Highlighting the schedule will be 16 midweek nationally televised games during the months of October and November slated for national television on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network as the conference race unfolds in both the East and West divisions.
The regular season will conclude with the 19th Marathon MAC Football Championship game on Friday, Dec. 4 at 8:00 pm ET at Ford Field in Detroit on ESPN2. This will mark the 12th Marathon MAC Football Championship game at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, Super Bowl XL, and the 2009 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
For the eighth year in a row, league schools will face a formidable non-conference slate of opponents from the following Football Bowl Subdivision conferences – ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and Notre Dame. In addition, the conference will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Independent Army.
MAC programs will face five non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Ohio State (1), Michigan State (5), Wisconsin (13), Marshall (23) and Memphis (25). MAC programs will twice face National Champion Ohio State as NIU plays in Columbus on Sept. 19 and Western Michigan on Sept. 26. Also, Western Michigan will host Michigan State in its season opener on Friday, Sept. 4 at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Mich.
CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE >>>
The MAC will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference (3— Cincinnati, Memphis, Temple), Mountain West (3--Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming), Conference USA (6—Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Marshall (2), Old Dominion, Western Kentucky) and Sun Belt Conference (5--Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Idaho, Louisiana-Lafayette), along with Independent Army.
MAC programs continue to increase the number of home or neutral site games against FBS Conference opponents. This season the MAC will host 16 games against FBS non-conference foes, including Oklahoma State (Big 12); Michigan State (Big Ten); Pittsburgh (ACC); Iowa State (Big 12);
MAC Home Games vs. FBS Non-Conference opponents:
-Oklahoma State (Big 12) at Central Michigan on Sept. 3 at 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU);
-Michigan State (Big Ten) at Western Michigan on Sept. 4 at 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU);
-Old Dominion (Conference USA) at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 5 at 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3);
-UNLV (Mountain West) at NIU on Sept. 5 at 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network);
-Pittsburgh (ACC) at Akron on Sept. 12 at 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3);
-Marshall (Conference USA) at Ohio on Sept. 12 at 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3);
-Iowa State (Big 12) at Toledo on Sept. 19 at 8:00 pm ET (ESPNews);
-Memphis (American Athletic) at Bowling Green on Sept. 19 at 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3);
-Cincinnati (American Athletic) at Miami on Sept. 19 at 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3);
-Temple (American Athletic) at UMass on Sept. 19 at 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3);
-Army (Independent) at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 26;
-Arkansas State (Sun Belt) at Toledo on Sept. 26;
-Nevada (Mountain West) at Buffalo on Sept. 26;
-Marshall (Conference USA) at Kent State on Sept. 26;
-Florida International (Conference USA) at UMass on Oct. 3;
-Georgia State (Sun Belt) at Ball State on Oct. 17.
2015 MAC Football Schedule (composite by date)
All times listed ET
*Conference Game
Sep. 3 – Thursday
Oklahoma State at Central Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU)
Ohio at Idaho, 9:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Stony Brook at Toledo, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Virginia Military Institute at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Sep. 4 – Friday
Kent State at Illinois, 9:00 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Michigan State at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU)
Sep. 5 – Saturday
Akron at Oklahoma, TBA
Albany at Buffalo, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
Bowling Green at Tennessee
Old Dominion at Eastern Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Presbyterian at Miami, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
UNLV at NIU, 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)
Sep. 12 – Saturday
Ball State at Texas A&M
Bowling Green at Maryland
Buffalo at Penn State
Delaware State at Kent State, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Eastern Michigan at Wyoming
Marshall at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Miami at Wisconsin
Monmouth at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Murray State at NIU, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN3)
Pittsburgh at Akron, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Toledo at Arkansas
UMass at Colorado, 2:00 pm ET (Pac-12 Networks)
Western Michigan at Georgia Southern, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Sep. 19 – Saturday
*Ball State at Eastern Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Buffalo at Florida Atlantic
Central Michigan at Syracuse, 12:30 pm ET (ACC RSN)
Cincinnati at Miami, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
Iowa State at Toledo, 8:00 pm ET (ESPNews)
Kent State at Minnesota
Memphis at Bowling Green, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Murray State at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
NIU at Ohio State
Savannah State at Akron, Noon or 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Southeast Louisiana at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Temple at UMass, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
Sep. 26 – Saturday
Akron at Louisiana-Lafayette
Arkansas State at Toledo
Army at Eastern Michigan
Ball State at Northwestern, 8:00 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Bowling Green at Purdue
Central Michigan at Michigan State
Marshall at Kent State
Miami at Western Kentucky, 3:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Nevada at Buffalo
NIU at Boston College
Ohio at Minnesota
UMass at Notre Dame
Western Michigan at Ohio State
Oct. 3 – Saturday
*Bowling Green at Buffalo, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
Eastern Michigan at LSU
Florida International at UMass
*Miami at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*NIU at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET/2:00 pm CT (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*Ohio at Akron, 2:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*Toledo at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
Oct. 10 – Saturday
*Akron at Eastern Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*Ball State at NIU
*Central Michigan at Western Michigan
*Kent State at Toledo, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*Miami at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*UMass at Bowling Green
Oct. 17 – Saturday
*Akron at Bowling Green, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*Buffalo at Central Michigan
*Eastern Michigan at Toledo
Georgia State at Ball State
*Kent State at UMass, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*NIU at Miami, 2:30 pm ET/1:30 pm CT (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*Western Michigan at Ohio
Oct. 24 – Saturday
*Bowling Green at Kent State
*Central Michigan at Ball State
*Eastern Michigan at NIU, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*Miami at Western Michigan, 2:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
*Ohio at Buffalo
*Toledo at UMass
Oct. 29 – Thursday
*Buffalo at Miami, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
*Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
Oct. 31 – Saturday
*Central Michigan at Akron
*UMass at Ball State
Nov. 3 – Tuesday
*NIU at Toledo, 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2)
Nov. 4 – Wednesday
*Ohio at Bowling Green, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
Nov. 5 – Thursday
*Ball State at Western Michigan, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
*Buffalo at Kent State, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
Nov. 7 – Saturday
*Akron at UMass
*Eastern Michigan at Miami
Nov. 10 – Tuesday
*Kent State at Ohio, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
*Toledo at Central Michigan, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Nov. 11 – Wednesday
*Bowling Green at Western Michigan, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
*NIU at Buffalo, 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Nov. 14 – Saturday
*Akron at Miami
*UMass at Eastern Michigan
Nov. 17 – Tuesday
*Ball State at Ohio, TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
*Toledo at Bowling Green, TBD (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Nov. 18 – Wednesday
*Central Michigan at Kent State, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
*Western Michigan at NIU, 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Nov. 21 – Saturday
*Buffalo at Akron
*Miami at UMass
Nov. 24 – Tuesday
*Bowling Green at Ball State, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU or ESPN3)
*Ohio at NIU, 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (ESPNU or ESPN3)
Nov. 27 – Friday
*Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan
*Kent State at Akron
*UMass at Buffalo
*Western Michigan at Toledo
Dec. 4 – Friday
East Division Champion vs. West Division Champion
Marathon MAC Championship Game, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
At Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
2015 MAC Football Schedule (composite by school)
All times listed ET
*Conference Game
EAST DIVISION
Akron
September .
5 at Oklahoma, TBA
12 Pittsburgh, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
19 Savannah State, Noon or 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
26 at La-Lafayette
Oct.
3 *Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
10 *at Eastern Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
17 *at Bowling Green, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
31 *Central Michigan
Nov.
7 *at UMass
14 *at Miami
21 *Buffalo
27 *Kent State
Bowling Green
Sep.
5 at Tennessee
12 at Maryland
19 Memphis, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
26 at Purdue
Oct.
3 *at Buffalo, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
10 *UMass
17 *Akron, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
24 *at Kent State
Nov.
4 *Ohio, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
11 *at Western Michigan, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
17 *Toledo, TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
24 *at Ball State, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU or ESPN3)
Buffalo
Sep.
5 Albany, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
12 at Penn State
19 at Florida Atlantic
26 Nevada
Oct.
3 *Bowling Green, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
17 *at Central Michigan
24 *Ohio
29 *at Miami, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
Nov.
5 *at Kent State, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
11 *NIU, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
21 *at Akron
27 *UMass
Kent State
Sep.
4 at Illinois, 9:00 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
12 Delaware State, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
19 at Minnesota
26 Marshall
Oct.
3 *Miami, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
10 *at Toledo, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
17 *at UMass, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
24 *Bowling Green
Nov.
5 *Buffalo, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
10 *at Ohio, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
18 *Central Michigan, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
27 *at Akron
UMass
Sep.
12 at Colorado, 2:00 pm ET (Pac-12 Networks)
19 Temple, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
26 at Notre Dame
Oct.
3 Florida International
10 *at Bowling Green
17 *Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
24 *Toledo
31 *at Ball State
Nov.
7 *Akron
14 *at Eastern Michigan
21 *Miami
27 *at Buffalo
Miami
Sep.
5 Presbyterian, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
12 at Wisconsin
19 Cincinnati, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
26 at Western Kentucky, 3:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Oct.
3 *at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
10 *at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
17 *NIU, 2:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
24 *at Western Michigan, 2:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
29 *Buffalo, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
Nov.
7 *Eastern Michigan
14 *Akron
21 *at UMass
Ohio
Sep.
3 at Idaho, 9:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
12 Marshall, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
19 Southeast Louisiana, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
26 at Minnesota
Oct.
3 *at Akron, 2:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
10 *Miami, 2:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
17 *Western Michigan
24 *at Buffalo
Nov.
4 *at Bowling Green, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
10 *Kent State, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
17 *Ball State, TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
24 *at NIU, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU or ESPN3)
WEST DIVISION
Ball State
Sep.
3 Virginia Military Institute, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
12 at Texas A&M
19 *at Eastern Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
26 at Northwestern, 8:00 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Oct.
3 *Toledo, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
10 *at NIU
17 Georgia State
24 *Central Michigan
31 *UMass
Nov.
5 *at Western Michigan, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
17 *at Ohio, TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
24 *Bowling Green, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU or ESPN3)
Central Michigan
Sept.
3 Oklahoma State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU)
12 Monmouth, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
19 at Syracuse, 12:30 pm ET (ACC RSN)
26 at Michigan State
Oct.
3 *NIU, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
10 *at Western Michigan
17 *Buffalo
24 *at Ball State
31 *at Akron
Nov.
10 *Toledo, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
18 *at Kent State, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
27 *Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Sep.
5 Old Dominion, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
12 at Wyoming
19 *Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
26 Army
Oct.
3 at LSU
10 *Akron, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day selection)
17 *at Toledo
24 *at NIU, 3:30 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
29 *Western Michigan, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
Nov.
7 *at Miami
14 *UMass
27 *at Central Michigan
Northern Illinois (NIU)
Sep.
5 UNLV, 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)
12 Murray State, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN3)
19 at Ohio State
26 at Boston College
Oct.
3 *at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET/2:00 pm CT (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
10 *Ball State
17 *at Miami, 2:30 pm ET/1:30 pm CT (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
24 *Eastern Michigan, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
Nov.
3 *at Toledo, 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2)
11 *at Buffalo, 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
18 *Western Michigan, 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
24 *Ohio, 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (ESPNU or ESPN3)
Toledo
Sep.
3 Stony Brook, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
12 at Arkansas
19 Iowa State, 8:00 pm ET (ESPNews)
26 Arkansas State
Oct.
3 *at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
10 *Kent State, 3:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
17 *Eastern Michigan
24 *at UMass
Nov.
3 *NIU, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
10 *at Central Michigan, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
17 *at Bowling Green, TBD (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
27 *Western Michigan
Western Michigan
Sep.
4 Michigan State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU)
12 at Georgia Southern, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
19 Murray State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
26 at Ohio State
Oct.
10 *Central Michigan
17 *at Ohio
24 *Miami, 2:00 pm ET (TBA; 12-day TV selection)
29 *at Eastern Michigan, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
Nov.
5 *Ball State, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network or ESPN3)
11 *Bowling Green, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
18 *at NIU, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
27 *at Toledo