Friday’s schedule brings down the curtain on 2017 Mid-American Conference regular season play, and two of three games could impact who plays in the MAC Championship Game.
Western Michigan at Toledo starts it all with an 11:30 a.m. kickoff. If the Rockets win, they are in!! They will head to the Dec. 2 championship tilt to face Akron.
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan kicks off . . .
Western Michigan at Toledo starts it all with an 11:30 a.m. kickoff. If the Rockets win, they are in!! They will head to the Dec. 2 championship tilt to face Akron.
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan kicks off . . .
. . . at noon. Although the Huskies match Toledo with a 6-1 conference record, UT owns the tiebreaker by virtue of an earlier win over NIU. Hence,The Huskies need to beat Central Michigan and hope for a Toledo loss.
So what happens if Toledo and Northern Illinois both lose?
That would create a three-way tie that also includes Central Michigan. However, Toledo also holds a multi-team tie-breaker by virtue of victories over both NIU and CMU.
So what happens if Toledo and Northern Illinois both lose?
That would create a three-way tie that also includes Central Michigan. However, Toledo also holds a multi-team tie-breaker by virtue of victories over both NIU and CMU.
The only MAC team to beat Toledo so far closes out its season in a 1 p.m. game as Ohio travels to Buffalo.
The Bobcats pummeled UT 38-10 two weeks ago in Athens, but stumbled themselves the following week at Akron (37-34). That gave the Zips a head-to-head tiebreaker, and they nailed down their ticket to Detroit win a 24-14 win over rival Kent State Tuesday night.
While Ohio hopes to pad its bowl resume with a win, Buffalo could qualify for a bowl with one more victory.
Here’s more on the Friday’s games:
The Bobcats pummeled UT 38-10 two weeks ago in Athens, but stumbled themselves the following week at Akron (37-34). That gave the Zips a head-to-head tiebreaker, and they nailed down their ticket to Detroit win a 24-14 win over rival Kent State Tuesday night.
While Ohio hopes to pad its bowl resume with a win, Buffalo could qualify for a bowl with one more victory.
Here’s more on the Friday’s games:
Ohio at Buffalo
1 p.m. ET, UB Stadium, Buffalo, NY
ESPN
1 p.m. ET, UB Stadium, Buffalo, NY
ESPN
OHIO BOBCATS (8-3, 5-2 MAC)
► Ohio was on a four-game winning streak and controlled its own fate before losing a 37-34 decision at Akron last week. The Bobcats qualified for a bowl bid a month ago but would still like to improve their resume.
► Ohio leads the MAC in scoring offense (40.3 ppg). It is sixth in scoring defense (25.3 ppg).
► The Bobcats offensive forte is running, as OU tops the MAC with 251 ypg.
► Junior running back A.J. Ouellette ranks third among MAC runners (88.3 ypg). Quarterback Nathan Rourke is fifth in rushing (75.7 ypg) and first in scoring (10.9 ppg). His 20 touchdowns is eight more than any other player.
► Rourke is also fifth in pass efficiency.
► Kicker Louie Zervos ranks second in scoring (8.6 ppg).
► Senior LB Quintin Poling is third among MAC defenders with 9.0 tackles per game (99 total).
BUFFALO BULLS (5-6, 3-4 MAC)
► The Bulls have won their last two games after breaking a four-game losing streak. Three of the four losses were by three points or less.
► Sophomore quarterback Tyree Jackson missed four games midseason. He has been back for three games. Over the last two, Jackson tossed seven TDs with one interception.
► Sophomore Emmanual Reed leads UB rushing and has eclipsed 100 yards in two of the last three games. He has five 100-yard-plus games on the season.
► Anthony Johnson tops the MAC in receiving yards per game (109.2) He is second in receptions per outing (6.4)
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan,
Noon ET, Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mt. Pleasant, MI
CBS S
Noon ET, Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mt. Pleasant, MI
CBS S
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES (8-3, 6-1 MAC)
► The Huskies lost just one game over the last six outings. That was a 21-17 defeat at Toledo. It will take a Toledo loss and NIU win Friday for the Huskies to reach the MAC Championship Game.
► The Huskies top the MAC in scoring defense (19.9 ppg) and total defense (322.y ypg) , while the offense is ranked fourth in scoring (30.7 ppg).
► Northern is particularly stout against the run, allowing a MAC-best 109.8 ypg.
► QB Marcus Childers has completed 57.6 percent of his passes, ;tossing 14 TDs with just three interceptions.
► Childers is also part of the running game, carrying 120 times for 441 yards with five TDs.
► Senior Jordan Huff missed three games this year, but has carried 116 times for 692 yards and four scores.
► Shane Wimann owns seven TDs among his 29 catches for 278 yards. Spencer Tears leads the squad with 34 catches for 420 yards and four scores.
► Senior Bobby Jones is sixth among MAC defenders with 8.0 tackles per game (88 total). Sophomore DE Sutton Smith leads the MAC and is among national leaders in sacks (15 total). He has 27.5 TFL.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (7-4, 5-2 MAC)
► The Chippewas are riding a four game win streak and have won five of their last six. The only loss was a 30-10 setback at home against Toledo.
► CMU posted a 42-23 victory over Kent State last week.
► Quarterback Shane Morris completed 14 of 22 passes for 297 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
► The Chippewas registered 152 yards rushing against BSU. Jonathan Ward led the ground game with 13 carries for 80 yards, while Morris contributed 50 yards on eight trips.
► Tight end Tyler Conklin , who missed nearly half a season with an injury, caught four passes for 104 yards last week.
► Junior linebacker Malik Fountain has 77 tackles, while fellow linebacker Alex Briones is just two stops behind. Joe Ostman owns 11 sacks – all solo.
► The Huskies lost just one game over the last six outings. That was a 21-17 defeat at Toledo. It will take a Toledo loss and NIU win Friday for the Huskies to reach the MAC Championship Game.
► The Huskies top the MAC in scoring defense (19.9 ppg) and total defense (322.y ypg) , while the offense is ranked fourth in scoring (30.7 ppg).
► Northern is particularly stout against the run, allowing a MAC-best 109.8 ypg.
► QB Marcus Childers has completed 57.6 percent of his passes, ;tossing 14 TDs with just three interceptions.
► Childers is also part of the running game, carrying 120 times for 441 yards with five TDs.
► Senior Jordan Huff missed three games this year, but has carried 116 times for 692 yards and four scores.
► Shane Wimann owns seven TDs among his 29 catches for 278 yards. Spencer Tears leads the squad with 34 catches for 420 yards and four scores.
► Senior Bobby Jones is sixth among MAC defenders with 8.0 tackles per game (88 total). Sophomore DE Sutton Smith leads the MAC and is among national leaders in sacks (15 total). He has 27.5 TFL.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (7-4, 5-2 MAC)
► The Chippewas are riding a four game win streak and have won five of their last six. The only loss was a 30-10 setback at home against Toledo.
► CMU posted a 42-23 victory over Kent State last week.
► Quarterback Shane Morris completed 14 of 22 passes for 297 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
► The Chippewas registered 152 yards rushing against BSU. Jonathan Ward led the ground game with 13 carries for 80 yards, while Morris contributed 50 yards on eight trips.
► Tight end Tyler Conklin , who missed nearly half a season with an injury, caught four passes for 104 yards last week.
► Junior linebacker Malik Fountain has 77 tackles, while fellow linebacker Alex Briones is just two stops behind. Joe Ostman owns 11 sacks – all solo.
Western Michigan (6-5, 4-3 MAC) at Toledo (9-2, 6-1 MAC)
11:30 a.m. ET, Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH.
ESPNU, ESPN Watch
11:30 a.m. ET, Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH.
ESPNU, ESPN Watch
WESTERN MICHIGAN (6-5, 4-3 MAC)
► The Broncos are third in scoring offense (36.1 ppg) and ninth in scoring defense (28.3 pg).
► Western Michigan has a strong ground game, ranking second among MAC teams behind only Ohio. The Broncos are averaging 236.5 ypg.
► WMU also excels in stopping the run. It tops the MAC with an average of 109.8 ypg.
► Senior Jarvion Franklin leads MAC runners with an average of 106.9 ypg. He has prodeuced 1,176 rushing yards and 11 TDs this season.
► A win would give WMU winning overall and MAC records one year after winning the MAC and participating in the Cotton Bowl. A loss would leave the Broncos at .500 both overall and in MAC play.
► Keishawn Watson leads Western in receptions (3) and receiving touchdowns (7). D’Wayne Eskridge tops the team in receiving yards (506 yards on 30 catches.
► WMU has 26 rushing scores and 18 through the air.
► Kicker Josh Grant has connected on 14 of 22 field goal attempts with a long of 49 yards.
TOLEDO ROCKETS (9-2, 6-1 MAC)
Western Michigan (6-5, 4-3 MAC) at Toledo (9-2, 6-1 MAC)
► The Rockets were on ;a five-game winning streak before falling 38-10 at Ohio Nov. 8.
► Ohio outgained the rockets 532-316 in the Bobcats victory. OU amassed 393 yards on the ground., averaging 7.0 ypc.
► UT is second among MAC teams in scoring, averaging 38.0 ypg. It is first in total offense (510.3 ypg).
► The Rockets re first in pass efficiency and second in pass offense (298.8 ypg).
► Quarterback Logan Woodside ranks 15th nationally with 3,151 passing yards. He has completed 65.2 percent of his passes (206 of 316), registering 22 passing TDs and just two interceptions. The senior tops all MAC QBs in pass efficiency.
► Running back Terry Swanson give Toledo a solid running option. His 104.5 ypc is second in the MAC, one wpot behind WMU’s Franklin.
► Diontae Johnson tops UT receivers with 58 catches for 1,078 yards with 10 touchdowns.
► The Broncos are third in scoring offense (36.1 ppg) and ninth in scoring defense (28.3 pg).
► Western Michigan has a strong ground game, ranking second among MAC teams behind only Ohio. The Broncos are averaging 236.5 ypg.
► WMU also excels in stopping the run. It tops the MAC with an average of 109.8 ypg.
► Senior Jarvion Franklin leads MAC runners with an average of 106.9 ypg. He has prodeuced 1,176 rushing yards and 11 TDs this season.
► A win would give WMU winning overall and MAC records one year after winning the MAC and participating in the Cotton Bowl. A loss would leave the Broncos at .500 both overall and in MAC play.
► Keishawn Watson leads Western in receptions (3) and receiving touchdowns (7). D’Wayne Eskridge tops the team in receiving yards (506 yards on 30 catches.
► WMU has 26 rushing scores and 18 through the air.
► Kicker Josh Grant has connected on 14 of 22 field goal attempts with a long of 49 yards.
TOLEDO ROCKETS (9-2, 6-1 MAC)
Western Michigan (6-5, 4-3 MAC) at Toledo (9-2, 6-1 MAC)
► The Rockets were on ;a five-game winning streak before falling 38-10 at Ohio Nov. 8.
► Ohio outgained the rockets 532-316 in the Bobcats victory. OU amassed 393 yards on the ground., averaging 7.0 ypc.
► UT is second among MAC teams in scoring, averaging 38.0 ypg. It is first in total offense (510.3 ypg).
► The Rockets re first in pass efficiency and second in pass offense (298.8 ypg).
► Quarterback Logan Woodside ranks 15th nationally with 3,151 passing yards. He has completed 65.2 percent of his passes (206 of 316), registering 22 passing TDs and just two interceptions. The senior tops all MAC QBs in pass efficiency.
► Running back Terry Swanson give Toledo a solid running option. His 104.5 ypc is second in the MAC, one wpot behind WMU’s Franklin.
► Diontae Johnson tops UT receivers with 58 catches for 1,078 yards with 10 touchdowns.
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