# TOLEDO at MASSACHUSETTS
# CENTRAL MICHIGAN at BUFFALO
# BALL STATE at EASTERN MICHIGAN
# KENT STATE at OHIO
# NORTHERN ILLINOIS at AKRON
# BOWLING GREEN at MIAMI
# = Click Read more for details. . .
Saturday, Oct. 7 - 12 p.m. ET
Davis Wade Stadium - Starksville, MS
SECN
The Broncos finish off their non-conference schedule with a challenge at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs sit at 2-3, with three loses following victories in the first two weeks. Two of the losses were to ranked teams. No. 14 LSU thumped MSU 41-13 in Week 3, while No. 12 Alabama dropped the Bulldogs 40-17 last week. This is the first meeting between Western Michigan and MSU.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
-- The Bulldogs committed three turnovers, while Alabama played turnover-free football last week. One of the Tide scores was a 28-yard interception return at put it up 14-0 through one quarter.
Seventeen more points gave UA a 31-10 halftime edge, and the Tide settled for three second half field goals while closing out a 40-17 win.
-- Alabama owned a 357-261 advantage in offensive yards.
-- Will Rogers (6-2, 215, SR) completed 15 of 27 passes, good for 107 yards with one TD and three interceptions.
-- Jo'Quavious Marks led MSU runners with nine carries totaling 68 yards (7.6 ypc). Overall, the Bulldogs gained 154 yards on the ground.
-- The team's top receiver for 2023 thusfar is Ladeatrick Griffin, with 25 catches for 409 yards with three TDs.
-- After leading the SEC in tackles in 2022 with 115, Jett Johnson is doing it again with an SEC-best 59 tackles while averaging an SEC-best 11.8 tackles per game. Johnson is also the ONLY SEC linebacker with at least 50 tackles this season. Johnson also ranks sixth nationally in total tackles.
-- Jo’Quavious Marks ranks 4th in the SEC in rushing through the season’s first five weeks. The senior from Atlanta has rushed for 420 yards, the second-most in his career, while adding 112 yards receiving. Marks is also the only active FBS player with 1,000 career rushing yards and 1,000 career receiving yards.
-- Dating back to the 2022 season, Mississippi State has recorded a takeaway in eight of its last 10 games. State has forced multiple turnovers 16 times since 020. In those games, Mississippi State has posted a record of 13-3.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
-- The Broncos have not played a team from the SEC since a 55-26 loss at Florida on Sept. 4, 1999.
-- This is the third Power 5 opponent WMU will play this season, the first time it has done in a regular season since 2013. Earlier this year, Western Michigan fell at No. 25 Iowa (41-10) and Syracuse (48-7)
-- The Broncos broke a three-game losing streak last week when they defeated visiting Ball State (42-24).
After an early BSU field goal, Western Michigan built up a 28-10 halftime lead and the two teams traded TDs in each of the final two quarters.
-- WMU ranks second among MAC teams in rushing offense (184.4 ypg) and is fifth in passing (200.8 ypg). The Broncos are third in total offense (385.2 ypg).
-- Western Michigan is averaging 25.0 ppg. (5th MAC) and surrendering 35.8 ppg. (11th MAC).
Saturday, Oct. 7 - 12 p.m. ET
Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium - Amherst, MA
ESPNU
The Rockets take a four-game win streak to Amherst, where they will wrap up non-conference play against a Minutemen team that has lost five straight. Two of those setbacks were to MAC teams (Miami, 41-28, and Eastern Michigan, 19-17).
Toledo leads the series 6-1-0 and won the last meeting, 55-10, when the teams met Sept. 20, 2022 in the Glass Bowl.
MASSACHUSETTS
-- UMass is one of the few independent football programs left on planet earth. That doesn't make scheduling -- or many other things -- easy. Unless you're Notre Dame (one of the four independents), posting a winning record doesn't come easy, either. The Minutemen are 1-5, albeit they have been in some close games.
-- UMass defeated independent New Mexico State 41-30 in Week 1, but has since lost five straight. After losing to New Mexico (34-31 OT) Sept. 23, the Minutemen were blasted 52-28 by Arkansas State last week. The defeat stung on several levels. One was giving up that many points. Another was losing large big despite the return of quarterback Taisun Phommachanh. He had been sidelined since an injury back on Sept. 2.
-- Health is a big issue with UMass. Phommachanh should again be available. However, last week he was not able to use his running ability as the weapon it usually is. Whether or not he can return more to that healthy form remains to be seen.
Another issue is in the secondary, where UMass was hit with several injuries last week. How many of those bodies return -- and how well they can perform -- could be another key to the game. Arkansas State freshman QB Jaylen Raynor threw six touchdown passes against the Minutemen last week.
-- Greg Desrosiers Jr. led UMass against ASU with three carries totaling 75, with a long of 60) and one TD. Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams is the team's workhorse on the ground, especially between the tackles. He logged 13 carries for a total of 41 yards with one score last week.
TOLEDO
-- The Rockets picked up a second MAC win in as many tries last week with a 35-33 win over visiting Northern Illinois.
UT led 14-7 in a tight first half. Scoring picked up for both teams after intermission, and a 68-yard pass from Dequan Finn to Junior Vandeross III at 11:17 of the final stanza gave Toledo a 35-20 advantage. Two more TDs pulled NIU within two, but the Huskies were unable score again on a final drive.
-- Toledo outgained the Huskies 542-444 overall.
-- Finn completed 16 of 20 passes, good for 281 yards with two TDs. Vandeross caught four balls totaling 147 yards with one TD to lead UT receivers.
-- The Rockets ran for 261 yards, with Peny Boone leading the way (16 carries, 113 yards, 7.1 ypc). Jacquez Stuart added 15 carries for 79 yards and a score.
Saturday, Oct. 7 - 2 p.m. ET
UB Stadium - Buffalo, NY
ESPN+
It wasn't easy, but the Buffalo Bulls finally picked up win No. 1 last week when they nipped Akron (13-10) in overtime. They'll be home this week, hosting Central Michigan as each team tries to reach a 2-0 mark in MAC play.
Central Michigan and Buffalo are meeting for the 12th time in a series dating back to Oct. 9, 1999. Central Michigan holds an 8-3-0 advantage in the series after a 31-27 victory over the Bulls last year in Mount Pleasant. Quarterback Bert Emanuel, Jr. rushed for 293 yards and three touchdowns on runs of 75, 87, and one yard.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
-- The Chippewas (3-2, 1-0 MAC) have won two straight, nipping Southern Alabama 34-30 on the road Sept. 23 and edging Eastern Michigan 26-23 in Mount Pleasant last week.
-- CMU led 14-10 at intermission, but Eastern Michigan scored on a 4-yard run at 9:24 (3) to move in front. The PAT was then blocked at returned for two points to tie things at 16-all. After CMU's Tristan Mattson hit a 27-yard field goal . EMU took its final lead with a 2-yard score at 2:14 (3). Marion Lukes provided the game-winner with a 24-yard Chippewas touchdown at 7:55 of the final period.
-- CMU QB Jase Bauer completed 19 of 26 passes, good for 218 yards with one TD and one interception.
Over the last three games where he saw significant action in the last 12 quarters, Bauer has combined to rush 32 times for 81 yards with six touchdowns, complete 63.2 percent (48-76) of his passes for 579 yards, with one interception and two touchdown passes (70- yard and 19-yard pass), and accumulate 660 total yards (220.0 per game). Bauer has engineered nine scoring drives of 52 yards or more with four of those coming on 10 or more plays. The Chippewas have turned the ball over only one time with Bauer at quarterback and have dominated time of possession.
-- Through five games, Central Michigan is ranked No. 18 nationally and ranks second in the MAC in fewest turnovers lost on offense. Even more impressive is that the Chippewas have registered just one turnover in the last 14 quarters played.
-- Central Michigan ranks fourth among MAC teams in scoring (25.8 ppg) and is eighth in scoring defense (33.4 ppg).
Jesse Prewitt III is fifth among MAC receivers (51.4 ppg).
-- Marion Lukes is third among MAC players in all-purpose yards (116.4 ypg).
BUFFALO
-- Defenses dominated last week as UB edged the Zips 13-10 in overtime. Buffalo outgained the hosts -- by one yard (254-253)!
Both teams had scored their only touchdown of the day by 6:21 of the second period. However, UA added a 38-yard field goal in the final minute to take a 10-7 lead to intermission. Alex McNulty tied the game at 10-all with a 43-yard field goal late in the third quarter.
McNulty's 42-yarder in OT turned out to be the winner when Devin Grant blocked Akron's FG try.
-- Devin Grant is having a breakout season for the Bulls. The sophomore safety ranks third on the team with 30 tackles and has added an two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
-- Buffalo’s 13-10 overtime win over Akron was its first OT win since beating Army in overtime in 2016.
-- Quarterback Cole Snyder completed 19 of 34 tosses, good for 142 yards with one TD.
-- In his second season as the Bulls’ starter, quarterback Cole Snyder is off to a tremendous start. The graduate signal-caller leads the MAC in passing yards per game (215.0) and touchdown passes (11).
-- An average of nearly 10 different receivers per game have made a catch this year.
-- Cole Snyder.
-- Over the first five games, Cole Harrity has a team-best 21 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
-- The Bulls have at least one linebacker named All-MAC each of the last 12 seasons. Shaun Dolac was named to the first team in 2022.
Saturday, Oct. 7 - 4:30 p.m. ET
Rynearson Stadium -- Ypsilanti, MI
ESPN+
Both BSU and Eastern Michigan are still in search of their first MAC win, and both are riding two-game losing streaks.
The Eagles and Cardinals will be meeting on the gridiron for the 65th time with Ball State holding a 37-25-2 alltime lead in the series and lead, 20-12-0, when the game is played in Ypsilanti.
Eastern took the win in the last meeting, a 20-16 decision in Muncie, Ind., Oct. 22, 2022, a victory that snapped the Cardinals’ three-game winning streak over EMU. The Eagles have lost the last two in a row when playing host to the game.
BALL STATE
-- Three second quarter touchdowns gave visiting Western Michigan a 28-10 halftime edge, and the Broncos went to to defeat BSU 42-24 last week. After a first stanza field goal, Ball State (1-4, 0-1 MAC) tallied single touchdowns in each of the final three periods. However, the Cardinals could get no closer than 11 points after intermission.
-- WMU outgained Ball State 461-364 overall
-- Senior Layne Hatcher completed 26 of 37 passes, good for 316 yards with three touchdowns against WMU.
-- Qian Magwood topped Cardinal receivers with nine catches totaling 110 yards with one score. Ahmad Edwards catught three balls totaling 72 yards and one TD. Four players had at least four receptions.
-- Ball State managed just 48 yards rushing, even though Marquez Cooper carried 15 times for 82 yards. WMU recorded six sacks and 10 TFL.
-- Defensive standouts last week were Cole Pearce and Sidney Houston Jr., who both recorded season highs with 10 tackles
EASTERN MICHIGAN
-- The Eagles (2-3, 0-1 MAC) have lost two straight, with the latest being a 26-23 loss at Central Michigan last week.
-- CMU led 14-10 at intermission, but Eastern Michigan scored on a 4-yard run at 9:24 (3) to move in front. The PAT was then blocked and returned for two points to tie things at 16-all. After CMU's Tristan Mattson hit a 27-yard field goal . EMU took its final lead with a 2-yard score at 2:14 (3). Marion Lukes provided the game-winner with a 24-yard Chippewas touchdown at 7:55 of the final period.
-- Central Michigan outgained EMU 411-341 overall.
-- Junior QB Austin Smith Completed 20 of 26 passes, totaling 186 yards with one TD. He also led EMU rushers with 19 carries good for 71 yards and another score. Jaylon Jackson contributed 62 yards on 10 carries.
-- Tanner Knue (7 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD) and JB Mitchell III (5 catches, 48 yards) led EMU receivers.
-- Quentavius Scandrett picked off a CMU pass. Chase Kline topped Eagle defenders with 12 tackles.
-- This season, Eastern is allowing just 2.8 points on average during the opening quarter of play.
-- The Eagles rank 41st nationally by allowing just 10.3 points per game to be scored in the opening half of play while sitting tied for 60th forsecond-halfscoring by allowing 12.0 points per game.
-- Opposing offenses have gone for it on fourth down against the Eagles’ defense 11 times in 2023 and have been successful just three times for a 27.3 percent conversion rate. That rate leads the MAC and ranks ninth nationally.
-- In kick returns, the Eagleslead the MAC and rank third nationally at 33.2 yards per return while the punt return unit leads the MAC
and is 18th nationally at 14.8 per return.
Saturday, Oct. 7 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Peden Stadium -- Athens, OH
ESPN+
The Ohio Bobcats seek to extend their four game win streak Saturday when they host a Kent State squad that owns one win and four losses. The Flashes opened MAC play last week, falling to Miami 23-3 at home. Ohio was off last week, but again flexed its defense in a 38-7 victory at Bowling Green back on Sept. 23. The Bobcats have not allowed more than 10 points in any game since their 20-13 Week 1 loss at San Diego State. With KSU being held to 10 or less points in four of its five games (all four losses), the Flashes are facing a big challenge again this week.
KENT STATE
-- The Flashes scored their only point against Miami on KSU's first offensive drive. Michael Alaimo completed three passes as KSU moved 59 yards in eight plays before settling for Andrew Glass' 27-yard field goal.
A golden opportunity for seven points fizzled one play into quarter three when a 75-yard TD toss to Chrishon McCray was called back due to penality (ineligible player downfield).
-- KSU was held to 206 yards offfense on the day.
-- Charlie Durkin punted eight times, averaging 34.1 yards per boot. The Flashes did not commit a turnover, but a fake punt in their own territoty failed, and MU turned it into its first three points.
-- Alaimo finished the day completing 18 of 30 passes, good for 170 yards.
-- Gavin Garcia registered 17 carries for a total of 49 yards. However, KSU netted just 36 yards on the ground after Miami recorded seven sacks (11 TFL).
-- KSU ranks last among MAC teams in scoring (12.6 ppg) and is ninth in scoring defense 34.0 ppg.
OHIO
-- The Bobcats last played back on Sept. 23, when they opened MAC play with a 37-7 victory at Bowling Green.
-- Ohio outgained the Falcons 328-211 on the day and had a 19-10 edge in first downs.
-- The Bobcats forced four turnovers (2 interceptions, 2 fumbles). Walter Reynolds and Keye Thompson picked off Falcon passes.
-- Ohio registered three sacks and seven TFL.
-- The Bobcats rank No. 1 (MAC) in scoring defense (10.8 ppg), total defense (237.2 ypg), rushing defense (66.6 ypg) and passing defense (170.6 ypg).
-- Ohio is seventh (MAC) in scoring (21.0 ppg) and total offense (324.4 ypg). The 'Cats are fifth in rushing (140.0 ypg) and ninth in passing (184.4 ypg).
-- Last year's MAC Player of the Year Kurtis Roarke has completed 64.4 per cent of his passes, good for 609 yards with five TDs and two picks.
Sieh Bangura tops Ohio rushers with 74 carries for a total of 287 yards.
-- Sam Wiglusz and Tyler Walton have combined for 37 catches, 367 yards and two TDs.
Saturday, Oct. 7 - 3:30 p.m. ET
InfoCision Stadium - Akron, OH
ESPN+
A pair of 1-4 teams look for their first MAC win Saturday as the Zips host Northern Illinois.
In addition to identical records, the pair also share an experience of games. Three Huskie games were decided by a total of eight points. Another verdict was by eight points. Meanwhile, four of Akron's five games were decided by three points or less. Only a 35-3 loss at Kentucky was by multiple scores.
NIU owns an 11-6 advantage in the all-time series with Akron and have won six of the last seven meetings with the Zips. Akron broke NIU’s six game series winning streak with a 44-12 win in DeKalb in the 2022 season finale.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
-- The Huskies missed out on a chance to knock off the MAC West's preseason favorite and jump atop the West standings with a 35-33 loss at Toledo last week. The Rockets led 14-7 at intermission and were up 21-7 early in the third period. It was 28-17 after three quarters and NIU tallied 16 of the final 23 points. A final Huskie drive came up short of any scoring opportunity.
-- Rocky Lombardi completed 21 of 31 passes, good for 258 yards and two touchdowns. Six players registered at least two receptions, with Kacper Rutkiewicz leading the way (5 ctches, 45 yards). Tray von Rudolph had four catches for 32 yards.
-- Antario Brown had a big day for NIU, averaging 9.5 ypc while carrying 16 times for a total of 152 yards. Brown invigorated the Huskie rushing attack with an 80-yard run to the five-yard line to set up NIU’s first touchdown at Toledo.
-- NIU safety Nate Valcarcel scored the Huskies’ first defensive touchdown of 2023 with a 50-yard fumble retur, one week after making his first career interception versus Tulsa.
-- NIU scored a season-best 33 points while the Huskies’ 444 yards of total offense were the most in 11 games.
-- NIU ranks eighth among MAC teams in scoring (19.2 ppg) and is sixth in scoring defense (26.0 ppg).
-- The Huskies are eighth (MAC) in rushing (121.6 ypg) and passing (195.6 ypg)
-- Lombardi is fifth among MAC passers (164.8 ypg). Brown is fifth among runners (67.2 ypg).
AKRON
-- The Zips may be due. Riding a three-game losing streak, their last two losses were each in overtime (one in 4 OTs).
The latest setback was a 14-13 OT home loss to Buffalo last Saturday. Neither team cracked 255 yards of offense. Akron led 7-0 and 10-7 until Buffalo hit a 43-yard field goal late in the third period. Neither team could break the 10-10 tie in regulation, but UB hit a 42-yard field goal in overtime. Akron's subsequent attempt was blocked.
-- Senior QB DJ Irons completed 19 of 26 pass attempts, good for 136 yards with one TD. He also led UA rushers with 16 carries totaling 77 yards.
-- Three different receivers caught four passes.
-- Bryan McCoy led UA defenders with 14 hits. He ranks third among all MAC defenders (10.2 tpg)
CJ Nunnally leads the MAC in tackles for loss (1.88 per game)
-- Akron ranks 10th among MAC teams in scoring (17.0 ppg) and is 10th in scoring defense (24.4 ppg).
-- The Zips are last (MAC) in rushing (101.4 ypg) and fourth in passing (201.6 ypg).
Saturday, Oct. 7 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Yager Stadium - Oxford, OH
ESPN+
One of the week's top MAC games may be taking place in Oxford, where the Miami RedHawks host Bowling Green. To a certain extent, this will pit a very good Miami defense against a dangerous Bowling Green offense that may have found itself in last week's 38-27 road upset of Georgia Tech. The Falcons scored 38 straight points, generated 438 yards of offense and dominated much of that game.
One week earlier, the Ohio Bobcats held BGSU to 211 yards of offense and seven points in a 38-7 victory. The Falcons added to their burden by committing four turnovers against Ohio. It was a different story against Georgia Tech, as Bowling Green played turnover-free football and forced three Yellow Jacket turnovers.
Bowling Green edged Miami 17-13 in last year's meeting. However, not only was that game played in Bowling Green, the RedHawks were without the services of veteran QB Brett Gabbert, who missed large parts of 2022 due to injury. Freshman Aveon Smith was forced into the starting role, significantly limiting what MU could do offensively. Gabbert is much more of a passer. Smith's skill set is strong on running. He had just 91 yards passing and a team-high 55 yards rushing against BGSU, which limited Miami to 189 yards of total offense.
BOWLING GREEN
-- Senior QB Connor Bazelak, a former Mizzouri Tiger player, completed 21 of 32 attempts, good for 263 yards with one TD against Georgia Tech. He has four TDs and five interceptions on the season.
-- Sophomore Terion Stewart (5-9, 225) topped Falcon rushers with 26 carries for 138 yards and one score.
-- Finn Hogan caught six calls totaling 102 yards with one TD. Ta'ron Keith and Austin Osborne grabbed four balls apiece, combining for 79 yards.
-- Deshawn Jones Jr. and Jordan Oladokun registered interceptions against GTU.
-- WR Odieu Hiliare has a catch in 40-straight games, which includes his career at Alabama A&M (2019-21). It is the sixth-best active streak in the nation. The Belle Glade, Fla., native has 177 career receptions for 2,311 career receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns.
-- The Bowling Green rushing attack has taken a big step forward into 2023. Bowling Green has 32 rushes of 10+ yards, which is 60 percent of its 2022 output of 53. BGSU’s 32 rushes of 10+ yards is No. 20 in the nation and No. 2 in the MAC (Toledo, 34).
MIAMI
-- Last week's win at Kent State (1-4, 0-1 MAC) pointed to a team strength - defense, particularly in the red zone. At least to date, no other MAC team can match Ohio's defensive numbers. However, the RedHawks (4-1, 1-0 MAC) are upper echelon on that side of the ball when healthy. Right now, the defense is relatively healthy for a mid-season matchup.
-- In addition to holding KSU to three points and 206 total yards, Miami recorded seven sacks and 11 TFL. Head Coach Chuck Martin regards his defensive front seven as particularly talented unit.
-- The potential is there for more turnovers. Recent foes have limited their risks, so it will be interesting to see what happens when some of the more aggressive MAC offenses test the RedHawks.
-- By and large, Gabbert's return this year has restored the passing game. However, his top target Gage Larvadain (formerly Southeastern Louisiana) was injured two weeks ago and missed last week's contest at Kent State. When he is in the lineup, Larvadain is a constant home run threat -- from any place on the field.
-- Transfers Joe Wilkins Jr. (Notre Dame) and Cade McDonald (Michigan State) took up some of the slack last week, combining for seven catches, 172 yards and one touchdown.
-- Although Miami had just 292 yards of total offense against KSU, Martin put the offense in low gear for the final quarter. Gabbert threw just one pass and even the runs were simple run-the-clock plays.
-- Rashad Amos, who carried 13 times for 54 yardds with one TD against the Flashes, has helped MU's run game between the tackles. He is averaging 4.8 ypc through five games.
-- Miami again has one of the top special teams units in the league. Graham Nicholson has hit all nine field goal attempts (long of 48) also all 16 PAT boots. Meanwhile, Alec Bevelhimer leads the league in punting (47.2 yards per boot), enabling MU to keep opponents at a distance when starting drives.