MAC Announces 2018 Football Schedule



MAC ANNOUNCES 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Features 16 late October and November nationally televised games on ESPN Platforms and CBS Sports Network



Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced the 2018 football schedule today. Highlighting the schedule are 16 games available nationally during the last month of the regular season, slated for ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network as the conference race unfolds in both the East and West divisions.



An updated release of the MAC 2018 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 22nd Marathon MAC Football Championship game at a date to be determined from Ford Field in Detroit. This will mark the 15th 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 11th 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, Pac-12, SEC, Notre Dame and BYU. In addition, the Conference will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Independents Army and UMass.



MAC programs will face five non-conference foes that finished in the final AP Top 25 poll: Penn State (9), Notre Dame (11), Miami-Fla. (13), Michigan State (15) and Northwestern (17).



A total of 12 non-conference games will feature a Big Ten opponent (Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Maryland; Michigan; Michigan State; Minnesota; Nebraska; Northwestern; Penn State; Purdue; Rutgers). The MAC will face foes from the ACC (5—Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), Syracuse, Virginia), SEC (2—Kentucky, Ole Miss), Pac-12 (2-Oregon, Utah), Big 12 (2—Iowa State; Kansas); and Independent Notre Dame, BYU, Army (3 games) and UMass.



The MAC will also face opponents from the American Athletic Conference (3— Cincinnati (2), Temple), Mountain West (3—Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State), Conference USA (2—Marshall, Western Kentucky) and Sun Belt Conference (1—Georgia State).



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



MAC Home Games vs. FBS Non-Conference opponents:

-Syracuse (ACC) at Western Michigan, on Aug. 31 (CBS Sports Network);

-Cincinnati (American) at Miami on Sept. 8 (at Paul Brown Stadium);

-Kansas (Big-12) at Central Michigan on Sept. 8;

-Maryland (Big Ten) at Bowling Green on Sept. 8;

-Utah (Pac-12) at NIU on Sept. 8;

-Miami (Fla.) (ACC) at Toledo on Sept. 15;

-Western Kentucky (C-USA) at Ball State on Sept. 22;

-Army (Independent) at Buffalo on Sept. 29;

-UMass (Independent) at Ohio on Sept. 29;

-Army (Independent) at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 27.



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.





2018 MAC Football Schedule (composite by date)

All times listed ET

*Conference Game



Aug. 30 – Thursday

Central Connecticut State at Ball State



Aug. 31 – Friday

Monmouth at Eastern Michigan

Syracuse at Western Michigan, Time TBA (CBS Sports Network)



Sep. 1 – Saturday

Akron at Nebraska

Bowling Green at Oregon

Central Michigan at Kentucky

Delaware State at Buffalo

Howard at Ohio

Kent State at Illinois

Marshall at Miami

NIU at Iowa

VMI at Toledo



Sep. 8 – Saturday

Ball State at Notre Dame

Buffalo at Temple

Cincinnati at Miami (at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio)

Eastern Michigan at Purdue

Howard at Kent State

Kansas at Central Michigan

Maryland at Bowling Green

Morgan State at Akron

Utah at NIU

Western Michigan at Michigan



Sep. 15 – Saturday

Akron at Northwestern

Ball State at Indiana

*Central Michigan at NIU

Delaware State at Western Michigan

Eastern Kentucky at Bowling Green

*Eastern Michigan at Buffalo

Kent State at Penn State

Miami (Fla.) at Toledo

Miami at Minnesota

Ohio at Virginia, 3:00 pm ET (ACC Network Extra)



Sep. 22 – Saturday

Akron at Iowa State

Buffalo at Rutgers

Eastern Michigan at San Diego State, 10:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)

Kent State at Ole Miss

Maine at Central Michigan

*Miami at Bowling Green

Nevada at Toledo

NIU at Florida State

Ohio at Cincinnati

Western Kentucky at Ball State

Western Michigan at Georgia State



Sep. 29 – Saturday

Army at Buffalo

Bowling Green at Georgia Tech

Central Michigan at Michigan State

*Kent State at Ball State

*NIU at Eastern Michigan

Toledo at Fresno State, TBA (ESPN Networks)

UMass at Ohio

*Western Michigan at Miami



Oct. 6 – Saturday

*Bowling Green at Toledo

*Buffalo at Central Michigan

*Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan

*Miami at Akron

*NIU at Ball State

*Ohio at Kent State



Oct. 13 – Saturday

*Akron at Buffalo

*Ball State at Central Michigan

*Kent State at Miami

*Ohio at NIU

*Toledo at Eastern Michigan

*Western Michigan at Bowling Green



Oct. 20 – Saturday

*Akron at Kent State

*Bowling Green at Ohio

*Buffalo at Toledo

*Eastern Michigan at Ball State

Miami at Army

*Western Michigan at Central Michigan



Oct. 25 – Thursday

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

*Toledo at Western Michigan, Time TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)



Oct. 27 – Saturday

Army at Eastern Michigan

*Central Michigan at Akron

NIU at BYU



Oct. 30 – Tuesday

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

*Miami at Buffalo, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)



Oct. 31 – Wednesday

*Ball State at Toledo, Time TBA (ESPN2)



Nov. 1 – Thursday

*NIU at Akron, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)

*Ohio at Western Michigan, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)



Nov. 3 – Saturday

*Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan



Nov. 6 – Tuesday

*Kent State at Buffalo, Time TBA (ESPNU)



Nov. 7 – Wednesday

*Ohio at Miami, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

*Toledo at NIU, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)



Nov. 10 – Saturday

*Akron at Eastern Michigan

*Bowling Green at Central Michigan



Nov. 13 – Tuesday

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



Nov. 14 – Wednesday

*Buffalo at Ohio, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

*Miami at NIU, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)



Nov. 15 – Thursday

*Toledo at Kent State, Time TBA (CBS Sports Network)



Nov. 17 – Saturday

*Bowling Green at Akron



Nov. 20 – Tuesday

*Ball State at Miami, Time TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU/ESPN3)

*NIU at Western Michigan, Time TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU/ESPN3)



Nov. 23 – Friday

*Akron at Ohio, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)

*Buffalo at Bowling Green, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)

*Central Michigan at Toledo, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)

*Eastern Michigan at Kent State, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)



2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game

East Division Champion vs. West Division Champion

Marathon MAC Championship Game, Date, Time and Television TBA

At Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.





2018 MAC Football Schedule (composite by school)

All times listed ET

*Conference Game



EAST DIVISION



Akron

Sep.

1 at Nebraska

8 Morgan State

15 at Northwestern

22 at Iowa State

Oct.

6 *Miami

13 *at Buffalo

20 *at Kent State

27 *Central Michigan

Nov.

1 *NIU, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)

10 *at Eastern Michigan

17 *Bowling Green

23 *at Ohio, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)



Bowling Green

Sep.

1 at Oregon

8 Maryland

15 Eastern Kentucky

22 *Miami

29 at Georgia Tech

Oct.

6 *at Toledo

13 *Western Michigan

20 *at Ohio

30 *Kent State, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

Nov.

10 *at Central Michigan

17 *at Akron

23 *Buffalo, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)



Buffalo

Sep.

1 Delaware State

8 at Temple

15 *Eastern Michigan

22 at Rutgers

29 Army

Oct.

6 *at Central Michigan

13 *Akron

20 *at Toledo

30 *Miami, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

Nov.

6 *Kent State, Time TBA (ESPNU)

14 *at Ohio, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

23 *at Bowling Green, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)



Kent State

Sep.

1 at Illinois

8 Howard

15 at Penn State

22 at Ole Miss

29 *at Ball State

Oct.

6 *Ohio

13 *at Miami

20 *Akron

30 *at Bowling Green, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

Nov.

6 *at Buffalo, Time TBA (ESPNU)

15 *Toledo, Time TBA (CBS Sports Network)

23 *Eastern Michigan, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)



Miami

Sep.

1 Marshall

8 Cincinnati (at Paul Brown Stadium)

15 at Minnesota

22 *at Bowling Green

29 *Western Michigan

Oct.

6 *at Akron

13 *Kent State

20 at Army

30 *at Buffalo, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

Nov.

7 *Ohio, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

14 *at NIU, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

20 *Ball State, Time TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU/ESPN3)



Ohio

Sep.

1 Howard

15 at Virginia, 3:00 pm ET (ACC Network Extra)

22 at Cincinnati

29 UMass

Oct.

6 *at Kent State

13 *at NIU

20 *Bowling Green

25 *Ball State, Time TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)

Nov.

1 *at Western Michigan, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)

7 *at Miami, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

14 *Buffalo, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

23 *Akron, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)





WEST DIVISION



Ball State

Aug.

30 Central Connecticut State

Sep.

8 at Notre Dame

15 at Indiana

22 Western Kentucky

29 *Kent State

Oct.

6 *NIU

13 *at Central Michigan

20 *Eastern Michigan

25 *at Ohio, Time TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)

31 *at Toledo, Time TBA (ESPN2)

Nov.

13 *Western Michigan, Time TBA (ESPN2)

20 *at Miami, Time TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU/ESPN3)



Central Michigan

Sept.

1 at Kentucky

8 Kansas

15 *at NIU

22 Maine

29 at Michigan State

Oct.

6 *Buffalo

13 *Ball State

20 *Western Michigan

27 *at Akron

Nov.

3 *at Eastern Michigan

10 *Bowling Green

23 *at Toledo, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)



Eastern Michigan

Aug.

31 Monmouth

Sep.

8 at Purdue

15 *at Buffalo

22 at San Diego State, 10:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)

29 *NIU

Oct.

6 *at Western Michigan

13 *Toledo

20 *at Ball State

27 Army

Nov.

3 *Central Michigan

10 *Akron

23 *at Kent State, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)



Northern Illinois (NIU)

Sep.

1 at Iowa

8 Utah

15 *Central Michigan

22 at Florida State

29 *at Eastern Michigan

Oct.

6 *at Ball State

13 *Ohio

27 at BYU

Nov.

1 *at Akron, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)

7 *Toledo, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

14 *Miami, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

20 *at Western Michigan, Time TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU/ESPN3)



Toledo

Sep.

1 VMI

15 Miami (Fla.)

22 Nevada

29 at Fresno State, TBA (ESPN Networks)

Oct.

6 *Bowling Green

13 *at Eastern Michigan

20 *Buffalo

25 *at Western Michigan, Time TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)

31 *Ball State, Time TBA (ESPN2)

Nov.

7 *at NIU, Time TBA (ESPN2/ESPNU)

15 *at Kent State, Time TBA (CBS Sports Network)

23 *Central Michigan, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network/ESPN3)



Western Michigan

Aug.

31 Syracuse, Time TBA (CBS Sports Network)

Sep.

8 at Michigan

15 Delaware State

22 at Georgia State

29 *at Miami

Oct.

6 *Eastern Michigan

13 *at Bowling Green

20 *at Central Michigan

25 *Toledo, Time TBA (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)

Nov.

1 *Ohio, Time TBA (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)

13 *at Ball State, Time TBA (ESPN2)

20 *NIU, Time TBA (ESPN2 or ESPNU/ESPN3)



