MAC Football Championship Game

Last updated
MAC Football
Championship Game
MAC Football Championship.jpg
Sport College football
Conference Mid-American Conference
Current stadium Ford Field
Current location Detroit, Michigan
Played1997–present
Last contest 2024
Current champion Ohio Bobcats
Most championships Marshall, Northern Illinois (5)
TV partner(s) ESPN/ESPN2
Official website MAC-Sports.com football
Sponsors
Marathon Petroleum (2003–2019)
Rocket Mortgage (2020–2022)
Host stadiums
Marshall University Stadium (1997–2000, 2002)
Glass Bowl (2001)
Doyt Perry Stadium (2003)
Ford Field (2004–present)
Host locations
Huntington, West Virginia (1997–2000, 2002)
Toledo, Ohio (2001)
Bowling Green, Ohio (2003)
Detroit, Michigan (2004–present)

The MAC Football Championship Game is an annual postseason college football game played to determine the champion of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

Contents

History

Locations of the full members of the Mid-American Conference. Mid-American Conference detailed map updated.png
Locations of the full members of the Mid-American Conference.

The game has been played since 1997, when the conference was first divided into divisions. For the 2024 season the MAC eliminated divisions and the game now features the teams with the best conference records. [1] A new tiebreaker system was established to compare teams with the same conference record. [2] The winner of the game is guaranteed a berth in a bowl game which the MAC has contractual obligations to field a team. Unlike the MAC's Group of Five contemporaries, which hold their respective championship games on campus sites, the MAC Championship Game is held at a neutral site. Ford Field in Detroit has been the venue since 2004 and is scheduled to host through at least 2025. [3] [4]

In 2000, 2001, and 2007, due to an unbalanced conference schedule, the team with best division record within each division was awarded that division's championship game berth. In other years, the teams with the best overall conference records received a berth. Starting in 2024 the MAC will eliminate divisions and include the two teams with the best overall conference records. [5]

The game is held on the first Saturday in December, on the same weekend that other NCAA Division I FBS conferences hold their championship games.

Results

Below are the results from all MAC Football Championship Games played. The winning team appears in bold font, on a background of their primary team color. Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.

From 1997 through 2003, the championship game was played at campus sites. Since 2004, the game has been played at Ford Field in Detroit where it is scheduled to be held through at least 2025. [6]

YearWestEastSiteAttendance
1997 Toledo Rockets 14 Marshall Thundering Herd 34 Marshall University Stadium • Huntington, WV 28,021
1998 Toledo Rockets 17 Marshall Thundering Herd 2328,085
1999 Western Michigan Broncos 3011 Marshall Thundering Herd 3428,069
2000 Western Michigan Broncos 14 Marshall Thundering Herd 1924,816
2001 Toledo Rockets 4120 Marshall Thundering Herd 36 Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH 20,025
2002 Toledo Rockets 4524 Marshall Thundering Herd 49Marshall University Stadium • Huntington, WV24,582
2003 20 Bowling Green Falcons 2713 Miami RedHawks 49 Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH 24,813
2004 Toledo Rockets 35 Miami RedHawks 27 Ford Field • Detroit, MI 22,138
2005 Northern Illinois Huskies 30 Akron Zips 3112,051
2006 Central Michigan Chippewas 31 Ohio Bobcats 1025,483
2007 Central Michigan Chippewas 35 Miami RedHawks 1025,013
2008 12 Ball State Cardinals 24 Buffalo Bulls 4212,871
2009 Central Michigan Chippewas 20 Ohio Bobcats 1023,714
2010 24 Northern Illinois Huskies 21 Miami RedHawks 2612,031
2011 Northern Illinois Huskies 23 Ohio Bobcats 2013,052
2012 19 Northern Illinois Huskies 442OT18 Kent State Golden Flashes 3718,132
2013 16 Northern Illinois Huskies 27 Bowling Green Falcons 4721,106
2014 Northern Illinois Huskies 51 Bowling Green Falcons 1715,110
2015 Northern Illinois Huskies 14 Bowling Green Falcons 3416,425
2016 13 Western Michigan Broncos 29 Ohio Bobcats 2345,615
2017 Toledo Rockets 45 Akron Zips 2816,225
2018 Northern Illinois Huskies 30 Buffalo Bulls 2910,255
2019 Central Michigan Chippewas 21 Miami RedHawks 2622,427
2020 Ball State Cardinals 3823 Buffalo Bulls 280‡
2021 Northern Illinois Huskies 41 Kent State Golden Flashes 2310,317
2022 Toledo Rockets 17 Ohio Bobcats 715,550
2023 Toledo Rockets 14 Miami RedHawks 2320,200
YearNo. 1 seedNo. 2 seedSiteAttendance
2024 Miami RedHawks 3 Ohio Bobcats 38Ford Field • Detroit, MI15,478

‡ 2020 game attendance was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results by team

AppearancesSchoolWinsLossesWin %Year(s) WonYear(s) Lost
9[[Northern Illinois Huskies football|Northern Illinois Huskies]]54.5562011, 2012, 2014, 2018, 20212005, 2010, 2013, 2015
8[[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo Rockets]]44.5002001, 2004, 2017, 20221997, 1998, 2002, 2023
7[[Miami RedHawks football|Miami RedHawks]]43.5712003, 2010, 2019, 20232004, 2007, 2024
6[[Marshall Thundering Herd football|Marshall Thundering Herd]]51.8331997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 20022001
6[[Ohio Bobcats football|Ohio Bobcats]]15.16720242006, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2022
4[[Central Michigan Chippewas football|Central Michigan Chippewas]]31.7502006, 2007, 20092019
4[[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green Falcons]]22.5002013, 20152003, 2014
3[[Buffalo Bulls football|Buffalo Bulls]]12.33320082018, 2020
3[[Western Michigan Broncos football|Western Michigan Broncos]]12.33320161999, 2000
2[[Akron Zips football|Akron Zips]]11.50020052017
2[[Ball State Cardinals football|Ball State Cardinals]]11.50020202008
2[[Kent State Golden Flashes football|Kent State Golden Flashes]]02.000 2012, 2021

Eastern Michigan and UMass are the only teams currently in the conference to have not qualified for a Championship Game. (UMass had been a football-only MAC member in the 2012–2015 seasons before returning in 2025 as a full member.) Marshall is the only Championship Game Winner to not be a current member of the MAC. Bowling Green is the only team that has represented both the East and West Divisions in the Championship Game (was a member of the West Division prior to Marshall's departure from the MAC). Temple and UCF were previously in the conference during this era and never reached the championship game;

Common matchups

Matchups that have occurred more than once:

# of TimesEast DivisionWest DivisionRecordYears played
4MarshallToledoMarshall, 3–11997, 1998, 2001, 2002
3Bowling GreenNorthern IllinoisBowling Green, 2–12013, 2014, 2015
2MarshallWestern MichiganMarshall, 2–01999, 2000
2OhioCentral MichiganCentral Michigan, 2–02006, 2009
2MiamiCentral MichiganTied, 1–12007, 2019
2BuffaloBall StateTied, 1–12008, 2020
2Kent StateNorthern IllinoisNorthern Illinois, 2–02012, 2021

MVPs

YearMVP(s)TeamPosition
1997 Randy Moss MarshallWR
1998 Chad Pennington QB
1999
2000 Byron Leftwich
2001 Chester Taylor ToledoRB
2002Byron LeftwichMarshallQB
2003 Ben Roethlisberger Miami
2004 Bruce Gradkowski Toledo
2005 Luke Getsy Akron
2006 Damien Linson Central MichiganWR
2007 Dan LeFevour QB
2008 Mike Newton BuffaloDB
2009Dan LeFevourCentral MichiganQB
2010 Thomas Merriweather MiamiRB
2011 Nathan Palmer Northern IllinoisWR
2012 Jordan Lynch QB
2013 Matt Johnson Bowling Green
2014Drew HareNorthern Illinois
2015Travis GreeneBowling GreenRB
2016 Corey Davis Western MichiganWR
2017 Logan Woodside ToledoQB (Offensive)
Danzel McKinley-Lewis WR (Special Teams)
2018 Marcus Childers Northern IllinoisQB (Offensive)
Sutton Smith LB (Defensive)
2019 Jack Sorenson MiamiWR (Offensive)
Emmanuel Rugamba LB (Defensive)
2020 Drew Plitt Ball StateQB (Offensive)
Jimmy Daw LB (Defensive)
2021 Jay Ducker Northern IllinoisRB (Offensive)
C.J. Brown DB (Defensive)
John Richardson PK (Special Teams)
2022 Dequan Finn ToledoQB (Offensive)
Dyontae Johnson LB (Defensive)
Jonathon Batzke P (Special Teams)
2023 Aveon Smith MiamiQB (Offensive)
Matt Salopek LB (Defensive)
Graham Nicholson K (Special Teams)
2024 Parker Navarro OhioQB (Offensive)
Bradley Weaver DE (Defensive)
Gianni Spetic K (Special Teams)

Game records

TeamRecord, Team vs. OpponentYear
Most points scored (one team)51, Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green2014
Most points scored (losing team)45, Toledo vs. Marshall2002
Fewest points scored (winning team)17, Toledo vs. Ohio2022
Fewest points scored3, Miami vs. Ohio2024
Most points scored (both teams)94, Marshall (49) vs. Toledo (45)2002
Fewest points scored (both teams)24, Toledo (17) vs. Ohio (7)2022
Most points scored in a half35, Buffalo (2nd half) vs. Ball State
Ball State (1st half) vs. Buffalo		2008
2020
Most points scored in a half (both teams)49, Marshall vs. Toledo (2nd half)2002
Largest margin of victory35, Ohio (38) vs. Miami (3)2024
Smallest margin of victory1, Akron (31) vs. Northern Illinois (30)
Northern Illinois (30) vs. Buffalo (29)		2005
2018
Total yards576, Miami (440 passing, 136 rushing) vs. Bowling Green2003
Rushing yards334, Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green2014
Passing yards440, Miami vs. Bowling Green2003
First downs32, Ohio vs. Miami2024
Fewest yards allowed189, Ohio vs. Miami (127 passing, 62 rushing)2024
Fewest rushing yards allowed37, Western Michigan vs. Ohio2016
Fewest passing yards allowed102, Kent State vs. Northern Illinois2021
IndividualRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYear
All-purpose yards448, Ben Roethlisberger, Miami vs. Bowling Green2003
Touchdowns (all-purpose)5, Matt Johnson, Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois2013
Rushing yards270, Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois vs. Akron2005
Rushing touchdowns4, Trinity Dawson, Toledo vs. Marshall2002
Passing yards440, Ben Roethlisberger, Miami vs. Bowling Green2003
Passing touchdowns5, Matt Johnson, Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois2013
Receiving yards191, Damien Linson, Central Michigan vs. Ohio2006
Receiving touchdowns4, Denero Marriott, Marshall vs. Toledo2001
Tackles17, Ty Wise, Miami vs. Ohio2024
Sacks2, shared by nine players, most recent:
Tyrece Woods Jr., Buffalo vs. Ball State		2020
Interceptions2, Dechane Durante, Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green2014
Long PlaysRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYear
Touchdown run96, Ontario Sneed, Central Michigan vs. Ohio2006
Touchdown pass86, Randy Moss from Chad Pennington, Marshall vs. Toledo1997
Kickoff return64, Clint Stephens, Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois2014
Punt return48, Danzel McKinley-Lewis, Toledo vs. Akron2017
Interception return64, Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green2015
Fumble return92, Mike Newton, Buffalo vs. Ball State2008
Punt75, Curtis Head, Marshall vs. Toledo2001
Field goal52, shared by:
Chris Nendick, Northern Illinois vs. Akron
Tyler Tate, Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois
Gianni Spetic, Ohio vs. Miami
2005
2013
2024
MiscellaneousRecord, Team vs. TeamYear
Game attendance45,615, Ohio vs. Western Michigan2016

Source: [7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ramsey, Jared (November 30, 2023). "MAC to replace divisions with new system for 2024". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  2. ↑ "MAC Announces New Football Tiebreaker Procedures". MAC. September 18, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  3. ↑ "MAC Announces Three Year Contract Extension With Ford Field". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  4. ↑ Kelly, Kyle (November 30, 2023). "MAC signs three-year extension to keep football title game at Ford Field". FBS Schedules. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ Paul, Tony (November 30, 2023). "Mid-American Conference to go to pods alignment for 2024". Detroit News. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  6. ↑ Kelly, Kevin (2023-11-30). "MAC Championship Game to remain in Detroit through 2025 season". FBS Schedules. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  7. ↑ "C-USA Records Master" (PDF). conferenceusa.com. pp. 35–36. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.