When Temple was admitted into the MAC to begin the 2007 season, the MAC News Media grilled then league commissioner Rick Chryst on “why Temple?” He replied “don’t look at where Temple is at now, look at what they can and will become with their partnership with the MAC.” His vision should prove correct this season as the Owls are the team to beat. After losing a heartbreaker to cross-town rival Villanova last season and then getting tossed around at Penn State, Temple reeled off nine straight wins before losing to Ohio and UCLA to close the season 9-4. Temple has a defense that is on par with some of the top BCS programs in the country so if the offense can add some punch this season, the Owls may end the season nationally ranked as Central Michigan did a year ago. That would look very good on a resume for a program trying to get back into the Big East. Read the rest of this entry →

The Chippewas have been by far the most dominate team in the MAC over the past four seasons putting together a resume of a national ranking (2009), two bowl wins (2006 & 2006), four straight bowl games (2006-2009) and a combined record of 38-17 with three MAC titles. Losing a four-year starting QB (Dan LeFevour) and a coaching staff means that this year may be a transition year for Central. CMU returns just eleven starters overall but has recruited well under the previous coaches Brian Kelly and Butch Jones so the cupboard is not bare. Former Michigan State assistant coach Dan Enos takes over the program now. Read the rest of this entry →

Miami is 3-21 over the past two years, their worst two-year performance in more than twenty years. This is the program that boasts “the cradle of coaches” and Ben Roethlisberger. From 2001 through 2005 the RedHawks were 42-20 and made two bowl appearances. Miami has won more MAC football championships than anyone so this recently slide is not the norm in Oxford. Ten starters return on offense and seven more on defense this fall in year two of the Mike Haywood era. While there are still many freshmen and sophomores spread throughout the two-deep lineup, this is not the same team that averaged losing 34-16 per game (2009). Read the rest of this entry →

The Golden Flashes lost three games by a total of 12 points that was the difference between their 5-7 season and what could have been a wonderful 8-4 campaign with a bowl bid. Throughout their spring practices, the coaching staff emphasized the importance of finishing games as they have had far too many close losses over the past three seasons (ten losses since 2007 by a touchdown or less). QB Spencer Keith looks to be the real deal and RB Eugene Jarvis was granted an extra year of eligibility due to injuries; he will become the school’s all-time leading rusher this season. Toss in a very active and under-rated defense and a big-time school like Boston College may be surprised on September 11 of what’s coming to town, certainly not the Kent State cream puff of seasons past. Read the rest of this entry →

The Eagles have dropped 15 of their past sixteen games and have not had a winning season since 1995 when QB Charlie Batch led them to a 6-5 record. Eastern has been a MAC member for nearly forty years and has just one MAC football championship to show. Needless to say, there isn’t much tradition to draw upon; somehow Coach Ron English continues to be optimistic. Considering this program is 27-89 over the past decade (three different head coaches) it’s good that some one is optimistic in Ypsilanti. Read the rest of this entry →