Around the Group of 7: MAC update

There’s nothing better than flipping on your television late at night to find two MAC teams battling it out. The MAC started conference play last week, and there are already some surprises within the standings.

Atop the conference are two squads, Eastern Michigan and Toledo. Both squads have burst out to 4-1 records and have both won their first conference games.

Eastern Michigan sits in the middle of the table both offensively and defensively, but an excellent season from their senior kicker Jesús Gomez who has converted 12-of-14 Field Goals this season with a long make of 57 yards.

Toledo lost in the MAC championship to Miami University last season. The biggest win of their young season so far was a huge upset over SEC team Mississippi State in Week 3. Quarterback Tucker Gleason ranks first in the conference for passing touchdowns with 13, and second in the conference in passing yards with 1,180.

Four teams sit with a 3-2 record. Those teams are Central Michigan, Ohio, Buffalo and Northern Illinois.

Central Michigan sits atop the conference in both total offensive yards and yards per game. Though offensive production has been evenly split between multiple players, senior B.J. Harris has tallied two touchdown rushes while rushing to a tune of 7.4 yards per carry.

Ohio has rushed the ball incredibly well to start the season with senior running back Anthony Tyus III leading the conference in rushing yards with 500 while also scoring four rushing touchdowns.

Buffalo has gotten off to a solid start after finishing last season with a 3-9 record. The Buffaloes have managed to equal their win total from last season in just five weeks into the college football season. They have managed to do so surprisingly, while statistically being the worst offense in the MAC.

Northern Illinois secured the biggest upset in the school’s history after defeating the fifth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish on a blocked field goal. The euphoria however would not last long as the Huskies would lose to Buffalo in overtime in their first conference game. The Huskies boast the best statistical defense in the MAC only allowing 263.8 yards per game.

Both squads with a 2-3 record have nearly captured upsets against AP-ranked teams. Bowling Green and Western Michigan both began conference play with a win, however.

Bowling Green battled hard in two tough defeats to CFB powerhouses Penn State and Texas A&M. Owls quarterback and Indiana transfer Connor Bazelak leads the conference in passing yards with 1,243 while tight-end Harold Fannin Jr. leads the conference in receiving yards with 676.

Western Michigan suffered two tough losses to Wisconsin and Marshall but rebounded in Week 5 by defeating Ball State in a 45-42 thriller. Junior Jaden Nixon has been the workhorse back for the Broncos leading the conference with six rushing touchdowns.

Miami University, Ball State and Akron have all only recorded one win so far this season. They have had tough sledding early on in the year

The reigning MAC champions Miami University have struggled to find the success they had last season. The only win the RedHawks have been able to capture was against a struggling UMass.

Ball State was a projected favorite by many people to win the MAC this season. After winning their first game, however, they have gone on a four-game losing streak including multiple conference losses.

Akron’s only win so far this season was over an FCS team in Colgate. The Zips have struggled on both sides of the ball ranking low in both total defense and offense in the conference.

The final MAC team, and the only one not to secure a victory so far, is Kent State.

The Golden Flashes were dealt a brutal hand after losing two quarterbacks for the season in a 56-0 loss to Penn State. With a new quarterback, the Golden Flashes will need to find a new rhythm with the man under center.

Luke Stefanisko is a first-year studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email ljs6415@psu.edu.