MAC Announces 2016 Football Regular Season Schedule



MAC ANNOUNCES 2016 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

2016 schedule features 17 November nationally televised games on ESPN2, ESPNU and CBS Sports Network



Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced the 2016 football schedule today. Highlighting the schedule will be 17 nationally televised games during late October and November slated for national television on ESPN2, ESPNU and CBS Sports Network as the conference race unfolds in both the East and West divisions. ESPN3, which is available in more than 99 million homes, will also stream a select number of games late in the season.



An updated release of the MAC 2016 football schedule will be released in June with kick times and a television schedule for the first three weeks of the regular season and midweek games during late October and November. All other game kick times and television will be announced 12 days prior to the scheduled game.



The regular season will conclude with the 20th Marathon MAC Football Championship game on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:00 pm ET at Ford Field in Detroit on ESPN2. This will mark the 13th Marathon MAC Football Championship game at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, Super Bowl XL, and the 2009 NCAA Men’s Final Four.



For the ninth year in a row, league schools will face a formidable non-conference slate of opponents from the following Football Bowl Subdivision conferences – ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC. In addition, the conference will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Independent Army and BYU.



MAC programs will face eight non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Alabama (1), Ohio State (4), Iowa (9), Oklahoma State (20), Wisconsin (21), Tennessee (22), Northwestern (23) and Western Kentucky (24).



A total of seven non-conference games will feature a Big Ten opponent (Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Northwestern; Ohio State; Penn State; Wisconsin). The MAC will face foes from the ACC (2—Boston College, Virginia), SEC (3—Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee), Big 12 (2—Kansas, Oklahoma State); and Independent Army and BYU.



The MAC will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference (3— Cincinnati, Memphis, South Florida), Mountain West (6—Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State, UNLV, Wyoming (2)), Conference USA (5—Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky) and Sun Belt Conference (5—Arkansas State, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Texas State).



This season the MAC will host 10 games against FBS non-conference opponents.



MAC Home Games vs. FBS Non-Conference opponents:

-Texas State (Sun Belt) at Ohio on Sept. 3;

-UNLV (Mountain West) at Central Michigan on Sept. 17;

-San Diego State (Mountain West) at NIU on Sept. 17;

-Fresno State (Mountain West) at Toledo on Sept. 17;

-Middle Tennessee (Conference USA) at Bowling Green on Sept. 17;

-Western Kentucky (Conference USA) at Miami on Sept. 17;

-Wyoming (Mountain West) at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 24;

-Georgia Southern (Sun Belt) at Western Michigan on Sept. 24;

-Appalachian State (Sun Belt) at Akron on Sept. 24;

-Army (Independent) at Buffalo on Sept. 24.



MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.



Current MAC schools that hold full membership and the year they joined are -- East Division: University of Akron (1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946). West Division: Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, rejoined in 1997), University of Toledo (1950), Western Michigan University (1947). The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.





2016 MAC Football Schedule (composite by date):

*Conference game



Sep. 1 – Thursday

Presbyterian at Central Michigan



Sep. 2 – Friday

Albany at Buffalo

Ball State at Georgia State

Mississippi Valley State at Eastern Michigan



Sep. 3 – Saturday

Bowling Green at Ohio State

Kent State at Penn State

Miami at Iowa

NIU at Wyoming, 10:30 pm ET/9:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)

Texas State at Ohio

Toledo at Arkansas State

Virginia Military Institute at Akron

Western Michigan at Northwestern



Sep. 10 – Saturday

Akron at Wisconsin

Ball State at Indiana

Central Michigan at Oklahoma State

Eastern Illinois at Miami

Eastern Michigan at Missouri

Maine at Toledo

NIU at South Florida

North Carolina A&T at Kent State

North Carolina Central at Western Michigan

North Dakota at Bowling Green

Ohio at Kansas



Sep. 17 – Saturday

Akron at Marshall

Buffalo at Nevada

Eastern Kentucky at Ball State

Eastern Michigan at Charlotte

Fresno State at Toledo

Middle Tennessee at Bowling Green

Monmouth at Kent State

Ohio at Tennessee

San Diego State at NIU

UNLV at Central Michigan

Western Kentucky at Miami

Western Michigan at Illinois



Sept. 23 - Friday

Wyoming at Eastern Michigan, 7:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)



Sep. 24 – Saturday

Appalachian State at Akron

Army at Buffalo

Ball State at Florida Atlantic

Bowling Green at Memphis

Central Michigan at Virginia

Gardner-Webb at Ohio

Georgia Southern at Western Michigan

Kent State at Alabama

Miami at Cincinnati

Western Illinois at NIU



Sep. 30 – Friday

Toledo at BYU



Oct. 1 – Saturday

*Akron at Kent State

Buffalo at Boston College

*Eastern Michigan at Bowling Green

*Ohio at Miami

*NIU at Ball State

*Western Michigan at Central Michigan



Oct. 8 – Saturday

*Ball State at Central Michigan

*Bowling Green at Ohio

*Kent State at Buffalo

*Miami at Akron

*NIU at Western Michigan

*Toledo at Eastern Michigan



Oct. 15 – Saturday

*Ball State at Buffalo

*Bowling Green at Toledo

*Central Michigan at NIU

*Eastern Michigan at Ohio

*Kent State at Miami

*Western Michigan at Akron



Oct. 22 – Saturday

*Akron at Ball State

*Buffalo at NIU

*Central Michigan at Toledo

*Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan

*Ohio at Kent State

*Miami at Bowling Green



Oct. 27 – Thursday

*Akron at Buffalo, TBA (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)

*Ohio at Toledo, TBA (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)



Oct. 29 – Saturday

*Kent State at Central Michigan

*Miami at Eastern Michigan



Nov. 1 – Tuesday

*Bowling Green at NIU, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

*Western Michigan at Ball State, TBA (ESPN2, ESPNU)



Nov. 2 – Wednesday

*Toledo at Akron, TBA (ESPN2)



Nov. 3 – Thursday

*Buffalo at Ohio, TBA (CBS Sports Network)



Nov. 4 – Friday

*Central Michigan at Miami, TBA (CBS Sports Network)



Nov. 8 – Tuesday

*Eastern Michigan at Ball State, TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)

*Western Michigan at Kent State, TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)



Nov. 9 – Wednesday

*Bowling Green at Akron, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

*Toledo at NIU, TBA at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field (ESPN2/ESPNU)



Nov. 12 – Saturday

*Miami at Buffalo



Nov. 15 – Tuesday

*Kent State at Bowling Green, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

*Ohio at Central Michigan, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)



Nov. 16 – Wednesday

*Ball State at Toledo, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

*NIU at Eastern Michigan, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)



Nov. 19 – Saturday

*Buffalo at Western Michigan



Nov. 22 – Tuesday

*Akron at Ohio, TBA (ESPNU/ESPN3)

*Ball State at Miami, TBA (ESPNU/ESPN3)

*Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan (ESPNU/ESPN3)



Nov. 25 – Friday

*Buffalo at Bowling Green (TV TBD)

*NIU at Kent State (TV TBD)

*Toledo at Western Michigan (TV TBD)



Dec. 2 – Friday

East Division Champion vs. West Division Champion

2016 Marathon MAC Championship Game, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2)

At Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.



2016 MAC Football Schedule (composite by school):

*Conference Game



EAST DIVISION



Akron

Sep.

3 Virginia Military Institute

10 at Wisconsin

17 at Marshall

24 Appalachian State

Oct.

1 *at Kent State

8 *Miami

15 *Western Michigan

22 *at Ball State

27 *at Buffalo, TBA (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)

Nov.

2 *Toledo, TBA (ESPN2)

9 *Bowling Green, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

22 *at Ohio, TBA (ESPNU/ESPN3)



Bowling Green

Sep.

3 at Ohio State

10 North Dakota

17 Middle Tennessee

24 at Memphis

Oct.

1 *Eastern Michigan

8 *at Ohio

15 *at Toledo

22 *Miami

Nov.

1 *at NIU, TBA ESPN2/ESPNU)

9 *at Akron, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

15 *Kent State, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

25 *Buffalo, TBA (TV TBD)



Buffalo

Sep.

2 Albany

17 at Nevada

24 Army

Oct.

1 at Boston College

8 *Kent State

15 *Ball State

22 *at NIU

27 *Akron, TBA (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)

Nov.

3 *at Ohio, TBA (CBS Sports Network)

12 *Miami

19 *at Western Michigan

25 *at Bowling Green, TBA (TV TBD)



Kent State

Sep.

3 at Penn State

10 North Carolina A&T

17 Monmouth

24 at Alabama

Oct.

1 *Akron

8 *at Buffalo

15 *at Miami

22 *Ohio

29 *at Central Michigan

Nov.

8 *Western Michigan, TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)

15 *at Bowling Green, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

25 *NIU, TBA (TV TBD)



Miami

Sep.

3 at Iowa

10 Eastern Illinois

17 Western Kentucky

24 at Cincinnati

Oct.

1 *Ohio

8 *at Akron

15 *Kent State

22 *at Bowling Green

29 *at Eastern Michigan

Nov.

4 *Central Michigan, TBA (CBS Sports Network)

12 *at Buffalo

22 *Ball State, TBA (ESPNU/ESPN3)



Ohio

Sep.

3 Texas State

10 at Kansas

17 at Tennessee

24 Gardner-Webb

Oct.

1 *at Miami

8 *Bowling Green

15 *Eastern Michigan

22 *at Kent State

27 *at Toledo, TBA (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)

Nov.

3 *Buffalo, TBA (CBS Sports Network)

15 *at Central Michigan, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

22 *Akron, TBA (ESPNU/ESPN3)





WEST DIVISION



Ball State

Sep.

2 at Georgia State

10 at Indiana

17 Eastern Kentucky

24 at Florida Atlantic

Oct.

1 *NIU

8 *at Central Michigan

15 *at Buffalo

22 *Akron

Nov.

1 *Western Michigan, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

8 *Eastern Michigan, TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)

16 *at Toledo, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

22 *at Miami, TBA (ESPNU/ESPN3)



Central Michigan

Sept.

1 Presbyterian

10 at Oklahoma State

17 UNLV

24 at Virginia

Oct.

1 *Western Michigan

8 *Ball State

15 *at NIU

22 *at Toledo

29 *Kent State

Nov.

4 *at Miami, TBA (CBS Sports Network)

15 *Ohio, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

22 *at Eastern Michigan, TBA (ESPNU/ESPN3)



Eastern Michigan

Sep.

2 Mississippi Valley State

10 at Missouri

17 at Charlotte

23 Wyoming, 7:30 PM ET (CBS Sports Network)

Oct.

1 *at Bowling Green

8 *Toledo

15 *at Ohio

22 *at Western Michigan

29 *Miami

Nov.

8 *at Ball State, TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)

16 *NIU, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

22 *Central Michigan, TBA (ESPNU/ESPN3)



Northern Illinois (NIU)

Sep.

3 at Wyoming, 10:30 pm ET/9:30 pm CT (CBS Sports Network)

10 at South Florida

17 San Diego State

24 Western Illinois

Oct.

1 *at Ball State

8 *at Western Michigan

15 *Central Michigan

22 *Buffalo

Nov.

1 *Bowling Green, TBA(ESPN2/ESPNU)

9 *Toledo, TBA at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field (ESPN2/ESPNU)

16 *at Eastern Michigan, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

25 *at Kent State, TBA (TV TBD)



Toledo

Sep.

3 at Arkansas State

10 Maine

17 Fresno State

30 at BYU

Oct.

8 *at Eastern Michigan

15 *Bowling Green

22 *Central Michigan

27 *Ohio, TBA (CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)

Nov.

2 *at Akron, TBA (ESPN2)

9 *at NIU, TBA at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field (ESPN2/ESPNU)

16 *Ball State, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

25 *at Western Michigan, TBA (TV TBD)



Western Michigan

Sep.

3 at Northwestern

10 North Carolina Central

17 at Illinois

24 Georgia Southern

Oct.

1 *at Central Michigan

8 *NIU

15 *at Akron

22 *Eastern Michigan

Nov.

1 *at Ball State, TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

8 *at Kent State, TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)

19 *Buffalo

25 *Toledo, TBA (TV TBD)

