Cajun Chicken Bowl..... Popeyes Bahama Bowl

[gmartin]

The first half was pretty boring but the 3rd quarter was rather entertaining.

17-17 after 3rd.

Go Hurons!!

[gmartin]

EMU loses and the struggles continue for the MAC.

[MarkL]

I believe we are seeing a similar effect to a few years ago when NIU made the Orange Bowl. WMU made a major bowl and so every MAC team gets a level of competition higher than if WMU were in a MAC tie in. Ohio has a good chance at a win and WMU can pull an upset if they turn it into a shootout.

[apollo]

MarkL's theory is plausible...I just think outside of Western Michigan and Toledo this year the conference was awful. Western actually underperformed in MAC play at times and really didn't have a tough game until the championship. We have a bunch of teams in bowls that aren't any good mixed in with some non favorable matchups.
Basically Western is our only chance now and I just can't see Wisconsin losing that game. MAC teams don't beat top 10 teams and I don't see this matchup leaning Western's way in any area.

[zete]

Monday the Redskins will make some noise?

[Class of 61]

Here's my question. Has the MAC now sunk to the WORST D-1 conference? Last l looked the SunBelt was 4-1 in bowl games incuding several vs the 0-4 MAC.
I mentioned in a previous thread that a 6-6 MAC team is probably not very good , but losses by OU and TSUN, allegedly two of better teams in league this yr., make me wonder. Add last yrs BGSU bowl disaster and it gives some credence to my questions.
I know bowl games aren't always the best measure and that midwest teams seem to be at somewhat of a disadvantage in most warm weather bowls ( see B-10?). But this has certainly not looked good for the conference. Can't see Miami beating MSU and obviously that will leave only WMU to carry the MAC banner.

[BGSU33]

It stinks that the MAC is still winless but 3 of the 4 games were very close. I know it's football and not horseshoes but 3 of those games were very competitive and could have been won by either UT, OU or EMU. Both remaining MAC bowls are against Power 5 teams and both are gonna be tough to win.

[Flipper]

Sunbelt is passing us...I know it's hard to fathom because they don't even play on Wednesday's...but they're passing us.

[apollo]

The MAC East has been the worst football in the country for about 5-6 years...They really should try to regionalize these bowl games better for G5 schools. We shouldn't be wasting money traveling to Miami, Bahamas, etc. Should try to stay north of Nashville so fans can actually see the games.

[zete]

Here's my question. Has the MAC now sunk to the WORST D-1 conference? Last l looked the SunBelt was 4-1 in bowl games incuding several vs the 0-4 MAC.
I mentioned in a previous thread that a 6-6 MAC team is probably not very good , but losses by OU and TSUN, allegedly two of better teams in league this yr., make me wonder. Add last yrs BGSU bowl disaster and it gives some credence to my questions.
I know bowl games aren't always the best measure and that midwest teams seem to be at somewhat of a disadvantage in most warm weather bowls ( see B-10?). But this has certainly not looked good for the conference. Can't see Miami beating MSU and obviously that will leave only WMU to carry the MAC banner.

MAC basketball is weak and not showing much in terms of a resurgence anytime soon. I would be sick if football continued to slide any further down that same slope.

[MarkL]

In terms of football, C-USA is the worst. Marshall fans have openly expressed desire in a return to the MAC. It used to be that FCS teams making the jump would go to the Sun Belt but it is now C-USA who is taking in first time FBS teams.

I currently put as at third of the lower conferences. In a few years I could see Sun Belt over taking us. MAC has two major bowls in recent years, Sun Belt has never been within a sniff of one. If Troy or App State pull a WMU type season, they may vault over us.

[BGSU33]

Sunbelt is passing us...I know it's hard to fathom because they don't even play on Wednesday's...but they're passing us.

It's not hard to fathom at all IMO. The Sun Belt is in a similar footprint of the SEC/ACC as the MAC is to the Big Ten. Many of the Sun Belt schools also have better facilities than the MAC does too. When I started touring these schools and as the conference started to build itself I knew it was only a matter of time. And this isn't the MAC's fault. I know there will be some wanting to cut down the MAC because of it. This is more the Sun Belt capitalizing on a golden opportunity. Many of those kids down south who were picked over by the Power 5 schools that used to lean towards going north can now stay closer to home and play in often better facilities and weather. I tip my hat to the Sun Belt.

[MarkL]

Sun Belt also has no single state with six members like we have with the state of Ohio. Hell, Michigan has three members. No Sun Belt state has three members. Therefore they can spread out their recruiting grounds. MAC recruiting is based in Ohio and some Florida.

[Flipper]

MAC schools mostly recruit OH, PA,FL, MI, IL, IN...some scattered around in places like GA and TX

[Schadenfreude]

I just think outside of Western Michigan and Toledo this year the conference was awful.

Toledo wasn't very good.