The following are simulated football games to determine the best team of the last 15 years. We're putting 16 of the finest MAC football teams (at least one per school) through a 12-game simulation, followed by a four-team playoff and championship game in Detroit. All games are simulated by WhatIfSports (I'd show you the box scores if they archived 'em).
Been a while, but we can knock this out before the Real Football begins.
So, to summarize: the 2003 Miami RedHawks have won the Ealey Division, and it wasn't even close. A 2000 Western Michigan loss and 2011 OHIO win gives us a tie for second place; otherwise it's WMU's playoff spot. In the Lambert Division, it's a bit trickier. 2011 Toledo is sitting pretty at 10-1, with 1999 Marshall and 2008 Ball State at 9-2. It could very well be a three-way tie for two spots. But before we worry about tiebreakers, let's see how everything shook out:
TOLEDO — I really admire this simulator's ability to create a completely volatile, nutso game involving the 2011 Rockets almost every time. A CMU lead and a pair of 17-point runs. CMU takes the lead with a Paris Cotton run with 6:41 to play, then Terrance Owens hits James Green with a 17-yard pass with three seconds left. In OT, the Chips had to settle for a 20-yard field goal, and Owens finds Kenny Stafford for a 9-yard touchdown to win the game and the Lambert Division. Such silly stuff.
Owens passed for 251 yards on 19-for-35 passing, accounting for four touchdowns and an interception. Eric Page hauled in 10 passes for 92 yards and a score. Morgan Williams ran 13 times for 97 yards and a touchdown, and Adonis Thomas helped with 23 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown. Both had 33-yard receptions, too, if you believe it. Bobo Rancifer recorded two sacks and also picked off a pass.
It was a team effort for CMU. Dan LeFevour had 178 yards on 11-for-18 passing, a touchdown and an interception. Antonio Brown led the team with four catches for 54 yards and also returned a punt for a touchdown in the first quarter. Paris Cotton ran six times for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
MUNCIE — What a freaking game this was. Ball State overcame a 24-point deficit in the fourth quarter like it was nothing. Three straight runs by MiQuale Lewis — and converted 2-point conversions — tied the game with 2:27 to go, but then Steve Azar nailed an easy field goal with 28 seconds left for the win. Just insane, and this puts Ball State out of the playoffs.
NIU doesn't make it either, but Michael Turner finished the season with 31 carries for 209 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 26 yards. Azar went 3-for-3 on field goals and the defense picked off Nate Davis three times.
MiQuale Lewis' numbers for BSU were pretty nice too: 23 carries ,104 yards, three touchdowns and four catches for 55 yards.
HUNTINGTON — Hmm, yeah, 45 straight points oughta be enough. I'm actually going to give the player of the game to Billy Malashevich, who kicked eight — EIGHT — field goals, four longer than 40 yards, and didn't miss a single one. Doug Chapman scored more traditionally with a rushing touchdown and 27 attempts for 163 yards; he also caught three passes for 30 yards. Chad Pennington passed for 284 yards on 22-for-35 attempts and a touchdown.
Akron bookended the scoring with the first and last touchdown of the game, both Charlie Frye passes, but he was just 13-for-23 for 236 yards and three interceptions as well. The Zips ran for only 41 yards.
OXFORD — The Bobcats did their part, winning a tough game on the road. It was a three-point game in the fourth quarter but the Bobcats kicked the door shut thanks to the Dontes. Donte Harden ran 21 times for 63 yards and a touchdown, then caught four passes for 54 yards. Donte Foster caught one pass for 30 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter to ice it. Tyler Tettleton passed for 292 yards on 21-for-32 attempts, throwing two TDs. He also ran 15 times for 45 yards. Nathan Carpenter caught two interceptions and the defense sacked the quarterback four times.
Miami's 1997 season ends with Travis Prentice running 30 times for 74 yards and a reception touchdown.
Now all the Bobcats need is a Western Michigan loss on the road...
KENT — ... And it won't happen. Western Michigan makes the Dream League playoffs. I'm not really sure how a game is won despite four interceptions, but I suppose sacking the QB six times helps. Robert Sanford only mustered 23 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown, and Corey Alston caught six balls for 130 yards. Marty Harig, Jermaine Foreste and Terrence Moore had two sacks apiece.
Kent State was basically shut down. Joshua Cribbs passed 10-fir-18 times for 128 yards and ran 22 times for 26 yards. All their points were on Dave Pavich field goals of 34 and 47 yards.
OXFORD — Well, it was close through three quarters. That's something. But MU, who didn't need the game, had an inconsistent night from Ben Roethlisberger (22-for-30, 265 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT). Calvin Murray ran 17 times for 152 yards and three touchdowns.
Eastern held pace thanks to Matt Bohnet (25-for-40, 175 yards, 2 TD, INT) and a big day for Daniel Holtzclaw, who registered a sack and two interceptions. Gotta say, though, two wins is two more than I expected.
TOLEDO — BGSU earns a split against their rivals in a split-dimension. Omar Jacobs passed 18-for-28 for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Shaun Suisham made 3-of-4 field goals, long of 37, and P.J. Pope totaled 134 yards from scrimmage. But it was the defense that held UT to 10 points.
Chester Taylor carried it 23 times for 135 yards and Toledo's only touchdown, adding 30 yards on three catches. A rough finish for the team I thought was the better Rockets team in the last 15 years, finishing on a four-game losing streak.
BUFFALO — And the unlikely champs of 2008 and their season on a high note. Drew Willy passed 26-for-40 for 323 yards and a touchdown. Naaman Roosevelt caught eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown and James Starks ran 29 times for 133 yards and a score. A.J. Principe knocked in three field goals, long of 49.
For Temple, they finish dead last with a single victory in the Dream League. Bernard Pierce led the team with 24 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown. But, hey, at least they made it back to the Big East!
PLAYOFFS
2000 Western Michigan at 2011 Toledo
1999 Marshall at 2003 Miami
FINAL STATS
| DREAM LEAGUE RUSHING | ||||||||
| Player | Team | Rush Att | Rush Yds | Rush TD | YPC | Red | Rec Yds | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Turner | 2003 NIU | 320 | 1812 | 18 | 5.66 | 31 | 462 | 4 |
| Robert Sanford | 2000 WMU | 309 | 1753 | 18 | 5.67 | 5 | 53 | 0 |
| Adonis Thomas | 2011 Toledo | 279 | 1609 | 15 | 5.77 | 27 | 377 | 1 |
| Chester Taylor | 2000 Toledo | 328 | 1596 | 9 | 4.87 | 25 | 303 | 1 |
| Bernard Pierce | 2011 Temple | 329 | 1434 | 4 | 4.36 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| James Starks | 2008 Buffalo | 318 | 1370 | 12 | 4.31 | 41 | 336 | 2 |
| MiQuale Lewis | 2008 Ball St. | 265 | 1282 | 14 | 4.84 | 47 | 517 | 2 |
| Travis Prentice | 1997 Miami | 307 | 1193 | 10 | 3.89 | 31 | 323 | 2 |
| Calvin Murray | 2003 Miami | 212 | 1150 | 12 | 5.42 | 26 | 257 | 5 |
| Donte Harden | 2011 OHIO | 252 | 1130 | 8 | 4.48 | 39 | 411 | 3 |
| DREAM LEAGUE RECEIVING | |||||
| Player | Team | Rec | Yds | TD | YPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naaman Roosevelt | 2008 Buffalo | 83 | 1184 | 7 | 14.27 |
| Eric Page | 2011 Toledo | 111 | 1181 | 14 | 10.64 |
| Nate Poole | 1999 Marshall | 74 | 1149 | 5 | 15.53 |
| P.J. Fleck | 2003 NIU | 78 | 1124 | 6 | 14.41 |
| Martin Nance | 2003 Miami | 71 | 1113 | 11 | 15.68 |
| Dante Love | 2008 Ball St. | 76 | 1107 | 10 | 14.57 |
| Corey Alston | 2000 WMU | 47 | 947 | 1 | 20.15 |
| Charles Sharon | 2004 BGSU | 65 | 869 | 6 | 13.37 |
| James Williams | 1999 Marshall | 43 | 851 | 6 | 19.79 |
| Eric Deslauriers | 2005 EMU | 73 | 837 | 2 | 11.47 |
| DREAM LEAGUE PASSING | |||||||
| Player | Team | Comp. | Att. | Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | 2003 Miami | 273 | 374 | 3578 | 34 | 14 | 175.9 |
| Chad Pennington | 1999 Marshall | 264 | 387 | 3882 | 25 | 11 | 168.1 |
| Omar Jacobs | 2004 BGSU | 277 | 388 | 3441 | 23 | 6 | 162.4 |
| Terrance Owens | 2011 Toledo | 281 | 404 | 3700 | 25 | 11 | 161.5 |
| Tyler Tettleton | 2011 OHIO | 219 | 333 | 2933 | 23 | 5 | 159.5 |
| Nate Davis | 2008 Ball St. | 246 | 390 | 3695 | 27 | 16 | 157.3 |
| Josh Haldi | 2003 NIU | 252 | 401 | 3620 | 25 | 9 | 154.8 |
| Charlie Frye | 2003 Akron | 217 | 352 | 3123 | 23 | 15 | 149.2 |
| Drew Willy | 2008 Buffalo | 277 | 441 | 3333 | 21 | 7 | 138.8 |
| Dan LeFevour | 2009 CMU | 162 | 267 | 2084 | 11 | 3 | 137.6 |
| DREAM LEAGUE SACKS | DREAM LEAGUE INTERCEPTIONS | ||||||||
| Player | Team |
Sacks | INT | TD | Player |
Team |
Sacks | INT | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio King | 2001 Kent St. | 12 | 0 | 0 | Rickey McKenzie | 2003 Akron | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| JoJuan Armour | 1997 Miami | 10 | 0 | 0 | Daniel Holtzclaw | 2005 EMU | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Nate Wesley | 2001 Kent St. | 10 | 0 | 0 | Nashville Dyer | 2001 Kent St. | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Dustin Cohen | 1997 Miami | 9 | 0 | 0 | Desmond Marrow | 2011 Toledo | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| James Harrison | 2001 Kent St. | 9 | 3 | 0 | Keon Newson | 2004 BGSU | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Bryan McCullough | 1997 Miami | 7 | 0 | 0 | Ronald Rogers | 2000 WMU | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Daniel Holtzclaw | 2005 EMU | 7 | 6 | 1 | Brandon Hefflin | 2000 Toledo | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Jay Rohr | 2003 Akron | 7 | 0 | 0 | Maurice Hines | 1999 Marshall | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Derek Rehage | 2003 Miami | 7 | 0 | 0 | Travis Carrie | 2011 OHIO | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Cam Yeow | 2003 Akron | 7 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Marty Harig | 2000 WMU | 7 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| DREAM LEAGUE KICKING | |||||
| Player | Team | Made | Att | % | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Malashevich | 1999 Marshall | 36 | 38 | 95% | 49 |
| Ryan Casano | 2011 Toledo | 32 | 35 | 91% | 48 |
| Dave Pavich | 2001 Kent St. | 23 | 26 | 88% | 51 |
| Steve Azar | 2003 NIU | 22 | 25 | 88% | 49 |
| Andrew Aguila | 2009 CMU | 15 | 18 | 83% | 50 |
| Jason Swiger | 2003 Akron | 21 | 27 | 78% | 49 |
| Ian McGarvey | 2008 Ball St. | 24 | 31 | 77% | 50 |
| A.J. Principe | 2008 Buffalo | 24 | 32 | 75% | 50 |
| Jared Parseghian | 2003 Miami | 18 | 24 | 75% | 49 |
| Shaun Suisham | 2004 BGSU | 22 | 32 | 69% | 49 |