2017 Mid-American Conference football season

Last updated

2017 Mid American Conference football season
Mid-American Conference logo.svg
League NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport Football
DurationAugust 31, 2017 – December 2017
Number of teams12
Regular Season
Season championsToledo Rockets
  Runners-upAkron Zips
Season MVP Logan Woodside
MAC Championship Game
Football seasons
  2016
2018  
2017 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Akron xy  6 2   7 7  
Ohio  5 3   9 4  
Miami (OH)  4 4   5 7  
Buffalo  4 4   6 6  
Bowling Green  2 6   2 10  
Kent State  1 7   2 10  
West Division
Toledo xy$  7 1   11 3  
Central Michigan  6 2   8 5  
Northern Illinois  6 2   8 5  
Western Michigan  4 4   6 6  
Eastern Michigan  3 5   5 7  
Ball State  0 8   2 10  
Championship: Toledo 45, Akron 28
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant

The 2017 Mid-American Conference football season was the 72nd season for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and part of the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on August 31 and ended on November 25. The entire schedule was released on March 1. [1] The Toledo Rockets won the conference championship game over the Akron Zips.

Contents

Previous season

Preseason

Preseason Poll

The Preseason poll was released at the MAC Media Day in Canton, Ohio. [2]

East Division

  1. Ohio Bobcats (11), 131
  2. Miami RedHawks (12), 129
  3. Bowling Green Falcons (1), 88
  4. Akron Zips, 79
  5. Buffalo Bulls, 41
  6. Kent State Golden Flashes, 36

West Division

  1. Toledo Rockets (22), 142
  2. Western Michigan Broncos (1), 107
  3. Northern Illinois Huskies (1), 89
  4. Eastern Michigan Eagles, 74
  5. Central Michigan Chippewas, 62
  6. Ball State Cardinals, 30

MAC Championship

The Toledo Rockets were selected as favorites to win the Mid-American Conference by receiving 21 of 24 votes. Others receiving one vote a piece were defending champions, Western Michigan Broncos, Bowling Green Falcons and Miami RedHawks. [3]

Head coaches

Pre-season coaching changes

Schedule

Regular season

Week 1

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
August 317:00 p.m. Buffalo Minnesota TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN BTN L 7-17  43,224
August 317:00 p.m. Elon Toledo Glass BowlToledo, OH ESPN3 W 47-13  22,104
August 317:00 p.m. Rhode Island Central Michigan Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI ESPN3 W 30-27 3OT 16,311
September 16:30 p.m. Charlotte Eastern Michigan Rynearson StadiumYpsilanti, MI ESPN3 W 24-7  12,823
September 18:30 p.m. Boston College Northern Illinois Huskie StadiumDeKalb, IL CBSSN L 20-23  16,421
September 212:00 p.m. Akron No. 6  Penn State Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA ABC L 0-52  101,684
September 212:00 p.m. Bowling Green Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI ESPNU L 10-35  71,202
September 212:00 p.m. Ball State Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL BTN L 21-24  42,505
September 212:00 p.m. Kent State No. 5  Clemson Memorial StadiumClemson, SC ESPN L 3-56  80,121
September 25:15 p.m. Western Michigan No. 4  USC Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA P12N L 31-49  61,125
September 26:30 p.m. Miami Marshall Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV STADIUM L 26-31  22,463
September 27:00 p.m. Hampton Ohio Peden StadiumAthens, OH ESPN3 W 59-0  17,501
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 2

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 88:00 p.m. Ohio Purdue Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN FS1 L 21-44  45,633
September 912:00 p.m. Buffalo Army Michie StadiumWest Point, NY CBSSN L 17-21  24,017
September 92:30 pm Eastern Illinois Northern Illinois Huskie StadiumDeKalb, IL ESPN3 W 38-10  16,722
September 93:00 p.m. Central Michigan Kansas Memorial StadiumLawrence, KS FSN W 45-27  28,531
September 93:05 p.m. UAB Ball State Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN ESPN3 W 51-31  11,555
September 93:30 p.m. Howard Kent State Dix StadiumKent, OH ESPN3 W 38-31  20,312
September 93:30 p.m. Austin Peay Miami Yager StadiumOxford, OH ESPN3 W 31-10  15,960
September 93:30 p.m. Eastern Michigan Rutgers High Point Solutions StadiumPiscataway, NJ BTN W 16-13  37,661
September 93:30 p.m. Western Michigan Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI BTN L 14-28  72,910
September 96:00 p.m. South Dakota Bowling Green Doyt Perry StadiumBowling Green, OH ESPN3 L 27-35  19,912
September 96:30 p.m. Arkansas–Pine Bluff Akron InfoCision StadiumAkron, OH ESPN3 W 52-3  17,464
September 97:00 p.m. Toledo Nevada Mackay StadiumReno, NV ESPN3 W 37-24  18,617
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 3

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 1612:00 p.m. Kansas Ohio Peden StadiumAthens, OH ESPNU W 42-30  24,000
September 1612:00 p.m. Iowa State Akron InfoCision StadiumAkron, OH CBSSN L 14-41  22,811
September 1612:00 p.m. Northern Illinois Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE FS1 W 21-17  89,664
September 163:00 p.m. Tennessee Tech Ball State Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN ESPN3 W 28-13  14,265
September 163:30 p.m. Central Michigan Syracuse Carrier DomeSyracuse, NY ACCN L 17-41  33,004
September 166:00 p.m. Colgate Buffalo UB StadiumBuffalo, NY ESPN3 W 33-10  11,546
September 166:30 p.m. Kent State Marshall Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV L 0-21  24,044
September 167:00 p.m. Tulsa Toledo Glass BowlToledo ESPN3 W 54-51  24,239
September 167:00 p.m. Idaho Western Michigan Waldo StadiumKalamazoo, MI ESPN3 W 37-28  25,732
September 167:30 p.m. Bowling Green Northwestern Ryan FieldEvantson, IL BTN L 27-49  33,706
September 168:00 p.m. Cincinnati Miami Yager StadiumOxford, OH ESPN3 L 17-21  21,811
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Championship game

Week 14 (MAC Championship game)

Records against FBS conferences

2017 records against FBS conferences

ConferenceRecord
The American 1–1
ACC 0–6
Big Ten 2–7
Big 12 2–1
C-USA 3–4
Independents 2–2
Mountain West 1–1
Pac-12 0–1
SEC 0–1
Sun Belt 1–1
Total12–25

Power–Five conferences and independents

Power 5 ConferencesRecord
ACC 0–6
Big Ten 2–7
Big 12 2–1
Pac-12 0–1
SEC 0–1
Notre Dame 0–1
Power 5 Total4–17

Group of Five conferences

Group of 5 ConferencesRecord
American 1–1
C-USA 3–4
Mountain West 1–1
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame) 2–1
Sun Belt 1–1
FBS Total8–8

FCS Subdivision

FCS OpponentsRecord
Football Championship Subdivision 10–1
Total FCS Record10–1

Postseason awards

2017 MAC Specialty Award Winners

Coach of The Year – Jason Candle, Toledo
Freshman of the Year – Marcus Childers, Northern Illinois
Offensive Player of the Year – Logan Woodside, Toledo
Defensive Player of the Year – Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
Special Teams Player of the Year – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner – Logan Woodside, Toledo

All Conference Teams

2017 All–MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Logan Woodside, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Max Scharping, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
Offensive Linemen – Elijah Nkansah, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Brant Weiss, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – John Keenoy, Western Michigan
Tight End – Shane Wimann, Northern Illinois
Wide Receiver – Diontae Johnson, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Anthony Johnson, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – James Gardner, Miami
Wide Receiver – Sergio Bailey, Eastern Michigan
Running Back – Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan
Running Back – Terry Swanson, Toledo
Placekicker – Jameson Vest, Toledo

2017 All–MAC First team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Ulysees Gilbert, Akron
Outside Linebacker – Jim Jones, Kent State
Inside Linebacker – Khalil Hodge, Buffalo
Inside Linebacker – Quentin Poling, Ohio
Down Lineman – Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineman – Joe Ostman, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Anthony Winbush, Ball State
Defensive Back – Amari Coleman, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back – Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois
Punter – Joe Davidson, Bowling Green

2017 All–MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan
Punt Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo

2017 All–MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Nathan Rourke, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Jake Pruehs, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Jimmy Leatiota, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Joe Lowery, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Luke Juriga, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Joe Anderson, Ohio
Tight End – Donnie Ernsberger, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Corey Willis, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Justin Hall, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Papi White, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Teo Redding, Bowling Green
Running Back – A. J. Ouellette, Ohio
Running Back – Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan
Placekicker – Jake Suder, Bowling Green

2017 All–MAC Second Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Bobby Jones IV, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker – Chad Moore, Ohio
Inside Linebacker – Robert Spillane, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Malik Fountain, Central Michigan
Down Lineback – Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineback – Ola Adeniyi, Toledo
Down Lineback – Demone Harris, Buffalo
Down Lineback – Jon Cunningham, Kent State
Defensive Back – Alvin Davis, Akron
Defensive Back – Josh Cox, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Sam Beal, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Javon Hagan, Ohio
Punter – Derek Adams, Kent State

2017 All–MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo
Punt Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan

2017 All–MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback – Brogan Roback, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – JP Quinn, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – James O’Hagan, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Vinnie Palazeti, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Jordan Rigg, Miami
Tight End – Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Mark Chapman, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Scotty Miller, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Tra’Von Chapman, Akron
Wide Receiver – Spencer Tears, Northern Illinois
Running Back – Jordan Huff, Northern Illinois
Running Back – Andrew Clair, Bowling Green
Placekicker – Louie Zervos, Ohio

2017 All–MAC Third Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Jawuan Johnson, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker – Asantay Brown, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Jason Beck, Eastern Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Nate Locke, Bowling Green
Down Lineman – Chuck Harris, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Josh Corcoran, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Jamal Davis II, Akron
Down Lineman – Ikeem Allen, Miami
Defensive Back – Heath Harding, Miami
Defensive Back – Demetrius Monday, Kent State
Defensive Back – Bradd Ellis, Ohio
Defensive Back – Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan
Punter – Derrick Mitchell, Western Michigan

2017 All–MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Malik Dunner, Ball State
Punt Return Specialist – Papi White, Ohio

[4]

Power 5 ConferencesRecord
ACC 0–0
Big Ten 0–0
Big 12 0–0
Pac-12 0–0
SEC 0–0
Power 5 Total0–0
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American 0–0
C–USA 0–0
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame) 0–0
Mountain West 0–0
Sun Belt 0-0
Other FBS Total0–0
Total Bowl Record0–0

Postseason

Bowl games

Legend
 MAC win
 MAC loss

(Rankings from final CFP Poll; All times EST)

DateTimeBowl GameSiteTVMAC TeamOpponentResult
December 19, 20177:00 p.m. Boca Raton Bowl FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL ESPN Akron Florida Atlantic L 3–50
December 22, 201712:30 p.m. Bahamas Bowl Thomas Robinson StadiumNassau, Bahamas ESPNOhio UAB W 41–6
December 22, 20174:00 p.m. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID ESPNCentral Michigan Wyoming L 14–37
December 23, 20177:00 p.m. Dollar General Bowl Ladd–Peebles StadiumMobile, AL ESPNToledo Appalachian State L 0–34
December 26, 20175:15 p.m. Quick Lane Bowl Ford FieldDetroit, MI ESPNNorthern Illinois Duke L 14–36

Home game attendance

References

  1. "MAC releases schedule zero Saturday Games in November". USA Today . Gannett Company . Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  2. "MAC Football 2017: Toledo, Ohio University picked as division winners in preseason poll". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  3. "MAC Football 2017: Toledo, Ohio University picked as division winners in preseason poll". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  4. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/11/28/mac-announces-2017-postseason-football-awards.aspx