OHIO (/) (http://msn.foxsports.com/ohio)   HOME HEADLINES (HTTP://WWW.FOXSPORTS.COM/OHIO#COLUMNA) (HTTP://WWW.FOXSPORTS.COM/OHIO#COLUMNB) Who will rule the MAC in 2014?

AP  SHARE 2  TWEET 8  AUG 07, 2014 5:50P ET

Andrew Weber / USA TODAY Sports

Bowling Green Falcons Matt Johnson (11) throws a shovel pass during the fourth quarter against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Ford Field. OHIO GIRLS

(http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/ohio‑girls)

Che cbku moupt i nb itohse, rpohado toors a, vchidaenogsing of the guard? aAnd much more of the FOX Sports Ohio Girls! Northern Illinois arrived in Detroit for last year's Mid‑American Conference OHcIOh aVmIDpEiOoSnship game with an undefeated record, but the Huskies (/collegefootball/team/connecticut‑huskies‑football/86122) lost 47‑27 to Bowling Green (/collegefootball/team/western‑kentucky‑hilltoppers‑ football/2609), ending their shot at a third straight league title.

Star quarterback has moved on to the NFL, and Northern Illinois is expected to face a significant challenge in the MAC's West division from Toledo.

(/oThhioe/ Hviudsekoie?sv hidav=e3 r1e6pr1e1se1n9te3d9 t6h4e 0co)nference well, reaching the Orange Bowl at the end of the 2012 season, but the rest of the MAC has to feel as if there's an opening at LtehBe rtoonp Jafatemr eNso' rFthaesrhni Iollnin Foiasu lxooked so formidable for a while. Pas At Browns Practice -

@"TThhise Byeuazrz ies rsoon mFouxch different than last year because we have so many people in (/doiffheiore/nvti dreoloe?s," Huskies coach Rod Carey said. "We're always changing. Hopefully it's a vgido=o3d 1ch6a1n1g1e.9" 39640) Don't write off Northern Illinois just yet. The showdown with Toledo ‑‑ which may decide the division title ‑‑ will be a home game for the Huskies.

And although Lynch is gone, Northern Illinois has had to replace top talent before and succeeded anyway. Chandler Harnish (/nfl/player/1345856/1345856) of the Huskies was the MAC's offensive player of the year in 2011 before Lynch won the award the past two seasons. (/ohio/video?vid=316055619583)

LHeeBrreo anr eJ 1a0m tehsin pgos steos w faotrch in the MAC this year: pictures at Browns camp (/ohio/video? NEW STARS?: Lynch was outplayed in last season's title game by Matt Johnson v(i/dc=o3ll1e6ge0f5o5ot6b1a9ll/5p8la3y)er/matt‑johnson/1173588), and now the Bowling Green quarterback is the man dealing with all the hype as the season approaches. Johnson is on the preseason watch list for the , which goes to the nation's best player. Also keep an eye on Ball State running back Jahwan Edwards.

TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW: Lynch finished third in the Heisman Trophy vote in 2013, part of a remarkable 12 months in which the MAC also had a team (Northern Illinois) in a BCS bowl and a player (Central Michigan's Eric Fisher) picked No. 1 in the NFL draft. That stretch will be tough to top. (/ohio/video?vid=315874883694)

PHlaOyMeEr sC OOnlKyI:N BGr: iManA CH socyheorols always play their share of big‑name opponents, but it's Nnaomt evde rByr doawyn osn eP roef stheeamso hnas a chance to do so at home. Toledo hosts Missouri S(t/acrotleler g(e/foohoitob/avlild/eteoa?m/missouri‑tigers‑football/86133) on Sept. 6, and Buffalo v(i/dn=fl3/1te5a8m7/4b8u8ff3al6o9‑4bi)lls/67039) hosts Baylor (/collegefootball/team/baylor‑ bears‑football/86127) on Sept. 12. Massachusetts will play at home against Boston College (/collegefootball/team/boston‑college‑eagles‑football/86049) and Colorado (/collegefootball/team/colorado‑buffaloes‑football/86137) early in the season.

TAKING OVER: There are four new coaches in the MAC since the end of the 2013 regular season ‑‑ Dino Babers at Bowling Green, Chuck Martin at Miami of Ohio, Chris Creighton at Eastern Michigan and Mark Whipple at Massachusetts. Babers takes over the defending MAC champion after leading Eastern Illinois to a quarterfinal appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision. in the Football Championship Subdivision. (/ohio/video?vid=315864131953)

ROeNd sT HmEa RkIeS Ee?:a Asyk rwono rhka do lfo Isnt d1i9a nstsraight FOX SPORTS DAILY GENERAL SPORT EDITION (/coohnifoer/evnidcee og?ames before winning four of five vdido=w3n1 th5e8 s6t4re1tc3h1 l9as5t3 s)eason ‑‑ a breakthrough that was perhaps foreshadowed SPORTS NEWS TO YOUR INBOX! by the Zips' near‑upset of Michigan in CHOOSE YOUR SPORT(S)  September. Eight offensive starters return for coach Terry Bowden's team. PLEASE ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

*By clicking "SUBSCRIBE", you have read and agreed WEST RACE: Northern Illinois has played in the to the Fox Sports Privacy Policy MAC title game the past four seasons, largely (http://www.foxsports.com/privacypolicy) and Terms of Use at the expense of Toledo, which has had its (http://www.foxsports.com/termsofuse). (/oshhioar/ev iodfe goo?ovdi dte=a3m1s5 a8s6 w5e1ll5 o5ve6r3 t7ha)t span. Can the Rockets unseat the Huskies atop the SUBSCRIBE () InWdeisatn? sT oclaedno't rkeetuerpn su 1p0, slotasrete tros on defense, Raendds N 8o-r3th (e/ronh Iilloin/voisd ereot?urns nine on offense. vTidh=e3 te1a5m8s6 m5e1e5t 5N6o3v.7 1)1.

ANOTHER GAME TO WATCH: Bowling Green hosts Buffalo on Oct. 4, and if Buffalo wins OHtIhOa StO gCaImALe, the Bulls may have a good shot to win the East since their schedule does not include Northern Illinois or Toledo. + FOX Sports Ohio

(httSpOs:/L/wICwHw.'fSac eSbToRokE.cAomK/:F OCXoSapocrhts OFhrioa)nk Solich has led Ohio to five straight bowl appearances. On ly+ N FOoXr Sthpoertrsn O hIliolinois ‑‑ with a league record six appearances in a row ‑‑ has a longer streak going. (https://twitter.com/FOXSportsOH) + FOX Sports Ohio MICHIGAN MALAISE: Since Central Michigan's division title in 2009, the three Michigan (httspc:/h/ionsotalgsr ahma.cvoem /ffoaxl_lespno rotsff_o thhioe) pace in the West. Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan are g+o Sipnogrts Tthimreo Ouhgioh particularly tough times, having each gone 1‑7 in conference play last season. (https://www.facebook.com/SportsTimeOhio) + SportsTime Ohio EARLY START: So much for scheduling a few nonconference games before the MAC (httspes:a//stwointte sr.tcaomrt/Ssp. oKrtseTnimte SOthaiot)e will host Ohio on Aug. 30 in the season opener for both teams ‑‑ and the loser will already be facing an uphill climb in the East. + SportsTime Ohio

(htt‑p‑://‑in‑s‑ta‑gram.com/sportstimeohio) + FOX Sports Ohio Girls Predicted order of finish: (https://www.facebook.com/FOXSportsOhioGirls) + FOX Sports Ohio Girls EAST ‑‑ 1. Bowling Green, 2. Buffalo, 3. Akron, 4. Kent State, 5. Ohio, 6. Miami (OH), 7. (https://twitter.com/FSOhioGirls) Massachusetts. + FOX Sports Ohio Girls

(httWp:/E/SinTst a‑gr‑a m1.c. oNm/ofsrothhioe_rgnir lIsl)linois, 2. Toledo, 3. Ball State, 4. Central Michigan, 5. Western Michigan, 6. Eastern Michigan.

Title game winner: Northern Illinois

Ohio (http://www.foxsports.com/tag/ohio) \ Bowling Green (http://www.foxsports.com/tag/bowling-green) \ FSO Blog (http://www.foxsports.com/tag/fso-blog)

 SHARE 2  TWEET 8     

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