# TOLEDO AT BALL STATE
# AKRON AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
# BOWLING GREEN AT BUFFALO
# MIAMI AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
# OHIO AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS
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Saturday, Oct. 14 - Noon
Rynearson Stadium - Ypsilanti, MI
CBSSN
Kent State continues its search for a first MAC win this week when it visits Eastern Michigan, who recorded their first MAC victory last week against Ball State.
KSU (1-5, 0-2 MAC) has lost three straight since recording its only 2023 victory with a 38-10 decision over Central Connecticut.
Eastern Michigan i(3-3, 1-1 MAC) is 2-2 since a season-opening loss at Minnesota.
Kent State leads the series 19-15-0. EMU won last year's meeting, 31-24, with the Eagles rallying behind 24 second half points.
KENT STATE
-- The Flashes are coming off a 42-17 loss at Ohio. KSU never led and was outgained 466-228 overall.
Michael Alaimo (9/13, 107 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) and Tommy Ulatowski (2/7, 12 yards, 1 TD) led Kent State's passing attack. Chrishon McCray topped receivers with six catches for 93 yards and both Flashes touchdowns.
-- KSU quarterbacks were sacked six times and Ohio's top ranked (MAC) defense recorded 10 TFL.
-- Senior Maylen Thomas (5-10, 215) led KSU rushers with 24 carries totaling 67 yards (2.8 ypc). Ulatowski added another 60 yards on four trips as Kent State totaled 109 rushing yards.
-- In meeting Eastern Michigan, the Flashes will have played the MAC top three defenses (scoring) in a three-week span. Kent State ranks last among MAC teams in scoring offense (13.3 ppg). The Flashes are 11th in scoring defense (35.3 ppg).
-- Offensively, Kent State ranks ninth in rushing (115.0 ypg) and 11th passing (147.2 ypg).
-- McCray has emerged as one of the go-to receivers in the MAC, going over 100 yards against Miami and following that up with a 94
yard, two touchdown performance at Ohio. Fellow wideout Trell Harris has been a big play receiver, averaging over 17 yards per reception, good for second in the MAC.
-- Mizzou transfer Devin Nicholson leads the team with 42 tackles, CJ West leads with 4.0 TFL and Capone Blue paces the secondary
with five pass break-ups.
-- The Flashes have held three opponents under 300 yards of offense.
EASTERN MICHIGAN
-- The Eagles are coming off a 24-10 win over Ball State. EMU took a 17-10 lead into halftime and scored the second half's only points on a 50-yard pass from Austin Smith to Hamze El-Zayat.
-- Ball State outgained EMU 305-253, but the Eagles forced two turnovers and played turnover-free football.
-- Senior QB Austin Smith completed 18 of 28 attempts, good for 192 yards with two TDs.
-- JB Mitchell III led EMU receivers with seven catches for 71 yards and a TD.
-- Sampson Evans topped Eagle runners with 14 carries for 42 yards. EMU averaged just 1.6 ypc on the ground.
-- Samson Evans ranks highly among touchdowns scored by active FBS players as the Eastern running back currently fifth nationally for rushing touchdowns (32) and sits seventh for overall touchdowns scored (32)
-- . EMU has 12 sacks in its first six games, the ninth-highest mark in the conference. Through six games last season, the Eagles tallied just four sacks.
-- With the aid of linebacker Justin Jefferson, defensive lineman Tim Grant-Randall captured the first interception of his career to secure the EMU win. Late in the fourth quarter, a Ball State receiver made a catch, turned, and was greeted by Jefferson, who dislodged the ball for Grant-Randall to pluck from the sky.
-- Joe Sparacio was named the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 9. Against BSU, he had a team-high nine tackles and added a third-down sack to force a punt.
-- The Eagles rank ninth among MAC teams in scoring offense (17.5 ppg) and third in scoring defense (20.3 ppg).
-- EMU is 10th in rushing offense (113.0 ypg) and 12th/last in passing offense (146.0 ypg).
Saturday, Oct. 14 - 2 p.m. ET
Scheumann Stadium - Muncie, IN
ESPN+
Ball State is one of four MAC teams still looking for their first conference win. The other three are all in the MAC East. If BSU is going to get that win, it will be a significant upset as the Cardinals face MAC preseason favorite Toledo Saturday.
The Rockets have lived up to their preseason hype. After a 30-28 loss at Illinois in Week One, UT has reeled off five straight wins. Ball State, meanwhile, brings a three-game losing streak into Saturday's matchup.
Toledo leads the series with Ball State, 26-21-1. The Rockets won in Toledo last season, 28-21 and have won seven of the last nine meetings. The upcoming game will mark the 49th consecutive season in which the two teams have played, every year since Ball State began playing MAC football in 1975.
In last year's meeting, Dequan Finn threw for three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:18 left to lead Toledo to a 28- 21 victory over Ball State at the Glass Bowl on Nov. 8. The win clinched at least a share of the MAC West Division crown for Toledo and a trip to the MAC Championship Game due to a tiebreaking win vs. Eastern Michigan.
BALL STATE
-- The Cardinals aare coming off a 24-10 loss at Eastern Michigan. The two teams were tied 3-3 after one quarter, but EMU went up 17-10 by intermission and shut out the Cardinals in the second half.
-- BSU out-gained the Eagles 305-253 but committed two turnovers. One of those miscues was followed by an Eastern Michigan touchdown.
-- Lane Hatcher completed 19 of 33 pass attempts, good for 131 yards with one TD and one interception. Kiael Kelly (1/2, 26 yards) also saw action.
-- Marquez Cooper and Tanner Koziol combined for 12 catches, 109 yards and a score.
-- Kelly topped BSU runners with nine carries for 94 yards. Cooper ran six times totaling 46 yards.
-- Senior linebacker Cole Pearce led Cardinal defenders with 10 tackles (3 solo, 2 sacks, 3 TFL).
-- Ball State ranks 10th among MAC teams in scoring (16.5 ppg) and is ninth in scoring defense (33.7 ppg).
-- The Cardinals are 11th in rushing offense (111.7 ypg) and ninth in passing offense (190.0 ypg).
TOLEDO
-- The Rockets rolled up 514 yards while finishing their non-conference schedule with a 41-24 victory over UMass last week.
The Minutemen were up 21-17 at intermission, but UT limited UMass to three second half points. The Rockets erupted for 21 third quarter points. Each team kicked a second half field goal.
-- Junior QB Dequan Finn completed 15 of 23 pass attempts, good for 139 yards with two TDs and one interception.
Finn also ran 13 times, contributing a game-high 172 yards and a TD. Junior Peny Boone, a 6-1, 242-pound back was also productive, adding another 129 yards and two TDs among his 17 carries.
-- Jerjuan Newton caught four balls (43 yards), with two going for touchdowns. Junior Vandeross III recorded five catches for a total of 34 yards.
-- Senior Dallas Gant led UT defenders with nine tackles.
-- Kicker Luke Pawlak earned MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors after hitting two field goals (long of 38) and five extra points.
-- Toledo leads the country for the fewest sacks allowed. The Rockets have allowed just two sacks in six games this season, with one of them coming on an intentional grounding call.
-- More than 51% of Toledo's runs from scrimmage have gone for four or more yards, the 10th-highest percentage in the country, according to Sports Source Analytics.
-- Toledo leads the MAC in scoring offense (40.8), total offense (473.2), passing yards (224.5), rushing (248.67), thirddown conversions (52.0%), fourthdown conversions (75.0%), red-zone efficiency (96.7%), red-zone defense (70.0%), sacks (3.17) and fewest sacks
allowed (0.33).
-- Senior defensive tackle Judge Culpepper is co-leader in the MAC with 5.0 sacks. Senior outside linebacker Terrance Taylor is tied for sixth in the league with 3.0 sacks (0.6 per game).
Saturday, Oct. 14 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Kelly/Shorts Stadium - Mount Pleasant, MI
ESPN+
After dropping overtime decisions in two straight weeks, the Akron Zips were thumped 55-14 by Northern Illinois last week. A significant factor in that loss was the absence of quarterback DJ Irons. The dynamic playmaker was injured in the fourth quarter of UA's loss to Buffalo. Multiple sources are reporting the lower body injury as "season ending."
A half-season of football remains, of course, so the Zips will try to regroup for the battles to come. It won't be easy. Four of the next five weeks are on the road. The lone home game in that stretch is a Wagon Wheel battle against Kent State. The Zips eventually end 2023 at home, but will be hosting defending MAC East champ Ohio.
Central Michigan, meanwhile, is 3-3 (1-1 MAC) through six games and finishes against Ohio (A) and Toledo (H). So, the Chippewas need to attack every possible opportunity for wins
AKRON
-- Jeff Underfuffler Jr. took over for Irons in the Buffalo game, but sophomore Tahj Bullock was under center last week against Northern Illinois. He completed 19 of 34 pass attempts totaling 146 yards with one TD and one interception.
After a 7-7 first quarter, NIU exploded for 28 unanswered points before halftime and another two scores on third quarter long runs (46, 50 yards). Each team added a TD before playing a scoreless fourth quarter.
-- The Zips were out-gained 571-253.
-- Akron ranks 11th among MAC teams in scoring (16.5 ppg) and is seventh in scoring defense (29.5 ppg).
-- Bryan McCoy is tied for fourth among MAC defenders with an average of 9.0 tackles per game.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
-- After two straight wins, the Chippewas fell at Buffalo 37-13 last week. While the teams were nearly equal in total offense (CMU 360, UB 355), Buffalo forced four turnovers while playing turnover-free football.
-- Buffalo's Devin Grant recorded three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.
-- Sophomore QB Jase Bauer has been a key catalyst for the Chippewas. Against Buffalo, he completed 28 of 49 passes, good for 280 yards with two TDs and three interceptions.
-- Bauer was also CMU's leading rusher (6 carries, 31 yards). The Chippewas were limited to 80 yards rushing overall.
-- Marion Lukes (7 catches, 73 yards) and Jesse Prewitt III (5 catches, 49 yards, 1 TD) led CMU receivers.
-- Central Michigan ranks seventh among MAC teams in scoring (23.7 ppg) and is 10th in scoring defense (34.0 ppg).
-- CMU is fifth in rushing (148.0 ypg) and seventh in passing offense (194.2 ypg).
Saturday, Oct. 14 - 3:30 p.m. ET
UB Stadium -- Buffalo, NY
ESPN+
Things are looking better for Buffalo Bulls football these days. After going 0-for-4 in non-conference play, UB has started conference play with two straight wins. Bowling Green and Kent State are next in line before a three-game stretch against conference heavy-weights Toledo, Ohio and Miami.
Bowing Green, meanwhile, needs a bounce-back win after getting shutout by Miami last week. The Falcons are still in seach of their first MAC victory.
Bowling Green leads the all-time series 12-8. However, Buffalo has won five of the last six meetings and prevailed 38-7 last year at Bowling Green.
BOWLING GREEN
-- After knocking off Georgia Tech two weeks ago, the Falcons came back to earth with a thud last week in Oxford. The RedHawks not only shut out BGSU, they held the Falcons to 135 yards of total offense. Bowling Green's best chance to score was a 46-yard field goal on BGSU's first drive of the second half. That kick was wide and Miami picked off a Falcon pass on the next possession.
-- Connor Bazelak completed 8 of 17 passes totaling 64 yards with one interception. Camden Orth also saw action, connecting on three of six attempts for a total of eight yards.
-- Odieu Hiliare led Falcon receivers with four catches fof 27 yards.
-- Terion Stewart led the ground game with eight carries totaling 85 yards (7.9 ypc). Orth added 20 yards on five trips. However, 27 yards in losses reduced the team's net yardage to 63 yards. Miami recorded four sacks and five TFL.
-- Hiliare has a catch in 41-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 181 career receptions for 2,338 career receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns.
-- RB Terion Stewart has rushed 46 times for 308 yards and two touchdowns over BGSU’s last three games. Stewart averages 6.5 yards per rush for his career, which ranks No. 1 in program history.
-- Stewart had a career day the last time the Falcons came to UB Stadium in 2021. He rushed11 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns.
-- Bowling Green is No. 1 in the MAC and No. 17 in the nation with five fumble recoveries.
-- The Falcons rank eighth among MAC teams in scoring (18.8 ppg) and are fifth in scoring defense (28.7 ppg).
-- BGSU ranks seventh in rushing offense (125.5 ypg) and is 10th in passing (178.0 ypg).
BUFFALO
-- After pulling out a 13-10 overtime win against Akron two weeks ago, Buffalo claimed its second MAC win in as many outings with a 37-13 victory against Central Michigan last Saturday.
-- UB's defense was a big factor, forcing four turnovers. Devin Grant accounted for three of them, picking off three passes and returning two for touchdowns (29- and 58-yards). He was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week. In the first two MAC games, the Bulls safety recorded 14 tackles, three interceptions and a blocked kick.
-- In four nonconference games, Buffalo allowed 44.5 points per game while give up 512 yards per game. However, through two conference games, the Bulls only allowed 11.5 points per game while allowing 306 yards per game.
-- Alex McNulty was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week. He made three field goals and all four extra points against the Chippewas.
-- 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 (217.8) and is second in touchdown passes (11) and total offense (224.7). Snyder became the first quarterback in program history to complete 24 or more passes in each of the first three games of the season.
-- A number of different receivers have recorder receptions this season - 13 to be exact. An average of nearly 10 different receivers per game have made a catch this year.
-- Saturday is homecoming at UB Stadium.
Saturday, Oct. 14 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Waldo Stadium - Kalamazoo, MI
ESPN+
Riding a five-game winning streak, Miami (5-1, 2-0 MAC) returns to the road this week for a meeting with Western Michigan (2-4, 1-1 MAC).
The Broncos are trying to get back in the win column after falling at Mississippi State last week.
Although MU has a 27-24-1 edge overall, Western Michigan is riding an eight-game win streak in the series. That run includes a 16-10 victory last year, snapping a 16-game RedHawks home field win skein (2nd longest in MU history).
WESTERN MICHIGAN
-- The Broncos are 1-1 in MAC play, losing to Toledo (49-31) and defeating Ball State (42-24).
-- Mississippi State scored the game's first 17 points and the teams traded scores after that.
-- The Broncos battled Mississippi State without starting QB Treyson Bourguet. Junior Hayden Wolff, a transfer from Old Dominion, got most of the work, completing 27 of 35 attempts for a total of 262 yards with three TDs and one interception. Jack Salopek added 35 yards on 6 of 10 attempts.
-- Bourguet may or may not be available this week. RB Jalen Buckley missed the MSU game but was listed atop this week's two-deep. He leads the team in rushing (557 yards/5.9 ypc) and TDs (5).
-- Sophomore Kenneth Womack caught 12 balls for a total of 113 yards. Six different receivers had at least three catches.
-- The Broncos managed 116 yards rushing against MSU. Zahir Abdus-Salaam led the way with 18 carries for 60 yards with one TD. CJ Hester chipped in eight runs totaling 47 yards.
-- Western Michigan ranks fourth among MAC teams in scoring (25.5 ppg) and is last/12th in scoring defense (37.7 ypg).
-- WMU scored a combined 17 points in losses to Syracuse and No. 25 Iowa. They averaged 34.0 ppg over four other contests (2 wins, 2 losses).
-- The Broncos rank third (MAC) in rushing (173.0) -- one spot and one yard behind Miami (174.0 ypc). WMU is ninth in passing (249.3 ypg).
MIAMI
-- The RedHawks are currently riding their longest winning streak (5 games) in 20 years and last week posted their first shutout since 2007. One week earlier, they limited Kent State to three points.
-- Miami limited Bowling Green to 135 yards and nine first downs. The RedHawks recorded four sacks and five TFL.
-- Ty Wise recorded his first career interception.
-- The RedHawks offense totaled 186 yards rushing, averaging 4.0 ypc. Kenny Tracy led the way with 11 trips for a total of 58 yards. Rashad Amos added 18 carrues fir 49 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Brett Gabbert chipped in with nine carries for 47 yards, picking up some valable first downs in the process.
-- Gabbert completed 15 of 18 passes, good for 170 yards and two TDs before leaning on the run game for the final quarter. Gabbert tops the MAC in pass efficiency (174.1) and is tied for first in TD passes (12). He is second in passing yardage (205.3 ypg).
-- The RedHawks rank second among MAC teams in both scoring offense (31.2 ppg) and scoring defense (18.8 ppg). They are third (behind Toledo and Western Michigan) in total offense (385.5 ypg) and total defense (338.2 ypg).
-- Miami is second in rushing offense (174.0 ypg) and fourth in passing offense (211.5 ypg). The RedHawks are first in pass offense efficiency (170.5).
-- Gage Larvadain, the RedHawks top receiver, has been out since an upper body injury against Delaware State (Week 4). His return is uncertain. However, the transfer from Southeastern Louisiana has proven to be a threat from any place on the field and already has a 99-yard touchdown reception to his credit.
-- Linebacker Matt Salopek ranks fourth among all MAC defenders in tackles (54). Caiden Woullard and Ty Wise are tied for third in sacks (4). As a team, Miami is tied with Ohio for second with 17 sacks.
(For more notes and quotes on Miami, click HERE
Saturday, Oct. 14 - 4 p.m. ET
Huskie Stadium - Dekalb, IL
ESPNU
Ohio is one of two MAC teams riding a five-game winning streak (rival Miami is the other). With a top-notch defense and balanced offense, the Bobcats have dominated their two MAC opponents to date: Bowling Green (38-7) and Kent State (42-17).
Looking to upset Ohio is a Northern Illinois team that registered its first MAC win last week with a 55-14 victory at Akron. Although the Huskies only other win came back in Week One (Boston College, 27-24, OT), only one of their four losses was by more than eight points (Nebraska, 35-11). Just two weeks ago, NIU lost to MAC West leading Toledo by just two points.
The Bobcats have a record of 24-11- 14 against the Huskies. In the last meeting between these teams, Ohio scored with seven minutes to play to break a 17-17 tie, and held on to earn a 24-17 win on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in Athens. . Each of the last seven games in the series have been decided by seven points or less.
OHIO
-- The 'Cats are coming off a 42-17 win over Kent State, giving Ohio its first 2-0 start in MAC play since 2016. Ohio out-gained the Flashes 466-228 and forced the game's only turnover. Senior linebacker Bryce Houston, who had a game-high 10 tackles (1.5 TFL), recorded the interception.
-- Ohio's defense registered six sacks and 10 TFL.
-- Quarterback Kurtis Rourke went 20-for-32 with 300 passing yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Rourke finished the day with one touchdown on 26 rushing yards.
-- Junior wide receiver Miles Cross finished the game with a season-best 125 yards and two touchdowns, making the most of his seven
receptions. His performance earned him MAC East Offensive Player of the Week accolades. Sam Wiglusz also had a receiving TD among his four catches.
-- Parker Navarro logged just three carries, but they totaled 65 yards with the help of a 52-yard trip among them.
-- Sieh Bangura ran nine times for 41 yards and Ohio totaled 166 yards on the ground (4.7 ypc).
-- On the season, Wiglusz leads the receivers with 25 catches and two touchdowns in 248 yards. while Miles Cross has four touchdowns on 246 yards and 17 receptions. Tight end Will Kacmarek also has two touchdowns.
-- Ohio ranks first among MAC teams in interceptions (9), with eight different Bobcats picking off passes.
-- Ohio is tied with Miami for second-most sacks (17). Only Toledo (19) has more.
-- The Bobcats are sixth among MAC teams in scoring (24.5 ppg) and first in scoring defense (11.8 ppg).
-- Ohio is sixth in rushing (144.3 ypg) and fifth in passing (203.7 ypg). The 'Cats are first in pass defense (162.0 ypg) and pass defense efficiency.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
-- After last week’s 55-14 win at Akron, NIU has won 28 of its last 36 regular season games versus MAC East opponents and is 32-9 versus MAC East teams since 2008.
-- The Huskie offense used explosive plays to score 55 points, led by Antario Brown’s four touchdown runs of 45-plus yards, while the NIU defense held Akron to 253 yards, 107 rushing, in a dominating 55-14 win at Akron.
-- Brown wrecked havoc all day, running for a total of 280 yards on just 13 carries. His TD runs were 66 yards, 58 yards, 46 yards and 50 yards. He gained all but seven of his 280 rushing yards versus Akron in less than one and a half quarters.
- Kacper Rutkiewicz opened scoring with a 64-yard TD reception from Rocky Bowman less than three minutes into the game. He was later banged up and exited the game. His status for this week is uncertain.
-- Huskie QBs have had no shortage of targets in 2023 as 14 different players have caught passes, seven have made more than five catches and eight players are averaging over 10 yards in receiving per game. Six players are averaging more than 10 yards per catch. Seven wide receivers, five running backs and two tight ends have been on the receiving end of NIU’s 102 completions.
-- NIU overwhelmed an Akron team missing dynamic QB DJ Irons, who was injured the previous week and is expected to miss considerable time.
-- For the fifth time in six games this season, NIU held its opponent to less than 200 passing yards. Three of the Huskies’ six foes have totaled less than 300 yards of total offense, a mark the Huskie defense met just once in 2022, when NIU opponents gained over 400 yards in seven games. Toledo is the only opponent to throw for more than 200 yards versus NIU this year, even then, 110 of the Rockets’ 281 passing yards came on just two plays.
-- This is Homecoming week at NIU.