Mid-American Conference football rundown: Week 9

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.

For the third time this season, a Mid-American Conference team became bowl eligible, as Northern Illinois' victory over Eastern Michigan brought the Huskies win total to six on the year.

Akron and Toledo remain ahead in the East and West Divisions, respectively. Both Western Michigan and Akron sit at five wins and sit on the fence of bowl eligibility.

Here’s the MAC Rundown for week nine of the college football season: 

Akron Zips 

Season record: 5-4, 4-1 MAC   
Week 9 matchup: Buffalo (W, 21-20)
Week 10 matchup: Bye Week

After being both outmatched in total yardage (454-367) and first downs (28-19), Akron managed to pull away with a victory over Buffalo after a late touchdown pass from Thomas Woodson to Kevin Gladney. Woodson finished with three touchdowns, 286 yards passing and an interception.

Akron has a bye in week 10 of the regular season, but returns to play Miami on Nov. 7.

Ball State 

Season record: 2-6, 0-4 MAC
Week 9 matchup: Toledo (L, 58-17)
Week 10 matchup: Eastern Michigan (2-6, 0-4 MAC)

It may have been the fourth consecutive loss for Ball State, but it was able to score its first touchdown since its game against Western Kentucky in week four of the regular season. Still, after three quarterbacks sustained injuries, freshman quarterback took the reigns for the Cardinals.

Ball State travels to play Eastern Michigan this week. Both teams sit at 2-6 on the season, with 0-4 conference records, meaning one is going to get out of the last spot in the MAC West Division.

Bowling Green 

Season record: 1-7, 1-3 MAC   
Week 9 matchup: Bye Week
Week 10 matchup: Kent State (2-6, 1-3 MAC)

Bowling Green had a bye in week nine of the regular season.

Bowling Green travels this week to take on Kent State on Halloween night. Both teams are 1-3 in conference play, with the only victories coming against Miami. 

Buffalo  

Season record: 3-6, 1-4 MAC   
Week 9 matchup: Akron (L 21-20)
Week 10 matchup: Bye Week

Buffalo lost its sixth game of the season by the hand of Akron and its pass-heavy offense. Quarterback Tyree Jackson finished with 313 of Buffalo's 454 yards, but was unable to score in the one point loss.

Buffalo has a bye in week 10 of the regular season, but returns to play Bowling Green on Nov. 7.

Central Michigan 

Season record: 4-4, 2-2 MAC   
Week 9 matchup: Bye Week
Week 10 matchup: Western Michigan (5-3, 3-1 MAC)

Central Michigan had a bye in week nine of the regular season.

After beating Ball State 56-9 on the road on Oct. 21, Central Michigan returns to action in Kalamazoo, as it takes on Western Michigan. Both teams play into each others weaknesses in terms of offense and defensive production in what should be an interesting in-state game.

Eastern Michigan 

Season record: 2-6, 0-4 MAC   
Week 9 matchup: Northern Illinois (L, 30-27)
Week 10 matchup: Ball State (2-6, 0-4 MAC)

The story has been the same for Eastern Michigan week in and week out. Eastern Michigan's 30-27 loss against Northern Illinois is its sixth straight by less than a touchdown.

Both Eastern Michigan and its opponent this week, Ball State, have lost its final five games of the regular season. The difference with the Eagles, however, is that each of their losses came by five points or less, compared to the Cardinals who were outscored 233-53 during that span.

Kent State 

Season record: 2-6, 1-3 MAC   
Week 9 matchup: Bye Week
Week 10 matchup: Bowling Green (1-7, 1-3 MAC)

Kent State had a bye in week nine of the regular season.

After a bye week, Kent State returns home to host Bowling Green, a team that has only won one game all season. The Falcons one victory, however, was against Miami (37-29) which remains the Golden Flashes only conference win this season.

Miami (Ohio) 

Season record: 3-5, 2-2 MAC    
Week 9 matchup: Bye Week
Week 10 matchup: Ohio (6-2, 3-1 MAC)

Miami had a bye in week nine of the regular season.

Miami stopped its three game skid on Oct. 21 beating Buffalo 24-14 at home. Miami is on the road this week, however, facing off against an Ohio team that has won five out of its six previous games.

Northern Illinois 

Season record: 6-2, 4-0 MAC   
Week 9 matchup: Eastern Michigan (W, 30-27)
Week 10 matchup: Toledo (7-1, 4-0 MAC)

Northern Illinois became the third MAC school this week to become bowl eligible after its 30-27 victory over Eastern Michigan. A pair of fourth quarter touchdowns brought Northern Illinois into an overtime game where Marcus Jones' nine-yard run sealed the deal for a Huskies win.

Only one MAC school will remain unbeaten in the conference after this Thursday night game. Northern Illinois plays Toledo on the road and will have to prepare for the explosive offense led by Logan Woodside (2,295 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and two interceptions).

Ohio 

Season record: 6-2, 3-1 MAC    
Week 9 matchup: Bye Week
Week 10 matchup: Miami (3-5, 2-2 MAC)

Ohio had a bye in week nine of the regular season.

Ohio continues conference play this week against Miami, a team that has two conference losses, both by one score or less. Ohio's rush heavy offense will be challenged against a Miami defense that allows less than 165 yards on the ground per game.

Toledo 

Season record: 7-1, 4-0 MAC    
Week 9 matchup: Ball State (W, 58-17)
Week 10 matchup: Northern Illinois (6-2, 4-0 MAC)

Another week, another win for Toledo, who after becoming bowl eligible last week, received 19 votes in the AP Top 25 rankings. Diontae Johnson led the way for the Rockets week nine win, scoring three separate times and finishing with 170 receiving yards on just four catches.

Toledo high-powered offense will be put to the test against Northern Illinois this week, as the Huskies allow just 307 yards per game to opponents. Both teams enter the game with undefeated MAC records, but only one will remain perfect in the conference after  the Thursday night affair.

Western Michigan 

Season record: 5-3, 3-1 MAC    
Week 9 matchup: Bye Week
Week 10 matchup: Central Michigan (4-4, 2-2 MAC)

Western Michigan had a bye in week nine of the regular season.

Only one game stands between Western Michigan and a potential bowl berth. This week, Western Michigan plays host to Central Michigan, a team that thrives on its offensive passing with quarterback Shane Morris (1,966 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions) leading the attack.

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