With the entire MAC football schedule looking to be released in late March, below is a quick look at the MAC’s non-conference schedule. Most schools play some very winnable games against BCS and other DI-A teams. While the MAC year in and year out always seems to under-perform in some of these contests, there are some real shots at victory this year and I actually see a few more non-conference “W’s” than in year’s past.
Add your thoughts to this post.
AKRON
9-5-09 at Penn State
9-19-09 INDIANA
10-3-09 at Syracuse
TBA 1 non-conference opponent
Akron can beat Indiana and Syracuse (again) and hopefully the other non-conference game is winnable.
BGSU
9-3-09 TROY
9-12-09 at Missouri
9-26-09 at Marshall
10-3-09 WYOMING
Three very winnable games for the Falcons although Troy is certainly no pushover. Marshall could be improved too.
BUFFALO
9-5-09 at UTEP
9-12-09 PITTSBURGH
9-26-09 at UCF
10-10-09 GARDNER-WEBB
UTEP on the road is interesting while the Pitt and UCF games will likely be close losses. Don’t understand the G-W game but hey, Ohio played them a few years ago.
KENT STATE
9-5-09 COASTAL CAROLINA
9-12-09 at Boston College
9-19-09 IOWA STATE
10-3-09 at Baylor
CC should be a quick win for a Kent team that usually starts the season slow. ISU at home and Baylor all provide KSU with rare chances to beat BCS schools.
MIAMI
9-5-09 at Northwestern
9-12-09 COLORADO
9-26-09 at Boise State
10-3-09 CINCINNATI
Great schedule for Miami and their new staff. Colorado at home is a major feather in the cap for this program. Winning just one of these four games would have to be considered a major accomplishment.
OHIO
9-5-09 CONNECTICUT
9-12-09 at North Texas
9-19-09 CAL POLY
9-26-09 at Tennessee
UConn at home will be a difficult but winnable game while Cal Poly is no longer a cream-puff. NT will be better as well. Going 2-2 is a must for the Bobcats, 3-1 is unlikely.
TEMPLE
9-19-09 at Penn State
10-17-09 ARMY
10-31-09 at Navy
TBA VILLANOVA
Army and ‘Nova should be wins, Navy is likely another heartbreaking loss.
BALL STATE
9-3-09 NORTH TEXAS (Thur.)
9-12-09 NEW HAMPSHIRE
9-19-09 at Army
9-26-09 at Auburn
Ball State is in transition so beating NH and Army are not a given, still, 2-2 is possible.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
9-5-09 at Arizona
9-12-09 at Michigan State
9-19-09 ALCORN STATE
10-31-09 at Boston College
Entering the 2009 season Central has to be considered the favorite but may have overscheduled here; beating Arizona or MSU on the road will be a difficult task.
EMU
9-5-09 ARMY
9-19-09 at Michigan
10-10-09 at Northwestern
10-31-09 at Arkansas
Poor EMU and their new coaching staff can only hope to beat Army. Will the other three games even be close?
NIU
9-5-09 at Wisconsin
9-19-09 at Purdue
TBA WESTERN ILLINOIS
TBA IDAHO
I look for NIU to continue to improve and actually have a shot at Wisconsin. Still, going 2-2 is most probable.
TOLEDO
9-5-09 at Purdue
9-12-09 BOISE STATE
9-19-09 Ohio State @Cleveland, OH
9-26-09 at Florida International
The new coaching staff will take this undisciplined group of players and actually make their alumni proud again. Still, this is a very difficult non-conference schedule and even the FIU game cannot be considered a win yet. 1-3 is the hope here.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
9-5-09 at Michigan
9-12-09 at Indiana
9-26-09 HOFSTRA
11-7-09 at Michigan State
Entering the season Western is considered the #2 overall team in the MAC and has a shot to beat Indiana and perhaps MSU. Going 2-2 is the hope while 1-3 would be very disappointing.
Akron's 4th non-conference game will be a home game against 1-AA University of South Dakota.
(02-24-2009 04:52 PM)uakronkid Wrote: [ -> ]Akron's 4th non-conference game will be a home game against 1-AA University of South Dakota.
I think one thing that stands out to me is only 1 big 10 school is playing at a MAC venue.
Thanks UAkronKid.
The Coyotes recently moved from D-II to the I-AA level Great West Football Conference with the likes of Cal Poly, Southern Utah and North Dakota. USD went 5-6 last year. Their most difficult game last year was at Northern Iowa and they lost 24-13.
Should be an easy win for Akron.
"only 1 big 10 school is playing at a MAC venue"
Are you suprised?
The MAC has a few Big East teams visiting though, which is nice.
Overall I think the MAC football schedules have gotten better. Not too long ago there were very few IA teams from any conference to visit a MAC school and most of the time the league was playing several suicide games. There are not many of those anymore.
Whatever happened to Boise coming to BG? Never happening? Happening next year? Or they are going to Toledo instead?
(02-24-2009 05:06 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote: [ -> ]"only 1 big 10 school is playing at a MAC venue"
Are you suprised?
The MAC has a few Big East teams visiting though, which is nice.
Overall I think the MAC football schedules have gotten better. Not too long ago there were very few IA teams from any conference to visit a MAC school and most of the time the league was playing several suicide games. There are not many of those anymore.
No definitely not surprised at all, just p's me off we have to try and compete against their BCS money, facilities, and other perks, while constantly playing them in the confines of their own arena because they are too chicken .... to play at a MAC site.
I agree though the schedule has gotten better and nice to see big east at some MAC sites!
"Whatever happened to Boise coming to BG? Never happening? Happening next year? Or they are going to Toledo instead? "
==================================
The Toledo/Boise contract is totally separate.
I believe the BG/Boise series is now over. In 2005 a very good BG team went to BSU and lost 48-20 before finishing with a disappointing 6-5 record. Knowing his 2006 team would be in transition (the Falcons finished 4-8 in '06), Coach Brandon opted out of that home game.
In doing so, they gave up their home with Boise St and then traveled to Idaho again in 2008; losing 20-7. Unless anyone else here knows something different, I do not think there are any further games between these two schools in the near future.
I still think MAC should open season at 7 NFL stadiums in thier footprint on labour day weekend
(02-24-2009 04:27 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote: [ -> ]NIU
9-5-09 at Wisconsin
9-19-09 at Purdue
TBA WESTERN ILLINOIS
TBA IDAHO
I look for NIU to continue to improve and actually have a shot at Wisconsin. Still, going 2-2 is most probable.
I tend to think we have a better shot against Purdue than Wisconsin. Purdue was abysmal last season. They come into 2009 with a new coaching staff. I know they lost their QB and RB. Don't know much about who else they lose and return.
The Wisconsin game was originally a home game in DeKalb less than a year ago until our new AD decided to $ell us out.
(02-24-2009 05:30 PM)cmufanatic Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2009 05:06 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote: [ -> ]"only 1 big 10 school is playing at a MAC venue"
Are you suprised?
The MAC has a few Big East teams visiting though, which is nice.
Overall I think the MAC football schedules have gotten better. Not too long ago there were very few IA teams from any conference to visit a MAC school and most of the time the league was playing several suicide games. There are not many of those anymore.
No definitely not surprised at all, just p's me off we have to try and compete against their BCS money, facilities, and other perks, while constantly playing them in the confines of their own arena because they are too chicken .... to play at a MAC site.
I agree though the schedule has gotten better and nice to see big east at some MAC sites!
I dont think they are afraid to play at our schools for fear of a lose but a lose of money. Ohio State - Kent State had 98000+ in attendence if OSU came in to Kent we would sell out at what 30000 selling the tickets at half the price. Why lose hundreds of thousands just to play in a MAC staduim.
Teams like Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State will never play at a MAC stadium, but it would be nice to see more teams like Purdue and Northwestern who have less opportunity to buy games. Indiana and Minnesota have been coming to MAC stadiums.
(02-24-2009 07:32 PM)templefootballfan Wrote: [ -> ]I still think MAC should open season at 7 NFL stadiums in thier footprint on labour day weekend
Thats a pretty sweet idea.
There have been rumors on Miami Hawk Talk that a) Miami is going to play UKentucky of Sept 5th at Paul Brown Stadium and b) Miami is not going to play Colorado. It will be interesting to see what happens
(02-24-2009 05:06 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote: [ -> ]"only 1 big 10 school is playing at a MAC venue"
Are you suprised?
The MAC has a few Big East teams visiting though, which is nice.
Overall I think the MAC football schedules have gotten better. Not too long ago there were very few IA teams from any conference to visit a MAC school and most of the time the league was playing several suicide games. There are not many of those anymore.
One reason why there isn't any more suicide games is because the bottom MAC teams are no longer automatic pushovers.
Ohio was only down to Ohio State by 5 with a few minutes to go in the 4th Quarter. Ohio State top 10 team, Ohio 4-8.
Having 4 OOC games does provide more flex room in scheduling allowing for some non-BCS games. All MAC schools except CMU, EMU, WMU are having 2 OOC games at home which should lead to better season starts.
I would try to put at least 1 top 20 team on the schedule every year as a challenge game and for recruiting purposes. What is the point of going undefeated on a Ball State or Hawaii type schedule?
(02-24-2009 10:43 PM)Airport KC Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2009 05:06 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote: [ -> ]"only 1 big 10 school is playing at a MAC venue"
Are you suprised?
The MAC has a few Big East teams visiting though, which is nice.
Overall I think the MAC football schedules have gotten better. Not too long ago there were very few IA teams from any conference to visit a MAC school and most of the time the league was playing several suicide games. There are not many of those anymore.
One reason why there isn't any more suicide games is because the bottom MAC teams are no longer automatic pushovers.
Ohio was only down to Ohio State by 5 with a few minutes to go in the 4th Quarter. Ohio State top 10 team, Ohio 4-8.
Boechman was the starting QB in that game that is the only reason OU stayed close to Ohio State, if Pryor would have played the whole game OU would have lost by 21+.
Stop dreaming.
(02-24-2009 10:51 PM)utpotts Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2009 10:43 PM)Airport KC Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2009 05:06 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote: [ -> ]"only 1 big 10 school is playing at a MAC venue"
Are you suprised?
The MAC has a few Big East teams visiting though, which is nice.
Overall I think the MAC football schedules have gotten better. Not too long ago there were very few IA teams from any conference to visit a MAC school and most of the time the league was playing several suicide games. There are not many of those anymore.
One reason why there isn't any more suicide games is because the bottom MAC teams are no longer automatic pushovers.
Ohio was only down to Ohio State by 5 with a few minutes to go in the 4th Quarter. Ohio State top 10 team, Ohio 4-8.
Boechman was the starting QB in that game that is the only reason OU stayed close to Ohio State, if Pryor would have played the whole game OU would have lost by 21+.
Stop dreaming.
I didn't know I was talking to an Ohio State fan.
UTpotts you didn't watch the game I recken. Ohio State did not win that game. Ohio gave the game away with a muffed punt and they a missed clip call on the punt return. Pryor did absolutely nothing against Ohio's defense. He was indecisive and was running for his life. Ohio came to play and Ohio State just wasn't that good in September. No question USC drilled Ohio State the next week. Ohio outplayed Ohio State for 3 quarters and two plays in the fourth quarter changed that game from Ohio winning to Ohio State winning. If Ohio doesn't muff that punt, they likely run the clock down and rest their tired defense enough to hold Ohio State. Any Ohio State fan will tell you that Ohio State didn't win that game, Ohio gave it away. For one day Ohio played better than Ohio State. Ohio State fans were freaking out for 3 1/2 quarters. Buckeyes were going down until that muffed punt midway thru the 4th.
(02-24-2009 11:15 PM)Airport KC Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2009 10:51 PM)utpotts Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2009 10:43 PM)Airport KC Wrote: [ -> ] (02-24-2009 05:06 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote: [ -> ]"only 1 big 10 school is playing at a MAC venue"
Are you suprised?
The MAC has a few Big East teams visiting though, which is nice.
Overall I think the MAC football schedules have gotten better. Not too long ago there were very few IA teams from any conference to visit a MAC school and most of the time the league was playing several suicide games. There are not many of those anymore.
One reason why there isn't any more suicide games is because the bottom MAC teams are no longer automatic pushovers.
Ohio was only down to Ohio State by 5 with a few minutes to go in the 4th Quarter. Ohio State top 10 team, Ohio 4-8.
Boechman was the starting QB in that game that is the only reason OU stayed close to Ohio State, if Pryor would have played the whole game OU would have lost by 21+.
Stop dreaming.
I didn't know I was talking to an Ohio State fan.
If you actually knew me, I'm far from an OSU fan. I'm just speaking the truth that you choose to ignore in your pot filled world.
(02-24-2009 11:32 PM)OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote: [ -> ]UTpotts you didn't watch the game I recken. Ohio State did not win that game. Ohio gave the game away with a muffed punt and they a missed clip call on the punt return. Pryor did absolutely nothing against Ohio's defense. He was indecisive and was running for his life. Ohio came to play and Ohio State just wasn't that good in September. No question USC drilled Ohio State the next week. Ohio outplayed Ohio State for 3 quarters and two plays in the fourth quarter changed that game from Ohio winning to Ohio State winning. If Ohio doesn't muff that punt, they likely run the clock down and rest their tired defense enough to hold Ohio State. Any Ohio State fan will tell you that Ohio State didn't win that game, Ohio gave it away. For one day Ohio played better than Ohio State. Ohio State fans were freaking out for 3 1/2 quarters. Buckeyes were going down until that muffed punt midway thru the 4th.
Ohio only scored 14 pts. The Buckeyes took the lead at the beginning of the 4th quarter. Plus OSU didn't even have Beanie Wells!!!!!! A loss is loss, saying that Ohio was in it through the 3rd quarter doesn't mean ****.
Box Score from the OU vs. OSU game.
Box Score
Obviously the numbers don't back up your cases.