The MAC’s reach exceeds it’s grasp as the conference goes 3-10 to close out OOC play. While I would still consider the general MAC OOC schedule a success in ’15, it is hard not to look back and think about what might have been. Regardless, let’s start the recap on the positives this week.

THE GOOD

Bowling Green 35 – Purdue 28

Bowling Green beat former Kent State Head Coach Darrell Hazell’s Boilermakers, making 2015 the third consecutive year that Purdue has lost to a MAC team (2013 NIU, 2014 CMU). While this is a MAC post, I’m going to focus on Purdue for a minute: fire Morgan Burke. If you don’t know, you can probably guess, Morgan Burke is Purdue’s AD. Here is an interesting fact about Morgan you may not know: Morgan is in his 22nd year as AD and the fourth longest tenured AD for an FBS school in the nation. Why? I just don’t get it. Purdue is a great school with a strong student body, they deserve better.

With that being said, Bowling Green did enough this week to continue their undefeated ways in 2015 against B1G teams (also against teams not from Tennessee).

Matt Johnson threw the ball 59 times for a little over 400 yards in the 35-28 victory, but it was a run play by Travis Greene that sealed the win for the Falcons. Greene took a handoff up the middle for 12 yards and a TD with 14 seconds left in a tied game.

The Falcons, who have now beat two B1G teams this year and three B1G teams in the past two years, head into MAC play next week at Buffalo.

Akron 35 – Louisiana Lafayette 14

In what I think will prove to be a more impressive win than BGSU’s victory over Purdue, the Zips maintained control over the Ragin’ Cajuns throughout the game in Louisiana. Zip quarterback Thomas Woodson went 13/29 for 289 for 2 TD’s and 1 INT, including a 72 yard over the top pass to Jerome Lane for a TD. Woodson also ran for 93 yards and a TD on 8 runs.

The Zips defense held ULL to 285 and took the ball away four times.

Overall, it was a very impressive performance from the Zips, and they should not be taken for granted heading into MAC play. Akron will be at home against Ohio next weekend, in what will be a great game.

Toledo 37 – Arkansas State 7

The Rockets continued their undefeated season at the Glass Bowl versus Arkansas State. This game was over early as Toledo took a 24-0 lead four minutes into the second quarter. I’m not sure the Buckeyes could come back from 24 against this Toledo defense. The Red Wolves couldn’t either, only scoring seven the rest of the game on a kickoff return TD.

Toledo’s D held the Red Wolves to 209 yards of offense, and took the ball away five times.

Toledo heads into Muncie next week to take on Ball State. The Rockets are the favorite to win the MAC by the majority of college football analysts.

Marshall 36 – Kent State 29 (2OT)

Marshall admittedly are not the team they were last year, but still a pretty damn good team. The Thundering Herd improved to 3-1 with a 2OT win against KSU. The Herd beat Purdue by ten to open the season before falling to Ohio by eleven. This is a ‘good’ loss for the Golden Flashes simply because of the way they are trending. After getting their asses handed to them in their opening to the Illini (THE ILLINI!), the Golden Flashes destroyed Delaware State (yes, there is a Delaware State), and lost by three to the Golden Gophers.

The passing game for KSU was pretty awful, with Colin Reardon going 13/34 for 189 yards. He didn’t throw a pick, however, and threw two touchdowns. Trayion Durham ran for 114 on 31 carries with one TD.

Kent State held the Herd to 277 yards and took the ball away three times (+2 TO differential), but it wasn’t enough.

While a win versus former MAC dynasty Marshall would have been great for Kent’s confidence, the Golden Flashes are looking to play the role of spoiler this year in the crowded MAC East. I really don’t know where to project them. They are my Ball State of the East.

Kent State opens their MAC schedule at home versus Miami this weekend. I foresee a Golden Flash win.

Ohio 24 – Minnesota 27

Minnesota scraped out their third straight win by three (and second against a MAC team) against Ohio this weekend.

Darius Vick opened the scoring with a 39 yard bomb to Papi White on play action. Vick finished the game 17/27 for 194 yards and two touchdowns. The Bobcats rushed for 151 yards on 38 carries against the Golden Gophers. The Bobcats never turned the ball over.

The defense wasn’t there late for the Bobcats, however, as the Gophers went 78 yards on 11 plays for a TD to take a three point lead. The drive only took 2:06 but left the Bobcats with 30 seconds left for a comeback try.

The Bobcats head into MAC play at 3-1. They take on the Zips in Akron next weekend in what may be a season defining game for both teams.

Ball State 19 – Northwestern 24

Ball State left seven point on the board with two missed field goals and a missed extra point in the five point loss to the Wildcats. The #17 ranked Wildcats had seven players leave the game with injuries, however. Ball State now has lost to Texas A&M and Northwestern.

Riley Neal passed for 178 yards on 35 attempts with two touchdowns for the Cardinals. He also ran for 74 yards on 16 carries. Ball State won the turnover battle by two, but the defense just couldn’t stop bleeding yards against the Wildcats (546).

The Cardinals already opened their MAC schedule with a 28-17 win against Eastern. The take on Toledo in Muncie this weekend, followed by NIU in DeKalb. Godspeed Cardinals.

THE BAD

NIU 14 – Boston College 17

The defending MAC champions fell short of a rebound from a loss from the defending national champions this weekend in Boston.

The Huskies offense just couldn’t get going against one of the best defenses in the nation.

Second year starter Drew Hare went 11/25 for 81 yards, no TD’s, and one interception. The Huskies ran for 71 yards, with a 2.3 yards/carry average. Kenny Golladay had two receptions for seven yards and a fumble.

There is a new star on defense in DeKalb, however. Shawun Lurry returned an interception for 79 yards (Not Kenny Golladay like ESPN says) to set up NIU’s only offensive TD on the day. Lurry was coming off a two interception performance against the Buckeyes, and now is tied for the lead in nation (in FBS) with four interceptions.

Aregeros Turner made it close at the end with an 86 yard kickoff return for a TD late in the game, but it just wasn’t enough.

The Huskies head to Mt. Pleasant to take on Central Michigan this weekend. I predict a big day for wide receiver Kenny Golladay, and for the NIU offense to start clicking again.

Central Michigan 10 – Michigan State 30

The Chips lost to the third P5 team they faced this weekend when they took on the Spartans.

The game was 17-10 MSU in the third, but CMU just couldn’t keep up. Cooper Rush went 26/39 for 285 yards and a TD. The Chips were held to 55 yards on the ground.

The Chips surprisingly got more yards than the Spartans on the offensive side (340-329). They were -1 in the turnover battle, however.

The #2 ranked Spartans improved to 2-0 over the back after beating Western Michigan 37-24 in Kalamazoo to open the season.

Central Michigan take on NIU at home next weekend.

Nevada 24 – Buffalo 21

The Bulls dropped to 2-2 after losing to Nevada by a field goal at home this weekend. Buffalo quarterback Joe Licata went 28-46 for 338 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Jordan Johnson ran for 79 yards on 13 carries for the Bulls.

It was a combination of poor run defense and turnovers that lost the game for the Bulls, however, as they let the Wolf Pack run for 289 yards on 39 carries and lost the turnover battle by three. It seems like Bulls fans may be missing a little #MACKtion.

Buffalo takes on Bowling Green at home. Be on the lookout for an upset here.

THE UGLY

Western Michigan 12 – Ohio State 38

This one is admittedly borderline bad/ugly.The Broncos fell the the defending champs by 26 over the weekend to fall to 1-3, albeit with two losses to the top two teams in the nation. Zach Terrell went 18-33 for 169 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Jamauri Bogan had 23 carries for 93 yards for the Broncos.

The Broncos couldn’t take advantage of a +1 TO advantage.

Cardale Jones went 19/33 for 288 with two TD’s and one pick. JT Barrett went 1/3 for 0 yards and one pick.

Fleck’s Broncos gave up 511 yards to the Buckeyes, but had 15 more minutes of possession over tOSU.

The Broncos did manage 20 first downs, which is impressive.

WMU have a bye week and start their MAC games vs CMU in Kalamazoo on the 10th.

UMass 27 – Notre Dame 62

UMass continued their winless ways vs Notre Dame this weekend. UMass kept it close throughout most of the first half. But late in the second quarter ND’s Newsome placed a 52-yard punt on the Massachusetts 1, the Fighting Irish defense held the Minutemen to a yard on three plays and Sanders answered with a 50-yard punt return that helped spark Notre Dame.

Blake Frohnapful went 20/40 for 233 yards, no TD’s and a pick. Ross Comis took the last two drives for the Minutemen and went 8/8 for 69 yards and a TD. UMass rushed for 148 yards and three TD’s, with a solid 5.1 YPC.

UMass’s defense let up 681 yards, 457 of which were on the ground.

UMass takes on FIU next week, and begins their MAC farewell tour on the 10th vs Bowling Green.

Miami 14 – Western Kentucky 56

Western Kentucky is good. I get it. But Miami is bad, really bad. The RedHawks dropped their third straight in a blowout loss in Kentucky. Everything looked bad for Miami, so I’ll highlight the worst: their pass D. Brandon Doughty went 33-41 for 457 yards and 6 touchdowns for the Hilltoppers.

Miami hits the road to take on Kent State next week. Comments please: Miami over/under 1.5 MAC wins. Where are you at?

Army 58 – Eastern Michigan 36

The winless Black Knights are no longer winless after their matchup in Ypsilanti. The win ended Army’s 21 game losing streak in games away from home (very surprising to me). The Eagles gave up 556 yards on the ground. Army had 7.8 YPC. I’m out.

Eastern, and their awful run defense, takes on Fournette and the LSU Tigers this weekend. Here is a fun picture for the Eagles fans out there:

Picks for next week:

NIU -2.5 @ CMU

-2.5 @ CMU Akron +4 v Ohio

+4 v Ohio Toledo -9.5 @ Ball St

-9.5 @ Ball St UMass Ev v FIU

Ev v FIU Buffalo +6.5 v BGSU

+6.5 v BGSU Miami +10.5 @ KSU

+10.5 @ KSU LSU -45 v EMU

-45 v EMU WMU +2.5 v THE BYE