Week 2 PASS/FAIL Report: MAC

MAC

 

PASS: Toledo, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Ohio

Toledo picked up one of the biggest wins in school history by beating Arkansas on the road 16-12. It wasn’t a spectacular showing, but the defense gave Arkansas fits all day long, and now Toledo looks like a serious contender in the MAC.

Bowling Green scored 42 points after the half, and Matt Johnson passed for over 400 yards, as the Falcons hammered Maryland on the road. The Falcons, who gave Tennessee early fits last week, are looking like another team that could end up winning the MAC when it all settles out.

Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Kent State all took the FCS ticket and pass this weekend, as all won easily.

Congrats go out to Eastern Michigan this week after the Eagles manhandled Wyoming 48-29. The Eagles, who could very well have been 2-0, are now 1-1 after the big win, and this team looks much improved in year two of the Chris Creighton era.

Ohio picked up yet another banner win for the conference this week, as they came home to beat Marshall 21-10. The Bobcats gave up the run to stop the pass this week, and the tactic worked perfectly. The top end of the MAC is loaded, and Ohio is right in that group.

FAIL: Ball State, Miami (Ohio), Buffalo, U Mass, Western Michigan, Akron

Ball State was never in the game at Texas A&M, but nobody expected them to be. The Cardinals, however, have got to get their defense in check before conference play begins or else this will be a long season.

Speaking of long seasons, Miami (Ohio) got blasted by Wisconsin, and it could be the end of the Don Treadwell era coming up. The Red Hawks were just overpowered by Wisconsin in every aspect.

Buffalo  had a chance to shock the country once again this week against Penn State, but the Bulls offense couldn’t get it done. The Bulls trailed by just 7 in the 4^th, and couldn’t pull it off.

U Mass certainly put up some offense, but it was al between the 20s in a 48-14 loss to Colorado in a gem that I felt that U Mass could have really shown up for. It was not to be.

Western Michigan made a huge error by coming out flat against Georgia Southern on the road this week, and the Eagles blew the gates off and ran away. WMU is now 0-2, and they have to turn it around quickly.

Akron is just terrible. They’re not the worst team in the nation yet, but they are close after allowing a vulnerable Pitt team to sneak away with a quiet win.