2017 Mid-American Conference football season

2017 Mid American Conference football season
2017 Mid American Conference football season
League	NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport	Football
Duration	August 31, 2017 – December 2017
Number of teams	12
Regular Season
Season champions	Toledo Rockets
Runners-up	Akron Zips
Season MVP	Logan Woodside
MAC Championship Game
Football seasons
	← 2016 2018 →

2017 Mid-American Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
East Division
Akron xy	6	–	2	7	–	7
Ohio	5	–	3	9	–	4
Miami (OH)	4	–	4	5	–	7
Buffalo	4	–	4	6	–	6
Bowling Green	2	–	6	2	–	10
Kent State	1	–	7	2	–	10
West Division
Toledo xy$	7	–	1	11	–	3
Central Michigan	6	–	2	8	–	5
Northern Illinois	6	–	2	8	–	5
Western Michigan	4	–	4	6	–	6
Eastern Michigan	3	–	5	5	–	7
Ball State	0	–	8	2	–	10
Championship: Toledo 45, Akron 28
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant

The 2017 Mid-American Conference football season was the 72nd season for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and part of the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on August 31 and ended on November 25. The entire schedule was released on March 1.^[1] The Toledo Rockets won the conference championship game over the Akron Zips.

Previous season

Preseason

Preseason Poll

The Preseason poll was released at the MAC Media Day in Canton, Ohio.^[2]

East Division

West Division

MAC Championship

The Toledo Rockets were selected as favorites to win the Mid-American Conference by receiving 21 of 24 votes. Others receiving one vote a piece were defending champions, Western Michigan Broncos, Bowling Green Falcons and Miami RedHawks.^[3]

Head coaches

Pre-season coaching changes

Schedule

Regular season

Week 1

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 p.m.	Buffalo	Minnesota	TCF Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN	BTN	L 7-17	43,224
August 31	7:00 p.m.	Elon	Toledo	Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH	ESPN3	W 47-13	22,104
August 31	7:00 p.m.	Rhode Island	Central Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI	ESPN3	W 30-27 ^3OT	16,311
September 1	6:30 p.m.	Charlotte	Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium • Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN3	W 24-7	12,823
September 1	8:30 p.m.	Boston College	Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL	CBSSN	L 20-23	16,421
September 2	12:00 p.m.	Akron	No. 6 Penn State	Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA	ABC	L 0-52	101,684
September 2	12:00 p.m.	Bowling Green	Michigan State	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI	ESPNU	L 10-35	71,202
September 2	12:00 p.m.	Ball State	Illinois	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	BTN	L 21-24	42,505
September 2	12:00 p.m.	Kent State	No. 5 Clemson	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	ESPN	L 3-56	80,121
September 2	5:15 p.m.	Western Michigan	No. 4 USC	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA	P12N	L 31-49	61,125
September 2	6:30 p.m.	Miami	Marshall	Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV	STADIUM	L 26-31	22,463
September 2	7:00 p.m.	Hampton	Ohio	Peden Stadium • Athens, OH	ESPN3	W 59-0	17,501
^#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 2

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 8	8:00 p.m.	Ohio	Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN	FS1	L 21-44	45,633
September 9	12:00 p.m.	Buffalo	Army	Michie Stadium • West Point, NY	CBSSN	L 17-21	24,017
September 9	2:30 pm	Eastern Illinois	Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL	ESPN3	W 38-10	16,722
September 9	3:00 p.m.	Central Michigan	Kansas	Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, KS	FSN	W 45-27	28,531
September 9	3:05 p.m.	UAB	Ball State	Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN	ESPN3	W 51-31	11,555
September 9	3:30 p.m.	Howard	Kent State	Dix Stadium • Kent, OH	ESPN3	W 38-31	20,312
September 9	3:30 p.m.	Austin Peay	Miami	Yager Stadium • Oxford, OH	ESPN3	W 31-10	15,960
September 9	3:30 p.m.	Eastern Michigan	Rutgers	High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ	BTN	W 16-13	37,661
September 9	3:30 p.m.	Western Michigan	Michigan State	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI	BTN	L 14-28	72,910
September 9	6:00 p.m.	South Dakota	Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH	ESPN3	L 27-35	19,912
September 9	6:30 p.m.	Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Akron	InfoCision Stadium • Akron, OH	ESPN3	W 52-3	17,464
September 9	7:00 p.m.	Toledo	Nevada	Mackay Stadium • Reno, NV	ESPN3	W 37-24	18,617
^#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 3

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 16	12:00 p.m.	Kansas	Ohio	Peden Stadium • Athens,OH	ESPNU	W 42-30	24,000
September 16	12:00 p.m.	Iowa State	Akron	InfoCision Stadium • Akron, OH	CBSSN	L 14-41	22,811
September 16	12:00 p.m.	Northern Illinois	Nebraska	Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE	FS1	W 21-17	89,664
September 16	3:00 p.m.	Tennessee Tech	Ball State	Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN	ESPN3	W 28-13	14,265
September 16	3:30 p.m.	Central Michigan	Syracuse	Carrier Dome • Syracuse, NY	ACCN	L 17-41	33,004
September 16	6:00 p.m.	Colgate	Buffalo	UB Stadium • Buffalo, NY	ESPN3	W 33-10	11,546
September 16	6:30 p.m.	Kent State	Marshall	Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV		L 0-21	24,044
September 16	7:00 p.m.	Tulsa	Toledo	Glass Bowl • Toledo	ESPN3	W 54-51	24,239
September 16	7:00 p.m.	Idaho	Western Michigan	Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN3	W 37-28	25,732
September 16	7:30 p.m.	Bowling Green	Northwestern	Ryan Field • Evantson, IL	BTN	L 27-49	33,706
September 16	8:00 p.m.	Cincinnati	Miami	Yager Stadium • Oxford, OH	ESPN3	L 17-21	21,811
^#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Championship game

Week 14 (MAC Championship game)

Records against FBS conferences

2017 records against FBS conferences

Conference	Record
The American	1–1
ACC	0–6
Big Ten	2–7
Big 12	2–1
C-USA	3–4
Independents	2–2
Mountain West	1–1
Pac-12	0–1
SEC	0–1
Sun Belt	1–1
Total	12–25

Power–Five conferences and independents

Power 5 Conferences	Record
ACC	0–6
Big Ten	2–7
Big 12	2–1
Pac-12	0–1
SEC	0–1
Notre Dame	0–1
Power 5 Total	4–17

Group of Five conferences

Group of 5 Conferences	Record
American	1–1
C-USA	3–4
Mountain West	1–1
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)	2–1
Sun Belt	1–1
FBS Total	8–8

FCS Subdivision

FCS Opponents	Record
Football Championship Subdivision	10–1

Total FCS Record	10–1

Postseason awards

2017 MAC Specialty Award Winners

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

All Conference Teams

2017 All–MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Logan Woodside, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Max Scharping, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
Offensive Linemen – Elijah Nkansah, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Brant Weiss, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – John Keenoy, Western Michigan
Tight End – Shane Wimann, Northern Illinois
Wide Receiver – Diontae Johnson, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Anthony Johnson, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – James Gardner, Miami
Wide Receiver – Sergio Bailey, Eastern Michigan
Running Back – Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan
Running Back – Terry Swanson, Toledo
Placekicker – Jameson Vest, Toledo

2017 All–MAC First team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Ulysees Gilbert, Akron
Outside Linebacker – Jim Jones, Kent State
Inside Linebacker – Khalil Hodge, Buffalo
Inside Linebacker – Quentin Poling, Ohio
Down Lineman – Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineman – Joe Ostman, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Anthony Winbush, Ball State
Defensive Back – Amari Coleman, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back – Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois
Punter – Joe Davidson, Bowling Green

2017 All–MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michiga
Punt Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo

2017 All–MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Nathan Rourke, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Jake Pruehs, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Jimmy Leatiota, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Joe Lowery, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Luke Juriga, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Joe Anderson, Ohio
Tight End – Donnie Ernsberger, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Corey Willis, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Justin Hall, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Papi White, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Teo Redding, Bowling Green
Running Back – A. J. Ouellette, Ohio
Running Back – Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan
Placekicker – Jake Suder, Bowling Green

2017 All–MAC Second Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Bobby Jones IV, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker – Chad Moore, Ohio
Inside Linebacker – Robert Spillane, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Malik Fountain, Central Michigan
Down Lineback – Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineback – Ola Adeniyi, Toledo
Down Lineback – Demone Harris, Buffalo
Down Lineback – Jon Cunningham, Kent State
Defensive Back – Alvin Davis, Akron
Defensive Back – Josh Cox, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Sam Beal, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Javon Hagan, Ohio
Punter – Derek Adams, Kent State

2017 All–MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo
Punt Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan

2017 All–MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback – Brogan Roback, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – JP Quinn, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – James O’Hagan, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Vinnie Palazeti, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Jordan Rigg, Miami
Tight End – Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Mark Chapman, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Scotty Miller, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Tra’Von Chapman, Akron
Wide Receiver – Spencer Tears, Northern Illinois
Running Back – Jordan Huff, Northern Illinois
Running Back – Andrew Clair, Bowling Green
Placekicker – Louie Zervos, Ohio

2017 All–MAC Third Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Jawuan Johnson, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker – Asantay Brown, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Jason Beck, Eastern Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Nate Locke, Bowling Green
Down Lineman – Chuck Harris, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Josh Corcoran, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Jamal Davis II, Akron
Down Lineman – Ikeem Allen, Miami
Defensive Back – Heath Harding, Miami
Defensive Back – Demetrius Monday, Kent State
Defensive Back – Bradd Ellis, Ohio
Defensive Back – Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan
Punter – Derrick Mitchell, Western Michigan

2017 All–MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Malik Dunner, Ball State
Punt Return Specialist – Papi White, Ohio

^[4]

Power 5 Conferences	Record
ACC	0–0
Big Ten	0–0
Big 12	0–0
Pac-12	0–0
SEC	0–0
Power 5 Total	0–0

Other FBS Conferences	Record
American	0–0
C–USA	0–0
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)	0–0
Mountain West	0–0
Sun Belt	0-0

Other FBS Total	0–0
Total Bowl Record	0–0

Postseason

Bowl games

Legend
	MAC win
	MAC loss

(Rankings from final CFP Poll; All times EST)

Date	Time	Bowl Game	Site	TV	MAC Team	Opponent	Result
December 19, 2017	7:00 p.m.	Boca Raton Bowl	FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FL	ESPN	Akron	Florida Atlantic	L 3–50
December 22, 2017	12:30 p.m.	Bahamas Bowl	Thomas Robinson Stadium • Nassau, Bahamas	ESPN	Ohio	UAB	W 41–6
December 22, 2017	4:00 p.m.	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl	Albertsons Stadium • Boise, ID	ESPN	Central Michigan	Wyoming	L 14–37
December 23, 2017	7:00 p.m.	Dollar General Bowl	Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, AL	ESPN	Toledo	Appalachian State	L 0–34
December 26, 2017	5:15 p.m.	Quick Lane Bowl	Ford Field • Detroit, MI	ESPN	Northern Illinois	Duke	L 14–36

Home game attendance

References

^ "MAC releases schedule zero Saturday Games in November". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
^ "MAC Football 2017: Toledo, Ohio University picked as division winners in preseason poll". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
^ "MAC Football 2017: Toledo, Ohio University picked as division winners in preseason poll". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
^ https://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/11/28/mac-announces-2017-postseason-football-awards.aspx

[1] "MAC releases schedule zero Saturday Games in November". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved March 1, 2017.

[2] "MAC Football 2017: Toledo, Ohio University picked as division winners in preseason poll". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.

[3] "MAC Football 2017: Toledo, Ohio University picked as division winners in preseason poll". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.

[4] ttps://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/11/28/mac-announces-2017-postseason-football-awards.aspx

[1]

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v t e Mid-American Conference football
Current teams	Akron Zips Ball State Cardinals Bowling Green Falcons Buffalo Bulls Central Michigan Chippewas Eastern Michigan Eagles Kent State Golden Flashes Miami RedHawks Northern Illinois Huskies Ohio Bobcats Toledo Rockets Western Michigan Broncos
Future teams	UMass Minutemen (joining in 2025)
Championships and awards	MAC Championship Game Season Champions All-time standings Mid-American Conference football individual awards
Seasons	1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

v t e 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season
Conference seasons	The American ACC Big 12 Big Ten Conference USA MAC Mountain West Pac-12 SEC Sun Belt
Inter-conference	Bowl games Rankings
All-Americans	2017 College Football All-America Team