I'm going to be doing an article about respect for the mid-majors, and acc in football.

If you guys could throw some games my way where the MAC trashed an opponent in the SEC, Big 10, Pac 10, Big 12, or upper Big East - I'd appreciate it.

<small>[ June 07, 2002, 05:06 PM: Message edited by: georgia_tech_swagger ]</small>

I'd prefer recent games (last few years)

Well, Miami has beaten 3 top 25 teams since 1995, those being B10 champion Northwestern in 1995 (their only regular season loss I think), #12 Virginia Tech in 1997, and #20 North Carolina in 1998.

In addition we trashed Northwestern 28-3 in 1998 or 99 (NU did have a poor season that year, Randy Walker's first), and beat Vanderbilt 33-30 in a thrilling game in 00 I think, the year we lost to OSU in a very competitive game.

If you want to go "way back", Miami beat Florida 16-7 in the 1973 Tangerine Bowl, the only MAC team to beat Florida (ever), and follwed up on that by beating Georgia (21-10)& S. Carolina ( 20-7)the following two years in the same bowl. In 1986 Miami beat #8 LSU 21-12 in a game called the "Upset of the year" by Sports Illustrated at the conclusion of the season. We also tied West Virginia 29 all in 1992 at their place with a last second FG.

Quite possibly the BIGGEST win in MAC history: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores100/100246/100246481.htm" target="_blank">2000- Toledo-24, Penn State-6.</a> I remember watching that game, it was amazing how the Rockets dismantled JoePa's team in Happy Valley.

Last year, Bowling Green upset Northwestern 32-31 in Evanston.

Also you can't forget about Marshall's <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores98/98262/98262396.htm" target="_blank">1998 win at South Carolina</a> and their <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores99/99247/99247435.htm" target="_blank">1999 win at Clemson</a>

2000 - Toledo 24 Penn State 6

2001 - Toledo 38 Minnesota 7

2001 - BG beat Missouri

1997 - Toledo 36 Purdue 22

1998 - Marshall 24 South Carolina 21

2000 - Western Michigan 27 Iowa 21

2000 - Miami 33 Vanderbilt 30

1999 - Miami 28 Northwestern 3

It was Bowling Green 43, Northwestern 42 last year. The score posted above is incorrect.

And I disagree that Toledo's 2000 win at Penn State was the biggest upset in MAC history. The Rockets certainly devistated the Lions. But how about:

1. Miami's 1995 win at Northwestern. It was Northwestern's only regular season loss enroute to the Rose Bowl.
2. Miami over LSU in 1986. I think LSU was ranked No. 6 at the time.

Anyway, my favorite stat out of last year was the MAC (including Central Florida) went undefeated against CUSA (including Army) last year.

This is what I come up with. I'm pretty sure I missed a CUSA game somewhere. And -- can this be right, .500 against the Big 12? Did we not notice this before in all the CUSA buzz?

ACC: 1-3
Big 12: 1-1
Big East: 2-7
Big Ten: 2-7
CUSA: 6-0
independents: 4-2
SEC: 0-4
Sun Belt: 2-0
WAC: 0-2
I-AA: 8-2

My complete list of scores:

Bowling Green 20, Missouri 13
Bowling Green 42, Temple 23
Bowling Green 43, Northwestern 42

Ohio State 28, Akron 14
Purdue 33, Akron 14

Rutgers 31, Buffalo 15
Buffalo 26, Army 19
Buffalo 37, Connecticut 20

Clemson 21, Central Florida 13
Syracuse 21, Central Florida 10
Central Florida 36, Tulane 29
Virginia Tech 46, Central Florida 14
Central Florida 24, Alabama-Birmingham 7
Central Florida 63, Liberty 0
Central Florida 38, Louisiana-Monroe 6
Utah State 30, Central Florida 27
Arkansas 27, Central Florida 20
Central Florida 31, Louisiana-Lafayette 0

Iowa 51, Kent State 0
Kent State 38, Bucknell 17
West Virginia 34, Kent State 14

Florida 49, Marshall 14
Marshall 49, Massachusetts 20
Marshall 38, Youngstown State 24
Marshall 65, East Carolina 62 (2OT)

Michigan 31, Miami 13
Iowa 44, Miami 19
Miami 21, Cincinnati 14
Hawaii 52, Miami 51

West Virginia 20, Ohio 3
Iowa State 31, Ohio 28
North Carolina State 27, Ohio 7

Auburn 30, Ball State 0
Kentucky 28, Ball State 20
Northern Iowa 42, Ball State 39
Ball State 10, Connecticut 5

Central Michigan 42, Eastern Kentucky 28
Michigan State 35, Central Michigan 21
Boise State 26, Central Michigan 10

Eastern Michigan 16, Southeast Missouri State 12
Maryland 50, Eastern Michigan 3
Indiana State 21, Eastern Michigan 14
Connecticut 19, Eastern Michigan 0

Northern Illinois 20, South Florida 17
Illinois 17, Northern Illinois 12
Northern Illinois 41, Sam Houston State 16
Wake Forest 38, Northern Illinois 35

Toledo 38, Minnesota 7
Toledo 33, Temple 7
Toledo 21, Navy 20
Toledo 23, Cincinnati 16

Western Michigan 48, Illinois State 7
Virginia Tech 31, Western Michigan 0
Michigan 38, Western Michigan 21

Central Michigan's Biggies:

1991: at 3-8 Michigan State won 20-3
1992: at 5-6 Michigan State won 24-20

sorry - that's about it!

Central Michigan's Biggies:

1991: at 3-8 Michigan State won 20-3
1992: at 5-6 Michigan State won 24-20

sorry - that's about it!

Thanks, RF on the plug for the Miami-NU game in 1995........just think of it, a MAC team beat the Big Ten champion....not an also ran or even a very good B10 team, but a team in the Rose Bowl......guess I don't know how it can be much bigger than that although we beat 'em early when they were barely ranked and moving up the charts after beating ND.

I loved the UT thrashing of Penn State as much as the rest of you......I remember while watching the game how dominating Toledo was that day.......incredibly impressive. But as we know know PSU was having a "down" year and finished with a losing record, so although it was a great win it can't be considered the MAC's best.

In terms of beating highly ranked teams the top two I can think of of are Miami over #8 LSU in 1986, and Miami over #10 Purdue way back in 1962.

97 Miami 24-17 0ver VT