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# AKRON AT KENT STATE -- NOON, ESPN+
# TOLEDO AT BUFFALO -- 1 P.M., ESPN+
# BOWLING GREEN AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN -- 1 P.M., ESPN3
# EASTERN MICHIGAN AT BALL STATE -- 2 P.M., ESPN+
# NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT OHIO -- 2 P.M., ESPN+
WESTERN MICHIGAN AT MIAMI -- 3:30 P.M. CBSSN
The Akron Zips will be trying to get over the hump Saturday when they meet Kent State in another battle for the Wagon Wheel Trophy at Dix Stadium in Kent. It's the 52nd meeting between the rivals, with KSU holding a 26-24-1 edge in the series.
Although they own just two victories of their own, the Flashes are solid favorites. Akron has just one win on the season, and that was an overtime victory over St. Francis (PA). The Zips rank last (MAC) in both scoring offense (18.7 ppg) and scoring defense (39.0 ppg). Kent State, meanwhile, has a potent offense that is producing 27.7 ppg (6th) and 430.9 ypg (2nd). KSU is third in scoring defense (32.9 ppg).
Here's more on the two teams . . .
AKRON ZIPS (1-6, 0-3 MAC)
~~ Although they are riding a six-game losing streak, the Zips finished within one score on two of their last three outings. They lost to Bowling Green 31-28 Oct. 1 and fell at home to Central Michigan 28-21 last week.
~~ Akron and CMU were tied at 21-all late in the fourth quarter, but the Zips one turnover of the game turned into a disaster. Senior lineman Thomas Incoom picked the UA fumble and returned it 63 yards for the winning score.
~~ Of Akron's 287 yards in total offense, just 20 came through rushing. The Zips averaged less than one yard (0.7) per attempt.
~~ UA netted 20 yards of rushing despite the fact that the Zips first touchdown came on a 53-yard run by quarterback DJ Irons. However, Central Michigan registered eight sacks and 12 TFL on the day.
~~ Irons completed 25 of 38 pass attempts for 255 yards with one TD.
~~ Daniel George, Shocky Jacques-Louis and Clyde Price III combined for 17 catches, 186 yards and 1 TD.
~~ Jacques-Louis is second among MAC receivers (82.7 ypg) and fourth in receptions (42).
~~ Irons has completed 66.4 percent of his passes (third MAC). He is seventh in passing efficiency.
~~ Linebacker Bubba Arslanian tops the MAC with 77 total tackles.
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (2-5, 1-2 MAC)
~~ The Flashes have won three-straight in the Wagon Wheel rivalry, the program’s first three-game win streak in the rivalry since
2010-12. Kent State has not won four straight in the rivalry since ripping off 10 straight from 1942-54.
~~ The Flashes have lost their last two games (Miami and Toledo) -- both on the road. Their only MAC victory came at home, where they edged Ohio in overtime.
~~ Kent State started fast and owned a 21-7 lead after one quarter at Toledo last week. They were still up by three (31-28) at intermission. However, KSU could not score in the second half, while Toledo put up 28 straight points.
~~ Junior Collin Schlee completed 13 of 26 passes against the Rockets, netting 162 yards. He tossed one interception.
~~ Dante Cephas led receivers with five catches totaling 68 yards.
~~ The Flashes run game produced 231 yards and four TDs. Marquez Cooper led the way with 31 trips for a total of 166 yards and two scores. Schlee also scored twice among his 10 carries for 56 yards.
~~ Kent State's defensive effort was led by senior safety Nico Bolden (14 tackles) and senior linebacker Marvin Pierre (11 tackles).
~~ The Golden Flashes have won eleven-straight home games, tied for the ninth-longest streak in the FBS and a new program
record.
~~ Kent State became the ONLY team in FBS history to have a 240 yard rushers (Marquez Cooper) and 240 yard receiver (Dante Cephas) in the same game, doing so against Ohio.
This week's marquee Mid-American Conference contest has Toledo visiting Buffalo. Based on early results, this matchup could be a preview of the conference championship game in early December. They are the only undefeated teams remaining in MAC competition.
Both teams are riding win streaks (Buffalo 4 wins, Toledo 3 wins), although UT has one more victory on the year by virtue of going 2-2 in non-conference play. The Bulls picked up one non-conference win, and that was last week when they defeated UMass 34-7.
Toledo leads the series with Buffalo, 7-5. However, the Bulls have won the last two meetings, most recently a 49-30 shootout at Buffalo in 2019. This will be only the eighth meeting between the schools since Buffalo joined the MAC in 1998, with Toledo holding a 4-3 advantage over that 20-year time period.
Toledo and Buffalo rank 1-2 in the MAC in victores since 2017, the year in which the Rockets last won the MAC Championship. Toledo has 40 wins in the past six seasons while Buffalo has 38.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
TOLEDO ROCKETS (5-2, 3-0 MAC)
~~ The Rockets are coming off a 52-31 victory over Kent State. The Flashes took a 21-0 lead before the first quarter was half over. However, UT recovered and trailed by just three (31-28) at intermission. It was all-Toledo after that, as the Rocket defense held KSU scoreless over the final 30 minutes and UT scored 24 second half points.
~~ Toledo's latest victory featured a performance for the ages by sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn, who threw a career-best six touchdown passes. That tied a school record. Finn also rushed for a score, which set a Toledo record for seven touchdowns accounted for in one game.
~~ Finn, who completed 16-of-22 passes for 263 yards vs. KSU, ranks second in the MAC in passing efficiency (157.57). He is also the Rockets’ leading rusher with 455 yards and six scores, and leads the MAC with 6.41 yards per carry.
~~ Finn ranks second in the country in yards per carry for a QB, just .03 yards behind Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham (6.44).
~~ Junior WR Mikel Barkley grabbed his first touchdown reception as a Rocket, a 39-yard bomb from Finn in the second quarter. He also caught an eight-yard TD in the fourth quarter. • Sophomore WR Jerjuan Newton caught his team-high fifth TD pass of the season, a 36-yarder in the second quarter, then caught his sixth TD pass in the fourth quarter. Newton caught five passes for a career-high 125 yards and two scores.
~~ Toledo’s offense ranks first in the MAC in scoring (38.4), second in rushing (193.3) and passing efficiency (154.55) and fourth in total offense (402.4).
~~ Toledo’s defense ranks second in the MAC in total defense (358.8) and third in points allowed (26.3). The Rockets lead the MAC in passing yards allowed (194.4) and defensive passing efficiency (118.16).
~~ Junior linebacker Dallas Gant leads the team with 64 tackles, which is fifth among MAC players and 30th in the country.
~~ Sophomore CB Quinyon Mitchell ranks first in the MAC and sixth in the country in interceptions (4).
BUFFALO BULLS (4-3, 3-0 MAC)
~~ The Bulls have won four straight since opening the season 0-3.
~~ Buffalo never trailed in its 34-7 win against UMass last week. It was a 24-7 game at the half, and UB added 10 unanswered points in the second half to seal the verdict.
~~ UB outgained the hosts 480-220 despite committing the game's only turnovers (3).
~~ Sophomore QB Cole Snyder connected on 20 of 31 against UMass, good for 277 yards with three TDs and two interceptions.
~~ Jamari Gassett (21.3 ypc) and Justin Marshall (25 ypc) each averaged over 20 yards per catch while combining for seven receptions, 160 yards and one score. Cole Harrity and Quian Williams also caught TD passes.
~~ The Bulls rank fourth in scoring offense (30.4 ppg) and are second in scoring defense (24.4 ppg).
~~ Buffalo ranks sixth (MAC) in total offense (398.7 ypg), fifth in rushing (157.1 ypg) and fifth in passing (241.6 ypg).
~~ Snyder is sixth among MAC quarterbacks in passing efficiency (132.9). He has completed 61.0 percent of his passes, including 11 tosses for touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
~~ The Bulls are looking to improve to 4-0 in MAC play for the fourth time in program history (2013, 2018, 2020).
~~ Buffalo has scored on its opening possession in five straight games, including touchdowns in three of those games. Defensively, the Bulls have not allowed points in the fourth quarter in any of their last four games.
~~ Linebacker Shaun Dolac leads the nation in solo tackles with 53 and ranks 12th in total tackles with 73.
~~ UB has created 11 turnovers through the first seven games of the season. This is a vast improvement from a season ago when the Bulls created 12 turnovers the entire season.
~~ After missing his first field goal of the season, Alex McNulty has made 13 straight field goals, including 11 over the last five games. He currently leads the MAC and ranks sixth in the nation in field goals made.
Bowling Green and CMU are seeking back-to-back MAC wins for the first time this year when they meet Saturday on Chippewa turf in Mount Pleasant. A victory would allow Central Michigan to reach .500 in conference play, while BGSU could move to 3-1 (MAC) after the Falcons edged Miami 17-13 last Saturday.
This is the 43rd all-time meeting between the two programs, with Bowling Green holding a 23-19 edge. The Falcons have won four of their last five trips to Kelly/Shorts Stadium since 2002. However, Central Michigan prevailed in the last meeting -- a 38-20 Chippewas win in Bowling Green during CMU's 2019 MAC West championship season.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
BOWLING GREEN FALCONS (3-4, 2-1 MAC)
~~ A victory would not only give the Falcons a 3-1 MAC record, it would also pull BGSU to .500 overall and match last season's 2021 win total.
~~ Defense dominated last week's battle with Miami, and the Falcons ultimately held MU to 189 total yards. That included just 98 yards rushing and 91 passing yards. The RedHawks had just one TD -- a 19-yard second quarter pass. Bowling Green had two TDs -- a 1-yard run by Harold Fannin Jr. in the second period and Ta'ron Keith's 19-yard game winning gallop in the fourth period.
~~ The Falcons owned a 21-10 advantage in first downs and kept Miami in poor field position for much of the day, especially in the second half.
~~ BGSU quarterback Matt McDonald completed 16 of 29 passes, totaling 149 yards with one interception. Three different receivers had three catches.
~~ Sophomore Jaison Patterson carried 18 times for 94 yards to lead Bowling Green rushers.
~~ The Falcons totaled 176 yards on the ground against a Miami defense that is No. 1 among MAC teams in rushing defense (101.3 ypg).
~~ Bowling Green is No. 2 in the nation with 26 team sacks.
~~ Linebacker JB Brown is tied for second in the nation with three forced fumbles.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (2-5, 1-2 MAC)
~~ After leading 21-7 last week at Akron, the Chippewas surrendered two TD to knot the score at 21-all. CMU's defense came to the rescue in the final two minutes as Thomas Incoom picked up a Zips fumble and returned it 63 yards for the winning score.
~~ The Chippewas defense limited Akron to 20 yards rushing on the day despite giving up a 53-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Central Michigan registered eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
~~ Quarterback Daniel Richardson completed 13 of 21 passes, good for 138 yards with one touchdown.
~~ Marion Lukes led CMU receivers with four catches for 71 yards and a TD.
~~ Sophomore Marion Lukes paced the Chippewas ground game with 26 carries for 160 yards and two scores. Central Michigan totaled 199 yards rushing on the day.
~~ CMU ranks seventh among MAC teams in scoring 26.3 ppg. and is third in scoring defense (29.3 ppg).
~~ The Chippewas are third (MAC) in passing offense (258.3 ypg) and ninth in passing offense efficiency. They are sixth in pass defense and fifth in pass defense efficiency.
~~ CMU's 3.8 ypc while rushing is tied for seventh among MAC teams. The Chippewas defense, meanwhile, is allowing 3.4 ypc (2nd MAC).
~~ Central Michigan's red zone defense tops the MAC (76.7 percent).
While the Ball State Cardinals have one conference loss on their record, they are still in a relatively good position to compete for the MAC West title. Toledo, currently undefeated in MAC play, tops the West and UT meets East-leader Buffalo this weekend. However, Ball State has two tough games before meeting UT. The first is Saturday when BSU hosts Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles have been up and down through seven games. Like Ball State, they are 4-3 overall, but they are just 1-2 in conference action. Picking up a win Saturday would even EMU's MAC record.
This is the 64th football meeting between EMU and BSU, with the Cardinals own a 37-24-2 advantage. Ball State has won the last three tilts, including a 38-31 verdict in 2021. Eastern Michigan's last win against the Cardinals was in 2018, which marked the third of three straight victories by the Eagles.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (4-3, 1-2 MAC)
~~ The Eagles had won two straight and three of their last four before fall at home to Northern Illinois 39-10 last week.
~~ The visiting Huskies kicked four field goals and added three TDs to break away from a 7-7 first quarter tie. Eastern Michigan committed two turnovers, while NIU played turnover-free football.
~~ Eastern Michigan was outgained 410-226 overall. The Eagles failed to reach the red zonefor the first time since 2014.
~~ Senior Taylor Powell completed 11 of 23 passes, good for 197 yards with one TD and one pick against NIU. He was sacked five times. On the year, he has completed 61.0 percent of his passes and has an efficiency rank of sixth among MAC quarterbacks.
~~ Sophomore Andreas Paaske, a 6-7, 252-pound sophomore, had just one catch against Northern Illinois, but it was a long one. Paaske's catch-and-run covered 75 yards and was Eastern Michigan's only touchdown of the day.
~~ EMU was held to 29 rushing yards on 27 trips despite Jaylon Jackson picking up 60 yards on 16 carries.
~~ The Eagles allowed five sacks and eight TFL against Northren Illinois.
~~ Senior linebacker Joe Sparcio led EMU defenders with 10 tackles against NIU.
~~ Senior Samson Evans is third among MAC runners with an average of 90.6 ypg, but he was limited to four yards on four carries last week.
~~ Senior Samson Evans ranks 20th in the nation with 634 rushing yards (91 ypg). He is seventh (MAC) in all-purpose yards.
~~ Wideout Dylan Drummond had three catches against NIU and now has 163 for his career. That ranks 28th among all active players.
~~ Junior Jaylon Jackson leads the MAC with a 34.0 yards per return average (2nd nationally). He is one of two MAC players to have both a kick return TD and rushing touchdown.
BALL STATE CARDINALS (4-3, 2-1 MAC)
~~ The Cardinals are riding a three-game winning streak: Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and UConn. The victory margin was by a total of 11 points, with the NIU game going two overtimes and CMU ending with a one-point spread.
~~ The Cardinals trailed UConn 21-10 at intermission last week, but BSU did all the second half scoring. Carson Steele's 17-yard run with 2:40 remaining was the winning score.
~~ Ball State tried two-point conversions on both second half touchdowns. Both failed.
~~ BSU quarterback John Paddock completed 19 of 39 pass attempts totaling 147 yards with one interception.
He has completed 61.9 percent of his passes on the year and is ranked 10th among MAC QBs in pass efficiency. He is one of just two MAC quarterbacks to have multiple 300-yard passing performances this season.
~~ Jayshon Jackson led Ball State receivers with eight catches totaling 71 yards. He also leads the team in receiving on the year (50 catches, 567 yards, 2 TDs. Jackson ranks third among MAC receivers with an average of 81.0 ypg.
~~ Of the Cardinals 209 rushing yards against NIU, 179 came from Carson Steele (32 carries, 179 yards, 3 TDs.
~~ Steele leads all MAC rushers with an average of 112.7 ypg. He is also tied for the lead in rushing scores (8).
~~ The Cardinals are aiming to reach a bowl for a third straight year. That would be a first for the program.
~~ Ball State is averaging 402.7 ypg in total offense (3rd MAC).
~~ Kicker Ben VonGunten is 12 for 16 in field goal attempts and has hit every PAT. His 12 makes on field goals are tied for eighth most in the FBS.
~~ Ball State is eighth in scoring (25.7 ppg) and fifth in scoring defense (29.3 ppg).
Senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi returned to the Northern Illinois lineup last week, and the Huskies returned to the win column. They're hoping to stay there for a while, but NIU is sure to be tested Saturday when it visits Ohio University in Athens. The Bobcats have won two straight and three of their last four outings. The only loss was a 31-24 overtime setback at Kent State three weeks ago. Ohio is 2-1 in conference play, with a date against East-leading Buffalo Nov. 1. That matchup would have even more luster should the 'Cats defeat NIU, especially should Buffalo fall to Toledo (the MAC West leader) this weekend.
Northern Illinois and Ohio have met 23 times, with NIU holding a 13-10 edge. The Huskies have won four of the last five meetings, dating back to NU's 23-20 win in the 2011 MAC Championship game. Each of the last six games in the series have been decided by seven points or less. Ohio holds a 7-5 advantage in games played at Peden Stadium, although Northern Illinois prevailed in the last two such meetings.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (2-5, 1-2 MAC)
~~ The Huskies shined in all three phases last week as they broke a five-game losing streak with a 39-10 win at Eastern Michigan. The Huskies romp started early as DL James Ester deflected -- and then caught -- an Eagles pass in the end zone for a touchdown. EMU answered right back with a 75-yard pass play, but was the Eagles only touchdown of the day. Northern Illinois forced two turnovers overall and limited EMU to 226 yards of offense on the day -- just 29 on the ground thanks, in part, to five sacks for minus 49 yards.
~~ The Huskies had the ball for a total of 20:47 and held a 19-10 advantage in first downs.
~~ Kicker John Richardson connected field goals of 41, 39, 28 and 33 yards.
~~ NIU tallied three touchdowns; all three came on runs, including Antario's 47-yard scamper in the first quarter and Harrison Waylee's 76-yard run midway through the final period.
~~ QB Rocky Lombardi completed 11 of 15 passes, good for 115 yards.
~~ Waylee led Northern Illinois rushing with 16 carries for 158 yards and one score. Brown logged 17 trips totaling 86 yards and two TDs.
~~ Cole Tucker led NIU receiving with five catches for a total of 58 yards.
~~ The Huskies rank second in the MAC and 29th nationally in rushing defense. The team is third in sacks, registering 19 sacks against opposing quarterbacks. Meanwhile, NIU's offense has allowed just nine sacks (2nd MAC).
~~ Northern Illinois is 31-6 versus MAC East opponents since 2008.
~~ NIU is one of five FBS teams to use three quarterbacks so far this year. Lombardi started the first three, followed by redshirt freshman Ethan Hampton. Sophomore Justin Lynch, a transfer from Temple has also seen action and logged a start.
OHIO BOBCATS (4-3, 2-1 MAC)
~~ Ohio is one score away from a perfect MAC record through three conference games.
~~ The Bobcats never trailed in last week's 33-14 win at Western Michigan. It was 7-7 after one quarter and Ohio took a 20-14 lead into intermission. Neither team scored in the third period, but Ohio pulled away with 13 fourth quarter points.
~~ Nathanial Vakos connected on four of five field goal attempts, with a long of 55, against the Broncos.
~~ Each team punted just one time in a game with eight turnover -- six by Western Michigan. All five interceptions by Ohio came in the second half.
~~ Quarterback Kurtis Rourke completed 22 of 334 pass attempts against WMU, good for 264 yards with one interception. Rourke tops all MAC passers in completion percentage (70%), passing yards (2,208), passing yards per game (315.4 y pg) and passing efficiency. He also leads the league in total offense (333.3 ypg), with the next closest player 47 yards back.
~~ Sam Wiglusz and Miles Cross combined for 12 catches and 128 yards to lead Ohio receivers against WMU. Wiglusz is sixth among MAC receivers on the season (72.9 ypg).
~~ Ohio ranks second (MAC) in scoring (33.1 ppg) and 10th in scoring defense (36.9 ppg).
~~ The Bobcats defense is fifth against the run (161.4 ypg) and last (12th) in defending the pass (367.1 ypg).
~~ Ohio's Bradley Weaver is among five MAC players with two fumble recoveries.
By MIKE SMITH
The Miami RedHawks have not won -- nor lost -- two games in a row this season. After falling last week at Bowling Green, MU may be "due" for a win this week. The RedHawks are also on home turf, where Miami owns a 16-game win streak. Throw in a family weekend, which typically brings in one of the bigger crowds, and MU should have at least some wind under its wings when kickoff time arrives at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
All that said, however, MU Head Coach Chuck Martin said Monday his RedHawks have a number of issues to "clean up" for this week's matchup. As he has . . . CONTINUE