2017 Mid-American Conference football season

The 2017 Mid-American Conference football season was the 72nd season for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and part of the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on August 31 and ended on November 25. The entire schedule was released on March 1. The Toledo Rockets won the conference championship game over the Akron Zips.

Preseason

Preseason Poll The Preseason poll was released at the MAC Media Day in Canton, Ohio.

East Division Ohio Bobcats (11), 131 Miami RedHawks (12), 129 Bowling Green Falcons (1), 88 Akron Zips, 79 Buffalo Bulls, 41 Kent State Golden Flashes, 36

West Division Toledo Rockets (22), 142 Western Michigan Broncos (1), 107 Northern Illinois Huskies (1), 89 Eastern Michigan Eagles, 74 Central Michigan Chippewas, 62 Ball State Cardinals, 30

MAC Championship The Toledo Rockets were selected as favorites to win the Mid-American Conference by receiving 21 of 24 votes. Others receiving one vote a piece were defending champions, Western Michigan Broncos, Bowling Green Falcons and Miami RedHawks.

Head coaches

Pre-season coaching changes

Schedule Regular season Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Championship game

Week 14 (MAC Championship game)

Records against FBS conferences 2017 records against FBS conferences

ConferenceRecordThe American1–1ACC0–6Big Ten2–7Big 122–1 C-USA3–4Independents2–2Mountain West1–1Pac-120–1SEC0–1Sun Belt1–1Total12–25

Power–Five conferences and independents Power 5 ConferencesRecordACC0–6Big Ten2–7Big 122–1Pac-120–1SEC0–1Notre Dame0–1Power 5 Total4–17

Group of Five conferences Group of 5 ConferencesRecordAmerican1–1C-USA3–4Mountain West1–1Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)2–1Sun Belt1–1FBS Total8–8

FCS Subdivision FCS OpponentsRecordFootball Championship Subdivision10–1Total FCS Record10–1

Postseason awards

2017 MAC Specialty Award Winners Coach of The Year – Jason Candle, Toledo Freshman of the Year – Marcus Childers, Northern Illinois Offensive Player of the Year – Logan Woodside, Toledo Defensive Player of the Year – Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois Special Teams Player of the Year – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner – Logan Woodside, Toledo

All-Conference teams 2017 All–MAC First Team Offense Quarterback – Logan Woodside, Toledo Offensive Lineman – Max Scharping, Northern Illinois Offensive Lineman – Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan Offensive Linemen – Elijah Nkansah, Toledo Offensive Lineman – Brant Weiss, Toledo Offensive Lineman – John Keenoy, Western Michigan Tight End – Shane Wimann, Northern Illinois Wide Receiver – Diontae Johnson, Toledo Wide Receiver – Anthony Johnson, Buffalo Wide Receiver – James Gardner, Miami Wide Receiver – Sergio Bailey, Eastern Michigan Running Back – Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan Running Back – Terry Swanson, Toledo Placekicker – Jameson Vest, Toledo

2017 All–MAC First team Defense Outside Linebacker – Ulysees Gilbert, Akron Outside Linebacker – Jim Jones, Kent State Inside Linebacker – Khalil Hodge, Buffalo Inside Linebacker – Quentin Poling, Ohio Down Lineman – Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois Down Lineman – Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan Down Lineman – Joe Ostman, Central Michigan Down Lineman – Anthony Winbush, Ball State Defensive Back – Amari Coleman, Central Michigan Defensive Back – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan Defensive Back – Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan Defensive Back – Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois Punter – Joe Davidson, Bowling Green

2017 All–MAC First Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan Punt Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo

2017 All–MAC Second Team Offense Quarterback – Nathan Rourke, Ohio Offensive Lineman – Jake Pruehs, Ohio Offensive Lineman – Jimmy Leatiota, Eastern Michigan Offensive Lineman – Joe Lowery, Ohio Offensive Lineman – Luke Juriga, Western Michigan Offensive Lineman – Joe Anderson, Ohio Tight End – Donnie Ernsberger, Western Michigan Wide Receiver – Corey Willis, Central Michigan Wide Receiver – Justin Hall, Ball State Wide Receiver – Papi White, Ohio Wide Receiver – Teo Redding, Bowling Green Running Back – A. J. Ouellette, Ohio Running Back – Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan Placekicker – Jake Suder, Bowling Green

2017 All–MAC Second Team Defense Outside Linebacker – Bobby Jones IV, Northern Illinois Outside Linebacker – Chad Moore, Ohio Inside Linebacker – Robert Spillane, Western Michigan Inside Linebacker – Malik Fountain, Central Michigan Down Lineback – Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan Down Lineback – Ola Adeniyi, Toledo Down Lineback – Demone Harris, Buffalo Down Lineback – Jon Cunningham, Kent State Defensive Back – Alvin Davis, Akron Defensive Back – Josh Cox, Central Michigan Defensive Back – Sam Beal, Western Michigan Defensive Back – Javon Hagan, Ohio Punter – Derek Adams, Kent State

2017 All–MAC Second Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo Punt Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan

2017 All–MAC Third Team Offense Quarterback – Brogan Roback, Eastern Michigan Offensive Lineman – JP Quinn, Central Michigan Offensive Lineman – Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois Offensive Lineman – James O’Hagan, Buffalo Offensive Lineman – Vinnie Palazeti, Ball State Offensive Lineman – Jordan Rigg, Miami Tight End – Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan Wide Receiver – Mark Chapman, Central Michigan Wide Receiver – Scotty Miller, Bowling Green Wide Receiver – Tra’Von Chapman, Akron Wide Receiver – Spencer Tears, Northern Illinois Running Back – Jordan Huff, Northern Illinois Running Back – Andrew Clair, Bowling Green Placekicker – Louie Zervos, Ohio

2017 All–MAC Third Team Defense Outside Linebacker – Jawuan Johnson, Northern Illinois Outside Linebacker – Asantay Brown, Western Michigan Inside Linebacker – Jason Beck, Eastern Michigan Inside Linebacker – Nate Locke, Bowling Green Down Lineman – Chuck Harris, Buffalo Down Lineman – Josh Corcoran, Northern Illinois Down Lineman – Jamal Davis II, Akron Down Lineman – Ikeem Allen, Miami Defensive Back – Heath Harding, Miami Defensive Back – Demetrius Monday, Kent State Defensive Back – Bradd Ellis, Ohio Defensive Back – Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan Punter – Derrick Mitchell, Western Michigan

2017 All–MAC Third Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Malik Dunner, Ball State Punt Return Specialist – Papi White, Ohio

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/11/28/mac-announces-2017-postseason-football-awards.aspx

Power 5 Conferences RecordACC0–0Big Ten0–0Big 120–0Pac-120–0SEC0–0Power 5 Total0–0Other FBS ConferencesRecordAmerican0–0C–USA0–0Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)0–0Mountain West0–0Sun Belt0-0Other FBS Total0–0Total Bowl Record0–0

Postseason Bowl games

Legend MAC win MAC loss

(Rankings from final CFP Poll; All times EST) Date Time Bowl Game Site TV MAC Team Opponent Result December 19, 2017 7:00 p.m. Boca Raton Bowl FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FL ESPN Akron Florida Atlantic L 3–50 December 22, 2017 12:30 p.m. Bahamas Bowl Thomas Robinson Stadium • Nassau, Bahamas ESPN Ohio UAB W 41–6 December 22, 2017 4:00 p.m. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Albertsons Stadium • Boise, ID ESPN Central Michigan Wyoming L 14–37 December 23, 2017 7:00 p.m. Dollar General Bowl Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, AL ESPN Toledo Appalachian State L 0–34 December 26, 2017 5:15 p.m. Quick Lane Bowl Ford Field • Detroit, MI ESPN Northern Illinois Duke L 14–36

References