2009 Conference Champion: Central Michigan Chippewas 12-2 (8-0 MAC)
2009 Conference Runner-Up: Ohio Bobcats 9-5 (7-1 MAC)
Team Rankings: Central Michigan continued its streak of dominance in the MAC, winning its third championship in four years. The bottom third of the conference hurts its overall ranking, as the MAC has four teams below #100 and three teams ranked among the 5 worst in the country. Temple's late season surge behind up-and-coming coach Al Golden will fight former Nebraska coach Frank Solich's Ohio Bobcats for the right to face Central Michigan (or dark horse pick Northern Illinois) in the 2010 title game, while the rest of the conference will likely remain mired in the lower half of FBS.
1. | Central Michigan | 0.6863 | 12-2 | #17 |
2. | Temple | 0.5839 | 9-4 | #45 |
3. | Ohio | 0.5811 | 9-5 | #47 |
4. | Bowling Green | 0.5149 | 7-6 | #60 |
5. | Northern Illinois | 0.4832 | 7-6 | #66 |
6. | Buffalo | 0.3903 | 5-7 | #81 |
7. | Toledo | 0.3757 | 5-7 | #85 |
8. | Kent State | 0.3709 | 5-7 | #87 |
9. | Western Michigan | 0.3563 | 5-7 | #90 |
10. | Akron | 0.2237 | 3-9 | #105 |
11. | Ball State | 0.1536 | 2-10 | #115 |
12. | Miami OH | 0.1106 | 1-11 | #116 |
13. | Eastern Michigan | 0.0645 | 0-12 | #119 |
Awards!
Best Showing in an Out of Conference Game:
Central Michigan 29, Michigan State 27. In one of the craziest endings to a football game last season, Central Michigan scored a touchdown with 32 seconds to play to come within one point of the Spartans, 26 to 27. Chippewas coach Butch Jones decided to go for the win with a two point conversion. Dan LeFevour's pass was caught out of bounds, but the Chippewas weren't going to give up just yet - a successful onside kick and Central Michigan had the ball back, and promptly drove to set up a 42 yard field goal by Andrew Aguila to seal the unlikely victory.
Worst Showing in an Out of Conference Game:
Tie: Villanova 27, Temple 24 and New Hampshire 23, Ball State 16. Even MAC schools should not lose to FCS teams.
Best Conference Game:
Bowling Green 36, Kent State 35. Falcons QB Tyler Sheehan ran for a touchdown from 9 yards out with just 5 seconds to go to cap a rally from a 12 point deficit with just over 12 minutes to play. The game was marked by series of momentum shifts, as Kent State went on a 14-0 run to start the game, then gave way to a 17-0 run by BGSU. After halftime the antics continued, as Kent opened the 3rd quarter with two more touchdowns. Bowling Green's fourth quarter comeback would be a prelude to that of their bowl game opponent, Idaho.
Best Showing in a Bowl Game:
Central Michigan 44, Troy 41 (2OT). The bowl season for a conference must be quite disappointing if the best win comes in a game in which you're favored by double digits and win in overtime. But as a capstone to Dan LeFevour's record-setting career, the win was sweet. The CMU quarterback moved into second place on the all-time total yards record with 15,898, fifth place in career completions, and tenth in passing yards.
Worst Showing in a Bowl Game:
Marshall 21, Ohio 17. There were a couple other teams that could have filled this spot. However, the pathetic show Ohio put on was in a league of its own. A division champion should not have the offensive problems the Bobcats experienced against 6-6 Marshall, in a game they should have won by three touchdowns.
Best Scoring Offense: Central Michigan
Best Passing Offense: Central Michigan
Best Rushing Offense: Ball State
Best Scoring Defense: Central Michigan
Best Passing Defense: Buffalo
Best Rushing Defense: Temple
Least Penalized Team: Northern Illinois
Best Turnover Ratio: Temple
Week 1 Matchups / Prediction Of The Week
Thursday, September 2
SE Missouri State at Ball State
Rhode Island at Buffalo
Hampton at Central Michigan
Murray State at Kent State
Northern Illinois at Iowa State - POTW!
The Huskies come ready to play, and eek out a win in Ames. Northern Illinois 21, Iowa State 20.
Friday, September 3
Villanova at Temple
Arizona at Toledo
Saturday, September 4
Miami OH at Florida
Western Michigan at Michigan State
Bowling Green at Troy
Syracuse at Akron
Wofford at Ohio
Army at Eastern Michigan
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