MAC Preview, Projections: Nearly 5,000 Words On Toledo, Ohio & MACtion In 2025

Surveying college football's niche conference, the MAC – the highs, the lows, and the race for the Michigan MAC Trophy.

Aug 02, 2025

We knew college football was fundamentally changed forever when some of its biggest brands changed conference affiliation. But we knew those changes were irreversible with they came for the Mid-American Conference – a league so infallible and beloved that it introduced the world to college football on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in November, lovingly called, “MACtion.” UMass joins the MAC ranks in 2025 (for a second go-around) but at the cost of Northern Illinois departing in 2026 for the Mountain West.

The usual suspects are your frontrunners—Toledo, Ohio, Miami (OH)—but there’s some really intriguing pieces like Buffalo. Teams like Bowling Green and Northern Illinois just need one or two things to break and either one could be exceptionally disruptive. The bottom of this league is so bad that it becomes fascinating again. Kent State may recalibrate what “rock bottom” is while Akron’s APR is too low for it to participate in a bowl. And, of course, there’s intrigue in the Michigan MAC Trophy – a three-way competition for Michigan supremacy between Central, Eastern, and Western Michigan. So, let’s dive into it all.

I’m biased toward the MAC. I went to a MAC school, worked for its football program, and attended every Tuesday and Wednesday night game Bowling Green had to offer. My love for college football was born in the MAC. So you may read a more positive tone in this article than others, but know that I still surveyed its land in the most unbiased way I could.

As the weeks of the offseason wane, I’m previewing every conference for the upcoming 2025 college football season. Continue the conversation on Twitter.

MAC 2025 Preseason Power Ratings

Table Key (all ranks except power rankings are national):

Rank (Power ranking, conference)
Proj. Wins (Projected total wins)
Return (Returning production, total)
PPG (Points per game scored)
PPGA (Points per game allowed)
L5 (Last five years recruiting average, national)

Toledo Rockets

For the umpteenth consecutive year, Toledo has the highest-level talent and most number of NFL players on its roster. Its quarterback is experienced and efficient, it rosters a top-end receiver and running back, and its secondary is among the very best in the entire country.

And stop me if you’ve heard that before.

The statement rings true in 2025 once again under QB Tucker Gleason (2,808 yards passing, 31 total touchdowns), WR John Vandeross III (957 yards), and Power Four journeyman RB transfer Chip Trayanum. The secondary, led by CB Avery Smith, isn’t just MAC elite, it’s nationally elite. But in 10 years under head coach Jason Handle, the Rockets have two MAC Championships to speak of – an equal number to Miami (OH) and Northern Illinois. Their three championship game appearances are equalled by Ohio and NIU in that time.

Candle remains a coach that can’t stay out of his own way at times, highlighted just recently by a 21-14 fumbling at Akron with a spot in the MAC Championship on the line. And in the Battle of i-75—Toledo’s ferocious rivalry with Bowling Green that the Rockets won nine straight from 2010-18 despite BG winning a pair of MAC titles in that time—is a losing one, with Bowling Green winning two of the last three and the teams splitting the last six.

Despite being head-and-shoulders the most talented team in the MAC, Toledo underachieves.

But this year could be different as Gleason is a legitimate quarterback (he threw for 636 yards and a 5:1 TD:INT ratio against Mississippi State and Pitt combined) and he has another weapon in the passing game in NIU transfer Trayvon Rudolph. The RB behind Trayanum is NC A&T transfer Kenji Christian, who rushed for 8.8 yards per carry in limited action last year. Three starters return on the offensive line and the addition of Terrence Moore (who jumped ship after watching Toledo beat his own Pitt Panthers in the bowl game) makes this the best unit in the conference.

No starters in the front six return and that’s a problem. Depth along the defensive line, currently, is a concern, though Toledo has a history of developing some absolute studs up front. DT Martex Poynter was effective as a rotator and could be all-conference material this season. While those players don’t have starting experience, few are actually transfers and should know the system. Fortunately, they can rely on that elite defensive secondary.

In a year where the defense has question marks, the offense has few. Should a team be able to move the ball up front against the Rockets, that team will still need to score 30+ to win. An improved run game should prevent several stinkers (Toledo fell short of 16 points four times and went 0-4). This is a team capable of winning 10+ games this season, but that’s been the projection for the last half-decade.

Ohio Bobcats

Despite losing another prolific head coach (Tim Albin, Charlotte), Ohio reloads with an internal hire and surprisingly few transfers out. DC-now-HC Brian Smith looks to make it four straight 10-win seasons for the Bobcats and follow up their first MAC Championship since 1968. They have the pieces to do so.

The players Smith was able to retain is impressive and no retention is as important as dual threat QB Parker Navarro. The rising senior accounted for 31 touchdowns (18 rushing!) and ran for over 1,000 net yards – that includes yards lost on sacks. He needs to cut down on the interceptions (he threw 11, including three against FCS Morgan State and at least one in four of his last five games) but the dynamism Navarro brings in the run game gives him among the most upside in the MAC.

RB Sieh Banguara returns to Athens after a gap year with Minnesota. Bangura rushed for nearly 1,900 yards in his two seasons and adds a threat in the throw game with nearly 400 receiving yards. He’s capable of making up for over 1,200 vacant yards from outbound Anthony Tyus, but that’s a tall order. Four of the top five receivers also return, but 1,200-yard receiver Coleman Owen does not.

The biggest concerns for Ohio come on both lines. Two all-conference caliber offensive linemen, guard Davion Weatherspoon and Rutgers transfer Shedrick Rhodes, anchor that unit and guard Trent Allen started four games last year. Nobody in the front seven returns and both depth and capability are questions, though size is not. Four called upon starters come from FCS, D-II, or D-III.

A big reason for Albin’s 31-10 record the last three seasons at Ohio is a successful culture. Buy-in from players and coaches develop them into top-end talent in the MAC. Smith was able to hang on to a large portion of a defensive staff that helped the Bobcats finish 14th in scoring defense a year ago.

So while there are questions, this is a team capable of continuing its success in 2025.

Buffalo Bulls

Head coach Pete Lembo was a late addition last spring after his predecessor decided that the transfer portal and NIL were too much an influence to retain a head coaching position. Coming off a 3-9 season and seemingly scrambling for a new leader, expectations were low for Buffalo. So, the Bulls went 9-4.

That 9-4 came from a five-game win streak and nearly vaulted Buffalo into its first MAC Championship game since 2020. That vault may come in 2025 as Buffalo reloads a downright stacked roster.

The defense leads the way with 10 returning starters, three of which earned All-MAC honors. Kobe Stewart led the conference with 9.5 sacks and added 12 TFLs to that total. LB Red Murdock leads all MAC returners with 16.5 TFLs and 156 tackles (that’s in spite of competing with all-time tackling machine Shaun Dolac’s 168). The other linebacker, Dion Crawford, returns the second-most TFLs (15) and sacks (8.5). The two returning interior defensive linemen, George Wolo and Cornell Evans, both compete for preseason all-conference selections. This is the single deepest and best front seven in the MAC and perhaps in the entire Group of Five.

Through October, Buffalo handles a schedule chock-full of questionable offenses, including its opening game at Minnesota. They then play St. Francis (a declining FCS-to-D2 program), Kent State (the nation’s worst team), Troy (an improving but not impenetrable offense), UConn (at home), Eastern Michigan, UMass, and Akron. This could be a 7-1 team come November 1 with a top-five scoring defense thanks to both its talent and schedule.

Offense is less of a home run. Out goes dual threat QB CJ Ogbonna and in comes Ta’Quan Roberson. He’s a less proven runner and questionable passer, though Kansas State saw enough value to take him on as a transfer last year. RB Al-Jay Henderson rushed for the nation’s quietest 1,078 yards while also adding over 200 receiving yards. WR Victor Snow earned All-MAC honors but the rest of the receiving room is unknown.

Two all-conference linemen return and transfer center Jake Timm earned all-league honors at FCS Long Island last season. This offensive front projects as the MAC’s best.

But all of this could be undone if Roberson doesn’t step into a big role. Buffalo’s ceiling is championship worthy and its final two-game stretch against Miami and Ohio (both at home!) will be monumental for the landscape of the league.

The MAC Contender: Miami (OH) Redhawks

For the first time since 1994, Brett Gabbert won’t be the starting quarterback for the Miami Redhawks. Instead, coach Chuck Martin actually entertained the transfer portal and brought in former rival Dequan Finn at QB. Finn spent last year with Baylor after a solid Toledo career. He’s a playmaker and athlete, but oftentimes is inaccurate and now operates in a system with less leeway.

Around him are a bunch of unknowns. Zero offensive starters return and this is a scheme that, historically, doesn’t score a bunch of points; Miami scored 40+ twice over the last three seasons against FBS foes under OC Pat Welsh. One of several Power Conference transfers out wide—Deion Colzie (a former-four star recruit from Notre Dame), Keith Reynolds (Washington), Cordale Russell (Colorado), Brady Simmons (Indiana), or Darion Williamson (Florida State)—needs to pop. RB Kenny Tracy returns off a torn ACL but was reportedly still limited throughout all of spring camp.

Of course, Miami hangs its hat on the defense. Six starters return on that side, including four of the five starters in the secondary. SAF Eli Blakey earned All-MAC honors while Silas Walters broke up 12 passes (second-most among returners in the conference). Losing the leader of the defense, LB Matt Salopek, should not be overlooked.

Year after year, we doubt Martin’s old-school approach that includes forcing the run, punting on fourth down in plus territory, and turning in painfully not explosive offenses, but he owns a 20-8 record over the last two seasons including two MAC Championship appearances (and a win).

And come November, when Miami plays Ohio, Toledo, and Buffalo in rapid succession, there may be a chance he goes at least 2-1 and spoils multiple title game bids. The early-season schedule is easy enough to secure the Redhawks a bowl bid.

The MAC’s Middle Class In 2025

Northern Illinois Huskies

It’s the final year of Northern Illinois’ MAC membership before the Huskies pack up and head out west to the Mountain West. According to an opposing coach (per Athlon’s preview magazine), there’s questions about head coach Thomas Hammock’s willingness to relocate to the new league. During his tenure at NIU, Hammock won a MAC Championship and knocked off three Power Conference opponents – the latest being the national runners-up in Notre Dame. Last year, NIU finished 8-5 but were a score away from beating two big opponents (NC State) and were, legitimately, 30 total points away from going unbeaten.

But this year’s team proceeds without QB Ethan Hampton and its two most dynamic playmakers in Antario Brown and Trayvon Rudolph. Four of five starting offensive linemen need turning over, as do eight defensive starters. It’s a tough ask for Hammock in 2025.

D-II Lenoir Rhyne transfer DeAree Rogers looks to step into the Rudolph role as a shifty playmaker and dynamic returner. The entire cast of skill players have game-breaking speed, especially redshirt freshman Rickey Taylor. QB Josh Holst played exceptionally well in a 28-20 bowl win over Fresno State and adds a rushing threat along with an undeveloped but capable passing threat. He’s a true sophomore and stands 6-foot-4.

The biggest plus for NIU is the schedule. The Huskies avoid Buffalo in league play and visit struggling Power Conference teams in Maryland and Mississippi State. If Hammock’s track record here is to be believed, NIU will knock off at least one of those opponents.

Western Michigan Broncos

Last year, Western Michigan was a chic darkhorse pick in the MAC. That didn’t pan out as the Broncos finished 6-6 behind a defense that didn’t hold an opponent under 20 until Week 14. The offense under Walt Bell popped thanks to a spread-the-love approach to multiple backs and receivers. With talented RB Jalen Buckley back— backup Cole Cabana, a transfer from Michigan, also received high praise this offseason—WMU’s offense should again be in business. Buckley, however, has struggled to stay healthy the last two seasons.

Starting at QB is likely JUCO transfer Brady Jones. His cast of weapons is bolstered by Georgia Tech transfer Christian Leary and All-MAC TE Blake Bosma (403 yards, 6 TD). Just one starter on the offensive line returns, but anticipated starting tackle Adam Vandvest returns from a season-long injury, guard Chad Schuster saw action in all 13 games last year, and center Raheem Anderson transfers in from Michigan.

Really, it all comes down to the defense. Chris O’Leary was hired on as the new DC after spending time in the NFL with the Chargers. Only three starters return, namely All-MAC safety Tate Hallock (84 tackles, 4 INT), but the turnover in personnel could be beneficial to a defense that did little well. Safety Jaden Lyles (96 tackles) is a player to watch after earning all-league honors at Austin Peay last season.

WMU plays three of the top four teams in the MAC but also handles four of the bottom five. It’s a well-paced schedule overall. If the offense continues clicking under Jones and the defense improves under O’Leary, WMU could be in business. But more likely, this is another 6-6 team.

MAC Darkhorse Team To Watch: Bowling Green Falcons

I did this last year to (decent) success and I’m doing it again this year. This isn’t a homer pick—OK, maybe it is a little bit, since I graduated from here, but hear me out, I have a lot of foundation for this one!—there are some truly crazy projections for Bowling Green.

More and more teams are going with the celebrity coach approach after Colorado pretty successfully did so with a 9-4 finish last year. Sacramento State went with Michael Vick and Bowling Green, who lost coach Scot Loeffler to the NFL late in February, went with Eddie George. But George isn’t just a celebrity hire for celebrity’s sake – he took Tennessee State to a 9-4 finish and its first FCS Playoff appearance in 11 seasons.

The Falcons found success importing a Missouri QB with Connor Bazelak so they run it back with Drew Pyne. A three-time transfer, Pyne even considered lacrosse before foraying back into football. While concerning for an Arizona State or Missouri to take on, Pyne is a great MAC-level addition. WR RJ Garcia should be a good weapon returning off a season-long injury and Finn Hogan is a big-bodied receiver standing 6-foot-5. The biggest challenge for George will be finding weapons capable of replacing the all-world TE Harold Fannin and shifty RB Terion Stewart.

Four starting offensive linemen return, including all-conference caliber center Alex Padgett. But outside of that room, virtually everyone is new.

Here’s where my backing comes in: Bowling Green could feasibly start 1-5 and still make a bowl.

After Week 1 against FCS Lafayette, BG handles Cincinnati, Liberty, Louisville, and the top two MAC teams (Ohio, Toledo). But that run finishes with Central Michigan, Kent State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Akron, and UMass. There’s five winnable games in that stretch and the Falcons have fared well against Toledo of late.

So, come Week 8 when BG is a short -1 home favorite against CMU, or Week 11 when they’re a +2 underdog at Eastern Michigan, back them. In the MAC, 7-5 puts you in the conversation. Considering Lindy’s places BG a heinous third-worst in the MAC (behind Ball State!!), they’re worthy of darkhorse consideration.

MAC Team To Fade: Kent State Golden Flashes

In other previews, this is usually a spot I reserve for a team with lower odds to win a conference that I think may be a bit overvalued. And there probably is another team I could find to place here for the MAC, but the situation at Kent State is so dire that I needed a longer section to talk about the Golden Flashes. (And, yes, there’s still opportunity to fade this team.)

Already one of the worst FBS teams to have hit the field in 2024, the situation somehow deteriorated for 2025. Head coach Kenni Burns was dismissed in April and the reins were handed to OC Mark Carney. Then in mid-July, Kent State’s DC left for an FCS linebackers job—granted, it was North Dakota State, but still on the resume, an FBS coordinator turned FCS position coach seems like a downgrade—and Carney named a new OC. The coaching carousel turning after April is a disaster, let alone 80 days before kickoff.

The most stable QB on last year’s roster, Tommy Ulatowski, transferred to Kennesaw State (for what he viewed as a better situation!) and the returners include Devin Kargman (49% career completion) and Fordham transfer CJ Montes. The team’s lone All-MAC selection, electric receiver and return man Crishon McCray, transferred out and the remaining pieces unknown at best. Minnesota RB Jordan Nubin does provide an interesting pop option at running back, but the line in front of him projects as the worst in the MAC.

Three starters return on a defense that surrendered 46 points per game last season, 40.5 if you just include conference games. Outmatched weekly, Kent State was not just beaten, but decimated by scores of 71-0 (Tennessee), 56-0 (Penn State), and 41-0 (Ohio). With another trio of buy games in Texas Tech, Florida State, and Oklahoma, the point differential is about to soar once again. (But, this does provide the student athletes with cool experiences playing in some of college football’s best stadiums.)

There’s no reason to assume Kent State improves upon its 1-23 record over the last two years, especially given the critically-late coordinator turnover. The Flashes haven’t been favored in a game against an FBS foe since Sean Lewis left and that won’t change this season.

It’s not just another 0-12 inbound, it may best last year’s historic marks. And yet, you can still buy under 1.5 total wins and 1.5 MAC wins.

The Rest Of The Pack

Akron Zips

Ben Finley returns at QB and that’s about it. There are 4-5 winnable games on the slate (FCS Duquesne, Ball State, UMass, Kent State, and fringe UAB). However, Akron doesn’t have a bye until Week 10, latest in the FBS, and the number of wins doesn’t matter at the school’s Academic Progress Rate has been too low for too long and the Zips are ineligible for a bowl or conference title. Joe Moorhead may decide to pack it in after this season.

Ball State Cardinals

By all accounts, Mike Uremovich sounds like a good hire. The problem is, Ball State has nothing on this roster. The defense was horrendous, worst in the MAC save for Kent State, and this year’s lineup is made up of Ball State backups and FCS transfers. Kaiel Kelly returns as a dual-threat QB and RB Qua Ashley transfers in from Kennesaw State. Both tackles, Tristan Cook and Chris Hood, could be solid anchors. The rest, I have no idea. It could be pretty ugly in Muncie.

Central Michigan Chippewas

Everyone seems to love the hire of Matt Drinkall and you won’t hear an argument from me. Expect this team to play more physically and incorporate the run game a bit more. Underwhelming QB Joey Labas and two offensive linemen return, and that’s about it for that side of the ball. Seven defensive starters are back and the linebacking corps is one of the best in the MAC (all-conference picks in Dakota Cochran, Jordan Kwiatkowski). CMU allowed too many explosive run plays and was really bad on third down. Expect that side to improve.

Eastern Michigan Eagles

The job Chris Creighton has done at Eastern Michigan is a miracle. One of the worst programs in the FBS is now a perennial bowl contender and they should compete for another spot this year. Noah Kim (Coastal Carolina, Michigan State) comes in at QB but could be challenged by Cameron Edge (Maryland). There’s all-conference talent littered throughout like WR Terry Lockett and redshirt RB Dontae McMillan. It’s another tough and physical team MAC teams hate playing. Better than anticipated.

UMass Minutemen

Welcome back to the MAC, UMass! It’s a sensible move the way college football is heading, but the Minutemen haven’t found success since re-joining the FBS. New head coach Joe Harasymiak needs to flip the lackadaisical culture here and find some identity quickly. There’s almost no known quantities on this roster, on either side, and they need to scout all 13 opponents from scratch. In their four years in the MAC previously (2012-15), UMass mustered a 7-25 conference record (.219).

All-MAC Preseason Team

QB: Tucker Gleason (Toledo)
RB: Jalen Buckley (WMU), Al-Jay Henderson (Buffalo)
WR: Junior Vandeross III (Toledo), Terry Lockett Jr. (EMU), Victor Snow (Buffalo)
TE: Blake Bosma (WMU)
IOL: Alex Padgett (Bowling Green), Trevor Brock (Buffalo), Ethan Spoth (Toledo)
OT: Shedrick Rhodes (Ohio), Evan Malcore (NIU)

DL: Kobe Stewart (Buffalo), Martez Poynter (Toledo), Jalonnie Williams (NIU), Roy Williams (NIU)
LB: Red Murdock (Buffalo), Jordan Kwiatkowski (CMU), Dion Crawford (Buffalo)
CB: Avery Smith (Toledo), Tank Pearson (Ohio)
SAF: Tate Hallock (WMU), DJ Walker (Ohio)

MAC Dudes List

LB Khalil “Red” Murdock, Buffalo: It’s absolutely comical that Murdock managed to notch 156 tackles in a season where Shaun Dolac made MAC history with 168. A conference returner-leading 16.5 of those were made behind the line, another comical number given his other two teammates (Dolac and Dion Crawford) combined for 33.5 themselves. Pencil Murdock in for the MAC’s most productive defender in 2025.

QB Parker Navarro, Ohio: Standing 6-foot even and just over 200 pounds, Navarro isn’t unassuming, but he’s not physically imposing, either. He’s a wizard improviser but also does not give a heck and will run through any would-be defender. I’m not placing the Diego Pavia tag on him quite yet, but with Navarro, you get at least 80% of that playmaking ability.

OLB Bruno Dall, Akron: It’s not hard to find Dall on the field for Akron. The redshirt sophomore stands 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds. The body of work isn’t quite there yet (he notched just one sack and less than 10 tackles in nine games last year), but I believe this imposing of a figure deserves to be on the dudes list. Against the other starters, none of whom breach 6-foot-3, you’ll know where Dall is at all times.

Coaching & Coordinator Changes In The Mid-American Conference

Mike Uremovich, Ball State: Uremovich did a good job at Butler and a majority of his coaching experience comes in Indiana and Illinois. He led St. Francis to its best season in history (a 10-1 finish!) and improved Butler to 9-3 last season. It’ll take time in Muncie, but Ball State did a nice job finding a program builder.

Eddie George, Bowling Green: Scot Loeffler left the program in late February, long after the coaching carousel was at its peak. Bowling Green did a nice job going out and hiring (a) a recognizable name and (b) a proven winning coach. Eddie George, the only player to grace both the cover of the Madden and NCAA series, comes in from Tennessee State, where he led the Tigers to their first FCS Playoff berth in 11 seasons.

Matt Drinkall, Central Michigan: Drinkall comes from Army West Point, where he was on staff with the offensive line since 2019. Pretty much every word about Drinkall is positive, including from his peers. Expect him to implement a more run-heavy approach at CMU and improve on a defense that struggled against the run last year.

Mark Carney, Kent State: Dire. Carney took over as the interim HC after Kenni Burns was ousted in April. Worse yet, Carney turned the coordinators over in mid-July with less than 80 days before the start of the season. It’s not his fault—Kent State is at rock-bottom as a program—but he’ll take the brunt of an expectedly historic bad season.

Brian Smith, Ohio: Hiring from within and keeping the Frank Solich/Tim Albin culture is a wise move for Ohio. Smith hung onto most of his defensive staff and kept star players in place and away from the transfer portal, namely QB Parker Navarro. There’s no reason to think the Bobcats take a step back due to coaching.

Joe Harasymiak, UMass: Harasymiak spent the last three seasons as Rutgers’ defensive coordinator. He’s a zag away from the has-been coaching moves UMass pulled in recent hires. However, Harasymiak is faced with the impossible: introducing a winning culture here. It won’t be this year, and it may never materialize, as UMass transitions to the MAC. At the very least, the Minutemen won’t be the worst in the league!

Find every MAC coordinator change, along with the rest of the FBS coaching carousel here.