Northern Illinois (Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl), Buffalo (Dollar General Bowl), Ohio (DXL Frisco Bowl), Toledo (Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl), Western Michigan (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) and Eastern Michigan (Raycom Media Camellia Bowl) will represent the MAC in bowl games this season.
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2018 MAC Bowl Schedule:
Eastern Michigan vs. Georgia Southern (Sun Belt), Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, Dec. 15, 5:30 pm ET (ESPN)
Northern Illinois vs. UAB (C-USA), Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl, Dec. 18, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Ohio vs. San Diego State (Mountain West), DXL Frisco Bowl, Dec. 19, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Toledo vs. Florida International (C-USA), Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, Dec. 21, 12:30 pm ET (ESPN)
Western Michigan vs. BYU (Independent), Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Dec. 21, 4:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Buffalo vs. Troy (Sun Belt), Dollar General Bowl, Dec. 22, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN)
“I am happy for our students, coaches and fans from our six MAC member institutions who will get to experience a great array of bowl opportunities,” said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, Commissioner of the Mid-American Conference. “The matchups are compelling and should provide some great bowl games. I appreciate our bowl partners who work all year to facilitate a great experience for the game participants and fans.”
The complete MAC bowl schedule is as follows: All times are Eastern.
Dec. 15: Raycom Media Camellia Bowl – Montgomery, Ala. 5:30 pm ET (ESPN)
Eastern Michigan (7-5, 5-3) vs. Georgia Southern (9-3, 6-2, Sun Belt Conference)
Note: Eastern Michigan closed the regular season by winning five consecutive MAC games, the program’s best league winning streak since 1989. The Eagles finished in a tie for second place in the MAC West Division with a 5-3 league record, 7-5 overall. Fifth-year head coach Chris Creighton is leading Eastern Michigan to its second bowl appearance in the last three years. The Eagles suffered a 24-20 loss to Old Dominion in the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
Dec. 18: Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl – Boca Raton, Fla. 7:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Northern Illinois (8-5, 6-2) vs. UAB (10-3, 7-1, Conference USA)
Note: Northern Illinois won the 2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with a 30-29 win over Buffalo on Nov. 30. The Huskies are bowl eligible for the 10th time in the last 11 years. NIU had an eight-year consecutive bowl streak from 2008-15 and had the streak snapped in 2016 with a 5-7 record. Last year NIU suffered a 36-14 loss to Duke in the 2017 Quick Lane Bowl. Six-year head coach Rod Carey and the Huskies will be making its 13th bowl appearance as a member of the MAC (4-8 record in bowl games).
Dec. 19: DXL Frisco Bowl – Frisco, Texas 8:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Ohio (8-4, 6-2) vs. San Diego State (7-4, 4-4, Mountain West Conference)
Note: Ohio ended the regular season second in the MAC East Division with a 6-2 league-record, 8-4 overall. Bobcats head coach Frank Solich is in his 14th year leading the Ohio football program and is the third-winningest head coach in MAC history with an 105-75 record at Ohio. Last season Ohio defeated UAB 41-6 in the Bahamas Bowl. The Bobcats have been bowl eligible in 12 of the 14 years under Solich and will be making their 10th bowl appearance during his coaching tenure. Overall, Ohio will be making its 12th bowl appearance in school history.
Dec. 21: Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl – Nassau, Bahamas 12:30 pm ET (ESPN)
Toledo (7-5, 5-3) vs. Florida International (8-4, 6-2, Conference USA)
Note: Toledo tied for second in the MAC West Division with a 5-3 league record, 7-5 overall. Third-year head coach Jason Candle will be leading the Rockets to his fourth-bowl game, as in 2015 Candle replaced Matt Campbell as Toledo defeated Temple, 32-17, in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl. In 2016 Toledo lost a 31-28 decision to Appalachian State in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl and a 34-0 loss to Appalachian State in the 2017 Dollar General Bowl. Toledo will be making its fifth consecutive bowl appearance (2017 Dollar General Bowl; 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl; 2015 Marmot Boca Raton Bowl; 2014 GoDaddy Bowl) and its eighth bowl game in the last nine years (2017 Dollar General Bowl; 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl; 2015 Marmot Boca Raton Bowl; 2015 GoDaddy Bowl; 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; 2011 Military Bowl; 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl). Toledo will be making its Conference leading 18th bowl appearance in program history (11-6 record in bowl games).
Dec. 21: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, Ida. 4:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Western Michigan (7-5, 5-3) vs. BYU (6-6, Independent)
Note: Western Michigan closed the regular season with a 28-21 win over MAC West Division Champion Northern Illinois on Nov. 20 to finish in a tie for second place in the MAC West with a 5-3 league record, 7-5 overall. Second-year head coach Tim Lester has the Broncos bowl eligible for the fifth consecutive year. Western Michigan appeared in the 2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; 2015 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl and the 2016 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Western Michigan will be making its ninth bowl appearance in program history (1-7).
Dec. 22: Dollar General Bowl – Mobile, Ala. 7:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Buffalo (10-3, 7-1) vs. Troy (9-3, 7-1, Sun Belt Conference)
Note: Buffalo suffered a 30-29 loss to NIU in the 2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game on Nov. 30. Buffalo set a program record with its 10 wins in a single season since moving to FBS and joining the MAC in 1999. Fourth-year head coach Lance Leipold has the Bulls bowl eligible for the second consecutive year. Buffalo will be making its third bowl appearance in program history (2009 International Bowl; 2013 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl).