry Placido from Getty Images

The MAC not only is not the best conference in college football, but it’s also likely going to continue to be poached by bigger teams whenever there are talented players to poach, meaning the MAC is likely doomed to mediocrity for the future.

But, if you’re a true college football fan, you don’t give a damn about that and just want to watch some northern football on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

And if so, the MAC is for you.

So let’s discuss the upcoming 2024 season for the MAC.

Tier 1: Championship Contenders

Miami Redhawks

Defense wins championships, and the Redhawks defense last year completely shut down Toledo in the MAC Championship game, and got themselves the championship.

Many of the players from that defense return again, so it makes total sense that the Redhawks are favorites to repeat.

Toledo Rockets

Don’t count out Jason Candle’s Rockets, however.

Even though Toledo loses a TON of talent, Candle has shown repeatedly during his tenure with the Rockets that he can plug and play and contend.

Unfortunately for Toledo fans though, if Candle can bring the Rockets a MAC title, he’ll probably be gone by next season.

I’m sure they wouldn’t mind the trade off, though.

Tier 2: Dark Horses

Northern Illinois Huskies

Most of the defense returns, and NIU runs typical MAC smash mouth football.

They’re going to run the ball. You know they’re going to run the ball. You can try to stop it.

But you won’t.

In a better conference, that may not be enough to work.

But I adore simplistic football that the MAC brings, and this is a typical style that can wear down opponents.

Bowling Green Falcons

This is not because I am marrying into a family that includes Bowling Green alums, I swear.

I said it earlier. Defense wins championships.

And Bowling Green is super good defensively.

The only question is the offense, but the Falcons do bring back a lot of the production from a year ago, and that should help in their favor.

If that offense is greatly improved, Bowling Green could very easily make a run at this.

Tier 3: Bowl Game Bound

Ohio Bobcats

Ohio had a lot of really talented players the past few years.

Those talented players, unfortunately, were poached from bigger schools that could offer them more.

That stinks! And it led Ohio to have to hit the portal themselves to replace that talent.

There’s too many questions for me to say they are contenders, but coach Tim Albin has done more than enough to earn the benefit of the doubt.

They’ll win 6 games.

Tier 4: Bowl Game Possible

Western Michigan Broncos

In his first year as a head coach, Lance Taylor went 4-8.

Not good, but not the end of the world considering the state Western Michigan was in.

A ton of talent returns this year, and that continuity should help.

But now it’s time to see if Taylor can put it all together.

Just because talent is returning does not mean Taylor can get them bowling.

I believe in him, but I need to see it to believe it.

Eastern Michigan Eagles

Steven Godfrey, host of Split Zone Duo and college football insider, has said multiple times that coaches rant and rave about Chris Creighton at Eastern Michigan because they are terrible to play against.

That’s an excellent compliment for Creighton, who is able to get the best out of his players at a school that is not rich in talent.

The flip side of that means Eastern Michigan likely won’t compete for titles more often than not, but bowl games are always in equation.

Central Michigan Chippewas

Jim McElwain started well at CMU, and has just gotten worse and worse since then.

But the offense can be good as long as quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr. stays healthy.

And if the offense cooks, this team can win 6 games.

Tier 5: I’d Be Baffled

Buffalo Bulls

Is Buffalo talented? Nah. Not really. Not compared to other teams in the conference.

They also have a first year head coach in Pete Lembo.

All signs should point to this being a bad season for Buffalo and putting them in Tier 5.

And so that’s where they are!

Ball State Cardinals

The offense should be good. And that’s great!

The defense, however, will most likely be bad due to significant roster turnover.

I know the MAC isn’t an offensive powerhouse, but Ball State is going to be stopped a lot more often than they’ll stop opponents.

It is what it is.

Kent State Golden Flashes

Kent State is, historically, very bad at football.

Since 2000, they’ve had four seasons at .500 or better.

That’s not great!

So forgive me if I think that trend will continue this season.

Akron Zips

Joe Moorhead is a good coach that just keeps taking the wrong jobs.

He was a really good Penn State offensive coordinator, and then went to Mississippi State to replace the best coach the Bulldogs have had in the modern era in Dan Mullen.

It went fine, but it wasn’t a good fit. So he was canned and went to Oregon, and he once again did a really good job!

He then took a job at Akron, which is borderline impossible to succeed at.

It likely won’t go well this year, he’ll likely be fired, and when he is I hope he hires a better agent and considers better opportunities.

Cause this one ain’t working.

Conference Championship Prediction

Toledo should get over the roster turnover fine, but the MAC is weird.

While I think Miami makes it back to defend their title, Toledo gets passed by by Northern Illinois as the Huskies make it to Detroit.

It’s fruitless in the end, though.

Miami Wins the MAC.