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The MAC today released BG’s conference opponents for the next 3 seasons, and the pod structure works differently than I expected. Dates for the games will be released at a later date.

The 8 opponents:
vs. Kent State
vs. Miami
vs. NIU
vs. WMU
@ Akron
@ Ball State
@ CMU
@ Toledo

mbenecke wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 2:12 pm The MAC today released BG’s conference opponents for the next 3 seasons, and the pod structure works differently than I expected. Dates for the games will be released at a later date.

The 8 opponents:
vs. Kent State
vs. Miami
vs. NIU
vs. WMU
@ Akron
@ Ball State
@ CMU
@ Toledo

BG is not playing Ohio, EMU and Buffalo. And I agree, this isn't the way I expected to see the format either. It appears BG will miss one team from each of the three pods. However, after looking at the rest of the conference, it looks like there are some teams that will play an entire group from a different pod and only miss one team from the other two pods. It appears the games were drawn at random and not mapped out uniformly. Although I have to admit, I was really hoping not to see Miami on our schedule.

I’ll also be very curious to see what they use as tie-breakers now as you’re going to see a lot of years where more than two teams finish ahead of the pack. The Mountain West just had three teams finished tied and one got left out. With divisions out the windows, the tie-breakers become very important because they now have to account for the body of work in the entire conference, not just one division.

This is the format I was suggesting was a possibility. Makes more sense because you get 1 home and 1 away with each pod every year. The possibility of playing 2 away games against a far away pod isn't ideal for the Mac such as Buffalo playing at western and Central one year

Anyway it's bitter sweet not having ohio as it helps our schedule, avoided the best northeast team, and I don't think anyone was too worried about the Michigan pod. We're setup to be a top team and now we have to meet those expectations. 7-1 should be the goal

American used computer polls as a tiebreaker which is probably the most impartial way of deciding but I would like something more mac involved such as common opponents

Ohio, WMU and EMU are the only schools that will face all three of the Akron, Kent State and Buffalo pod (probably the weakest of the four pods). WMU also avoids Toledo, Ohio and Miami. I’d say WMU has the easiest MAC schedule on paper based on all of that.

BGSU33 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 8:11 pm Ohio, WMU and EMU are the only schools that will face all three of the Akron, Kent State and Buffalo pod (probably the weakest of the four pods). WMU also avoids Toledo, Ohio and Miami. I’d say WMU has the easiest MAC schedule on paper based on all of that.

Really good draw for ohio

fanatic13 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:29 pm [quote=BGSU33 post_id=459565 time=<a href="tel:1706231483">1706231483</a> user_id=45]
Ohio, WMU and EMU are the only schools that will face all three of the Akron, Kent State and Buffalo pod (probably the weakest of the four pods). WMU also avoids Toledo, Ohio and Miami. I’d say WMU has the easiest MAC schedule on paper based on all of that.

Really good draw for ohio
[/quote]

And they still won’t win the MAC. Nobody long term will be affected more by getting rid of the divisions than Ohio. The team that never wins the MAC even in its’ best years.

Dave Briggs is reporting its expected that the BG/Toledo game will be played in early autumn this year on a Saturday

https://twitter.com/DBriggsBlade/status ... 6779519471

BGFalconfromCincy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 5:32 pm Dave Briggs is reporting its expected that the BG/Toledo game will be played in early autumn this year on a Saturday

https://twitter.com/DBriggsBlade/status ... 6779519471

Big news is that it should be Saturday two straight years so we both get a home Saturday. I'd rather play them late in the year but Saturday is the most important aspect when scheduling that game

guest44 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:40 am

fanatic13 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:29 pm [quote=BGSU33 post_id=459565 time=<a href="tel:1706231483">1706231483</a> user_id=45]
Ohio, WMU and EMU are the only schools that will face all three of the Akron, Kent State and Buffalo pod (probably the weakest of the four pods). WMU also avoids Toledo, Ohio and Miami. I’d say WMU has the easiest MAC schedule on paper based on all of that.

Really good draw for ohio

And they still won’t win the MAC. Nobody long term will be affected more by getting rid of the divisions than Ohio. The team that never wins the MAC even in its’ best years.
[/quote]

For sure. Last year they had a tailor made sked and still didn't win the MAC. They didn't even win the East. 1968 and counting....

BGFalconfromCincy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 5:32 pm Dave Briggs is reporting its expected that the BG/Toledo game will be played in early autumn this year on a Saturday

https://twitter.com/DBriggsBlade/status ... 6779519471

Thank God. With commercials that game ended around 11 PM last year on a weeknight!? It’s time to put this at 3:30 on a nice day in the Fall

As a died in the wool old head...I completely support this!!

The MAC promised that the schedule with dates would be out "at the end of February" and we haven't seen it yet. Feels like something is probably imminent, at least.

Schedule will be announced tomorrow.