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MAC BASKETBALL

8/12/2026

New MAC basketball format awards byes to top four

The Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament will move to a different format this year.
Jon Rothstein is among those reporting that the new format will:

• No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will receive byes into the semifinal round.
• No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will receive byes into the quarterfinal round.

The new format would reward regular season success for the top four teams.

Last year, Miami went undefeated during the regular season (conference and non-conference), but was upset by UMass in MAC tourney opening round action. Akron went on to win the tournament, thus earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. MU did manage to get a spot in the NCAA's First Four games in Dayton, where it defeated Tennessee. The RedHawks then fell to Tennessee in the round of 64.

MAC BASKETBALL

8/12/2026

MAC announces 2026-27 conference schedule

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference has announced the 2026-27 MAC Men's Basketball Conference Schedule.

The conference season is set to tip off on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026. MAC Men's Basketball teams will play 22 games over 12 weeks (eleven home, eleven away).

The Men's Basketball regular season will conclude on Friday, March 5, with the top eight teams in the conference moving on to Cleveland’s Rocket Arena for the MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 10-13.

The conference office will release a full Men’s Basketball television schedule in October.

CLICK READ MORE FOR DATES/MATCHUPS. . .

MAC FOOTBALL

8/8/2026

RedHawks reloading for another MAC run

SEASON PREVIEW: MIAMI
RECORD: 7-7 (6-2 MAC)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 2ND of 13 Teams

MRO STAFF
It's seldom an easy path to the MAC championship game, but Miami had a particularly rocky road to reach last year's championship tilt.
MU's biggest hurdle was the in-season loss of quarterback Dequan Finn -- not to injury, but to ... "preparing for the NFL draft."
The former Toledo Rocket and MAC Offensive Player of the Year came to Miami after a season at Baylor. He saw action in eight games, leading MU to a 4-4 record (4-1 MAC) before pulling the plug.
After falling to Toledo, the RedHawks . . .

CONTINUE . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

8/6/2026

Broncos have weapons to make another MAC title run

Opponents can expect more of WMU's physical football

SEASON PREVIEW: WESTERN MICHIGAN
RECORD: 10-4, 7-1
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 1st of 13 Teams

MRO STAFF
You're doing a lot of things right when you finish a season with double digits wins overall, a league title and a bowl win.
Such was Western Michigan's 2025 season, and according to opposing MAC coaches, the Broncos just might go into replay mode this year.
Yes, WMU has . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

8/6/2026

Curtis-led Rockets will lean on transfers in 2026

SEASON PREVIEW: TOLEDO
RECORD: 9-4 (6-2 MAC)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 4th of 13 Teams

MRO STAFF
This is a year of change for Toledo.
The Rockets have a new head coach and a roster replete with transfer talent. While there could be some "system" changes, as well, HQ Mike Jacobs seems confident new schemes/terminology will translate.
Jason Candle, who joined Toledo as an assistant in 2009, eventually guided UT from 2016-2025. His Rocket squads compiled an 81-44 overall record and went 54-25 in Mid-American Conference play. The 2017 group reigned as MAC champs.
After an 8-4 (6-2 MAC) record in 2025, Candle accepted the head coaching position at Connecticut.
Enter Mike Jacobs, who . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

8/4/2026

Reloading Ohio lurks as 2026 MAC darkhose

SEASON PREVIEW: OHIO UNIVERSITY
RECORD: 9-4 (6-2 MAC)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 4th of 13 Teams

MRO STAFF
After winning a MAC title in 2024, the Ohio Bobcats came whisper close to a third MAC Championship game apearance in three years in 2025. While their 6-2 conference record equaled rival Miami and Toledo -- one game behind Western Michigan -- Miami advanced on a tiebreaker.
Shortly before Ohio's bowl game against UNLV, the school suddenly dismissed head coach Brian Smith. Moving into that position was defensive coordinator John Hauser.
It was another . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

8/3/2026

'Cool Mix" of talent and transfers buoys CMU outlook

SEASON PREVIEW: CENTRAL MICHIGAN
RECORD: 7-6 (5-3 MAC)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 5th of 13 Teams

MRO STAFF
Head Coach Matt Drinkel's Chippewas made a five-win jump in his first year at the helm and CMU could flirt with another (even better??) run in 2026. The offensive side owns more experience this time around. However, Drinkel feels good about incoming talent, especially on defense. It's a "cool mix of young talented guys ... and transfers," he observed during MAC Media Day.

Click Read More to continue . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

8/2/2026

How far can schedule, transfers power Minutemen?

Injuries added to problems in winless 2025

MRO STAFF
After going winless in 2025, UMass is focused on collecting some 'W's this year. With a favorable schedule and bevy of transfers, the Minutemen have reason for optimism, even if MAC coaches ranked them last in the 2026 preseason poll.
This is year two for . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

8/2/2026

Hornets will need to prove they have potent sting

New Sacramento State HC, leads new MAC team at new level

SEASON PREVIEW: SACRAMENTO STATE
RECORD: 7-5 (5-3 FCS Big Sky)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 12th of 13 Teams

MRO STAFF
It came as quite a surprise when Sacramento State joined the Mid-American Conference as a football only member, beginning in 2026.
With Northern Illinois departing, the conference returned to 12 teams, as it had been before UMass re-entered the fold. So adding Sac State quickly made the MAC a 13-team league once again.
Ironically, the MAC had previously insisted on full membership with UMass. These times, however, are certainly different! The Hornets were nonetheless allowed to come in as a football only school.
Suffice it . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

7/31/2026

Cardinals need better numbers for better record

SEASON PREVIEW: BALL STATE
RECORD: 4-8 (3-5 MAC)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 11th of 13 Teams

MRO STAFF
Mike Uremofich's first year at the helm of Ball State football produced four wins -- three in the MAC. BSU scored an average of just 15.8 ppg. Only winless UMass (11.1 ppg) scored less points. Defense also had its troubles, with the Cardinals surrendering 29.8 ppg (11th among 13 MAC teams).
Suffice it . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

7/29/2026

QB, O-line among questions for Falcons

SEASON PREVIEW: BOWLING GREEN
2025 RECORD: 4-8 (2-6 MAC)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 8th of 13 teams

MRO STAFF
The hiring of Eddie George as Bowling Green's 21st head football coach was quite a splash. Time will tell, of course, how successful the Falcons will be under George. One short term issue, however, likely figured into last season's sub-.500 record. The hire came in March, well past when most new head coaches join their new program. From Day-One then, George -- and the program -- were playing catchup. George had to quickly assemble a staff, which put together new schemes for players -- new and returning -- to absorb.
The Falcons . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

7/27/2026

DeShields leads the quest for bowl eligibility

SEASON PREVIEW: KENT STATE
RECORD: 5-7 (4-4 MAC)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 8th of 13 Teams

MRO STAFF
Not that long ago, Kent State figured at or near the absolute bottom of MAC preseason polls. That was then, and this is now.
The MAC coaches recently ranked KSU eighth, and while that may not seem particularly optimistic, it nonetheless reflects improvement under Head Coach Mark Carney.
Kent State went . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

7/26/2026

Bulls have some big shoes to fill

SEASON PREVIEW: BUFFALO
RECORD: 5-7 (4-4 MAC)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 6th of 13

MRO STAFF
Head Coach Pete Lembo is back, but the Bulls are breaking in a couple of new coordinators this year. Add that to significant player turnover and its enough to raise some questions -- even for a talented group. The MAC Coaches . . .

MAC FOOTBALL

7/26/2026

Kim-led offense makes Eagles a dangerous foe

MRO STAFF
Eastern Michigan finished 2025 by winning two of its last three games, with the lone loss coming to eventual MAC champion Western Michigan.
There is reason for optimism this year as the Eagles' offense returns some key weapons. What team . . .

MAC FOOTBALL PREVIEW

7/25/2026

Gant returns, but Zips will need transfer production

SEASON PREVIEW FOR: AKRON ZIPS
2025 RECORD: 5-7 (4-4 MAC)
2026 MAC HEAD COACHES PRESEASON POLL: 10TH

MRO STAFF
The 2025 season was something of a roller coaster ride for Akron football. One week the Zips are blowing out Duquesne 51-7 and the next they are opening Mid-American Conference play with a 45-3 loss at Toledo.
That said, Head Coach Joe Moorhead's crew finished strong, winning three of the final four games. The only loss, however, was a 42-35 home setback against Kent State in the annual Wagon Wheel rivalry game.
That loss . . .

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