Each week throughout the football season, The Daily News runs through the Mid-American Conference, recapping the previous week and looking ahead to this week’s games.
Only four teams in the Mid-American Conference, 3 from the West Division, earned victories in week 1 of the college football season. But several teams came close, some against Power Five opponents.
Here’s the MAC Rundown for Week 1 of the college football season:
Akron Zips
Season record: 0-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: No. 6 Penn State (L, 52-0)
Week 2 matchup: Arkansas Pine Bluff (1-0)
Akron couldn't get any offense started in its blow out loss to Big Ten opponent Penn State. The Zips were mustered up just 159 total yards and 12 first downs compared to the Nittany Lions 569 total yards and 25 first downs in the game.
Akron returns to InfoCision Stadium this week to take on the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Golden Lions won it's first game against Football Championship Subdivision foe Morehouse College 23-10.
Ball State
Season record: 0-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: Illinois (L, 24-21)
Week 2 matchup: University Alabama-Birmingham (1-0)
Ball State lost it's first game to Big Ten opponent Illinois 24-21 after a last second field goal block against Cardinals kicker Morgan Hagee. The Cardinals dominated the game in total yardage (375-216), first downs (21-14) and time of possession (36:33-23:37), but couldn't get the win.
Heading into week two, Ball State will play a UAB team who, prior to last week, hasn't played a football game in over two seasons. The Blazers dominated its week one matchup against Alabama A&M, 38-7.
Bowling Green
Season record: 0-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: Michigan State (L, 35-10)
Week 2 matchup: South Dakota (1-0)
Bowling Green couldn't hold onto it's early 3-0 lead that it had over Michigan State at the end of the first quarter. After 35 consecutive points in the second and third quarters, the Spartans earned their first win of the regular season.
Bowling Green plays host to FCS team South Dakota in week two of the regular season. Behind the arm of starting quarterback Chris Streveler and his five passing touchdowns, the Coyotes cruised to a 77-7 week one victory over Drake.
Buffalo
Season record: 0-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: Minnesota (L, 17-7)
Week 2 matchup: Army (1-0)
Buffalo couldn't execute on a slow start and pair of missed field goals by Minnesota in week one. The Bulls nearly beat former MAC head coach P.J. Fleck in the week one battle, but couldn't find the endzone when it mattered.
Week two will be no easier task for Buffalo as it prepares to take on an Army team who put up 513 yards on the ground in its week one 64-6 victory over Fordham.
Central Michigan
Season record: 1-0, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: Rhode Island (W 30-27, 3OT)
Week 2 matchup: Kansas (1-0)
It wasn't pretty, but Central Michigan pulled off its first win of the season against the University of Rhode Island after a four yard rushing touchdown from Devon Spalding in the third overtime of that game. Rhode Island was 2-9 last season in the FCS.
In week two, Central Michigan takes on Kansas (1-0) in Lawrence, Kansas. The Jayhawks won their week one matchup against Southeast Missouri, 38-16.
Eastern Michigan
Season record: 1-0, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: Charlotte (W, 24-7)
Week 2 matchup: Rutgers (0-1)
Eastern Michigan led the entire game against Charlotte last Friday night, putting up seven points early and never looking back. The Eagles put up 393 total yards and held a time of possession of 33:03.
In week two, Eastern Michigan plays Big Ten opponent Rutgers, who lost to No. 8 Washington last week 30-14. Despite the solid showing against a Top 10 team, however, Rutgers is only 5 point favorites entering the game.
Kent State
Season record: 0-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: No. 5 Clemson (L, 56-3)
Week 2 matchup: Howard (1-0)
Kent State opened up its season against the reigning Football Bowl Subdivision champions Clemson. The only points that the Golden Flashes could score came during a field goal in the second quarter.
Going into week two, Kent State will play Howard, a team that opened up its season with a 43-40 upset win over the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Miami (Ohio)
Season record: 0-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: Marshall (L, 31-26)
Week 2 matchup: Austin Peay (0-1)
Miami climbed back from a 28-13 deficit late in the third quarter before falling short to Marshall 31-26 in week one of the regular season. Despite giving up two kick returns and an interception for a touchdown, Miami still had a chance during a last second Hail Mary attempt.
After a rough start to the season, Miami takes on Austin Peay, who lost to Cincinnati 26-14 in week one of the regular season.
Northern Illinois
Season record: 0-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: Boston College (L, 23-20)
Week 2 matchup: Eastern Illinois (1-0)
Northern Illinois was etched out in a game that game down to field goals. After a late kick from Boston College's Colton Lichtenberg, Northern Illinois had one more chance to tie the game up, but Christian Hagan missed the 39-yard field goal attempt.
Northern Illinois returns home this weekend against in-state rival Eastern Illinois, who opened up the season with a 22-20 victory over Indiana State.
Ohio
Season record: 1-0, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: Hampton (W, 59-0)
Week 2 matchup: Purdue (0-1)
Ohio made sure that there was never any doubt who was going to win the week one matchup between them and Hampton. Eight touchdowns, a safety and a field goal proved that point down the stretch.
This week will be a bit of a different story, however, as Ohio prepares to take on Purdue, who despite losing 35-28 in week one, gave No. 16 Louisville an early season scare.
Toledo
Season record: 1-0, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: Elon (W, 47-13)
Week 2 matchup: Nevada (0-1)
Toledo's prolific offense picked up right where it left off last season, putting up 553 total yards and 47 points en route to it's week one win against Elon. While Logan Woodside did not have a single touchdown pass, the Rockets scored four rushing touchdowns.
In week two, Toledo enters its road matchup against Nevada as 9.5 point favorites. Nevada is coming off a 31-20 loss against Northwestern.
Western Michigan
Season record: 0-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 1 matchup: No. 4 USC (L, 49-31)
Week 2 matchup: Michigan State (1-0)
Despite losing head coach P.J. Fleck and star wide receiver Corey Davis in the offseason, Western Michigan proved that it could still compete with some of the countries best college football teams. Going into the fourth quarter tied 21-21 Western Michigan just wasn't able to do enough to beat the University of Southern California in week one.
In week two, Western Michigan will head to East Lansing Michigan to play against in-state rival Michigan State, who beat fellow MAC team Bowling Green 35-10 in week one of the regular season.
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