The 2008 MAC Championship Game was played on December 5, 2008 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The game featured the winner of each division of the Mid-American Conference. The game featured the Ball State Cardinals, of the West Division, and the Buffalo Bulls, of the East Division. The Buffalo Bulls upset the #12-ranked Ball State 42–24, ending hopes of an undefeated Cardinals season.
This was not the first time these two conference rivals have met. They met 5 times previously before this big Championship Game, with Ball State leading the series 5-0. Against the odds Buffalo faced the undefeated Cardinals and came out victorious in this matchup.
Selection process The MAC Championship Game matches up the winner of the East and West divisions of the Mid-American Conference.
Despite Ball State being undefeated, the Buffalo Bulls having 24 upperclassmen made the game competitive in the eyes of odds makers.
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Length Time Ball State Buffalo1 1:59 , 1:11 BuffaloNaaman Roosevelt 2 yard pass from Drew Willy, A. J. Principe kick good 0 72 7:40 , 4:01 Ball StateMiQuale Lewis 4 yard run, Ian McGarvey kick good 7 7 0:00 , 1:00 Ball StateIan McGarvey 47 yard field goal 10 73 11:24 , 3:36 BuffaloNaaman Roosevelt 39 yard pass from Drew Willy, A. J. Principe kick good 10 14 8:07 , 3:10 Ball StateMiQuale Lewis 1 yard run 17 14 3:52 BuffaloMike Newton 92 yard fumble recovery, A. J. Principe kick good 17 21 0:19 BuffaloSherrod Lott 74 yard fumble recovery, A. J. Principe kick good 17 284 6:06 , 2:48 BuffaloNaaman Roosevelt 8 yard pass from Drew Willy, A. J. Principe kick good 17 35 4:17 , 1:41 Ball StateLouis Johnson 22 yard pass from Nate Davis, Ian McGarvey kick good 24 35 2:53 , 1:22 BuffaloJames Starks 1 yard run, A. J. Principe kick good 24 42Final score 24 42
Starting lineups Source: Ball State Position Buffalo Offense Louis Johnson WR Naaman Roosevelt Andre Ramsey LT Ray Norell Michael Switzer LG Peter Bittner Dan Gerberry C Chris Lauzze Kyle Cornwell RG Jeff Niedermier Robert Brewster RT Andrew West Darius Hill TE Jesse Rack Madaris Grant TE Kyle Brey Nate Davis QB Drew Willy MiQuale Lewis RB James Starks Briggs Orsbon WR–FB Lawrence Rolle Defense Brandon Crawford LE Andrae Smith Rene Perry LDT Matt Brennan Drew Duffin RDT Anel Montanez Robert Eddins RE Mike Thompson Kenny Meeks SLB Raphael Akobundu Davyd Jones MLB Adekun Akingba Bryant Haines WLB Justin Winters B.J. Hill LCB Domonic Cook Trey Buice RCB Kendrick Hawkins Alex Knipp SS Davonte Shannon Sean Baker FS Mike Newton
References