The Big Ten Conference is the oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives in 1896, it predates the founding of its regulating organization, the NCAA. It is based in the Chicago area in Rosemont, Illinois. For many decades the conference consisted of ten prominent universities, which accounts for its name. On August 2, 2024, the conference expanded to 18 member institutions and 2 affiliate institutions. The conference competes in the NCAA Division I and its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A, the highest level of NCAA competition in that sport.
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members located in Illinois, Indiana, and New York. For football, the MAC participates in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision.
The MAC Football Championship Game is an annual postseason college football game played to determine the champion of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
The Eastern Michigan Eagles are a college football program at Eastern Michigan University. They compete in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Mid-American Conference. Past names include "Michigan State Normal College Normalites", "Michigan State Normal College Hurons", and "Eastern Michigan Hurons".
The Western Michigan Broncos football program represents Western Michigan University in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season. In 1927, WMU joined four other schools to form the Michigan Collegiate Conference. Western Michigan then moved to its present conference in 1948. Prior to 1939, Western Michigan's athletic teams were known as the Hilltoppers.
The Central Michigan Chippewas are a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University (CMU). CMU has the 30th highest overall winning percentage of programs playing in NCAA Division I.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles, formerly known as the Normalites and the Hurons, are the athletic teams for Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. The Eagles compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The only exception is the women's rowing program, which is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. Altogether, the Eagles have won three NCAA Division II national championships and 13 NAIA Division I national championships in five different sports ; moreover, EMU has been NCAA Division I national runner-up twice. In 1940, the men's cross country team finished second to Indiana University at the national meet hosted by Michigan State University.
The 2006 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan State competed as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans were led by fourth-year head coach John L. Smith. Smith had compiled a combined 18–18 record in his previous seasons at Michigan State, and he was fired after the 2006 season in which the team finished 4–8. The Spartans did, however, set the record for the greatest comeback from a deficit in college football history.
The 1987 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team represented Eastern Michigan University during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), was coached by Jim Harkema, and played their homes game at Rynearson Stadium. They finished the season 10–2 overall and 7–1 in MAC play while winning the MAC championship. It was their first conference team since joining the MAC and first overall since winning the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1957. The Hurons went to the 1987 California Bowl and upset 171/2 point favorite San Jose State for their first bowl win in EMU history. It is the first and so far only time Eastern Michigan has had a ten win season along with their last bowl appearance until 2016.
The 2006 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Central Michigan competed as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Chippewas were led by third-year head coach Brian Kelly.
The 2005 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division. The team was coached by Jeff Genyk and played their homes game in Rynearson Stadium.
The 2015 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Chris Creighton. The Eagles played their home games at Rynearson Stadium and were members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. The team finished 1–11, 0–8 in MAC play to finish in last place in the West Division.
The 2002 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third season under head coach Jeff Woodruff, the Eagles compiled a 3–9 record, finished in last place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, and were outscored by their opponents 566 to 286. The team's statistical leaders included Troy Edwards with 2,762 passing yards, Ime Akpan with 1,221 rushing yards, and Kevin Walter with 1,368 receiving yards.
The 2001 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Jeff Woodruff, the Eagles compiled a 2–9 record, finished in last place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, and were outscored by their opponents, 356 to 197. The team's statistical leaders included Kainoa Akina with 1,504 passing yards, Chris R. Roberson with 755 rushing yards, and Kevin Walter with 748 receiving yards. Scott Russell received the team's most valuable player award.
The 2000 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first season under head coach Jeff Woodruff, the Eagles compiled a 3–8 record, finished in fifth place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, and were outscored by their opponents, 350 to 209. The team's statistical leaders included Walter Church with 2,326 passing yards, John White with 561 rushing yards, and Kenny Christian with 808 receiving yards. Walter Church received the team's most valuable player award.
The 1999 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach Rick Rasnick, the Eagles compiled a 4–7 record, finished in fourth place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, and were outscored by their opponents, 338 to 239. The team's statistical leaders included Walter Church with 2,015 passing yards, Eric Powell with 583 rushing yards, and Brandon Campbell with 764 receiving yards. Donald "Blake" McCall received the team's most valuable player award.
The 1998 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth season under head coach Rick Rasnick, the Eagles compiled a 3–8 record, finished in fourth place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, and were outscored by their opponents, 309 to 216. The team's statistical leaders included Walter Church with 2,650 passing yards, Eric Powell with 473 rushing yards, and Jermaine Sheffield with 953 receiving yards. L. J. Shelton received the team's most valuable player award.
The 1997 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third season under head coach Rick Rasnick, the Eagles compiled a 4–7 record, finished in fourth place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, and were outscored by their opponents, 352 to 329. The team's statistical leaders included Charlie Batch with 3,280 passing yards, Savon Edwards with 627 rushing yards, and Ta-if Kumasi with 710 receiving yards. Batch went on to play 15 years in the National Football League.
The 1988 Eastern Michigan Hurons football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth season under head coach Jim Harkema, the Hurons compiled a 6–3–1 record, finished in second place in the Mid-American Conference, and outscored their opponents, 200 to 173. The team lost to Arizona by a 55-0 score. The team's statistical leaders included Tom Sullivan with 1,664 passing yards, Bob Foster with 762 rushing yards, and Craig Ostrander with 676 receiving yards.
The 2017 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Chris Creighton and played their home games at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles finished the season 5–7, 3–5 in MAC play to finish in fifth place in the West Division.
