By MIKE SMITH
With Northern Illinois’ loss to Duke, another MAC bowl season has passed. Just one MAC team emerged victorious, while four went down to defeat. Ohio pummeled Alabama Birmingham 41-6. Whatever was ailing the Bobcats late in the regular season, they seemed to have fixed things by the time they faced UAB.
Of the four MAC bowl losses, two might . . .
With Northern Illinois’ loss to Duke, another MAC bowl season has passed. Just one MAC team emerged victorious, while four went down to defeat. Ohio pummeled Alabama Birmingham 41-6. Whatever was ailing the Bobcats late in the regular season, they seemed to have fixed things by the time they faced UAB.
Of the four MAC bowl losses, two might . . .
. . . be called “knockouts.” Akron, which had an up-and-down regular season before squeezing into the MAC Championship game, was blitzed by a red-hot Florida Atlantic team that won its last night regular season games. During that stretch, it scored no less than 30 points. The Owls are eighth nationally, owning a 40.6 ppg average for the entire year. Suffice it to say, you knew they were going to score points. It was just how many.
Akron, meanwhile, is 108th in scoring, so it figured as a really tough matchup from the very start.
More of a head-scratcher was the 34-0 Toledo loss to Appalachian State. At least on paper, this game figured to be a battle of offenses. The Rockets ranked 17th nationally with a 36.4 ppg average. App State was 31st, scoring 33.5 ppg.
It wasn’t like Toledo’s strength of schedule was inferior. The Rockets were 83rd, compared to App State’s 96. For what it is worth, Northern Illinois (78) had the top SOS of MAC teams. In any case, the Mountaineer’s ability to derail UT and pitch a shutout was borderline stunning.
Other MAC teams to fall in bowl games were Central Michigan (37-14 to Wyoming) and Northern Illinois (36-14 to Duke). Somehow, MAC teams that have quality outings in regular season non-conference tilts are struggling come bowl time.
NIU, for example, Beat Nebraska this year and fell to No. 19 San Diego State by just six (34-28) the following week. The Huskies also were edged by just three in their season opener against Boston College (23-20).
Central Michigan was more of a late-season success story, winning the last five and six of the last seven. No doubt, turnovers played a big part of the Chippewas 37-14 bowl loss to Wyoming. You can’t expect to win by turning the ball over eight times – especially when the opponent has zero turnovers!!
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The bowl game might not have gone well, but the Rockets season included a long-awaited MAC Championship. That helped Toledo head coach Jason Candle land a contract extension that carries through the 2023 season.
“"Jason is unquestionably one of the finest football coaches in the country. He is a tremendous leader and teacher of young men,” said UT vice president and athletic director Mike O’Brien. “His focus on leading us to a MAC Championship never wavered, and he has a strong determination to elevate our football program to even greater heights. We look forward to his leadership for many years to come."
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How about that new early signing day for football recruits?
From what I hear, the Group of Five schools feel better about the new date, and might have preferred it even earlier. The Power Five schools preferred the February date. The first (72hour) round of signings in December is supposedly a compromise.
It seems like a good opportunity to get some key contributors signed and then fill out the remaining spots in February. The only downside to me, would seem to be conflicts with teams headed to bowl games. They would seem to be burning the candle at both ends – trying to lock down recruits while also coaching toward the bowl games.
Akron, meanwhile, is 108th in scoring, so it figured as a really tough matchup from the very start.
More of a head-scratcher was the 34-0 Toledo loss to Appalachian State. At least on paper, this game figured to be a battle of offenses. The Rockets ranked 17th nationally with a 36.4 ppg average. App State was 31st, scoring 33.5 ppg.
It wasn’t like Toledo’s strength of schedule was inferior. The Rockets were 83rd, compared to App State’s 96. For what it is worth, Northern Illinois (78) had the top SOS of MAC teams. In any case, the Mountaineer’s ability to derail UT and pitch a shutout was borderline stunning.
Other MAC teams to fall in bowl games were Central Michigan (37-14 to Wyoming) and Northern Illinois (36-14 to Duke). Somehow, MAC teams that have quality outings in regular season non-conference tilts are struggling come bowl time.
NIU, for example, Beat Nebraska this year and fell to No. 19 San Diego State by just six (34-28) the following week. The Huskies also were edged by just three in their season opener against Boston College (23-20).
Central Michigan was more of a late-season success story, winning the last five and six of the last seven. No doubt, turnovers played a big part of the Chippewas 37-14 bowl loss to Wyoming. You can’t expect to win by turning the ball over eight times – especially when the opponent has zero turnovers!!
**********
The bowl game might not have gone well, but the Rockets season included a long-awaited MAC Championship. That helped Toledo head coach Jason Candle land a contract extension that carries through the 2023 season.
“"Jason is unquestionably one of the finest football coaches in the country. He is a tremendous leader and teacher of young men,” said UT vice president and athletic director Mike O’Brien. “His focus on leading us to a MAC Championship never wavered, and he has a strong determination to elevate our football program to even greater heights. We look forward to his leadership for many years to come."
**********
How about that new early signing day for football recruits?
From what I hear, the Group of Five schools feel better about the new date, and might have preferred it even earlier. The Power Five schools preferred the February date. The first (72hour) round of signings in December is supposedly a compromise.
It seems like a good opportunity to get some key contributors signed and then fill out the remaining spots in February. The only downside to me, would seem to be conflicts with teams headed to bowl games. They would seem to be burning the candle at both ends – trying to lock down recruits while also coaching toward the bowl games.
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