2016 Mid-American Conference Football Projections

East

Bowling Green State Falcons 9-4 (6-2)

Ohio Bobcats 7-5 (4-4)

Akron Zips 4-8 (3-5)

Buffalo Bulls 4-8 (2-6)

Miami (Ohio) Redhawks 3-9 (2-6)

Kent State Golden Flashes 2-10 (0-8)

West

Western Michigan Broncos 12-1 (8-0)

Northern Illinois Huskies 11-1 (7-1)

Central Michigan Chippewas 8-4 (5-3)

Toledo Rockets 8-4 (5-3)

Ball State Cardinals 2-10 (1-7)

Eastern Michigan Eagles 3-9 (1-7)

Mid-American Conference Championship Game-Ford Field-Detroit, Michigan

Bowling Green vs. Western Michigan

Conference Champion: Western Michigan

Coach of the Year: P.J. Fleck-Western Michigan

Offensive Player of the Year: Zach Terrell-Western Michigan

Defensive Player of the Year: Shawun Lurry-Defensive Back-Northern Illinois

2015 was another splendid year on the gridiron for the Mid-American Conference. Seven teams made bowl games while the Toledo Rockets scored a road upset victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks of the Southeastern Conference and the Bowling Green State Falcons were victorious against the Maryland Terrapins of the Big Ten Conference. The success of the MAC saw Dino Babers leave the Bowling Green State Falcons to become the head football coach of the Syracuse Orange, and Matt Campbell left Toledo to take over the Iowa State Cyclones program.

As the 2016 college football season is set to begin, the Mid-American Conference will once again be a 12-member football conference after the Massachusetts Minutemen are now a football independent which shouldn’t in any way shape or form take away from what has gone on in this conference in recent years.

Although that Babers has left Bowling Green, there is still talent there in the form of senior running back Fred Coppet. Led by senior left tackle Jacob Bennett, the Falcons have a veteran offensive line that will allow senior quarterback James Knapke to get his feet wet under center.

Bowling Green was ranked 86th in total defense last year, but they have a strong linebacking core which consists of senior outside linebackers James Sanford and Trenton Greene, along with junior middle linebacker Austin Valdez. Senior cornerback Alfonso Mack has a nose for the football as he had 6 interceptions last year and he definitely has a future in the National Football League. Senior defensive end Terrence Bush could be a problem for Falcons opponents coming off of the edge as Mike Jinks who is entering his first year as Bowling Green’s head football coach has a team that is definitely worthy of winning the Mid-American Conference.

Frank Solich is set to begin his 11th year as the head football coach of the Ohio Bobcats and all that he has done there is win, but he and his program have gone under the radar. However will Solich’s coaching ability alone be enough to allow Ohio to hang with Bowling Green in the race to win the Eastern Division of the Mid-American Conference?

The Western Division of the Mid-American Conference will be a war of attrition as it is home to some conference heavyweights. The Northern Illinois Huskies have dominated this division in recent years, but there should be a push this year from the Western Michigan Broncos, while Toledo and the Central Michigan Chippewas will be laying in the weeds.

Last year there was a four-way tie atop the Western Division between Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Toledo, and Central Michigan, but who will reign supreme here in 2016?

P.J. Fleck is set begin his fourth year as the head football coach at Western Michigan and he has a squad that is worthy of winning the Mid-American Conference, while he could get some attention if head coaching positions open up with bigger programs. Western Michigan senior quarterback Zach Terrell has to potential to be the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. And aside from Terrell, there is a plethora of talent at the skill positions for the Broncos that includes sophomore Jamauri Bogan, along with senior wide receiver Corey Davis. Defensively junior cornerback Darius Phillips and junior outside linebacker Caleb Bailey could both be All-MAC performers as Fleck arguably has the most talented team in the conference.

Northern Illinois heads into the 2016 college football season looking to rebound after their first six-loss season since 2009. As the Huskies look improve here in 2016 under head football coach Rod Carey, it will begin with their ability to run the football which has been a staple at Northern Illinois. The three-headed monster of senior quarterback Drew Hare, along with senior running back Joel Bouagnon and junior running back Jordan Huff will look to dictate the pace as they will be running behind an offensive line that features three seniors which includes senior left tackle Levon Myers.

Defensively for the Huskies, junior cornerback Shawun Lurry should be in the mix to win the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back after a 2015 campaign that saw him have 9 interceptions, while senior outside linebacker Sean Follard has the blend of being a strong pass rusher that can also drop back into coverage.

Central Michigan has not been a serious title contender since 2009, but as they are set to begin their second season under head football coach John Bonamego, there is potential for them to be a dark horse. Senior quarterback Cooper Rush has the potential to be a 4,000-yard passer this season and he could put the Central Michigan offense on his shoulders and carry them to the conference title game.

And although that Toledo was right there in 2015, it will take a Herculean effort from senior running back Kareem Hunt in 2016 if the Rockets are going to be able to leap frog the other contenders in the Western Division to make it to Detroit for the conference title game.

 

 

Games to watch in the Mid-American Conference are when Central Michigan hosts Western Michigan on October 1, the Western Michigan-Northern Illinois contest on October 8, and when Bowling Green travels to face the Huskies on November 1 as these games will have a huge bearing on who will win the conference here in 2016.

Sources: Sports-reference.com, Ourlads.com, Cfbstats.com