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MAC Football Conference Preview

The first college football preview is out and let’s start it off with some action out of the MAC Conference. The conference was hit hard in the portal and there…

Joe Murray

The first college football preview is out and let’s start it off with some action out of the MAC Conference. The conference was hit hard in the portal and there was plenty of roster turnover this off-season. The conference favorite is Miami Ohio who had an elite defense in 2023 and return quarterback Brett Gabbert who season was cut short last year to a leg injury.

Toledo has a disappointing end to their season and will have to replace quarterback Dequan Finn who transferred to Baylor and running back Penny Boone to UCF.  Northern Illinois finished 7-6 last season and return most of their starters in 2024. They will have to replace Rocky Lombardi under center. Bowling Green has had consecutive seasons making it to a bowl game and Connor Bazlak leads an offense that finished second in the Mac last season. 
The rest of the Mac teams are in rebuild mode. Ohio has won 10 games in back to back seasons but has turnover all over the roster. They led the Mac in fewest points allowed a season ago. Western Michigan brings in former Umass coach Walt Bell as offensive coordinator who will have 1,000 rusher Jalen Buckley returning. Eastern Michigan has made bowl games in 6 of the last 8 seasons and bring in former Buffalo QB Cole Snyder and could be a sleeper in the Mac this season. 
The final five teams in the Mac have some work to do. Central Michigan rushed for over 150 yards a game and hope Iowa transfer Joey Labas can keep the offense on the field as the defense gave up over 31 points a game last season. Ball State coach Mike Neu has his work cut out replacing the entire defense along with an offense that was plodding a year ago. Buffalo has a new coach in Pete Lembo and figured to be a transition year. Akron was one of the most competitive teams in the Mac last season losing 5 games by one score. They are heading in the right direction as they will have former NC St QB Ben Finley will be under center. Kent State has a new coach and tons of turnover and has players returning on a defense that gave up 35 points per game last season and expectations are low in 2024. 

Listen to the MAC preview including win totals on the OverUnder Podcast

Joe MurrayEditor
Joe Murray has worked behind the scenes and on-air in New England since 2007. Murray was born and raised in Boston (Hyde Park) and is now living on the North Shore in Peabody. A graduate of CSB School of Broadcasting, Joe was hired at 98.5 The Sports Hub in 2011 and is the host of Patriots Postgame and the Over/Under Podcast with Dan Lifshatz. Joe was hired as the full-time night show host in 2023, and a featured guest for “The Weekly Spread” on NBC Sports Boston during football season. Joe writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.
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