MAC PREVIEW 2025

 

MAC Best Offensive Players  by POSITION

Quarterback- Dequan Finn   Miami (Ohio)

Running Back- Chip Trayanum   Toledo

Running Back  Al-Jay Henderson   Buffalo

Wide Receiver   Junior Vanderross III   Toledo

Wide Receiver   Terry Lockett  Jr.  Eastern Michigan

Wide Receiver  Victor Snow   Buffalo

Tight End   Blake Bosma   Western Michigan

 

MAC GAMES TO WATCH

Aug 30  Toledo @ Kentucky

Sept 22   E Michigan @ C Michigan

Oct 11  Toledo @ Bowling Green

Oct 25  Northern Illinois @ Ball State

Nov 1   C Michigan @ W Michigan

Nov 4  Miami of Ohio @ Ohio

Nov 11  Kent State @ Akron

Nov 12   Toledo @ Miami of Ohio

Nov 19  Miami of Ohio @ Buffalo

Nov 25  W Michigan @ E Michigan

Nov 28  Ohio @ Buffalo

Nov 29  Toledo @ C Michigan

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MAC Teams in Predicted Order of Finish

1. Toledo- The Rockets have Jason Candle as their head coach . This will be his tenth season at the helm. Returning id quarterback Tucker Gleason. He threw for 2,808 yards and 24 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. The Rockets also Junior Vandeross III is the primary receiver and senior  running back Chip Trayanum will get the carries a long with junior Kenji Christian. The defense returns many very good players and look for this team to shine. They open on August 30th a SEC Kentucky. The Toledo Rockets play their home games a the Glass Bowl which seats 36, 952 fabs.
2. Buffalo- The Bulls are led by head coach Pete Lembo for his second season at the helm. Ta’Quan Robertson,a former UConn quarterback will get the starting nod for the Bulls. Running back Al-Jay Richardson  is the running back along with a pair of wide receivers in Victor Snow and Nik McMillan. This team plays at UB Stadium and it seats 25.013 fans, They open their season on August 28th on the road facing Big Ten team Minnesota.
3. Ohio- The Bobcats went 11-3 in 2024 with a spectacular season and in 2025, seven of these offensive players return. Quarterback Parker Navarro passed for 2,230 yards along with 13 touchdowns and rushed for 18 touchdowns. Head coach Brian Smith is elated in his first full season at the helm. He also can count on receivers Rodney Harris and Chase Hendrick, both are junior and nice targets for touchdowns. This is a solid squad and probably should be 1 or 2 in the MAC. They play at Peden stadium which seats 25,210 fans and the opener is on the road against a Big Ten opponent in Rutgers.
4. Miami (OHIO)-Chuck Martin returns for his 12th season as the head coach of the Redhawks. They finished at 9-5 in 2024 but have no offensive starters returning in 2025. Dequan Finn, formerly of Toledo and Baylor is back in the MAC. He was very good in his three years at Tolrdo Kenny Tracy returns after an injured kept him on the sidelines for many games. Notre Dame transfer Deion Colzie is a reliable wide receiver a long with Florida State transfer Darion Williamson. They give them hop. The Redhawks play at Fred C. Yeager Stadium which seats 30th,087 fans. They up on the road at Wisconsin.
5. Northern Illinois- The huskies head coach is Thomas Hammock and he hire a new offensive coordinator that is likely to open up the field and pass more with solid receivers on board. Sophomore Gary Givens and DeAree Rogers along with freshman Ricky Taylor are the ones getting the brunt of the catches. The QB spot is up in the air but likely goes to sophomore Josh Holst. This could be a sneaky team to win more games than the 8 from last season. The Huskies play at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb IL. and it seats 28,211 fans. On August 30th, they open at home facing Holy Cross.
6. Central Michigan – The Chippewas play at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant MI. and it holds 35,127 fans. They will open on the road on August 29th at San Jose State. Senior Joe Labas will get the quarterback nod for head coach Matt Drinkall. Junior tight  end Tacorian Temple returns with experience. The defense is the strong point of the team.
7. Bowling Green- Eddie George takes over for the Falcons. He is a former He is,am trophy winner and College football Hall of Famer. Drew Pyne is the quarterback in his fourth college stop, He is a former 10 game starter for Notre Dame and could be a wildcard player in the MAC . PaSean Wimberly appears to get the most carries for the running backs. However, Chris McMillan and Chris Edmonds will get plenty of chance from  head coach George wide receiver Finn Hogan is experiences at his position and could be a top receiver in the MAC. The Falcons play at Doyt I. Perry Stadium  which seats 33., 527 fans. They open up at home on August 28th against Lafayette.
8. Western Michigan- Th Broncos head coach Lance Taylor enters the third year in Kalamazoo with little to mo experience. Two starters returned with with running back sophomore in Jalen Buckley Tight end senior Blake Bosma returns. The defense is a gamble through the portal. They play at Waldo Stadium and it seats 36th,362 fans. They have their opener at Michigan State on August 30th.
9. Eastern Michigan – There is a battle for the quarterback spot  among three which include Coastal Carolina transfer Noah Kim, Jeremiah Salem a walk-on and Cameron Edge from Maryland.  Running back Dontae Dunlap returns from a broken leg and is the primary. Senior wide receiver Terry Lockett is the go-to guy for the passes. The Eagles play at Rynearson Stadium which seats 26,188 fans. Opener for them is at Texas State on August 30th.
10. Akron- The Zips are coached by Joe Moorhead and they play their hone games at Summa Field that seats 30,000 fans. They will open their season at home against Wyoming. Quarterback Ben Finley will start for the second season as he tossed for 2.604 yards with 16 touchdowns and completed 55% of his passes. In 2024. they were 4-8 on the season and 3-5 in the conference wide receiver Alex Adams returns after missing last year due to injury.Freshman Kyan Mason and sophomore Paul Davis will get the majority of the touchdown throws and running back Jordan Gant will get the carries.
11. Ball State- Head coach Mike Uremovich will lead the Cardinals in his first season at Muncie. He looks to get them out of the 3-9 record overall and 2-6 in conference play in 2025.Quarterback for this season is Kiael Kelly. who started the second held of the 2024 season. The top running back is Qua Ashley, a transfer from Kennesaw State.Look for TJ Horton to get some work at running back as this squad will struggle in 2025. Sophomore Jamarian McDougle and a pair of seniors with Ty Robinson and Olab Magwood also get time at the wide receiver slots. This team plays at Schumann Stadium with 22,500 seats and open their season on August 30th on the road at Purdue.
12. UMASS – A tiger can’r change its stripes and a football team can’t be better with a new coach and new conference, The Minutemen are looking for a quarterback , a running back,  tight end but sport a receiver with Jacquo Gibson returning. The defense is in flux again. hey will open at home on August 30th against Temple and they play at he Warren McGuirk Stadium with 17,000 fans.
13. Kent State- At the bottom of the MAC, we find the Golden Flashes. coached by Matt Carney in his first season. Quarterback will be manned by Devin Kargman who started last season but was injured early in the 2024 season. Wide receiver, sophomore Dashawn Martin returns as a reliable wide receiver. This team plays at Dix Stadium with 25,319 seats. They open at home on August 30th facing Merimack. They were winless last season and will pick up few wins in 2025.

Check out previous conference previews HERE.