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Week 2 has come and gone, and what a relef, because it was a slaughter for the majority of MAC teams in play.
As a collective, the MAC picked up just three victories, going 3-8 in 11 games. Those victories belonged to Miami, Kent State and Ball State, who all played FCS squads. It was, to say the least, not the greatest week of MAC football that ever was.
It’s still extremely early to make observations about a lot of teams, as most have a win over inferior competition and a loss to a more poweerfiul program, but as a whole, perhaps the MAC is a little more wide-open than we previously thought.
Our voters had a difficult time placing teams, especially in the middle, and it’ll likely reflect in our rankings below.
Without further ado: the votes.
12. Akron Zips (Last week: 12)
- Average vote: 11.28
- Highest vote: 10 (two votes)
- Lowest vote: 12 (four votes)
Akron followed up an expected loss to Illinois with... another expected loss to UAB. This time, it was in bizzare fashion, as they blew a 6-0 lead to give UAB a 31-point unaswered run before recouping 14 points back to make the score more respectable. As the only winless team, they’re stuck at 12 for now.
11. Kent State Golden Flashes (LW: 11)
- Average vote: 10.28
- Highest vote: 9 (three)
- Lowest vote: 12 (one)
Kent State had to depend on the golden leg of Matthew Trickett and the moxie of Dustin Crum to narrowly edge Kennesaw State in overtime on their home field. But they would not have been in that position were it not for a few lucky breaks, specifically with penalties on multiple Owl touchdowns. They’re in a bad place right now.
10. Bowling Green Falcons (LW: 10)
- Average vote: 10.14
- Highest vote: 9 (three)
- Lowest vote: 12 (one)
Welp, that loss to K-State was largely expected, so there’s not much lost for BGSU here. But the smackdown was made worse by the NCAA declaring projected starter Matt McDonald as ineligible to play, adding insult to injury. The Falcons will hope Andrew Clair comes back from injury to play in next week’s game.
9. Central Michigan Chippewas (LW: 9)
- Average vote: 10
- Highest vote: 7 (one)
- Lowest vote: 12 (one)
Speaking of getting demolished, CMU not only got steamrolled 61-0 by Wisconsin, they lost their two best offensive players and another defensive player to injury. Things aren’t looking great for the Chippewas to get back on track, but they do draw Akron next.
8. Ball State Cardinals (LW: 8)
- Average vote: 7.625
- Highest vote: 6 (one)
- Lowest vote: 8 (six)
Ball State took care of business like they haven’t done in quite some time with a beatdown of Fordham at home this week, rewriting the record books along the way. They’re now at 1-1 after losing a tough neutral site game to Indiana. It’s early, but BSU looks really good so far.
t-6. Buffalo Bulls (LW: 7)
- Average vote: 5.857
- Highest vote: 5 (one)
- Lowest vote: 6 (six)
Buffalo looked like they were going to get away with one at Happy Valley at one point on Saturday night, but ultimaltely couldn’t keep up with Penn State. It was an admirable effort, and the Bulls look like they could make a run in the MAC East if they can figure out a few things.
t-6. Miami (OH) RedHawks (LW: 6)
- Average vote: 5.857
- Highest vote: 4 (two)
- Lowest vote: 8 (one)
Miami had a happy Homecoming, taking a convincing win over Tennessee Tech on Saturday. It’s only Week 2, but the Brett Gabbert experience seems to be working for the most part so far. They’ll be stuck in the middle until they can prove better against peer competition.
t-4. Eastern Michigan Eagles (LW: 5)
- Average vote: 4.857
- Highest vote: 2 (one)
- Lowest vote: 7 (two)
No one-score game this time for the Eagles, as they weren’t able to keep up with the Kentucky WIldcats on the road, in what was previously a home game. If I were an EMU fan, I’d be wondering if results could have been different if the game were in Ypsi. But the Eagles showed admirable effort, and there’s a lot of potential for growth there.
t-4. Western Michigan Broncos (LW: 3)
- Average vote: 4.857
- Highest vote: 3 (one)
- Lowest vote: 7 (two)
WMU’s lack of options at the skill positions really showed up on Satuday, as they were dismantled by MIchigan State in East Lansing. It was hard for the Broncos to get anything going, the complete opposite of their game against Monouth the week before. Next on the schedule comes the emerging Georgia State. WMU's ranking here is likely some projection for the future.
3. Northern Illinois Huskies (LW: 4)
- Average vote: 3
- Highest vote: 2 (one)
- Lowest vote: 4 (two)
NIU faded late against #13 Utah, but in the first half, they looked as good as any team in the country, surprising the Utes with a high-flying offense. (It’s been ages since you could say that about NIU.) Even in a loss, the Huskies showed they’re going to be a handful to deal with, as Ross Bowers suddenly gives NIU a passing edge to go along with their tough run game.
2. Toledo Rockets (open: 2)
- Average vote: 2.14
- Highest vote: 1 (three)
- Lowest vote: 5 (one)
Toledo was on an idle week ahead of their FCS cupcake game against Murray State on Saturday, and stay at #2.
1. Ohio Bobcats (open: 1)
- Average vote: 1.125
- Highest vote: 1 (seven)
- Lowest vote: 2 (one)
There’s still a lot of believers in the Ohio Bobcats in the Hustle Belt voting room, as they remain on top despite a 20-10 loss to Pittsburgh that many had the Bobcats potentially winning. It was, perhaps, an off day for Ohio, as QB Nathan Rourke fought an illness. Thank goodness for them they still have 10 games left in the regular season.