THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS Mid-American Conference 24 Public Square, 15th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44113 Table Of Contents

web site: www.GetSomeMACtion.com; telephone: 216-566-4622 This Is the Mid-American Conference...... 2-5 Dr. Jon Steinbrecher...... 6-7 Name/Title Office Ext E-Mail Media Information...... 8 Composite Schedule/Non-Conference...... 9 Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher 310 [email protected] Commissioner MAC Football Notes...... 10-14 2017 MAC Standings/2017 Breakdown...... 15 Julie Kachner 311 [email protected] 2017 Postseason Awards...... 16 Executive Assistant to the Commissioner 2017 Academic All-MAC Team...... 17 Bob Gennarelli 308 [email protected] Deputy Commissioner/Chief Operating Officer MAC West Division...... 18-53 Jeff Bacon 316 [email protected] Ball State...... 18-23 Senior Associate Commissioner/Championships & Sport Development Central Michigan...... 24-29 Ricky Stokes 307 [email protected] Eastern Michigan...... 30-35 Senior Associate Commissioner/Men’s & Women’s Basketball Northern Illinois...... 36-41 Betty Sislak 320 [email protected] Toledo...... 42-47 Chief Finanical Officer Western Michigan...... 48-53 Ken Mather 301 [email protected] MAC East Division...... 54-89 Associate Commissioner/Media & Public Relations Akron...... 54-59

Kristin Williams 318 [email protected] Bowling Green...... 60-65 Associate Commissioner/Institutional Services & Senior Woman Administrator Buffalo...... 66-71

Jeremy Guy 303 [email protected] Kent State...... 72-77 Assistant Commissioner/Integrated Digital Strategies Miami...... 78-83 Ohio...... 84-89 Korinth Patterson 302 [email protected] Assistant Commissioner/Championships . MAC Year-By-Year Champions...... 90 Kerri Camardo 324 [email protected] Director of Football Operations & External Relations MAC Coaching Records...... 91-93 MAC Players of the Year...... 94 Renee Dubuc 320 [email protected] Director of Institutional Services Vern Smith Leadership Award...... 95 MAC Standings...... 96-103 Kadeem Huggins 314 [email protected] MAC Championship Games...... 104-114 Director of Digital Media Services MAC Championship Game Records. 115-117 Heather Klatt 319 [email protected] MAC Bowl Results...... 118-119 Director of Visual & Creative Content MAC Bowl Game Records...... 120-121 Kyle Klein 323 [email protected] MAC All-Americans...... 122-124 Director of Championships & Special Events MAC All-Star Selections...... 125-126 Rachel Konieczki 304 [email protected] All-MAC First Team Selections...... 127-130 Director of Men’s & Women’s Basketball Operations All-MAC Second Team/HM Selections.131-136 Eric Kwaitkowski 322 [email protected] All-Time Players of the Week...... 137-149 Assistant Director of Communications Team Year-By-Year Leaders...... 150-153 Logan Brooks 323 [email protected] Individual Year-By-Year Leaders...... 154-160 Championships Administrative Assistant Total Offense Records...... 161-162 IMG College - MAC Properties: Rushing Records...... 163-164 Steve Volchko 304 [email protected] Passing Records...... 165-167 Account Executive Receiving Records...... 168-169

Tom Sitko 305 [email protected] Scoring Records...... 170-173 Defensive Records...... 174-175 Visit the MAC web site www.GetSomeMACtion.com Special Teams Records...... 176-177 Miscellaneous Records...... 178-179 The MAC web site features news, information, standings and statistics, as well as the Player of the Week awards MAC in the NFL...... 180-184 for all 23 MAC sponsored sports and the MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week. Don’t forget to follow the MAC on Twitter and Facebook! You can follow us at www.twitter.com/MACSports and search for the Mid-American Con- . ference on Facebook. Fans are welcome to comment and interact with one another on all of our social media platforms. Credits: The 2018 Mid-American Conference football record book was produced by the MAC Media Relations staff using Adobe InDesign on Dell Latitude 100L. Design by Heather Klatt. Editorial assistance from Ken Mather. Team information and photos provided by MAC institutions. www.GetSomeMACtion.com 1 THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

THIS IS THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE Providing leadership in education and diversity, in 2018 the Mid-American Conference moves into its 73rd year of service to our students. Since its inception in 1946, the Mid-American Conference has progressively grown and developed into one of the most aggressive Division I conference’s in the coun- try. One of only 10 football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences, the MAC named Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher as its eighth commissioner in March of 2009. The league hosts championships in 23 sports, including neutral site events at some of the finest facilities in the nation – football (Ford Field, Detroit), men’s and women’s basketball (Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland), softball (Firestone Stadium, Akron) and baseball (Sprenger Stadium, Avon, Ohio). The MAC secured a two-year contract extension with Ford Field to host the MAC Football Championship Game through the 2021 football season, anchored a six-year contract extension for the MAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments at Quicken Loans Arena through the 2023 season, and stabilized a five-year contract extension through the 2020 season for the MAC Baseball Tournament at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio. In addition to growing its commitment to MAC championships, Steinbrecher has been aggressive in pursuing NCAA Championship events. The MAC served as the host for the 2015 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland as well as the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which set NCAA Wrestling three-day Championship total at- tendance and single-session attendance records. The MAC will also be hosting the 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First and Second Rounds, also at Quicken Loans Arena. The MAC has previously hosted both the 2012 and 2014 NCAA Women’s Bowling Championships and will also host the 2019 NCAA Women’s Bowling Championships under Steinbrecher’s direction. In the summer of 2014, the MAC and ESPN announced a historic 13-year rights extension deal through the 2026-27 season for expanded national television and digital distribution. This is the largest and most extensive agreement in the history of the Conference and brings long-term security for the MAC through the 2026-27 academic year. ESPN has exclusive television and digital distribution rights for all MAC sporting events, and guarantees coverage of every football game, men’s and women’s basketball games and select Olympic sporting events. The MAC and ESPN have established on-campus production capabilities that pro- vide a significant increase in the national coverage of baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling and Olympic sports on ESPN platforms. This has opened up nearly 92 million households from ESPN platforms for exposure to MAC sports for the first time in Conference history. Through this ESPN partnership, the MAC and CBS Sports Network announced another four-year sublicensing agreement to expand its national coverage of football and basketball through the 2022-23 season. For the second time in Mid-American Conference history a member institution played in one of the prestigious New Year’s Six Bowl Games, as 2016 MAC Champion Western Michigan faced Wisconsin in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 2, 2017 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. During the 2017 season, the MAC witnessed five members accept bowl invita- tions. The MAC single-season record for bowl invitations is seven which occurred in both the 2012 and 2016 bowl seasons. This also marks the 10th time in MAC history to have five or more programs receive a bowl invitation (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017) in a single-season. In the previous seven bowl seasons, the MAC has a record of 12-28 in 40 bowl games – 2017 (1-4); 2016 (0-6); 2015 (3-4); 2014 (2-3); 2013 (0-5); 2012 (2-5); 2011 (4-1). In December of 2013, former Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch finished third overall in the Heisman Trophy voting, the highest ever finish by a MAC stu- dent. Lynch was invited to the Heisman Trophy Award ceremony in New York City and became only the third MAC student-athlete to receive an invitation to the cer- emony – Marshall QB Chad Pennington (1999); Marshall WR Randy Moss (1997). During the 2017 NFL Draft, Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis was the fifth overall selection by the Tennessee Titans. Davis’ selection was the highest ever for the Broncos program and tied the second-highest ever draft selection by a student from the MAC. It also marked the third MAC football student selected in the top five of the NFL draft over the last six seasons. In the 2014 NFL Draft, Buffalo Bulls linebacker Khalil Mack was the fifth overall selection by the Oakland Raiders. Mack’s selection was the highest-ever for the Buffalo program and the second highest ever selection for a MAC student. In the 2013 NFL Draft, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher was selected as the first overall selection by the Kansas City Chiefs, making Fisher the first-ever football player from the MAC selected first overall in the NFL Draft. In 2012, the MAC witnessed a record-setting seven teams receive bowl invitations, including the first ever BCS Bowl invitation with Northern Illinois playing in the Discover Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2013. The MAC also had four football programs ranked in the top 25 of national polls – Northern Illinois, Kent State, Toledo and Ohio—as the BCS Standings had two MAC programs in the Top 25 at the end of the regular season with No. 15 Northern Illinois and No. 25 Kent State. The MAC also set a conference record for the most wins against FBS opponents with 16 victories. In the fall of 2013, the MAC announced the creation of newly created bowl games in Boca Raton, Fla., Nassau, Bahamas, and Montgomery, Ala. for a six-year period (2014-2019). The creation of the Boca Raton and Bahamas Bowls were the centerpiece of a joint agreement between several FBS con- ferences and will be supported by several FBS conferences on a six-year rotating basis.

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The Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN and is played at FAU Stadium, an open-air stadium which seats nearly 30,000 fans on the campus of Florida Atlantic University. The Bahamas Bowl is played at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium. The Raycom Camellia Bowl, based in Montgomery, Ala., is owned and operated by ESPN and is played at the Cramton Bowl, a 25,000-seat stadium. Each football season the MAC has a minimum five guaranteed bowl opportunities. The MAC also has long-term primary contracts with the Dollar General Bowl (based in Mobile, Ala.) and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (based in Boise, Ida.) through the 2020 bowl season. In 2017, the MAC witnessed former Akron Zips defensive lineman Jason Taylor inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2017 Hall of Fame Class. Taylor, who spent 13 of his 15 seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 5, 2017 in Canton, Ohio. Taylor is the first Zips player elected to the Hall of Fame and was a third-round pick out of Akron in the 1997 NFL draft. Taylor ended his career in 2011 as the Miami Dolphins’ all-time leader in sacks and forced fumbles. A six-time Pro Bowl selec- tion and three-time AP All-Pro first-team choice, Taylor was named the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2007. Joining the list of MAC alum heading to Canton, former Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss will increase this number to three, as Moss will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2018 Hall of Fame Class. Moss, who was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 1997, posted 78 catches for 1,709 yards and 28 touchdowns with Marshall in 1996 and added 96 receptions for 1,820 yards and 26 touchdowns in 1997. Moss was selected in the first round, 21st over- all, of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Moss spent 14 seasons in the NFL with Minnesota, Oakland, New England, Tennessee and San Francisco and amassed 982 career receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns and was selected to five Pro Bowls. Moss becomes the third former MAC football standout to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Moss joins Jason Taylor of Akron and former Kent State linebacker Jack Lambert of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Moss was a member of the Marshall Thundering Herd, who competed in the MAC before departing after the 2004 season. Toledo capped a historic 2017 MAC football season with a resounding 45-28 victory over Akron at Ford Field in Detroit on December 2nd to claim their 11th MAC Championship and first since 2004. Toledo quarterback Logan Woodside threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns in leading the Rockets with MAC Championship Game MVP Honors. Northern Illinois defensive end Sutton Smith garnered national spotlight after his breakout 2017 season. Along with being named 2017 MAC Defen- sive Player of the Year, Smith was honored as a Consensus All-American by the NCAA while also earning FWAA and Walter Camp First Team and Associ- ated Press Second Team All-American honors. Smith started all 12 games at defensive end for NIU posting 16 sacks, 28.5 tackles for loss, and ranked fourth on the Huskies’ with 56 tackles. The sophomore set a new Huskie record for quarterback sacks in a single season (16) and the school record for tackles for loss in a single season (28.5). Western Michigan left tackle Chukwuma Okorafor was named by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) as a First-Team All-American as well as being named Walter Camp Second Team All-American. The 6-6, 330-pound Okorafor was a three-year starter for Western Michigan and was the top selection for the MAC during the 2018 NFL Draft as a third-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two MAC students were named 2017 Scholar All-Americans as selected by the College of Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Repre- senting the MAC as Second-Team All-Americans were Northern Illinois offensive linemen Max Scharping and Bowling Green punter Joseph Davidson. Also, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame named 38 MAC students as members of the 2018 Hampshire Honor Society, which recognizes college football players that maintained a 3.20 GPA or better throughout their college career. The MAC had six draft selections in the 2018 NFL Draft, along with 35 former MAC football student athletes who either signed NFL rookie free agent contracts or received invites to rookie mini-camps with various NFL clubs. The selections in the 2018 NFL Draft – OL Chukwuma Okorafor (Western Michigan) by Pittsburgh (3rd Round, 92nd overall); TE Tyler Conklin (Central Michigan) by Minnesota (5th Round, 157th overall); DB/KR Darius Phil- lips (Western Michigan) by Cincinnati (5th Round, 170th overall); LB Quentin Poling (Ohio) by Miami (7th Round, 227th overall); QB Logan Woodside (Toledo) by Cincinnati (7th Round, 249th overall). Also, Western Michigan DB Sam Beal was selected by the New York Giants during the July NFL Supplemental Draft in the third round. In men’s basketball, for the third time in the last four years, Buffalo was crowned MAC Champions following a 76-66 win over Toledo. The Bulls became the first team since Kent State nearly 20 years ago to win three MAC titles over a four-year span. Buffalo recorded its first NCAA Tournament win in school history, routing No.4 seeded Arizona of the PAC-12, 89-68. Eastern Michigan (CIT), Central Michigan (CIT) & Miami (CBI) all joined Buffalo in post¬season play. Toledo senior Tre’Shaun Fletcher was named Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention. In wrestling, Missouri won its sixth consecutive MAC Tournament Championship and finished the regular season 19-0. Prior to the MAC Wrestling Championship, the MAC had two programs ranked in the Top 20 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Rankings as Missouri was ranked No. 3 in the nation, while Central Michigan was ranked No. 20. The MAC sent 34 wrestlers to represent the MAC during the 2018 NCAA Championships in Cleveland, which was the fifth most of any conference in Division I Wrestling. At the NCAA Championships, the MAC finished with six All-Americans as Kent State’s Kyle Conel finished third at 197 lb. weight class. A pair of second-half goals from senior Sam Gainford and Manuel Cordeiro spurred the No. 7 University of Akron men’s soccer team to a 3-1 victory over top-seeded and No. 4 Western Michigan (16-3-1) in the title game of the MAC Championship to give the Zips (16-3-1) their 14th MAC Tourna- ment title and 32nd NCAA Tournament berth. Both Akron and Western Michigan received bids to the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Broncos and the Zips each made impressive runs, with Western Michigan reaching the Sweet Sixteen and Akron advancing to the College Cup Final Four. This marks the first time in MAC history two teams have made it to the round of sixteen. Western Michigan’s Zack Bock and Brandon Bye were named Academic All-Americans. Bye was also tabbed a First-Team All-American and Division I Men’s Soccer Scholar Player of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches. www.GetSomeMACtion.com 3 THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

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Akron’s Joao Moutinho joined Bye in receiving All-American accolades. Moutinho was named Freshman of the Year by TopDrawerSoccer.com. He was also the first overall selection in the 2018 MLS Super Draft by the Los Angeles Football Club. Five additional MAC student-athletes received calls from MLS organizations; Brandon Bye (WMU, 8 – New England Revolution), Niko De Vera (Akron, 31 – NY Red Bulls), Drew Shepherd (WMU, 46 – Toronto FC), Nate Shultz (Akron, 48 – LA Galaxy), Stuart Holthu- sen (Akron, 64 – Portland Timbers). Eastern Michigan claimed its eighth consecutive and 22st MAC title in men’s cross country. EMU was the first school since Miami (1949-1956) to claim the Conference title eight years in a row. Eastern Michigan’s Hlynur Andresson, Lahsene Bouchikhi, Abel Flores and Mitchell Lenneman each received USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Cross Country All-Region accolades. After falling to Eastern Michigan in the MAC Championship by a single point in 2016, the Missouri State Bears returned with a vengeance in 2017, capturing their second MAC Swimming & Diving Championship. Three men were invited to the 2018 NCAA Championships, including Missouri State’s Blair Bish, Antonio Thomas and Artur Osvath. Missouri State’s Blair Bish qualified for the championships and finished 24th in the 200 Breaststroke at the national meet. In men’s tennis, the Western Michigan claimed its 12th MAC Tournament title, defeating host Buffalo, 4-2, and earned the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. After going a perfect 7-0 during the Conference regular season, the Broncos improved to 22-4 overall and were winners of their last 11 matches before the NCAA Tournament. Western Michigan’s Jannik Opitz was named to CoSIDA’s Academic All-District Team for District 5, with a perfect 4.00 GPA as a pre-business student-athlete. In men’s golf, Kent State captured its 25th MAC title in spectacular fashion coming back from 10 strokes down in the final round. Kent State was ranked No. 29 and booked its ticket to the 2018 National Championship with a fifth-place finish at the Kissimmee Regional at 20-under par 844 (280-280-284). Kent State finished its run at the NCAA National Championship with a 10th place finish, as senior Chase Johnson finished in a tie for 15th at even-par 288. Also in men’s golf, Miami’s Patrick Flavin received an individual bid to the Columbus NCAA Regional. The senior finished T60th and earned DI PING All-Region honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America. Ball State’s Timothy Wiseman qualified for the 118th U.S. Open, becoming the 18th Cardinal to make an appearance in the tournament since 1970. Eastern Michigan men’s track and field team won its 15th Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship in the 2017-18 season. The Eagles notched six event titles on the second day of the competition, ending with a team score of 179 points. Akron’s Matt Ludwig and Jordan Latimer along with Kent State’s TJ Lawson and Craig Stevens Jr. represented the Conference at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships. Ludwig registered a fourth- place finish in the pole vault, while Latimer finished ninth in the long jump. Lawson recorded a fifth-place finish in the heptathlon and Stevens, Jr. finished 14th in the triple jump. All four student-athletes received All-American honors. Eastern Michigan continued their success in outdoor track completing the MAC Triple Crown for just the fourth time in program history. A total of 41 student-athletes qualified for the NCAA East Regional Meet in Tampa, Florida. From there, nine placed in the top-12 earning a spot at the 2018 NCAA Track & Field Championship in Eugene, Oregon. Akron’s Jordan Latimer (long jump) and Matt Ludwig (pole vault) each earned First Team All-American honors with their second-place performances at the championships. Additionally, Miami’s Chris Torpy (23rd, 1500m), Kent State’s Riak Reese (14th, 100m) and Craig Stevens, Jr. (19th, triple jump) and Akron’s Terrell McClain (11th, long jump) and Rodrigo Iglesias (21st, javelin) all garnered All-American status. In baseball, top seeded Kent State claimed the 2018 MAC Tournament Champion- ship with a 14-0 win over No. 2 Miami. Kent State senior left-hander Eli Kraus twirled a complete game, two-hit masterpiece in the Championship Game and was later named Tournament MVP & National Player of the Week. The win over the Redhawks gave Kent State their 12th MAC tournament title in program history. Kent State’s Joey Murray set the MAC Single-Season Strikeout record (141) at the Golden Flashes’ NCAA Regional opener. The junior was named a First Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Ball State’s Drey Jameson, Kent State’s Collin Romel, and Toledo’s John Servello were named to the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American team. A total of 15 MAC students were taken during the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft led by Zach Spears, LHP, Miami – Pittsburgh Pirates (8th Round – Pick 234); Joey Mur- ray, RHP, Kent State – Toronto Blue Jays (8th Round – Pick 236); and Ross Adolph, OF, Toledo – New York Mets (12th Round – Pick 350). Women’s athletics continued to shine for the MAC this past year. In volleyball, Miami defeated Western Michigan on their home floor 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-18) to earn the MAC Championship Title for the first time since 2007. Miami senior right-side hitter Katie Tomasic was named Second-Team Academic All-America the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Bowling Green junior libero Kallie Seimet was named to the 2017 All-Northeast Region Team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Seimet set four Bowling Green volleyball program records in 2017, in addition she led the nation with an average of 6.81 digs per set. In women’s basketball, for the first time since 1996 two MAC teams were selected for the NCAA Tournament – MAC Champion Central Michigan and Buffalo with an at-large invitation. Both were ranked as No. 11 seeds in the Tournament and Central Michigan and Buffalo both advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. This marked the first time in MAC history for two programs in the Sweet Sixteen. Central Michigan won its first-ever NCAA Tournament games 4 2018 MAC Football Record Book THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

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with wins over No. 6 USF (78-69) and No. 3 Ohio State (95-78), before falling to No. 2 Oregon. Buffalo also won its first-ever NCAA Tournament games with wins over No. 6 USF (102-79) and No. 3 Florida State (85-65), before falling to No. 2 South Carolina. In the final USA Today Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll, Central Michigan and Buf- falo ranked 20 and 21, respectively. The MAC finished the season ranked eighth in RPI with five teams ranked in the Top 100 (Central Michigan 15th, Buffalo 20th, Ball State 57th, Miami 83rd, Toledo 84th). Ball State, Miami and Toledo each earned bids to the WNIT, with Ball State and Toledo reaching the second round of the tourna- ment. Central Michigan’s Tinara Moore was named to the 2018 Associated Press (AP) All-America Honorable Mention team. In women’s soccer, Toledo earned their MAC-leading fifth Tournament Champion- ship as senior forward Sophie Pohl found the back of the net with five seconds left in overtime to propel the Rockets over Bowling Green, 2-1. Ball State’s Alyssa Heintschel was named to the Senior CLASS Award First Team, which honors the at- tributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. Heintschel was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-American along with Western Michigan’s Alex Ruffer, and Kent State’s Paige Culver.

In women’s cross country, Eastern Michigan won their third title in program history and ended the season ranked No. 25 in the country. The championship team score of 45 points tied the second-best score in program history, while the title serves as the third consecutive championship for the Eagles. While Western Michigan’s Hanne Christensen took home the individual title, posting a time of 20:44.4, Eastern Michigan qualified for the NCAA Championships. Miami captured their first MAC Field Hockey title since 2013 on the back of Junior Paula Portugal’s game-winning goal in overtime over Kent State. Miami earned its first ever NCAA Tournament victory over Stanford. Paula Portugal scored her second goal of the game and 20th of the season with a minute and a half to play in the game. MAC Player of the Year Paula Portugal earned first team NFHCA honors in the West region. Miami teammate and MAC Fresh- man of the Year Leo Berlie earned second team honors along with Ohio’s Kendall Ballard. Longwood standouts Edel Nyland and Lil-Sophie Achterwinter received first and second team honors respectively in the South region, while Kent State’s Ines Delpech earned a spot on the second team as well. Central Michigan gymnastics captured the programs 16th MAC Championship with a winning score of 197.025, a team total that ranked third all-time. Central Michigan’s Denelle Pedrick (Floor) & Bowling Green’s Jovannah East (All-Around) qualified for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis. Akron won its fifth straight MAC Championship in women’s swimming and diving posting a dominating 827.5 score. A total of eight student-athletes were selected for post-season competition. Eastern Michigan’s Delaney Duncan finished 14th in the 200 Breaststroke at NCAA Championships, earning All-American Honorable Mention honors. The junior was also named to CoSIDA’s Academic All-District Team. Akron’s Paloma Marrero earned All-American Honors with her 11th place finish in the 200 breaststroke and Miami’s Pei Lin finished fifth in 3-meter dive at NCAA Championships. Eastern Michigan women’s track and field team won its fifth MAC Indoor Track and Field Championship. The day was highlighted by 14 performances which earned medals, including seven first-place finishes. The MAC was represented in seven events at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships. Akron’s Lucy Bryan finished seventh in pole vault, while her teammate Jackie Siefring placed fourth in the pentathlon. Kent State’s Gabrielle Figueroa recorded a 14th place finish in the weight throw. Bowling Green’s Aliyah Gustafson placed 10th in the shot put. NIU’s Jehvania Whyte took eighth in the triple jump. Eastern Michigan’s Alus Bogdanova placed 11th in the 3000m. In women’s outdoor track and field, Akron captured the MAC Championship for its eighth overall program title. Of the 54 student-athletes competing between the East and West NCAA Regionals, 13 qualified for the 2018 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Akron’s Lucy Bryan garnered First Team All-American honors with a sixth-place finish in the pole vault. NIU’s Jehavania Whyte also received first team honors for a seventh-place finish in the triple jump. In women’s tennis, Buffalo defended their MAC title in 2018 as they won their 14th straight match to defeat Miami 4-2. Western Michigan’s Denise Azcui was named the 2018 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division I Midwest Regional Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner. In women’s golf, Kent State continued its historic success as the Golden Flashes won their 20th straight MAC Women’s Golf title, which is the conference record for most consecutive titles won. The Golden Flashes ended the season ranked 15th in the nation. At the NCAA Championships in Stillwater, Okla- homa, Kent State finished tied for fifth. They were the first program to ever advance to match play of the women’s golf championship two-straight years from outside of the non-Autonomous Conferences. In softball, Ohio captured their first MAC Tournament Championship since 2014 defeating NIU, 2-0. It was the second tournament title for the Bobcats in program history and the first since 2011. The Bobcats played in the NCAA Regional Title after defeating Monmouth and James Madison. The two wins mark the first two wins in program history for Ohio in the NCAA Tournament, and marks the first time ever that Ohio played for a spot in the Super Region- als. Kent State’s Holly Speers was named Nation¬al Player of the Week in April 24, 2018 and a Top 25 Finalist for Collegiate Player of the Year. Speers was also named to First Team All-America by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). History of the MAC Based in Cleveland since July 1999 following a 15-year stay in Toledo, Ohio, the MAC has established historic measurements in both football and men’s and women’s basketball since moving to Northeast Ohio. The MAC was founded as a five-school league on February 24, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio with Ohio, Butler, Cincinnati, Wayne State and Western Reserve admitted as charter members. The Mid-American Conference membership currently consists of 12 universities across five states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Ohio). In 1946 men’s basketball was the first competitive sport in the MAC, which now sponsors a total 23 sports. Women’s sports were brought into the confer- ence’s structure in 1980. For men, there are 11 championships sponsored in football, basketball, baseball, cross country, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, wrestling, golf and tennis. For women, 12 championships are sponsored in basketball, softball, volleyball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, gymnastics, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and tennis. www.GetSomeMACtion.com 5 THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE COMMISSIONER, Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher

Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher enters his 10th ESPN through the 2026-27 season and brings long-term security year with the Mid-American Conference for the Conference. This agreement provides ESPN with exclusive (MAC) after being named the league’s television and digital distribution rights for all MAC sporting events, eighth commissioner on March 16, 2009. guarantees coverage of home football and men’s basketball games, Steinbrecher is entering his 25th year as and select women’s basketball and Olympic sporting events. a Division I Commissioner and is the only active Commissioner to have served at all The MAC and its member institutions, with assistance from ESPN, three NCAA Division I Subdivisions (FBS, have established on-campus production capabilities that provide FCS, DI). a significant increase in the national coverage of baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling and Olympic sports on ESPN3. In June Steinbrecher has expanded bowl oppor- of 2015, the MAC announced a four-year sub-licensing agreement Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher tunities for the Conference, increased with CBS Sports Network to expand its national exposure in football television exposure with a historic nation- and basketball. al television and digital distribution rights deal with ESPN, secured a $1 million grant for the Cleveland Metro- During his tenure, the MAC has witnessed historic achievements in politan School District over a five-year period to focus on teacher the overall growth of MAC football. Over the last seven seasons ev- recruitment, mentoring and retention, renegotiated a marketing ery MAC football program has appeared in a bowl game and during rights agreement with IMG College, spearheaded a $50,000 dona- the last five seasons the MAC has twice set the Conference single- tion to the Bahamas Red Cross for relief efforts from Hurricane Mat- season bowl record with seven programs receiving a bowl invitation thew, which was matched by The Atlantis, and guided a messaging in both the 2012 and 2015 bowl seasons. program to define the MACtion brand. In 2016, the MAC received its first invitation to the Goodyear Cot- Steinbrecher orchestrated the development of the first of its kind ton Bowl Classic at AT&T Conference-wide Mental Health Program, which includes a bi-annu- Stadium in Arlington, Texas al Mental Health Summit to focus on student well-being, specifically as Western Michigan earned with interactive discussion topics in mental health ranging from its first-ever New Year’s Six identifying problems, discussing solutions and highlighting best Bowl invitation. practices, along with grassroots efforts with a Mental Health Aware- ness Week on each member campus. In 2017, Steinbrecher had five different MAC programs He also established a Conference-wide comprehensive Diversity & receive bowl invitations Inclusion Program to accelerate the growth of minority candidates -- Toledo (Dollar General for collegiate job opportunities in coaching and administration. His Bowl), Akron (Cheribundi leadership on the issue of inclusion and diversity includes the devel- Tart Cherry Boca Raton opment of an internship and mentoring program, bi-annual sum- Bowl), Ohio (Bahamas Bowl), mit, resource website and annual recognition platform. Central Michigan (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) and Steinbrecher also created the MAC Academic Consortium, which in- Northern Illinois (Quick Lane tegrates across the Conference membership the next generation of Bowl) represented the MAC leaders in higher education, providing leadership development op- the 2017 bowl season. portunities among faculty and administration. Also, the MAC became the Steinbrecher played an integral role in the development of the Col- first non-AQ conference in lege Football Playoff and serves on the Administrative Executive the BCS era to have two teams vying for a BCS berth in the same Committee and the Site Selection Committee. Steinbrecher led the year. In 2012, both Northern Illinois and Kent State entered the MAC bid to host the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with 11-1 records and and the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships, which the MAC set ranked within the BCS Top 25. total attendance and single-session wrestling attendance records. The MAC will also host the 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament In January of 2013, Steinbrecher witnessed Northern Illinois par- First and Second Rounds at Quicken Loans Arena. ticipate in the first ever BCS bowl berth by a MAC member with an invitation to the Discover Orange Bowl and during the 2012 bowl He also developed and implemented a new Coaches Orientation season, the MAC set a Conference record with seven teams to re- program. He was appointed to the NCAA Football Oversight Com- ceive a bowl invitation. mittee, NCAA Football Com- Steinbrecher orchestrated the creation of three new bowl games in petition Com- 2014 – the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.), the Ba- mittee and the hamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas) and the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca NCAA Transfer Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.). Working Group. Steinbrecher has built the MAC primary bowl agreements to a confer- In the sum- ence-best five guaranteed bowl games (Dollar General Bowl; Famous mer of 2014, Idaho Potato Bowl; Raycom Media Camellia Bowl; Bahamas Bowl and Steinbrecher Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl) and three additional sec- announced a ondary agreements (Detroit-based Quick Lane Bowl, Frisco Bowl in historic 13-year Frisco, Texas and ESPN owned bowl games). These bowl agreements rights extension provide the MAC the opportunity to build on relationships with agreement with multiple bowl partners, expand national television exposure and 6 2018 MAC Football Record Book THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE COMMISSIONER, Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher

broaden geo- Under his leadership, the OVC strengthened its commitment to graphical op- sportsmanship by implementing a series of good sports initiatives, portunities including sportsmanship affidavits signed by coaches and adminis- to perform trators, student-athlete ethical conduct orientation and an institu- against peer tional and team sportsmanship awards. Steinbrecher also initiated FBS confer- a Conference Basketball Issues Committee and oversaw increased ences. promotional efforts for the OVC Basketball Tournament, which re- sulted in an increase in ticket revenue. He also spearheaded the ef- Steinbrecher forts in bidding for, and ultimately securing, the 2014 NCAA Division directed a I Women’s Basketball Final Four for Nashville. strategic plan- ning process Prior to being named Mid-Continent Conference Commissioner in for the MAC, Nov. 1994, Dr. Steinbrecher had previously served the league as Di- increased na- rector of Communications, Director of Marketing and Communica- tional exposure for the conference, as well as new opportunities tions and Assistant Commissioner. He joined the Mid-Con staff in for the conference in the areas of a new regional television network 1989 after previously serving in the athletics departments at Hous- deal, marketing and sponsorships and securing long-term partner- ton Baptist University, Indiana University and Davidson College. ships for MAC neutral site championship events. Steinbrecher has served on numerous NCAA committees, including Steinbrecher launched the first-ever MAC Digital Network in 2011 the Division I Basketball Issues Committee, serving as a member of and re-launched the MAC Digital Network with a new partnership subcommittees for both men’s and women’s basketball, and in 1999 with SIDEARM. The Digital Network provides the conference with he became the first non-Division I-A commissioner elected as presi- a new website, enhanced live streaming and programming, mobile dent of the Collegiate Commissioner’s Association (CCA). In June platforms via the iPhone, iPad and Android. 2007, he was appointed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Aca- demic Enhancement Group by the late NCAA President Myles Brand. In 2011, Steinbrecher negotiated a new marketing agreement with He has served on the NCAA Division I Legislative Council, the NCAA ISP for the conference marketing and sponsorship rights through Championship Cabinet, the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certifica- 2019. ISP merged with IMG and this long-term deal solidified the tion and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Issues Committee. conference marketing partnership with the new IMG College brand. Steinbrecher is currently Chair of the College Football Officiating Steinbrecher negotiated another contract extension with Ford Field, Board of Managers and serves on the NCAA Football Oversight Com- this one announced last December, to keep the Marathon MAC mittee, NCAA Football Competition Committee and NCAA Transfer Football Championship Game in Detroit through the 2021 football Working Group. season. He secured a six-year contract extension with Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena to host the MAC Men’s and Women’s Basket- Steinbrecher has also served as Division I-AAA vice president of the ball Conference Tournament through 2023. The contract extension CCA and as a member of the National Invitation Tournament’s Dis- guarantees the continuation of the conference tournament at the trict IV Advisory Board. He was the first non-FBS commissioner to same neutral site since 2000. In addition, Steinbrecher also signed a serve as President of the CCA from 1997-99. five-year contract extension for the MAC Baseball Tournament to be played at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio through the 2020 season. Steinbrecher is a 1983 graduate of Valparaiso University, where He joined the MAC after serving six years as commissioner of the he earned a Bachelor of Science Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). Prior to the OVC, Steinbrecher served degree in physical education and for nine years as the commissioner of the Mid-Continent Conference journalism. In 2006, he was be- (the Summit League). He is the only person to serve as commission- stowed an Alumni Achievement er in all three NCAA Division I Subdivisions (FBS, FCS, DI). Award from his alma mater and in 2014 was inducted into the Val- In six years with the OVC, Steinbrecher significantly increased the paraiso University Athletics Hall league’s exposure through additional television coverage at the re- of Fame. Steinbrecher graduated gional and national level. In 2005, he negotiated a five-year contract with a master’s degree in sports with ESPN that secured increased exposure for the league. That in- administration from Ohio Univer- cluded being the first conference to sign a deal to have games ap- sity in 1984, and he was awarded pear on ESPNU; the OVC had the first sporting event telecast on that the doctorate of physical education in sports administration from network (the 2005 OVC Men’s Basketball Tournament Semifinals). Indiana University in 1989. Steinbrecher secured an invitation for the OVC to participate in An all-conference and academic all-conference selection in football ESPN’s BracketBusters event. He also implemented conference mer- and a conference champion in tennis, Steinbrecher was named Val- chandising and corporate partnership program and in 2008 negoti- paraiso’s and the Heartland Collegiate Conference’s Student-Athlete ated a five-year agreement with IMG College to manage the OVC’s of the Year in 1983. In 2006, he was inducted into the Watauga Coun- multimedia rights and sponsorship sales. ty (N.C.) Sports Hall of Fame. In July 2006, Steinbrecher helped spearhead a venture into stream- Steinbrecher and his wife Anne have three children, daughter Grace ing video with the launch of OVCSports.TV. The multimedia platform and twin sons Matt and Will. Steinbrecher follows Rick Chryst, who provided live and on-demand coverage of OVC football and men’s served as MAC Commissioner (1999-2009). David Reese served as and women’s basketball games as well as select other sports, coach- the first commissioner from 1946-64, followed by Bob James (1964- es’ shows, press conferences and special events. In its first two years 71), Fred Jacoby (1971-82), Jim Lessig (1982-90), Karl Benson (1990- of existence, OVCSports.TV streamed over 800 events and recorded 94), Jerry Ippoliti (1994-99). nearly 5,000 paid subscribers. www.GetSomeMACtion.com 7 THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

MEDIA INFORMATION

2018 MAC Football Coaches MAC Player of the Week Weekly Teleconference Each week, the MAC office will choose a player of The Mid-American Conference football coaches will the week on offense, defense and special teams be available each Monday beginning Aug. 27 and from each division. The player of the week will be run through Nov. 19 for a weekly teleconference. announced at approximately 1:00p.m. (ET) each There will be an additional football championship Monday and will be posted on the league web site. teleconference Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. All times listed POSTSEASON AWARDS below are Eastern. Following the conclusion of the regular season, Format: We will go immediately to questions from the voting is conducted on the all-conference team by media and will forego any introductory statement league coaches, as well as several individual awards from each coach. Should your schedule not permit by the MAC News Media Association. The MNMA you to dial in, questions for a coach may be e-mailed Flagship Radio Stations votes on the Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive to Ken Mather ([email protected]) and we Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Special will make every effort to ask the question. Please East Division Teams Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. The e-mail your question no later than 8 a.m. (ET) each School Station coaches vote on the Vern Smith Leadership Award, Monday. Each e-mailed question must include your Akron WARF 1350 AM honoring the league’s top football student-athlete. name and affiliation. An Academic All-MAC team is honored in voting by BGSU WFRO 99.1 FM For call in number for the media please contact the the league’s faculty athletic representatives. Buffalo WECK 1230 AM MAC media relations staff. FOLLOW US!! Kent State WHLO 640 AM 2018 MAC Football Coaches Teleconference Don’t forget to follow the MAC on Twitter and Face- Schedule: Miami WMOH 1450 AM book! You can follow us at www.twitter.com/MACS- ports and search for the Official Fan Page of the Mid- Ohio WXTQ 105.5 FM Full Teleconferences with all 12 Head Coaches: First American Conference on Facebook! Teleconference: Monday, August 27 West Division Last Full Teleconference: Monday, Nov. 19 School Station MAC Media Relations Department Ball State WLBC 104.1 FM 24 Public Square, 15th Floor Championship Teleconference: Monday, Nov. 26 with the two schools in the MAC Championship game CMU WCFX 95.3 FM Cleveland, OH 44113 (216) 566-4622 (PH)/(216) 858-9622 (FAX) (head coach and two students from each team), from EMU WEMU 89.1 FM 10:00 – 10:30a.m. (ET). www.mac-sports.com NIU WLBK 1360 AM (DeKalb) WEST DIVISION WSCR 670 AM (Chicago) Ken Mather (football contact) 9:38-9:46 Jason Candle, Toledo Toledo WSPD 1370 AM Associate Commissioner / Media & Public Relations 9:46-9:54 Rod Carey, Northern Illinois e-mail: [email protected] WMU WKZO 96.5 FM Cell: (216) 410-5826 9:54-10:02 Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan Press Box Numbers 10:02-10:10 John Bonamego, Central Michigan Jeremy Guy EAST DIVISION Assistant Commissioner for Integrated Digital 10:10-10:18 Mike Neu, Ball State Akron (330) 972-2913 Strategies 11:06-11:14 Tim Lester, Western Michigan Bowling Green (419) 372-2069 e-mail: [email protected] Buffalo (716) 645-6837 Cell: (440) 487-6915 EAST DIVISION Kent State (330) 672-2036 10:18-10:26 Frank Solich, Ohio Miami (513) 529-7261 Heather Klatt 10:26-10:34 Chuck Martin, Miami Ohio (740) 593-0050 Director of Visual & Creative Content; e-mail: [email protected] 10:34-10:42 Sean Lewis, Kent State WEST DIVISION Cell: (419) 460-4745 Ball State (765) 285-5381 or 5382 10:42-10:50 Lance Leipold, Buffalo Central Michigan (989) 774-3579 or 3594 Eric Kwaitkowski 10:50-10:58 Mike Jinks, Bowling Green Eastern Michigan (734) 481-0014 or 0072 Assistant Director for Communications 10:58-11:06 Terry Bowden, Akron Northern Illinois (815) 753-0609 or 0630 e-mail: [email protected] Toledo (419) 530-3732 Western Michigan (269) 387-3065

8 2018 MAC Football Record Book THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

2018 COMPOSITE SCHEDULE/2018 NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS

Aug. 30 – Thursday *Akron at Buffalo Dec. 15 – Saturday Central Connecticut State at Ball State, 7:00 pm ET *Ball State at Central Michigan Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, AL), 5:30 (ESPN+) *Kent State at Miami pm ET (ESPN) *Toledo at Eastern Michigan Aug. 31 – Friday Dec. 18 – Tuesday Syracuse at Western Michigan, 6:00 pm ET Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, (CBS Sports Network) Oct. 20 – Saturday FL), 7:00 pm ET (ESPN) Monmouth at Eastern Michigan, 6:30 pm ET (ESPN+) *Buffalo at Toledo, Noon ET (ESPN+) Miami at Army, Noon ET Dec. 19 – Wednesday Sep. 1 – Saturday *Bowling Green at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN3) Frisco Bowl (Frisco, TX), 8:00 pm ET (ESPN) Kent State at Illinois, Noon ET (Big Ten Network) *Eastern Michigan at Ball State, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+) Howard at Ohio, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN+) *Western Michigan at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET Dec. 21 – Friday Central Michigan at Kentucky, 3:30 pm ET (ESPNU) (ESPN+) Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas), 12:30 pm ET (ESPN) Marshall at Miami, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+) *Akron at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+) Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, ID), 4:00 pm ET (ESPN) NIU at Iowa, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (Big Ten Network) Delaware State at Buffalo, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3) Oct. 25 – Thursday Dec. 22 – Saturday VMI at Toledo, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN3) *Ball State at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, AL), 7:00 pm ET (ESPN) Akron at Nebraska, 8:00 pm ET (FOX) (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network) Bowling Green at Oregon, 8:00 pm ET (Pac-12 Network) *Toledo at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET Dec. 26 – Wednesday (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network) Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, MI), 5:15 pm ET (ESPN) Sep. 8 – Saturday Eastern Michigan at Purdue, Noon ET (Big Ten Network) Oct. 27 – Saturday Western Michigan at Michigan, Noon ET (FS1) Army at Eastern Michigan Kansas at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+) *Central Michigan at Akron 2018 Non-Conference Opponents Ball State at Notre Dame, 3:30 pm ET (NBC) NIU at BYU ACC (5) Buffalo at Temple, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3) Florida State (NIU) Georgia Tech (Bowling Green) Howard at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+) Oct. 30 – Tuesday Miami (Toledo) Morgan State at Akron, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+) *Kent State at Bowling Green, 8:00 pm ET Syracuse (Western Michigan) Maryland at Bowling Green, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+) (ESPN2/ESPNU) Virginia (Ohio)

Utah at NIU, 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (ESPNews) *Miami at Buffalo, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU) American Athletic (3) Cincinnati at Miami, 8:00 pm ET (Raycom/ESPN3) (at Paul Cincinnati (2) (Miami; Ohio) Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio) Oct. 31 – Wednesday Temple (Buffalo) *Ball State at Toledo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2) Big Ten (12) Sep. 15 – Saturday Illinois (Kent State) Ball State at Indiana, Noon ET (Big Ten Network) Nov. 1 – Thursday Indiana (Ball State) Kent State at Penn State, Noon ET (FS1) *NIU at Akron, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network) Iowa (NIU) Maryland (Bowling Green) Miami (Fla.) at Toledo, Noon ET *Ohio at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET Michigan (Western Michigan) (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU) (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network) Michigan State (Central Michigan) Ohio at Virginia, 3:00 pm ET (ACC Network Extra) Minnesota (Miami) Nov. 3 – Saturday Nebraska (Akron) *Central Michigan at NIU, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+) Northwestern (Akron) Miami at Minnesota, 3:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network) *Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan, Noon ET (ESPN3) Penn State (Kent State) Eastern Kentucky at Bowling Green, 4:00 pm ET (ESPN3) Purdue (Eastern Michigan) *Eastern Michigan at Buffalo, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+) Nov. 6 – Tuesday Rutgers (Buffalo)

Delaware State at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN+) *Kent State at Buffalo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU) Big 12 (2) Akron at Northwestern, 7:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network) Iowa State (Akron) Nov. 7 – Wednesday Kansas (Central Michigan)

Sep. 22 – Saturday *Ohio at Miami, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET Conference USA (2) Akron at Iowa State (ESPN2/ESPNU) Marshall (Miami) Buffalo at Rutgers *Toledo at NIU, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU) Western Kentucky (Ball State) Eastern Michigan at San Diego State, 10:30 pm ET Mountain West (3) (CBS Sports Network) Nov. 10 – Saturday Fresno State (Toledo) Kent State at Ole Miss *Akron at Eastern Michigan, Noon ET (ESPN3) Nevada (Toledo) Maine at Central Michigan *Bowling Green at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+) San Diego State (Eastern Michigan)

*Miami at Bowling Green Pac 12 (2) Nevada at Toledo Nov. 13 – Tuesday Oregon (Bowling Green) NIU at Florida State *Western Michigan at Ball State, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN2) Utah (NIU)

Ohio at Cincinnati SEC (2) Western Kentucky at Ball State Nov. 14 – Wednesday Kentucky (Central Michigan) Western Michigan at Georgia State *Buffalo at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET/8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU) Ole Miss (Kent State) *Miami at NIU, 7:00 pm ET/8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU) Sun Belt (1) Sep. 29 – Saturday Georgia State (Western Michigan) *Western Michigan at Miami, 3:30 pm ET Nov. 15 – Thursday *NIU at Eastern Michigan, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+) *Toledo at Kent State, 6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network) Independent (6) Army (3) (Buffalo; Eastern Michigan; Miami) Army at Buffalo BYU (NIU) Bowling Green at Georgia Tech Nov. 17 – Saturday Notre Dame (Ball State) Central Michigan at Michigan State *Bowling Green at Akron, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3) UMass (Ohio) *Kent State at Ball State FCS Opponents (I-AA) Toledo at Fresno State, TBA (ESPN Networks) Nov. 20 – Tuesday Big South (1) UMass at Ohio *Ball State at Miami, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN+) Monmouth (Eastern Michigan) *NIU at Western Michigan, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN+) Colonial Athletic (1) Oct. 6 – Saturday Maine (Central Michigan) *Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan, Noon ET (TBA) Nov. 23 – Friday *Bowling Green at Toledo, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+) *Akron at Ohio, TBA MEAC (5) Delaware St. (2) (Buffalo; Western Michigan) *Miami at Akron, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+) *Buffalo at Bowling Green, TBA Howard (2) (Kent State; Ohio) *Ohio at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET(ESPN+) *Central Michigan at Toledo, TBA Morgan State (Akron) *Buffalo at Central Michigan *Eastern Michigan at Kent State, TBA *NIU at Ball State Northeast (1) Nov. 30 – Friday Central Connecticut State (Ball State) Oct. 13 – Saturday 2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game Ohio Valley (1) *Western Michigan at Bowling Green, 3:00 pm ET East Division Champion vs. West Division Champion Eastern Kentucky (Bowling Green) (ESPN+) Marathon MAC Championship Game, 7:00 pm ET Southern (1) *Ohio at NIU, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN Networks) Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. (ESPN2) VMI (Toledo) www.GetSomeMACtion.com 9 THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

MAC FOOTBALL NOTES

MAC PART OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF ERA MAC 2017 BOWL RESULTS The 2018 college football season enters the fifth year of the cur- • Cheribundi Tart Bowl Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton) FAU 50, rent four-team playoff era with the College Football Playoff. The Akron 3 two College Football Playoff Semifinals will be played in bowl • Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise) Wyoming 37, Central Michi- games this year (Capital One Orange Bowl; Goodyear Cotton gan 14 Bowl Classic) and the College Football Playoff National Cham- • Bahamas Bowl (Nassau) Ohio 41, UAB 6 pionship will be played in the Bay Area (Levi Stadium) on Jan. 7. • Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, Ala.) App. State 34, Toledo 0 • Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, Mich.) Duke 36, Northern Illinois 14 The two Semifinals and four other premier bowl games AllState Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl presented by Northwestern Mu- MAC PROGRAMS IN BOWL GAMES tual (Jan. 1), PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1) and the Chick-fil-A In the last seven bowl seasons, every MAC football program has Peach Bowl (Dec. 29) highlight the annual bowl season calendar. received a bowl invitation. Leading the way are Toledo, Ohio and The Semifinal games will rotate among these six different bowls. Northern Illinois with invitations in six of the last seven seasons. All MAC programs will join every FBS team in college football with equal access to the playoff based upon its performance. No 2011-17 MAC Programs and Years Invited to Bowl Games team will qualify automatically. Northern Illinois (6): 2011; 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015; 2017 Ohio (6): 2011; 2012; 2013; 2015; 2016; 2017 The College Football Playoff Selection Committee will choose Toledo (6): 2011; 2012; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017 four teams for the playoffs based on body of work, strength of Central Michigan (5): 2012; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017 schedule, head-to-head results, comparison of results against Bowling Green (4): 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015 common opponents, championships won and other factors. Western Michigan (4): 2011; 2014; 2015; 2016 Ball State (2): 2012; 2013 The highest ranked program by the Selection Committee from Akron (2): 2015; 2017 either the MAC, American Athletic, Conference USA, Mountain Buffalo (1): 2013 West or Sun Belt Conferences will play annually in one of the Kent State (1): 2012 premier bowl games. Eastern Michigan (1): 2016 Miami (1): 2016 MAC BOWL NOTES former member Temple (1): 2011 • Toledo won the 2017 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with a 45-28 win over Akron on Dec. 2, 2017. The win was Year; MAC Programs Invited to Bowl Games Toledo’s first championship since 2004 and the 11th football title 2011: Northern Illinois; Ohio; Toledo; Western Michigan; Temple in program history. The Rockets have been a model of consis- 2012: Northern Illinois; Kent State; Ohio; Bowling Green; Ball tency in winning as Toledo has won at least nine games in six of State; Central Michigan; Toledo the last seven years, and the 2017 record of 11-2 is the ninth time 2013: Northern Illinois; Bowling Green; Ball State; Ohio; Buffalo in Toledo history to win at least 10 games in a season. 2014: Northern Illinois; Bowling Green; Toledo; Central Michigan; • Five MAC programs received bowl invitations in the 2017 bowl Western Michigan season -- Toledo (11-3), Akron (7-7), Ohio (9-4), Central Michigan 2015: Bowling Green; Northern Illinois; Toledo; Western Michi- (8-5) and Northern Illinois (8-5). The MAC record for bowl invita- gan; Central Michigan; Ohio; Akron tions in a single-season is seven in both the 2012 and 2015 bowl 2016: Western Michigan, Ohio, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Central seasons. Michigan, Miami • Toledo (Dollar General Bowl), Akron (Cheribundi Tart Cherry 2017: Toledo, Akron, Ohio, Central Michigan; Northern Illinois. Boca Raton Bowl), Ohio (Bahamas Bowl), Central Michigan (Fa- mous Idaho Potato Bowl) and Northern Illinois (Quick Lane 2017 MAC ALL-AMERICANS Bowl) represented the MAC in the 2017 bowl season. Since the conclusion of the 2017 regular season, the MAC was • This marks the 10th time in MAC history to have five or more represented with several post-season All-American honors. programs receive a bowl invitation (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, The Associated Press: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017) in a single-season. • Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith • In the previous seven bowl seasons, the MAC has a record of USA Today: 12-28 in 40 bowl games – 2017 (1-4); 2016 (0-6); 2015 (3-4); 2014 • First-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith (2-3); 2013 (0-5); 2012 (2-5); 2011 (4-1) as all 12 MAC programs Sports Illustrated: have appeared in a bowl game during this span (2011-17). • Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith • Akron (7-7, 6-2) won the MAC East Division for the first time CBS Sports: since 2005. Akron secured its third MAC East Division title as • Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith the Zips were bowl eligible for the second time in the last three Walter Camp Football Foundation: years, also a program record. • First-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith • Over the last three seasons, the MAC has witnessed six different • Second-Team All-American: Western Michigan OT Chukwuma programs participate in the Marathon MAC Football Champion- Okorafor ship Game. In 2015 Bowling Green defeated NIU, 34-14, while The Sporting News: 2016 witnessed Western Michigan with a 29-23 win over Ohio • Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith and Toledo defeated Akron, 45-28 in the 2017 Marathon MAC Football Writers Association of America (FWAA): Football Championship Game. • First-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith • In 2017 the MAC had 11 FBS wins, including four wins over • First-Team All-American: Western Michigan OT Chukwuma Autonomous Conferences with two wins vs. Big Ten opponents Okorafor (Nebraska, Rutgers) and two wins over Big 12 opponents (both American Football Coaches Association (AFCA): wins over Kansas). • Second-Team All-American: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith 10 2018 MAC Football Record Book THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

MAC FOOTBALL NOTES

NIU’S SUTTON SMITH NAMED 2017 CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICAN ROURKE TO CONTINUE TO LEAD OHIO BOBCATS OFFENSE Northern Illinois University defensive end Sutton Smith was Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke had a breakout sophomore a 2017 Consensus All-American, as determined by the NCAA. season under center in leading the Ohio Bobcats to a 9-4 over- Smith became the ninth MAC player earn Consensus All-Amer- all record, including a 5-3 second-place finish in the MAC East ican status. Division. Rourke led the Bobcats to a 41-6 over UAB in the Ba- hamas Bowl to finish the 2017 campaign on a high note. Last To be selected as a Consensus All-American, a player must be season, Rourke was a dual threat with 912 yards rushing and 21 named to the first team of at least two of the five selected All- touchdowns on the ground, while passing for 2,203 yards and America teams, announced over the last week by the American 17 touchdowns on 161-292 passing for 169.5 yards passing per Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press, Football game. Writers Association of America (FWAA), The Sporting News and Walter Camp Foundation. Second team selections are used to Rourke was part of the Ohio offensive engine that tied a MAC break ties. Players who earned the honor were listed on the most single season record as Ohio totaled 44 rushing touchdowns, first team All-America teams, competing against players at that which tied with NIU in 2012 as the most in MAC history. Rourke’s position only. 21 rushing touchdowns led the MAC and ranked seventh most in a single-season in MAC history. His 38 total offensive touch- Smith is actually one of five defensive linemen on the 2017 Con- downs ranked tied for 16th best in a single season in MAC his- sensus All-America team as he and Maurice Hurst of Michigan tory and his 132 total points ranks tied for ninth best in MAC tied for the final spot. The St. Charles, Mo. native was named a history. first team All- American by Walter Camp and the FWAA, and was a second team selection on the AP, AFCA and Sporting News MAC RECEIVERS CONTINUE TO SHINE teams. The depth of the MAC at the wide receiver position continues to blossom with plenty of playmakers at this skill position. In 2017, Smith is the fourth NIU player – joining Jordan Lynch, Jimmie four MAC wide receivers had breakout seasons – Toledo’s Dion- Ward and Shuwan Lurry – to garner first team All-America rec- tae Johnson; Buffalo’s Anthony Johnson; Miami’s James Gardner; ognition in the last five seasons, surpassing the total number of and Ball State’s Justin Hall. Huskie All-Americans in the school’s FBS history. He is the most decorated defensive player in NIU Football history and in addi- Buffalo’s Anthony Johnson was the top target by both Tyree tion to the five All-America teams mentioned above, was select- Jackson and Drew Anderson last season for the Bulls. Buffalo ed to six more All-America teams by media organizations. finished with a 6-6 overall record, 4-4 in the MAC, and Johnson opened plenty of eyes within the MAC and the entire country. Smith was the 2017 MAC Defensive Player of the Year was also Johnson led the MAC with 1,356 yards receiving (17.8 avg.) a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s best de- and 14 touchdowns, while his 76 catches ranked second in the fensive end. He finished the season and led the MAC with 29.5 league. Johnson collected four touchdown receptions in a win tackles for loss and 16 sacks. He was 2.5 tackles for loss shy of at Ball State on Nov. 16, 2017, which tied for third most in MAC the NCAA single season record of 32, set by Western Michigan’s single-game history. Johnson’s 14 touchdowns ranks tied for Jason Babin in 2003. 11th best in MAC single-season history and his 1,356 yards re- ceiving is 19th most in MAC single-season history. MAC Consensus All-Americans 1971 Mel Long, Toledo, DT Toledo’s Diontae Johnson as a sophomore last season became 1995 Brad Maynard, Ball State, P Logan Woodside’s top target after the season ending injury to 1996 Brad Maynard, Ball State, P Cody Thompson. Johnson led the Rockets with 74 receptions 1997 Randy Moss, Marshall, WR for 1,278 yards (17.3 avg.) and 13 touchdowns. Johnson ranked 2000 Dwight Smith, Akron, DB second in the MAC with his 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, 2010 Eric Page, Toledo, KR/AP while his 74 catches ranked third in the league. Johnson’s 13 2012 Dri Archer, Kent State, KR/AP touchdowns is tied for 17th most in a single-season in MAC his- 2016 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, WR tory, while his 1,278 yards receiving ranks tied for 22nd most in 2017 Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois, DE MAC history. 2017 MAC NON-CONFERENCE WINS Miami’s James Gardner led the RedHawks last season with his 47 The MAC concluded its non-conference regular season schedule receptions for 927 yards (19.7 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. Gard- last season with 14 FBS wins, which tied for second most for the ner had perhaps his finest game of the year on the road at No. 22 MAC since 2000. ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 30, 2017 with five catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Gardner’s 11 receiving touchdowns The MAC posted 16 FBS wins in 2012, while this year’s 14 FBS ranked third in the MAC and are tied for 29th most in single- wins matched the 2008 mark and surpassed last year’s total of season in MAC history. 12 FBS wins. Ball State’s Justin Hall had an impressive freshman season as he In 2017, the MAC also has four ‘Autonomous Conference’ wins led the MAC with 78 receptions, however, the fact that Ball State over Nebraska and Rutgers (Big Ten) and Kansas twice (Big 12). had to start four different quarterbacks during the 2017 season Among peer Conferences during the 2017 regular season, the due to injury makes it even more impressive. Hall had 78 catches MAC posted a 1-1 record against the American Athletic, Moun- for 801 yards (10.3 avg.) and three touchdowns last season and tain West and Sun Belt Conferences, along with a record 3-4 vs. led the MAC with an average of 6.5 catches per game. Conference USA. www.GetSomeMACtion.com 11 THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

MAC FOOTBALL NOTES

MAC AMONG SACK & TFL LEADERS IN THE NATION DURING 2017 OHIO’S SOLICH THIRD ON MAC CAREER WINS LIST Last season the MAC witnessed four different defensive players Ohio head coach Frank Solich and his Bobcats finished 2017 rank among the leaders in college football in sacks and tackles with an 9-4 overall record and a second-place finish in the East for loss – NIU’s Sutton Smith, Ball State’s Anthony Winbush, Cen- Division. Solich continues to rise up the MAC career head coach- tral Michigan’s Joe Ostman and Eastern Michigan’s Maxx Crosby. ing win list with 97 wins, which ranks third most in MAC history. Winbush and Ostman are currently in NFL camps, while Smith and Crosby enter the 2018 campaign as redshirt juniors. Solich has been the model for consistency in coaching in the MAC. Solich arrived in Athens, Ohio in 2005 and now is in his The MAC had four of the top six defensive players in total sacks 14th season running the Bobcats program. Solich and the Ohio last season as Smith’s 16 led the nation, while Ostman’s 14 sacks Bobcats have garnered a bowl appearance in eight of the last ranked second, Winbush’s 11.5 ranked fourth and Crosby’s 11 nine seasons and nine of his 13 seasons at Ohio. Solich has a 88- sacks ranked tied for sixth most in the country. All four also 65 career coaching record at Ohio. ranked among the nation’s best in tackles for loss as Smith’s 29.5 tackles for loss led the nation, Ostman’s 20.5 tackles for loss Most MAC Head Coaching Wins, Career ranked seventh, while Winbush and Crosby each had 16.5 tack- 1. 110, Herb Deromedi, Central Michigan, 1978-93 les for loss with ranked tied for 20th in the country. 2. 108, Bill Hess, Ohio, 1958-77 3. 97, Frank Solich, Ohio, 2005-present Smith led the nation and the MAC with 16 sacks and 29.5 tackles 4. 79, Bob Pruett, Marshall, 1997-03 for loss on his way to consensus All-American status last year. His 16 sacks tied for second most in a single-season in MAC history. TOLEDO WINS 2017 MAC FOOTBALL TITLE The Toledo Rockets capped an historic season with a resound- Crosby led Eastern Michigan with his 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles ing 45-28 victory over Akron at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 2, for loss as the Eagles finished with a 5-7 record, which included 2017 to claim their 11th Mid-American Conference Champion- a win at Rutgers for the program’s first win in program history ship and first since 2004. In the 100th anniversary season of their against a Big Ten opponent. founding as a football program, and the two-year anniversary of the hiring of Jason Candle as head coach, the Rockets (11-2) OHIO’S ZERVOS ONE OF MAC’S MOST ACCURATE KICKERS dominated the game from start to finish, scoring three times in Ohio junior Louie Zervos has been a key figure in the success the second quarter to take a 28-0 lead into the locker room at of the Ohio Bobcats during the last two seasons. Zervos in two halftime. Toledo outgained the Zips, 561-396, holding them to seasons had converted 44-of-53 field goal attempts for an 83.0% just 98 yards of total offense in the first half. The 561 yards of of- percentage which ranks second best in MAC history. Last sea- fense are the third-most in a MAC Championship Game. son, Zervos converted 15-of-18 field goal attempts and totaled 106 total points for the 9-4 Bobcats. He already holds the MAC Toledo senior quarterback Logan Woodside, who threw for 307 record with 29 field goals made set during his freshman season yards and four touchdowns, was named the Offensive Player of in 2016 when he connected on 29-of-35 field goal attempts. the Game. Sophomore Diontae Johnson led the receiving corps with nine receptions for 118 yards and two scores, followed by MAC VS BIG TEN OPPONENTS junior Jon’Vea Johnson (six receptions, 103 yards, and a touch- With NIU’s 21-17 win at Nebraska and Eastern Michigan’s 16-13 down). Senior running back Terry Swanson piled up 180 yards win at Rutgers on Sept. 9, 2017, the MAC has won a regular sea- and two TDs. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Zach son game vs. Big Ten opponents in each of the last 12 consecu- Quinn led the Rockets with 10 tackles, defensive end Olasunk- tive seasons (2006-2017), the longest streak in MAC history. anmi Adeniyi added three tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

During this 12-year stretch, MAC teams have defeated 12 differ- 2018 MAC BOWL PARTNERS (2018-19) ent Big Ten teams—Illinois (3); Indiana (5); Iowa (3); Maryland 2018 Bowl Season: (1); Michigan (1); Michigan State (1); Minnesota (2); Nebraska (1); • College Football Playoff Host Bowls Northwestern (2); Penn State (1), Purdue (5) and Rutgers (1) for a (Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl/PlayStation Fiesta Bowl) total of 26 wins during this span of time. • Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt) • Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.; vs. Mountain West) 2006: Ohio beat Illinois • Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt) 2007: Bowling Green beat Minnesota; Western Michigan beat • Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas; vs. Conference USA) Iowa • Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas; vs. American Athletic Conference) 2008: Western Michigan beat Illinois; Central Michigan beat Indi- • Secondary to Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl (Boca ana; Toledo beat Michigan; Ball State beat Indiana Raton, Fla.) 2009: NIU beat Purdue; Central Michigan beat Michigan State • Secondary to Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, Mich.) 2010: Toledo beat Purdue; NIU beat Minnesota • Secondary to ESPN owned and operated bowl games 2011: Ball State beat Indiana 2012: Ohio beat Penn State; Ball State beat Indiana; Central 2019 Bowl Season: Michigan beat Iowa • College Football Playoff Host Bowls 2013: NIU beat Purdue; NIU beat Iowa • Dollar General Bowl (Mobile, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt) 2014: Bowling Green beat Indiana; NIU beat Northwestern; Cen- • Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.; vs. Mountain West) tral Michigan beat Purdue • Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.; vs. Sun Belt) 2015: Bowling Green beat Maryland and Purdue • Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Fla.; vs. 2016: Western Michigan beat Northwestern and Illinois American Athletic Conference) 2017: NIU beat Nebraska and Eastern Michigan beat Rutgers • Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas; vs. Conference USA) 12 2018 MAC Football Record Book THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

MAC FOOTBALL NOTES

MAC ALUM RANDY MOSS TO PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME WINS OVER NON-CONFERENCE FBS OPPONENTS Joining the list of MAC alum heading to the Pro Football Hall In 2017 the MAC earned 11 non-conference FBS wins. The MAC of Fame in Canton, Ohio, former Marshall wide receiver Randy set a single-season record with 16 wins over FBS opponents dur- Moss will increase this number to three, as Moss will be inducted ing the 2012 season and posted 14 wins in 2008 and 2016. into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2018 Hall of Fame Class this August. Moss, who was named MAC Offen- Regular Season Wins vs. non-conference FBS opponents: sive Player of the Year in 1997, posted 78 catches for 1,709 yards Year: Wins; FBS Opponents Defeated: and 28 touchdowns with Marshall in 1996 and added 96 recep- 2017: 11; Nebraska, Rutgers, Kansas (2); Charlotte, UAB; Nevada; tions for 1,820 yards and 26 touchdowns in 1997. Tulsa; Idaho; Florida Atlantic; UMass 2016: 14; Northwestern, Arkansas State, Georgia State, Oklaho- Moss was selected in the first round, 21st overall, of the 1998 ma State, Kansas, Illinois, Fresno State, UNLV, Marshall, Charlotte, NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Moss spent 14 seasons in Army, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Wyoming. the NFL with Minnesota, Oakland, New England, Tennessee and 2015: 12; Arkansas; Maryland; Iowa State; Purdue; FAU; Marshall; San Francisco and amassed 982 career receptions for 15,292 Wyoming; UNLV; Idaho; Arkansas State; Louisiana; FIU yards and 156 touchdowns and was selected to five Pro Bowls. 2014: 8; Purdue; Northwestern; Indiana; Idaho (2); UNLV, Pitt; Army Moss becomes the third former MAC football standout to be se- 2013: 10; Iowa; Purdue; Virginia; UConn; Tulsa; Marshall; Army; lected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Moss joins Jason Taylor North Texas; Idaho; Navy of Akron and former Kent State linebacker Jack Lambert of the 2012: 16; Penn State; Wyoming; Idaho; New Mexico St.; Army (4); Pittsburgh Steelers. Moss was a member of the Marshall Thun- UConn; Marshall; Indiana; Iowa; South Florida; Kansas; Cincin- dering Herd, who competed in the MAC before departing after nati; Rutgers the 2004 season. 2011: 10; Indiana; Army (4); UConn; Idaho; New Mexico State; Marshall; Maryland MAC WITH SIX STUDENTS SELECTED IN THE 2018 NFL DRAFT 2010: 7; Minnesota; Purdue; Marshall; Colorado State; UConn; The MAC had six draft selections in the 2018 NFL Draft. Western Army; Louisiana-Lafayette Michigan OT Chukwuma Okorafor was the highest player select- 2009: 9; Michigan State; Purdue; Colorado; Florida International; ed as the Pittsburgh Steelers made him a third-round selection, Troy; UTEP; North Texas; Army; Navy 92nd overall. Also from the Broncos, DB Sam Beal was selected 2008: 14; Navy; Indiana (2); Western Kentucky; Michigan; Idaho; by the New York Giants during the July NFL Supplemental Draft Illinois; Syracuse; Army (3); Pittsburgh; Wyoming; UTEP with a third-round pick. 2007: 10; Navy; Army (2); Idaho; Iowa State (2); Iowa; Minnesota; Syracuse; La-Lafayette In recent years the MAC has had students selected among the 2006: 11; Temple (5); Kansas; Virginia; North Carolina State; North top five overall in the NFL Draft. In the last six years (2013-18), Texas; FIU; Illinois the MAC has had three players selected in the top five in the NFL 2005: 9; Army; Louisiana-Lafayette; Temple (4); Pittsburgh; Mid- Drafts. dle Tennessee State; Cincinnati 2004: 3; Temple (2); Kentucky In the 2017 NFL Draft, Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Da- 2003: 9; Kansas State; Northwestern; Colorado State; Cincinnati; vis was selected as the fifth overall selection in the first round by Purdue; Maryland; Alabama; Iowa State; Pittsburgh the Tennessee Titans. Davis’ selection was the highest ever for 2002: 10; Rutgers; Troy; North Carolina; Cincinnati; UConn; Mis- Western Michigan and tied the second-highest in MAC history. souri; Kansas; Wyoming; Wake Forest; UNLV 2001: 11; UConn (2); Army; Cincinnati; Missouri; Temple (2); Min- In 2014, Buffalo Bulls linebacker Khalil Mack was the fifth overall nesota; Northwestern; South Florida; Navy selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 2014 NFL Draft. Mack’s 2000: 9; Central Florida (2); Vanderbilt; Minnesota; UConn (2); selection was the highest ever for the Buffalo program and the Navy; Penn State; Iowa second-highest ever selection for a MAC student-athlete. MAC HEAD COACHES IN HIGH DEMAND In 2013, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher became Football programs continue to take notice of MAC head coach- the first MAC football player to be selected as the overall No. 1 es. There are 11 former head coaches from the MAC in a current selection in the NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Fisher FBS head coaching position–including three of the last four Na- as No.1 choice in the 2013 NFL Draft. The previous highest player tional Champion’s -- 2017 & 2015 Alabama’s Nick Saban (Toledo) drafted from the MAC was Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich, and 2014 Ohio State’s Urban Meyer (Bowling Green) and nearly who was selected No. 7 overall by Jacksonville in 2003. one-third of the ACC (four total). For 2018, 23 of 131 FBS coaches (17.6%) will be either current or former MAC head coaches. MAC Students Selected In 2018 NFL Draft • 3rd, 92nd overall; OL Chukwuma Okorafor (Western Michigan) ACC – Steve Addazio-Boston College (Temple), Dave Doeren-NC by Pittsburgh State (Northern Illinois), Dave Clawson-Wake Forest (Bowling • 5th, 157th overall; TE Tyler Conklin (Central Michigan) by Min- Green), Dino Babers-Syracuse (Bowling Green). nesota Big Ten – Urban Meyer-Ohio State (Bowling Green), P.J. Fleck- • 5th, 170th overall; DB/KR Darius Phillips (Western Michigan) by Minnesota (Western Michigan). Cincinnati Big 12 – Matt Campbell-Iowa State (Toledo). • 7th, 227th overall; LB Quentin Poling (Ohio) by Miami Ind. – Brian Kelly-Notre Dame (Central Michigan), Mark Whipple • 7th, 249th overall; QB Logan Woodside (Toledo) by Cincinnati (UMass). • NFL Supplemental Draft - 3rd, DB Sam Beal (Western Michigan) SEC-Nick Saban-Alabama (Toledo). by the New York Giants Sun Belt – Doug Martin-New Mexico State (Kent State). www.GetSomeMACtion.com 13 THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

MAC FOOTBALL NOTES

KENT STATE NAMES SEAN LEWIS AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH MAC WELL REPRESENTED IN PRESEASON 2018 WATCH LISTS The MAC will welcome a new football coach to the mix for the Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year): LB Ulysees 2018 season as Kent State named Sean Lewis to lead the Golden Gilbert III (Akron); LB Khalil Hodge (Buffalo); DE Maxx Crosby Flashes football program on Dec. 21, 2017. Lewis became the (Eastern Michigan); LB Sutton Smith (Northern Illinois) 22nd head football coach at Kent State after serving as the co- Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver): James Gardner (Miami); offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Syracuse. His Justin Hall (Ball State); Anthony Johnson (Buffalo); Diontae John- background stretches from his four-year playing career at Wis- son (Toledo); Scott Miller (Bowling Green); Kwadarrius Smith consin, to winning the 2015 Marathon MAC Championship as (Akron); Cody Thompson (Toledo) the co-offensive coordinator at Bowling Green. Walter Camp Award (player of the year): Announced July 26 Maxwell Award (outstanding college football player): RB James Lewis’ ascension has led him to become the youngest Football Gilbert (Ball State); WR Anthony Johnson (Buffalo); WR James Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coach in the nation at the age of 31. Gardner (Miami); QB Nathan Rourke (Ohio) That distinction was previously held by Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player): Announced July 26 at age 34. Lewis has spent his last six seasons alongside head John Mackey Award (outstanding tight end): Nate Becker (Mi- coach Dino Babers at Syracuse (2016-17), Bowling Green (2014- ami); Nolan Givan (Ball State); Tyler Mabry (Buffalo); Giovanni 15) and Eastern Illinois (2012-13). Ricci (Western Michigan) Lou Groza Award (outstanding kicker): Announced July 25 Lewis’ coaching career began as the offensive coordinator for his Bronko Nagurski Award (defensive player of the year): An- alma mater Richards High School in Illinois. He transitioned to nounced July 24 the college level in 2010 as tight ends coach at Division II Univer- Manning Award (best quarterback): Announced in August, 2018 sity of Nebraska Omaha. He made his first MAC stop in 2011 as a Davey O’Brien Award (nation’s top quarterback): QB Tyree Jack- graduate assistant for the University of Akron. He earned a bach- son (Buffalo); QB Nathan Rourke (Ohio) elor’s degree from Wisconsin in agricultural sciences in 2007. Outland Award (top interior lineman): Announced July 24 Rimington Award (most outstanding center): Andrew Poenitsch (Ball State); James O’Hagan (Buffalo); Dakota Tallman (Eastern MAC 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS Michigan); Danny Godlevske (Miami); Luke Shively (Northern Il- The 2018 football schedule will feature 16 nationally televised linois); John Keenoy (Western Michigan). games during late October and November on ESPN2, ESPNU, Ray Guy Award (top punter): Announced July 24 ESPN+, ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network. Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back): Announced July 23 Doak Walker Award (best running back): LeVante Bellamy (West- The regular season will conclude with the 22nd Marathon MAC ern Michigan); Jamauri Bogan (Western Michigan); Andrew Clair Football Championship game on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:00 pm ET (Bowling Green); Ian Eriksen (Eastern Michigan); Emmanuel (ESPN2) from Ford Field in Detroit. This will mark the 15th Mara- Reed (Buffalo); Kenny Young (Miami) thon MAC Football Championship game at Ford Field. Wuerffel Trophy (best community service): Announced July 26 For the 11th year in a row, league schools will face a formidable MAC EAST VS. MAC WEST non-conference slate of opponents from the following Football In 2017, the East and West Divisions faced each other in 18 cross- Bowl Subdivision conferences – ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, over regular season games and the West Division finished with SEC, Notre Dame and BYU. In addition, the Conference will also an 11-7 advantage. Over the previous 10 years (2008-2017), the face opponents from the American Athletic Conference, Confer- MAC West has had the upper hand in crossover regular season ence USA, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and games against the MAC East, winning the head-to-head regular Independents Army and UMass. season series in nine of the last 10 years. The West has a 120-60 (.667%) regular season record vs. the East during that span. MAC programs will face five non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Penn State (9), Notre Dame (11), Miami- The West Division has a 6-4 lead in the last 10 Marathon MAC Fla. (13), Michigan State (15) and Northwestern (17). Football Championship Games. From the West Division, Toledo (2017), Western Michigan (2016), Northern Illinois (2011, 2012, A total of 12 non-conference games will feature a Big Ten op- 2014) and Central Michigan (2009) have won the Conference ponent (Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Maryland; Michigan; Michigan Championship six times, while the East Division has won four State; Minnesota; Nebraska; Northwestern; Penn State; Purdue; crowns with Bowling Green (2015, 2013), Miami (2010) and Buf- Rutgers). The MAC will face foes from the ACC (5—Florida State, falo (2008). Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), Syracuse, Virginia), SEC (2—Kentucky, Ole Miss), Pac-12 (2-Oregon, Utah), Big 12 (2—Iowa State; Kan- Year; Regular Season East vs. West; MAC Champion sas); and Independent Notre Dame, BYU, Army (3 games) and 2017 West 11-7; Toledo (West) def. Akron (East), 45-28. UMass. 2016 West 12-6; Western Michigan (West) def. Ohio (East), 29-23. 2015 West 11-7; Bowling Green (East) def. NIU (West), 34-14. The MAC will face opponents from the American Athletic Con- 2014 West 15-3; NIU (West) def. Bowling Green (East), 51-17. ference (3— Cincinnati (2), Temple), Mountain West (3—Fresno 2013 West 12-6; Bowling Green (East) def. NIU (West), 47-27. State, Nevada, San Diego State), Conference USA (2—Marshall, 2012 West 12-6; NIU (West) def. Kent State (East) 44-37 in 2 OT. Western Kentucky) and Sun Belt Conference (1—Georgia State). 2011 West 14-4; NIU (West) def. Ohio (East), 23-20. This season the MAC will host 10 games against FBS non-confer- 2010 West 12-6; Miami (East) def. NIU (West), 26-21. ence opponents. 2009 East 11-7; Central Michigan (West) def. Ohio (East), 20-10. 2008 West 14-4; Buffalo (East) def. Ball State (West), 42-24.

14 2018 MAC Football Record Book THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

2017 Season MAC OVERALL OVERALL RECORD EAST DIVISION W L PCT. PTS. OPP. W L PCT. PTS. OPP. *Akron 6 2 .750 196 179 7 7 .500 310 392 Ohio 5 3 .625 287 185 9 4 .692 508 315 Buffalo 4 4 .500 251 219 6 6 .500 342 298 Miami 4 4 .500 202 175 5 7 .417 293 289 Bowling Green 2 6 .250 247 313 2 10 .167 304 456 Kent State 1 7 .125 109 271 2 10 .167 153 421

WEST DIVISION W L PCT. PTS. OPP. W L PCT. PTS. OPP. #^Toledo 7 1 .875 296 165 11 3 .786 509 367 Northern Illinois 6 2 .750 255 165 8 5 .615 375 286 Central Michigan 6 2 .750 256 198 8 5 .615 370 358 Western Michigan 4 4 .500 276 229 6 6 .500 407 348 Eastern Michigan 3 5 .375 226 208 5 7 .417 313 280 Ball State 0 8 .000 94 387 2 10 .167 215 488 *East Champion; ^West Champion # Winner of MAC Championship game

2018 Team Breakdown/Starters & Lettermen Returning West Division Starters (O/D/Sp) Lettermen Crossover Opp. Non-Conference Ball State 19 (9/7/3) 51 Kent State; at Ohio; at Miami Central Connecticut St.; at Notre Dame; at Indiana; Western Kentucky Central Michigan 16 (6/7/3) 38 Buffalo; at Akron; Bowling Green at Kentucky; Kansas; Maine; at Michigan State Eastern Michigan 17 (6/7/4) 46 at Buffalo; Akron; at Kent State Monmouth; at Purdue; at San Diego State; Army Northern Illinois 17 (9/6/2) 54 Ohio; at Akron; Miami at Iowa; Utah; at Florida State; at BYU Toledo 14 (6/6/2) 53 Bowling Green; Buffalo; at Kent State VMI; Miami (Fla.); Nevada; at Fresno State Western Michigan 14 (9/4/1) 29 at Miami; at Bowling Green; Ohio Syracuse; at Michigan; Delaware State; at Georgia State

East Division Starters (O/D/Sp) Lettermen Crossover Opp. Non-Conference Akron 15 (6/9/3) 58 Central Michigan; NIU; at Eastern Michigan at Nebraska; Morgan St.; at Northwestern; at Iowa St. Bowling Green 15 (6/7/2) 38 at Toledo; Western Mich.; at Central Mich. at Oregon; Maryland; Easterm Kentucky; at Georgia Tech Buffalo 16 (8/7/1) 51 Eastern Michigan; at Central Michigan; at Toledo Delaware State; at Temple; at Rutgers; Army Kent State 14 (6/6/2) 49 at Ball State; Toledo; Eastern Michigan at Illinois; Howard; at Penn State; at Ole Miss Miami 19 (8/8/3) 47 Western Michigan; at NIU; Ball State Marshall; Cincinnati; at Minnesota; at Army Ohio 15 (8/4/3) 49 at NIU; Ball State; at Western Michigan Howard; at Virginia; at Cincinnati; UMass

2018 Bowl Schedule Date Site Matchup Raycom Media Camellia Bowl Dec. 15 Montgomery, Ala. MAC vs. Sun Belt *Boca Raton Bowl Dec. 18 Boca Raton, Fla. MAC vs. AAC/C-USA Frisco Bowl Dec. 19 Frisco, Texas MAC vs. AAC Bahamas Bowl Dec. 21 Nassau, Bahamas MAC vs. C-USA Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Dec. 21 Boise, Ida. MAC vs. MWC Dollar General Bowl Dec. 22 Mobile, Ala. MAC vs. Sun Belt *Quick Lane Bowl Dec. 26 Detroit, Mich. MAC vs. Big Ten/ACC * Backup Bowl Agreement

Ford Field (right) will host the 2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship game on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN2. www.GetSomeMACtion.com 15 THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

2017 ALL-MAC TEAMS

2017 Postseason Honors -- Specialty Award Winners

Coach of the Year Vern Smith Defensive Player Offensive Player Freshman Special Teams Player Jason Candle Award Winner of the Year of the Year of the Year of the Year Toledo Logan Woodside Sutton Smith Logan Woodside Marcus Childers Darius Phillips Toledo Northern Illinois Toledo Northern Illinois Western Michgan

OFFENSE Position First Team Second Team Third Team Quarterback Logan Woodside, Toledo @ Nathan Rourke, Ohio Brogan Roback, Eastern Michigan Offensive Lineman Max Scharping, Northern Illinois @ Jake Pruehs, Ohio ^ JP Quinn, Central Michigan Offensive Lineman Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan @ Jimmy Leatiota, Eastern Michigan Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois Offensive Lineman Elijah Nkansah, Toledo Joe Lowery, Ohio James O’Hagan, Buffalo ^ Offensive Lineman Brant Weiss, Toledo Luke Juriga, Western Michigan Vinnie Palazeti, Ball State Offensive Lineman John Keenoy, Western Michigan # Joe Anderson, Ohio Jordan Rigg, Miami Tight End Shane Wimann, Northern Illinois Donnie Ernsberger, Western Michigan ^ Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan Wide Receiver Diontae Johnson, Toledo Corey Willis, Central Michigan # Mark Chapman, Central Michigan Wide Receiver Anthony Johnson, Buffalo Justin Hall, Ball State Scott Miller, Bowling Green @ Wide Receiver James Gardner, Miami ^ Papi White, Ohio Tra’Von Chapman, Akron Wide Receiver Sergio Bailey II, Eastern Michigan ^ Teo Redding, Bowling Green Spencer Tears, Northern Illinois Running Back Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan #& A.J. Ouellette, Ohio Jordan Huff, Northern Illinois Running Back Terry Swanson, Toledo * Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan Andrew Clair, Bowling Green Placekicker Jameson Vest, Toledo Jake Suder, Bowling Green Louie Zervos, Ohio @ Kickoff Return Specialist Darius Phillips, Western Michigan #% Diontae Johnson, Toledo Malik Dunner, Ball State Punt Return Specialist Diontae Johnson, Toledo Darius Phillips, Western Michigan # Papi White, Ohio

DEFENSE Position First Team Second Team Third Team Down Lineman Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan ^ Chuck Harris, Buffalo Down Lineman Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, Toledo Josh Corcoran, Northern Illinois Down Lineman Joe Ostman, Central Michigan #% Demone Harris, Buffalo Jamal Davis, Akron Down Lineman Anthony Winbush, Ball State ^ Jon Cunningham, Kent State ^ Ikeem Allen, Miami Outside Linebacker Ulysees Gilbert, Akron @ Bobby Jones IV, Northern Illinois Jawuan Johnson, Northern Illinois Outside Linebacker Jim Jones, Kent State Chad Moore, Ohio Asantay Brown, Western Michigan #! Inside Linebackers Khalil Hodge, Buffalo # Robert Spillane, Western Michigan # Jason Beck, Eastern Michigan Inside Linebackers Quentin Poling, Ohio @! Malik Fountain, Central Michigan @ Nate Locke, Bowling Green Defensive Back Amari Coleman, Central Michigan @ Alvin Davis, Akron Heath Harding, Miami @ Defensive Back Darius Phillips, Western Michigan @* Josh Cox, Central Michigan ^ Demetrius Monday, Kent State = Defensive Back Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan Sam Beal, Western Michigan Bradd Ellis, Ohio Defensive Back Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois #= Javon Hagan, Ohio # Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan Punter Joe Davidson, Bowling Green @= Derek Adams, Kent State Derrick Mitchell, Western Michigan

@ 2016 First-Team All-MAC = 2015 First-Team All-MAC & 2014 First-Team All-MAC # 2016 Second-Team All-MAC * 2015 Second-Team All-MAC + 2014 Second-Team All-MAC ^ 2016 Third-Team All-MAC ! 2015 Third-Team All-MAC % 2014 Third-Team All-MAC

16 2018 MAC Football Record Book THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

2017 ACADEMIC ALL-MAC TEAM

The Mid-American Conference announced its 2017 Football Academic All-MAC team as a total of 146 student-athletes were honored. Eastern Michigan topped the 2017 Aca- demic All-MAC squad with 18 selections, while Western Michigan was second with 16 honorees. The Academic All-MAC honor is for students who have excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests.

2017 Academic All-MAC Football Team (146) Kent State (13): Akron (6): Derek Adams, Sophomore, 3.97 GPA, Entrepreneurship (Manheim, Pa.) Warren Ball, Senior, 3.556 GPA, Sport Administration (Columbus, Ohio) +^James Alexander, Senior, 3.37 GPA (3.68 GPA Grad), Criminal Justice (Miami, Fla.) +Nathan Bischof, Junior, 3.319 GPA, Sport Management (Akron, Ohio) +^George Bollas, Junior, 3.66 GPA, Chemistry (Aurora, Ohio) Kyle Foster, Junior, 3.214 GPA, Sport Management (Parkersburg, W.V.) John Henry Bronczek, Junior, 3.50 GPA, Business Management (Massillon, Ohio) +John Lako, Sophomore, 3.438 GPA, Business Management (Monroe, Mich.) +^Marcus Elliott, Senior, 3.34 GPA, Visual Communication Design (Toledo, Ohio) +Xavier Quigley, Senior, 3.252 GPA, Sport Studies/Coaching (Ankeny, Iowa) Trey Harrell, Sophomore, 3.28 GPA, General Business (Metaire, La.) ^Anthony Young, Senior, 3.540 GPA, Intervention/Sp. Ed. (Medina, Ohio) ^Shane Hynes, Junior, 3.26 GPA, Sport Administration (Clarkston, Mich.) Joey Palumbo, Sophomore, 3.43 GPA, Sport Administration (Hudson, Ohio) Ball State (12): Jamal Parker, Sophomore, 3.25 GPA, Sport Administration (Pennsauken, N.J.) Chris Beech, R-Freshman, 3.641 GPA, Business Administration (Miamisburg, Ohio) Kavious Price, Sophomore, 3.26 GPA, Communications (Bradenton, Fla.) Mitch Larsen, Sophomore, 3.222 GPA, Pre-Dental Preparation (Fairfield, Ohio) Nathan Puthoff, Senior, 3.25 GPA, Computer Information Systems (Columbus, Ohio) Riley Miller, Sophomore, 3.590 GPA, Exercise Science (Yorktown, Ind.) ^Matthew Sommers, Senior, 3.28 GPA, Exercise Science (Kent, Ohio) +^#Vinnie Palazeti, Senior, 3.630 GPA, Professional Selling (Owosso, Mich.) +Chase Van Hoef, Sophomore, 3.40 GPA, Managerial Marketing (Grand Haven, Mich.) +Danny Pinter, Sophomore, 3.666 GPA, Business Administration (South Bend, Ind.) Andrew Poenitsch, Sophomore, 3.449 GPA, Industry and Technology (Waukesha, Wisc.) Miami (8): +Zac Ricketts, Sophomore, 3.492 GPA, Industry and Technology (Bremen, Ind.) Kobe Burse, Sophomore, 3.31 GPA, Sports Leadership & Mgt. (Muskegon Heights, Mich.) +Kyle Schrank, Sophomore, 3.753 GPA, Finance (Fishers, Ind.) Sam Connolly, Junior, 3.25 GPA, Kinesiology (Chicago, Ill.) +Fred Schroeder, Junior, 3.234 GPA, Biology (Yuma, Ariz.) +Evan Crabtree, Junior, 3.81 GPA, Sports Leadership and Management (Dublin, Ohio) Kaleb Slaven, R-Freshman, 3.488 GPA, Finance (Muncie, Ind.) +Brad Earnest, Junior, 3.66 GPA, Biology (Atlanta, Ga.) +Marc Walton, Junior, 3.333 GPA, Marketing (Mentor, Ohio) +^#Randy Heideman, Senior, 3.38 GPA, Accounting (Bloomington, Ill.) Grant Williamson, Sophomore, 3.263 GPA, Accounting (Rolling Prairie, Ind.) +Ryan Mullen, Junior, 3.35 GPA, Kinesiology (Lake Villa, Ill.) +Mitch Palmer, Junior, 3.33 GPA, Biology (St. Louis, Mo.) Bowling Green (10): Zach Swarts, Junior, 3.51 GPA, Public Administration (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Caleb Bright, R-Freshman, 3.555 GPA, Criminal Justice (Urbandale, Iowa) +Clark Clancy, Senior, 4.00 GPA, Master’s in Business Administration (Troy, Mich.) Northern Illinois (12): +^#Joseph Davidson, Senior, 3.957 GPA, Finance/Mathematics (Findlay, Ohio) Jackson Abresch, Senior, 4.00 GPA, Master’s Business Administration (Hartland, Wis.) +^#Ryan Hunter, Senior, 3.831 GPA (Grad GPA 3.0), Criminal Justice (North Bay, Ontario) Mitchell Brinkman, Sophomore, 3.71 GPA, Business Admin. (Council Bluffs, Iowa) Cam Jefferies, Sophomore, 3.380 GPA, Supply Chain Management (Painesville, Ohio) +Trayshon Foster, Sophomore, 3.24 GPA, Communications (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) +^#Nate Locke, Senior, 4.000 GPA, Psychology (Canton, Ohio) +^Christian Hagan, Senior, 3.49 GPA, Entrepreneurship (Omaha, Neb.) Grant Loy, R-Freshman, 3.303 GPA, Pre-Construction Mgmt. (New Washington, Ohio) Tre Harbison, R-Freshman, 3.22 GPA, Journalism/Communications (Shelby, N.C.) +James Morgan, Sophomore, 3.871 GPA, Individualized Planned Prg. (Green Bay, Wisc.) Ty Harmston, Junior, 3.59 GPA, Human Anatomical Sciences (Stockton, Ill.) +^Trevor Roop, Senior, 3.838 GPA, Public Health (Convoy, Ohio) Jimmy Russell, Senior, 3.77 GPA, Physical Education (DeKalb, Ill.) Gabe Skrobot, R-Freshman, 4.00 GPA, Biology (Zanesville, Ohio) Hayden Sak, Junior, 3.42 GPA, Marketing (Aurora, Ill.) +^Max Scharping, Junior, 3.66 GPA, Master’s Exercise Physiology (Green Bay, Wisc.) Buffalo (11): +^Luke Shively, Junior, 3.38 GPA, Chemistry & Biochemistry (Tipton, Ind.) Drew Anderson, Junior, 3.23 GPA, Business Administration (Orinda, Calif.) +Jordan Steckler, Sophomore, 3.51 GPA, Marketing (Two Rivers, Wis.) Kyle DeWeen, Senior, 3.64 GPA, Business Administration (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) +^#Shane Wimann, Senior, 3.544 GPA, Sociology (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) Chris Doubek, Junior, 3.26 GPA, Media Study (Randolph, N.Y.) Tomas Jack-Kurdyla, Sophomore, 3.58 GPA, Sociology (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Ohio (14): Tyree Jackson, Sophomore, 3.34 GPA, Social Science (Norton Shores, Mich.) +Kent Berger, Junior, 3.762 GPA, Marketing/Finance (Mentor, Ohio) Zach Lefebvre, R-Freshman, 3.27 GPA, Undecided (Victor, N.Y.) +^#Dorian Brown, Senior, 3.481 GPA, Specialized Studies (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Jake Molinich, R-Freshman, 3.22 GPA, Business Administration (Pittsford, N.Y.) +Austin Clark, Sophomore, 3.370 GPA, Finance (Tipp City, Ohio) K.J. Osborn, Sophomore, 3.34 GPA, Sociology (Ypsilanti, Mich.) Dylan Connor, R-Freshman, 3.975 GPA, Biology/Pre-Professional (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Matt Otwinowski, Sophomore, 3.76 GPA, Business Administration (LaPorte, Ind.) Austin Conrad, R-Freshman, 3.579 GPA, Mgmt. Information Systems (Grafton, Ohio) Tim Roberts, Senior, 3.68 GPA, Social Science Interdisciplinary (Hahnville, La.) Jared Dorsa, R-Freshman, 3.241 GPA, Pre-Exercise Physiology (Kings Mills, Ohio) Chris Spell, Senior, 3.43 GPA, Sociology (Cortland Manor, N.Y.) +^#Cody Grilliot, Senior, 3.588 GPA, Marketing (Clayton, Ohio) Kyle Kuhar, Sophomore, 3.539 GPA, Sports Management (Avon Lake, Ohio) Central Michigan (13): +Troy Mangen, Senior, 3.805 GPA, Management/Marketing (Union, Ohio) +^#Mark Chapman, Senior, 3.37 GPA, Communications (Port Huron, Mich.) +Quinton Maxwell, Sophomore, 3.364 GPA, Pre-Business Law/Accounting (Rayville, Mo.) Zach Crouch, Senior, 3.21 GPA, Entrepreneurship (Lowell, Mich.) Andrew Meyer, Junior, 3.807 GPA, Finance/Information Systems (Canal Winchester, Ohio) +^Austin Doan, Senior, 3.64 GPA, Psychology (Romeo, Mich.) +^#Quentin Poling, Senior, 3.499 GPA, Exercise Physiology (Gomer, Ohio) Derek Edwards, Senior, 3.34 GPA, Marketing (Novi, Mich.) Eric Popp, Sophomore, 3.269 GPA, Engineering Tech Management (Loveland, Ohio) +Luke Idoni, Junior, 3.74 GPA, Biology/Biomedical Sciences (Fenton, Mich.) +Jake Pruehs, Senior, 3.376 GPA, Industrial Systems Engineering (North Olmsted, Ohio) Kaden Keon, Sophomore, 3.55 GPA, Undecided (St. Louis, Mich.) Oakley Lavallii, R-Freshman, 3.36 GPA, Undecided (Boca Raton, Fla.) Toledo (13): Zach Oakley, Junior, 3.20 GPA, Marketing (Osceola, Ind.) Liam Allen, Senior, 3.485 GPA, Marketing (Toledo, Ohio) +#Joe Ostman, Senior, 3.68 GPA, General Management (St. Ignace, Mich.) Cameron Bell, Sophomore, 3.220 GPA, History (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) +^#Jeff Perry, Senior, 3.51 GPA, Mechanical Engineering (Morris, Ill.) Nate Childress, Sophomore, 3.276 GPA, Business (Rossford, Ohio) Derek Smith, R-Freshman, 3.35 GPA, Undecided (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Justin Clark, R-Freshman, 3.308 GPA, Business (West Bloomfield, Mich.) ^Mitch Stanitzek, Junior, 3.77 GPA, Marketing (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Reggie Gilliam, Sophomore, 3.328 GPA, Interdisciplinary Studies (Columbus, Ohio) Clayton Walderzak, Junior, 3.20 GPA, Construction Management (Standish, Mich.) Bryce Harris, Sophomore, 3.489 GPA, Psychology (Akron, Ohio) +^Nate Jeppesen, Senior, 3.577 GPA (3.668 Grad GPA), Inter. Studies (Portage, Mich.) Eastern Michigan (18): Shakif Seymour, R-Freshman, 3.450 GPA, Business (Cleveland, Ohio) Sergio Bailey II, Senior, 3.34 GPA, Communication (San Diego, Calif.) Brad Smith, Senior, 3.618 GPA, Exercise Science (Clyde, Ohio) +^Blake Banham, Junior, 3.64 GPA, Criminology and Criminal Justice (St. Paul, Minn.) +^Brad Spelman, Senior, 3.7217 GPA (4.0 Graduate GPA), Accounting (Hilliard, Ohio) +^Jason Beck, Senior, 3.28 GPA, Sport Management (Indianapolis, Ind.) +Tyler Taafe, Junior, 3.473 GPA, Finance (Hubbard, Ohio) Jake Donnellon, R-Freshman, 3.48 GPA, Exercise Science-Intent (Ann Arbor, Mich.) +Brant Weiss, Senior, 3.512 GPA (3.67 Graduate GPA), Management (Sunbury, Ohio) +Paulie Fricano, Sophomore, 3.47 GPA, Exercise Science-Intent (Rochester, N.Y.) +Logan Woodside, Senior, 3.42 GPA (3.134 Grad GPA), Marketing (Frankfort, Ky.) +Juan Giraldo, Senior, 3.42 GPA, Criminology and Criminal Justice (Gilbert, Ariz.) +Jeremiah Harris, Junior, 3.40 GPA, Sport Performance & Fitness (Lambertville, Mich.) Western Michigan (16): +Clay Holford, Sophomore, 3.62 GPA, Supply Chain Management (Carrollton, Texas) +^Lucas Bezerra, Senior, 3.73 GPA, Biomedical Sciences (Troy, Mich.) +Brody Hoying, Sophomore, 3.64 GPA, Supply Chain Management (Coldwater, Ohio) Mark Brooks, R-Freshman, 3.66 GPA, Pre-Integrated Supply Mgmt. (Portland, Mich.) Jimmy Leatiota, Junior, 3.22 GPA, Communication (San Jose, Calif.) Mike Caliendo, R-Freshman, 3.85 GPA, Biomedical Sciences (Brookfield, Wis.) +Luke Maclean, Senior, 3.55 GPA, Criminology and Criminal Justice (Grand Blanc, Mich.) Stefan Claiborne, Sophomore, 3.64 GPA, Pre-Business (Clinton Township, Mich.) Keyan Marshall, R-Freshman, 3.87 GPA, Biology (Toledo, Ohio) Jaret Curtis, R-Freshman, 4.00 GPA, Political Science (Green Bay, Wis.) Steven Nielsen, Sophomore, 3.59 GPA, Sport Management (Dragoer, Denmark) Ra’Sean Davie, R-Freshman, 3.23 GPA, Pre-Entrepreneurship (Indianapolis, Ind.) Johnnie Niupalau, Senior, 3.37 GPA, Communication (San Mateo, Calif.) Mitch Heimbuch, R-Freshman, 3.29 GPA, Pre-Business (Romeo, Mich.) Jalen Phelps, Sophomore, 3.29 GPA, Communication (Marietta, Ga.) +Luke Juriga, Sophomore, 3.48 GPA, Pre-Manufacturing Engineering Tech. (Aurora, Ill.) Dan Samuelson, Senior, 3.41 GPA, Communication (Plymouth, Ind.) Spencer Kanz, R-Freshman, 3.89 GPA, Pre-Finance (Luxemburg, Wis.) +Ike Spearman, Senior, 3.70 GPA, Communication (Saint John, Ind.) +John Keenoy, Junior, 3.77 GPA, Finance (Kentwood, Mich.) +Breck Turner, Sophomore, 3.54 GPA, Sport Management (Norwalk, Ohio) Nick Matich, Junior, 3.21 GPA, Sales & Business Marketing (Clarkson, Mich.) +Odell Miller, Junior, 3.58 GPA, Exercise Science (Kalamazoo, Mich.) +2016 Academic All-MAC selection +^Derrick Mitchell, Junior, 3.41 GPA, Finance (Paw Paw, Mich.) ^2015 Academic All-MAC selection +^Zach Novoselsky, Junior, 3.62 GPA, Management (Lincolnshire, Ill.) #2014 Academic All-MAC selection +Giovanni Ricci, Sophomore, 3.42 GPA, Pre-Business (Loveland, Ohio) *2013 Academic All-MAC selection Jon Wassink, Sophomore, 4.00 GPA, Accountancy (Grand Rapids, Mich.) www.GetSomeMACtion.com 17