2025 NCAAF: Mid-American Conference Preview

The MAC has been a shining beacon of continuity throughout the rounds of conference realignment that have occurred over the past decade and a half. But 2025 is a reminder that all good things must come to an end eventually.

In addition to Massachusetts joining the conference this year, news came out earlier in 2025 that Northern Illinois had accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference as an affiliate member for football beginning in 2026. It marks the first time in over two decades that the MAC will lose a full member of the conference (the rest of the Huskies’ athletic programs will join the Horizon League). However, it probably isn’t cause for the conference to sound the alarm.

The MAC is as close to the college football that some people still yearn for, which in reality hasn’t existed at the higher levels in decades. There will likely always be a place for it as a result.

And as always, the league is even enough in terms of talent to ensure a very competitive race to Detroit.

Teams I Like

Akron

The Zips are unfortunately not eligible for the postseason in 2025, but should be improved enough to flirt with six wins for the first time in almost a decade, which would mean bowl eligibility under normal circumstances. Believe it or not, Akron has one of the top quarterbacks in the MAC in Ben Finley, and as a result the offense will be more potent than it has been in years. Head coach Joe Moorhead has done a commendable job building this program in his four years there, evident in the fact that the Zips have no glaring holes for the first time in awhile.

The schedule sets up to give the Zips a decent opportunity to grab their sixth win of the year against an opponent they should be favored to beat. Perhaps it is the postseason ban that still has Vegas down on Akron, but I think this team is being undervalued and I am confident that it won’t be the same dumpster fire that fans in Northeast Ohio have had to put up with many times in recent years.

Miami (OH)

Head coach Chuck Martin is the godfather of the Cradle of Coaches as the winningest (65 victories) and most tenured active member of the conference (12 years). He has built a perennial contender in Oxford, having suffered a losing regular season just once since 2016. Coach Martin does have his work cut out for him in 2025, needing to replace nearly the entire offense, but if there is anyone that I have confidence in to handle that challenge successfully it’s Martin. The Redhawks got a big boost from the transfer portal by adding Dequan Finn and as a result may be better on offense than many people expected.

Miami faces a tricky conference schedule and it will be difficult to get back to the MAC title game. However, the Redhawks will have some time to gel before facing the meat of the conference slate, which occurs in the month of November with trips to Ohio and Buffalo and a midweek home contest against Toledo. There is plenty of continuity on the coaching staff and that is an advantage Miami has over many other schools in the MAC. For that reason I expect them to compete for the title again with the new cast of players.

Ohio

The Bobcats were far and away the best offense in the MAC in 2024 and also boasted the second-best defense statistically. They rode that offense to the conference title game, where they destroyed Miami in a revenge game to win their first league crown in 65 years. Opposing defensive coordinators are already having nightmares thinking about the fact that Ohio returns the core of that offense, including quarterback Parker Navarro and four of the top five receivers. The Bobcats will also welcome back running back Sieh Bangura, who was excellent for the team from 2022-2023 before transferring out last season.

Interestingly, Tim Albin took the head coaching job at Charlotte after just one year at Ohio. However, there is still a lot of continuity amongst the coaching staff and new head coach Brian Smith has also been with the program in various capacities leading up to his promotion. I do not expect that there will be much of a dropoff offensively, and if the new pieces on the defense come together, the Bobcats should have an excellent shot at defending their status as kings of the conference.

Toledo

The Rockets should rival Ohio in having the most potent offense in the conference in 2025, with a similar situation in terms of returning production. Quarterback Tucker Gleason is in my opinion slightly more skilled than Parker Navarro as a passer and on the whole Toledo has the best receiving corps in the league led by returnee Junior Vandeross. The Rockets may need to keep their foot on the gas pedal offensively in a lot of games, as there is some concern about the front seven defensively. The secondary appears strong, though, and an early non-conference matchup with Western Kentucky should provide good insight into how much of a problem the Rockets have defensively this season.

The parity typically exhibited in the MAC makes me wary of calling any team a favorite, but the Rockets have the best combination of talent and schedule favorability. Anything less than an appearance in the MAC title game would be a disappointment, and if they can start the way that they did in 2024, there is a possibility of being in the mix for a Playoff berth.

Not High On

Ball State

The Cardinals were trending towards an overhaul in 2025, when the program fired previous head coach Mike Neu during the season. Ball State brought in a new head coach who will change the offensive system and hope that a nearly entirely new cast will be able to turn things around quickly. It is a tall task, though with the state of the program being where it was in 2024, signs pointing towards real rebuilding may be enough for the fan base this season.

I don’t like the chances of Ball State improving on its 2024 record this season, and there may be a number of uncompetitive games this season if the defense is unable to improve with the new group.

Bowling Green

The Falcons were supposed to compete for the MAC title last season, and generally speaking accomplished that but were unable to make it to Detroit for the championship game. A ton of seniors departed, along with head coach Scot Loeffler, leaving new head coach Eddie George with a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. Perhaps thanks in part to his name, George did a pretty good job picking up pieces to avoid having a bare cupboard heading into the 2025 campaign.

With the number of question marks on the team, ranging from all levels of the defense to the running back corps, it is hard to see Bowling Green competing for the MAC title again this season. It is also difficult to envision a team coached by Eddie George relying heavily on a passing attack, which I think is the area where the squad is most talented.

Players To Watch

Al-Jay Henderson, Buffalo running back

Henderson broke out during his junior season in 2024, leading Buffalo with 1,078 rushing yards and finishing second in the MAC in rushing yards per game (82.9). The 210 pound Henderson is a physical runner and fits Pete Lembo’s offense perfectly, which is rooted in establishing the power run game.

Look for Henderson to again be one of the conference’s best at the position and continue to make a case for a Senior Bowl invitation. He got better as the season went along in 2024, with all five of his 100-yard rushing efforts and seven of his nine touchdown runs coming October 12 or later. Buffalo will need him to be in his best form late again, as two of its toughest conference games are in November.

Red Murdock, Buffalo linebacker

Murdock was all over the field making tackles last season, finishing second in the country with 156 of them. The only player to have more was his teammate Shaun Dolac, who is now with the Los Angeles Rams.

What Murdock may lack in raw athletic ability he more than makes up for in football IQ. His ability to get to the ballcarrier so often is thanks to a quick sense of how a play is developing. He is the leader of a Buffalo defense that should be one of the best in the conference, and his blue-collar approach will resonate especially with defensive purists.

Dequan Finn, Miami (OH) quarterback

Finn is as veteran as they come, with 2025 being his seventh season of eligibility. He is back in the MAC following a stopover at Baylor last season, which was preceded by three successful seasons at Toledo including a 2023 campaign in which he was named MVP of the conference.

Finn’s experience will be incredibly important for the Miami offense, especially early as a very green offensive line gets up to speed. Though he is highly regarded as a passer, Finn can do damage with his legs as well and may utilize that ability more this season than he has in the past depending on how well the rest of the offense develops.

Parker Navarro, Ohio quarterback

Navarro proved to be the most dangerous dual threat quarterback in the MAC last season and the most productive one ever at Ohio, becoming the first Bobcat to run for at least 1,000 yards and pass for at least 2,000 yards in a single season. Initially a guy who would often look to use his legs if his first option downfield wasn’t open, Navarro has progressed significantly as a thrower and is now one of the conference’s best in that regard.

Ohio’s offense figures to be potent again in 2025 and Navarro will be the leading man of it. Because of his athleticism and creativity, he is one of the most exciting players in the conference to watch and no play is dead when he has the ball in his hands.

Junior Vandeross, Toledo wide receiver

Vandeross was one of the most productive receivers in the MAC last season, finishing fourth in the league in receiving yards (957) and catching more balls (85) than any non-tight end. He is a speedster that feeds on slant routes and then can outrun defenders to the first down marker.

Toledo’s offense is again expected to be up temp and pass happy, meaning that Vandeross should again be amongst the leaders in catches and should have a great opportunity to eclipse the 1,000 yard receiving mark in 2025.

Games to Watch (Conference)

Miami (OH) at Northern Illinois (October 4)

Between Thomas Hammock’s propensity towards the run game and the talent that the Redhawks appear to have on the defensive side, this one should be strength vs. strength and an absolute joy to watch for fans of old-school, smashmouth football won in the trenches.

Miami (OH) at Ohio (November 4)

One of the MAC’s best rivalries will take center stage on a Thursday evening in early November, which equates to being prime MACtion. Thanks to a change in the structure of the league that took effect last year (no more divisions), this is also a rematch of last season’s conference title game.

Toledo at Miami (OH) (November 12)

For the second week in a row, the Rockets will take on a squad that will look to neutralize what should be a potent Toledo offensive attack by taking the air out of the ball. It is an underrated portion of Toledo’s schedule and could have a big impact on determining whether the conference’s title favorite manages to get to Detroit.

Miami (OH) at Buffalo (November 19)

These two teams will want to play the same way, which is physical and in the trenches. Whether the Redhawks have the energy to do so effectively will be key – they come into this game following a tough stretch having had to play Ohio and Toledo the previous two weeks.

Ohio at Buffalo (November 28)

The Bulls were humbled by the Bobcats last season, losing 47-16 in Athens. As a result this game could be viewed as a revenge opportunity for Buffalo, which should be right in the thick of the MAC title game conversation along with Ohio in 2025.

Games to Watch (Non-Conference)

Buffalo at Minnesota (August 28)

A Thursday night opener in Minneapolis for the Golden Gophers against one of the MAC’s most talented squads? This game has “one possession game for its entirety” written all over it.

Toledo at Kentucky (August 30)

Regardless of how good an SEC team may be, a victory over one for a MAC school will always be a big deal. Toledo has experience with this, having beaten Mississippi State by a large margin last season. This is another great opportunity for the Rockets to get a win where it just means more.

West Virginia at Ohio (September 6)

This has the feel of a rivalry game that isn’t technically categorized as one. With an initial meeting in 1897 and just under 120 miles separating the two schools, it’s a wonder that they have only met 17 times prior.

UNLV at Miami (OH) (September 20)

The Redhawks face a brutal three game stretch to start the season, with this being the last of those three following trips to Big Ten foes Wisconsin and Rutgers. Records may not suggest it, but this will be one of the better G5 non-conference battles in the country this season, featuring a couple of the best in the business when it comes to the head coaching position.

Aw, Shuck It (3 Bets to Place)

*odds via DraftKings at time of publication. Around The Corn is not responsible for lost bets!

Buffalo Wins Conference (+400)

The MAC is routinely one of the most difficult conferences in the country to predict, so picking the favorite might not be your cup of tea here. Enter the Bulls, a team entering this season with continuity, as much talent as anyone in the league and momentum from last season.

Buffalo isn’t the favorite, but better set up to win the title than it was in 2008, the only time it has captured the MAC championship.

Akron Over 4.5 (+125)

The Zips have spent years near the bottom of the barrel in FBS, but showed improvement last season and have enough talent to build upon the success experienced in 2024.

Akron will not be one of the worst teams in the FBS this season and should clear this line with relative ease.

Ball State Under 3.5 (-110)

The way the schedule sets up, the Cardinals may be fighting with Kent State to stay out of the MAC cellar this season.

It is a rebuilding year for Ball State, which sounds even worse when you consider that the team finished just 3-9 last season.

Predictions

1. Toledo (10-2, [7-1])
2. Ohio (8-4, [7-1])
3. Buffalo (9-3, [6-2])
4. Northern Illinois (6-6, [5-3])
5. Miami (OH) (6-6, [5-3])
6. Bowling Green (6-6, [5-3])
7. Eastern Michigan (6-6, [4-4])
8. Akron (5-7, [4-4])
9. Western Michigan (4-8, [3-5])
10. Central Michigan (4-8, [3-5])
11. Ball State (3-9, [2-6])
12. Massachusetts (2-10, [1-7])
13. Kent State (1-11, [0-8])

Conference Title Game

Ohio vs. Toledo (game in Detroit)

Champion: Ohio