:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20746703/20131005_gav_sb4_143.0.jpg)
| Rank | Rank (Pv) | Team | Record | What We Learned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
 No. 23 NIU |
5-0 (1-0) | The Huskies cracked the rankings last week a full seven weeks before they did last year. Still undefeated, they just pummeled the Kent State Golden Flashes, 2012's MAC East champion, 38-24. NIU's offense is scary, its defense is bending less and less each week, and the team is still undefeated. With games against Akron, at CMU, against EMU and at UMass, it's unlikely NIU slips from here anytime soon. |
| 2 | 2 |
 Ball State |
5-1 (2-0) | Ball State can score, against almost anyone. The Cardinals just put up 48 on one of college football's best defense, and an AQ-school. With the combination of Keith Wenning and Jahwan Edwards, BSU's offense is like a steam engine that's ready to plow over anything in its path. Edwards leads the nation in rushing TDs, despite missing 2 games. Wenning is 2nd in the nation in passing. Offense is not a problem. |
| 3 | 3 |
 BGSU |
5-1 (3-0) | The Falcons just keep on rolling. BGSU actually scored its fewest points of the season, 28, against UMass, but did it all in two quarters. Travis Greene is fifth in the nation in rushing, and Matt Johnson is leading an offense that is sixth in the entire country. Oh and remember, these Falcons still posses a defense that was in the Top 20 in almost ever category a year ago. |
| 4 | 4 |
 Ohio |
4-1 (1-0) |
The Bobcats went into Akron to take on a Zips team that hung its own with a ranked Michigan squad earlier this year and put up 14 on BGSU a week ago. All the 'Cats did was hold Akron to 157 total yards and 3 points. Ohio has had some question marks all season, but after a statement win like that, the Bobcats are starting to shake some of the doubters. |
| 5 | 5 |
 Toledo |
3-3 (2-1) | Still a victim of a rough non-conference schedule, Toledo is still a dark horse candidate to win the MAC West. The Rockets offense is led by the nation's second leading rusher in David Fluellen and still Terrance Owens, Bernard Reedy and Alonzo Russell in the passing attack. Toledo's defense is also much better than many may think. It's currently the 3rd best in the MAC, and that includes all of its non-conference games too. |
| 6 | 6b |
 Buffalo |
3-2 (1-0) |
The Bulls have now pulled off two impressive beat downs. Buffalo pummeled EMU 42-14 Saturday for its second-straight 40+ point performance. The Bulls' defense is also putting up nice numbers, holding teams to an average of 16 points-per-game in their 3-game winning streak. |
| 7 | 6a |
 Kent State |
2-4 (1-2) | The Golden Flashes are slipping further into an inescapable hole. Kent State was the latest victim of the NIU Huskies, but allowed 698 yards in that loss. Dri Archer is still not quite 100% and he's not the only Flash battling injuries. If they can get healthy and sure up that defense, they could salvage a respectable season, but it's becoming a harder task with each passing week. |
| 8 | 9 |
 CMU
|
2-4 (1-1) | Central Michigan won, but it was against an awful Miami team. Cooper Rush continues to struggle, and turned the ball over for the tenth time in four games Saturday. Saylor Lavallii is having a very good season, but the rest of the team needs to catch up. |
| 9 | 8 |
 Akron |
1-5 (0-2) |
The Zips are who we thought they were. Akron looked awful against Ohio. The Zips had almost as many penalty yards (135) as offensive yards (157). That alone is all you need to know. |
| 10 | 10 |
 EMU |
1-4 (0-2) |
Eastern Michigan's defense is returning to 2012 form after some respectable performances in the first few weeks. The offense is still stagnant and seems allergic to the endzone. |
| 11 | 11 |
 WMU |
0-6 (0-2) | This is where things really get interesting. The bottom three in the MAC are all 0-5 and well on the way to toilet bowl finishes. But, of those three WMU has looked the best. The Broncos managed to put up some points against both Toledo and Kent State, and seem to be slowly improving. With games against the MAC-Michigan schools, they should be albe to get a few wins soemwhere. |
| 13a | 12 |
 Miami |
0-5 (0-1) |
Awful. Miami has a chance to face off against an equally awful UMass team this week. It's still possible that the 'Hawks could come out winless though, because they're just that bad. |
| 13b | 13 |
 UMass |
0-5 (0-1) | Awful. You can say the same thing about UMass that I wrote about Miami. It's possible that even after playing each other, they could both still be winless. Just because. |