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2017 Mid-American Conference Football Power Rankings: Week 11

By James H. Jimenez
NCAA Football: Toledo at Miami Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Not a lot changed in this week’s Power Rankings, but nonetheless, there’s still a lot to glean from weeknight #MACtion, as every team has now played in that magical time period at least once thus far in the season.

We’ll see if anyone catches the Committee’s eye for this week (probably not) but for now, let’s reveal who caught our eye:

12. Ball State Cardinals (PW: 10)

  • Record: 2-7 overall (0-5 MAC)
  • Low vote: 12 (four times)
  • High vote: 10 (once)
  • Average vote: 11.375

There isn’t really a lot to say here other than the Cardinals are hurt and mathematically out of a bowl game. Which is unfortunate after such a promising start to the season.

11. Kent State Golden Flashes (PW: 11)

  • Record: 2-7 overall (1-4 MAC)
  • Low vote: 12 (three times)
  • High vote: 10 (twice)
  • Average vote: 11.25

The Flashes took another shocking loss, this time to BGSU. This one was a lot uglier than usual, as it involved many questionable personnel decisions and a general aura of apathy.

10. Bowling Green Falcons (PW: 12)

  • Record: 2-7 overall (2-3 MAC)
  • Low vote: 12 (twice)
  • High vote: 10 (five times)
  • Average vote: 10.714

The Falcons gained another conference win last week against the beforementioned Kent State. Suddenly, they’re surging and could play the spoiler with a few more wins. They next play Buffalo.

9. Miami RedHawks (PW: 8)

  • Record: 3-6 overall (2-3 MAC)
  • Low vote: 9 (three)
  • High vote: 7 (once)
  • Average vote: 8.25

Miami gains .03 points in the average vote despite a 45-28 shellacking against Ohio last week. Good on them, I guess. Thankfully for them and the RedHawks’ watchability, Gus Ragland is confirmed to return to action this week against Akron.

8. Eastern Michigan Eagles (PW: 9)

  • Record: 3-6 overall (1-4 MAC)
  • Low vote: 9 (three)
  • High vote: 7 (four times)
  • Average vote: 7.857

EMU took care of business against the Ball State Cardinals to help buoy its ranking this week. They will need to win out to attain bowl eligibility for the second-straight year and get CMU as their first chance at a W.

7. Buffalo Bulls (PW: 7)

  • Record: 3-6 overall (1-4 MAC)
  • Low vote: 8 (two votes)
  • High vote: 6 (one vote)
  • Average vote: 7.75

Buffalo moves up on the BYE and will next face a two-win BGSU team, so things are looking up for the boys from northern New York.

T-6. Central Michigan Chippewas (PW: 6)

  • Record: 5-4 overall (3-2 MAC)
  • Low vote: 6 (four votes)
  • High vote: 4 (one vote)
  • Average vote: 5.375

CMU scored 21 points in the second half to snatch the Victory Cannon away from heated rival Western Michigan, throwing a wrench in the MAC West race. Shane Morris looked great with a newly healthy offense as well. The Chips could finish with a respectable record.

T-6. Western Michigan Broncos (PW: 4)

  • Record: 5-4 (3-2 MAC)
  • Low vote: 7 (once)
  • High vote: 4 (twice)
  • Average vote: 5.375

WMU looked completely lost in a heart-breaking rivalry loss at home and it wasn’t the first time they’ve looked less-than this season. The Broncos will have to go back to the drawing board as two of their four leading rushers are out for the season and Reece Goddard looked bad in his first career start.

4. Akron Zips (PW: 5)

  • Record: 5-4 overall (4-1 MAC)
  • Low vote: 5 (three times)
  • High vote: 3 (once)
  • Average vote: 4.25

The Zips are coming off a BYE week and face a vulnerable Miami RedHawks side. Be careful though, Zips fans. Gus Ragland is back and could start the Great Collapse. Akron currently has a slim lead over Ohio in the MAC East.

3. Northern Illinois Huskies (PW: 2)

  • Record: 6-3 overall (4-1 MAC)
  • Low vote: 4 (once)
  • High vote: 2 (once)
  • Average vote: 3

NIU suffered a bad loss to the Rockets in terms of the MAC West race, but they’re still bowl-eligible and they’re still in the hunt, especially if Toledo somehow loses in the next couple weeks.

Now if only they could settle on a QB, they could be extremely dangerous.

2. Ohio Bobcats (PW: 3)

  • Record: 7-2 overall (4-1 MAC)
  • Low vote: 3 (once)
  • High vote: 2 (seven times)
  • Average vote: 2.125

Ohio throttled rival Miami to win the Battle of the Bricks and are in prime position to win the MAC East thanks to yet another dazzling performance by Nathan Rourke and the rest of the Bobcats offense. They’re a lot of fun to watch.

Toledo Rockets (PW: 1)

  • Record: 8-1 overall (5-0 MAC)
  • Unanimous #1

Last week really helped to make a serious decision for the voters, as all eight voters selected the Rockets as the best team in the MAC after a simply dominant performance against Northern Illinois.

They’ll next face Ohio in a potential MAC Championship Preview.

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