MAC football rundown: Week 2

Each week throughout the football season, The Daily News runs through the Mid-American Conference, recapping the previous week and looking ahead to this week’s games.

Only three Mid-American Conference teams, all of which in the West Division, remain undefeated after week two of the college football season – Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo.

Despite that fact, however, eight of the conference’s 12 teams walked away with wins this past week.

Here’s the MAC Rundown for week two of the college football season: 

Akron Zips 

Season record: 1-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Arkansas Pine Bluff (W, 52-3)
Week 3 matchup: Iowa State (1-1)

After suffering a big week one loss to Penn State in week one, Akron came out strong and never looked back in its 52-3 win against Arkansas Pine Bluff. Senior running back Warren Ball led the Zips offense with three touchdowns and 146 rushing yards on 20 carries.

Akron plays Big 12 foe Iowa State in week three. Iowa State is coming off a 44-41 loss against Iowa in week two. So far this season, the Cyclones have averaged 436 yards of offense and given up 437.5 yards each game. 

Ball State 

Season record: 1-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: University Alabama-Birmingham (W, 51-31)
Week 3 matchup: Tennessee Tech (0-2)

There was nearly 900 total yards of offense between Ball State and the University Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday. But it was the play of special teams, more specifically sophomore running back Malik Dunner, who made the difference in this game with his 93-yard kickoff return late in the third quarter.

This week, Ball State takes on Football Championship Subdivision foe Tennessee Tech,  team that has averaged 424 yards against, 303.5 on the ground, per game this season. Junior quarterback Riley Neal will lead a young group of Cardinals into its Family Weekend matchup.

Bowling Green 

Season record: 0-2, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: South Dakota (L, 35-27)
Week 3 matchup: Northwestern (1-1) 

After trailing 28-9 midway through the third quarter, Bowling Green came within eight points of South Dakota, but fell short 35-27. FCS foe South Dakota moved to 2-0 on the regular season after the win.

The Falcons travel to Evanston, Illinois this week to play Big Ten opponent Northwestern. Northwestern is coming off a 41-17 loss against Duke in week two and have comparable yardage numbers to Bowling Green this season in terms of offensive yards per game (349.5-344) and yards allowed per game (439.5-492.5). 

Buffalo  

Season record: 0-2, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Army (L, 21-17)
Week 3 matchup: Colgate (1-1)

For the second straight week Buffalo came close to a win, but struggled to finish, losing 21-17 to Army. Entering the final quarter of play, the Bulls led 17-7, but a pair of one-yard rushing touchdowns from senior Black Knights quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw put them ahead.

This week, Buffalo returns home to take on Colgate (1-1), who lost 20-17 to Richmond after giving up 13 fourth quarter points. Sophomore quarterback Tyree Jackson leads the Bulls in both passing yards (404) and rushing yards (92) entering the third week of competition.

Central Michigan 

Season record: 2-0, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Kansas (W, 45-27)
Week 3 matchup: Syracuse (1-1)

After nearly losing against FCS opponent Rhode Island in week one, Central Michigan came back in a big way against Kansas (1-1), winning 45-27. Senior quarterback Shane Morris led the way offensively with 467 passing yards and five touchdowns en route to earning his MAC West Offensive Player of the Week award.

While the Chippewas had 590 yards of total offense in week two, they will prepare to face off against a Syracuse Orange team that has only given up 265 yards per game this season.  

Eastern Michigan 

Season record: 2-0, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Rutgers (W, 16-13)
Week 3 matchup: Bye week

After starting off with a first-drive touchdown, kicker Paul Fricano’s three field goals led Eastern Michigan to a 16-13 win against Rutgers (0-2). Senior quarterback Brogan Roback led the way for the Eagles offense with 260 passing yards and a touchdown.

While Eastern Michigan is the only MAC team not in action this week, it returns in week four by opening up conference play against East Division foe Ohio (1-1) in week four. 

Kent State 

Season record: 1-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Howard (W, 38-31)
Week 3 matchup: Marshall (1-1) 

Kent State bounced back in week two, after a loss to reigning Football Bowl Subdivision champion Clemson in week one, with a 38-31 win over FCS opponent Howard. Entering the fourth quarter, Kent State was down 24-23 before scoring a pair of touchdowns which gave it its win of the season. 

Kent State travels to Hungtinton, West Virginia this week to take on Marshall (1-1). Both teams have allowed more yards than they’ve earned this season, with Kent State giving up 548.5 yards per game compared to Marshall’s 457 yards allowed per game. 

Miami (Ohio) 

Season record: 1-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Austin Peay (W, 31-10)
Week 3 matchup: Cincinnati (1-1)

Miami controlled the entire game against Austin Peay despite earning just 13 more yards of offense in week two. Junior quarterback Gus Gagland led the RedHawks to a victory after a three-touchdown performance.

This week, Miami takes on Cincinnati, who also beat Austin Peay in week one of the season, 26-14. The RedHawks enter the game averaging 356 yards of offensive yards per game compared to Cincinnati’s 224.

Northern Illinois 

Season record: 1-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Eastern Illinois (W, 38-10)
Week 3 matchup: Nebraska (1-1) 

Northern Illinois handled in-state rival Eastern Illinois (1-1) from beginning to end in its week two victory. The Huskies racked up 499 yards of offense and 26 first downs in its dominating 38-10 win.

Northern Illinois takes on Big Ten foe Nebraska (1-1) this week. The Cornhuskers have been in a pair of high-scoring affairs this season, beating Arkansas State 43-36 in week one and losing to Oregon 42-35 last week.  

Ohio 

Season record: 1-1, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Ohio (L, 44-21)
Week 3 matchup: Kansas (1-1) 

Despite a strong showing in week one, Ohio wasn’t able to earn a victory against Big Ten opponent Purdue (1-1). The Boilermakers entered halftime with a 34-7 lead and never looked back on the way to their 44-21 victory.

Ohio takes on a Kansas team (1-1) who lost to MAC opponent Central Michigan in week two. While the Jayhawks have averaged more than 453 offensive yards per game, they also give up 421.5 yards per game entering week three of the regular season.

Toledo 

Season record: 2-0, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Nevada (W, 37-24)
Week 3 matchup: Tulsa (1-1) 

Toledo's high-powered offense continued in week two as it racked up 426 yards in 40:14 of possession time on the way to its 37-24 win against Nevada (0-2). Senior quarterback Logan Woodside finished the game with a pair of touchdowns and 232 passing yards while senior running back Terry Swanson scored two more touchdowns, doubling his season total.

In week three, Toledo is favored against a Tulsa (1-1) team that has averaged more than 600 yards against them per game this season. 

Western Michigan 

Season record: 0-2, 0-0 MAC
Week 2 matchup: Michigan State (L, 28-14)
Week 3 matchup: Idaho (1-1) 

For the second week in a row, Western Michigan played against a Power Five opponent, and for the second consecutive time, it lost. After a scoreless first half, Western Michigan put up a pair of second half touchdowns, by way of redshirt freshman Darius Phillips. Still, it wasn’t enough for a victory as Michigan State moved on to 2-0 after the 28-14 victory over in-state opponent Western Michigan.

Western Michigan returns to Kalamazoo, Michigan this week to host Idaho, a team that will drop down to FCS competition in 2018. This year, Idaho (1-1) has beaten Sacramento State (28-6) and lost to UNLV (44-16). 

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