MAC Football Teams To Play 10 Games Versus Preseason Top Ranked Squads

CLEVELAND -- Although no Mid-American Conference football team is ranked in the first USA TODAY Coaches’ Poll released this week, MAC squads will have an impact on who wins the national title this season. Ten times a MAC team will face a school that is ranked in the preseason Top 25 poll, including No. 1 Georgia. The Bulldogs host preseason MAC favorite and two-time defending league champion Central Michigan on Sept. 6.

The 13-team MAC can point to the 2003 calendar as a historic marker in making a national impact on the collegiate football landscape. The MAC Magic Weekend of Sept. 20, 2003, saw three league teams score upsets of ranked teams. On that Saturday, Marshall surprised No. 6 Kansas State 27-20 in Manhattan; Toledo shocked No. 9 Pittsburgh 35-31 in the Glass Bowl; and Northern Illinois stunned No. 21 Alabama 19-16 in Tuscaloosa.

Also in 2003, on Aug. 28 Northern Illinois toppled No. 15 Maryland, 20-13 in overtime in DeKalb; and Bowling Green grabbed a 27-26 triumph at No. 16 Purdue on Sept. 6.

This year’s list of MAC teams versus ranked teams is as follows:

Listed In Order of Ranked Teams (based on preseason poll)

No. 1 Georgia vs. Central Michigan: Sept. 6 – FSN South
No. 3 Ohio State vs. Ohio University: Sept. 6 – ESPN or ESPN2
No. 7 Missouri vs. Buffalo: Sept. 20
No. 12 Wisconsin vs. Akron: Aug. 30 – Big Ten Network
No. 18 Tennessee vs. Northern Illinois: Oct. 4
No. 19 Illinois vs. Western Michigan: Nov. 8 at Ford Field - MAC Game of the Week
No. 22 Penn State vs. Temple: Sept. 20 – Big Ten Network
No. 24 Michigan vs. Miami: Sept. 6 – ESPN or ESPN2
No. 24 Michigan vs. Toledo: Oct. 11 - Television tba
No. 25 Fresno State at Toledo: Sept. 20

Listed In Date Order

No. 12 Wisconsin vs. Akron: Aug. 30 – Big Ten Network
No. 1 Georgia vs. Central Michigan: Sept. 6 – FSN South
No. 3 Ohio State vs. Ohio University: Sept. 6 – ESPN or ESPN2
No. 24 Michigan vs. Miami: Sept. 6 – ESPN or ESPN2
No. 7 Missouri vs. Buffalo: Sept. 20
No. 22 Penn State vs. Temple: Sept. 20 – Big Ten Network
No. 25 Fresno State at Toledo: Sept. 20
No. 18 Tennessee vs. Northern Illinois: Oct. 4
No. 24 Michigan vs. Toledo: Oct. 11 - Television tba
No. 19 Illinois vs. Western Michigan: Nov. 8 at Ford Field - MAC Game of the Week