2024 Offseason

[mbenecke]

It's gonna be weird to have seasons where we don't play Miami/Ohio, or we don't play Akron/Kent State. Those feel like opponents we should just always see.

Would've liked the pods a bit more for BG if we had been looped in with Eastern Michigan instead of NIU, but I understand the MAC keeping the Michigan schools together.

[mbenecke]

Huh....Not a fan of hearing this but I will see how is shakes out first.

What are these pods?

It's a scheduling setup. My assumption is that you will play both of the other 2 teams in your pod every year, and then you will play 3 home and 3 away games against 2 of the other 3 pods. So still 8 conference games, just a different way to rotate them.

[Falconfreak90]

Huh....Not a fan of hearing this but I will see how is shakes out first.

What are these pods?

It's a scheduling setup. My assumption is that you will play both of the other 2 teams in your pod every year, and then you will play 3 home and 3 away games against 2 of the other 3 pods. So still 8 conference games, just a different way to rotate them.

Thanks for the explanation. But not playing Miami, OU and Kent State every year sucks. We have long histories with all of them.

Guess my view is "If it ain't broke...."

[jpfalcon09]

Huh....Not a fan of hearing this but I will see how is shakes out first.

What are these pods?

It's a scheduling setup. My assumption is that you will play both of the other 2 teams in your pod every year, and then you will play 3 home and 3 away games against 2 of the other 3 pods. So still 8 conference games, just a different way to rotate them.

Thanks for the explanation. But not playing Miami, OU and Kent State every year sucks. We have long histories with all of them.

Guess my view is "If it ain't broke...."

I'm all for dumping divisions. It does suck you'll lose the Miami rivalry, but this is the best way for the MAC to try and get someone to the expanded playoff. The MAC West was garbage this year and I think it's hurting Toledo with the playoff committee.

[BGSU33]

As a BG fan, I don’t like scrapping the divisions at all for football. With the protected rivalry built in with Toledo, who is annually a strong MAC program, and UT is usually better than BG, this is going to make getting to the championship game even more challenging and difficult. Remember, the last three years that BG went to the MAC title game (2013-15), BG actually lost to Toledo all three years - HOWEVER - BG still won its division each season and still got to the championship game and won two of them. I loved the idea that winning the East was the road to Detroit. This news is going to make it tougher for BG to ever get back there. In the East we could afford a loss to UT and still win the division and maybe not have to face them in the MACC. Now a loss to them alone would be tough to overcome.

In fact, you can argue that the divisional format worked extremely well over the years. Look at all the teams that got to play in the MACC and the game usually produced competitive results. Just about everyone but EMU has played in the MACC over the past 5-10 years. This format is likely going to produce the usually suspects and the rest who don’t see Ford Field.

Now, if you were talking about the Big Ten for this format, then, yes, scrapping the divisions would make complete sense, because the East has been light years better than the West that it’s not even funny. While the West has typically been better in the MAC than the East, the East winner has at least been very competitive and not roadkill like some of the Big Ten West teams have been.

[Flipper]

We had some of our best seasons in the early 2000's when we were in the West "pod" with Toledo and NIU....

[BGSU33]

We had some of our best seasons in the early 2000's when we were in the West "pod" with Toledo and NIU....

Nine of the last 12 years (likely going to be 10 of the last 13) the MAC Champion has come from the pod BG is now in (UT, NIU, BG). Only 2 have come from the southern pod (MU, OU, BSU), 1 from the directional Michigan pod (WMU, CMU, EMU) and none from the eastern pod (UA, KSU, UB) in that stretch. Let that sink in for a minute. We already had the MAC’s hardest crossover game as a tie-in and we were just shoulder with not only UT but the program that has nearly half of the titles during that stretch against the rest of the MAC combined. This pod is head and shoulders the toughest. You think one of the pod members of UA, KSU or UB would be interested in trading BG places??? How about one of the directional Michigan schools??? In short, BG has somewhat been moved to the West and Ball State has somewhat been moved to the East in this move. But make no mistake about it, if the level of MAC football continues to play out as it has for years, BG has gotten royally screwed being placed in this pod over what some of these other structured pods now have. This is extremely disappointing as a BG alum and fan.

[jpfalcon09]

We had some of our best seasons in the early 2000's when we were in the West "pod" with Toledo and NIU....

Nine of the last 12 years (likely going to be 10 of the last 13) the MAC Champion has come from the pod BG is now in (UT, NIU, BG). Only 2 have come from the southern pod (MU, OU, BSU), 1 from the directional Michigan pod (WMU, CMU, EMU) and none from the eastern pod (UA, KSU, UB) in that stretch. Let that sink in for a minute. We already had the MAC’s hardest crossover game as a tie-in and we were just shoulder with not only UT but the program that has nearly half of the titles during that stretch against the rest of the MAC combined. This pod is head and shoulders the toughest. You think one of the pod members of UA, KSU or UB would be interested in trading BG places??? How about one of the directional Michigan schools??? In short, BG has somewhat been moved to the West and Ball State has somewhat been moved to the East in this move. But make no mistake about it, if the level of MAC football continues to play out as it has for years, BG has gotten royally screwed being placed in this pod over what some of these other structured pods now have. This is extremely disappointing as a BG alum and fan.

How are they royally screwed? Already play Toledo every year. NIU has been about on par with BG the last few years. If anything this should force the MAC as a whole to up their game. The East teams lose out on nearly automatic wins in Akron and Kent every year. Some of the West teams will see BG, Miami, Buffalo & Ohio more. It's a wash.

I think it's a win for the long-term health of the conference and puts the best team in position to have a stronger resume when going against namely the SBC & MWC.

[Globetrotter]

Going to ruin your productivity on a Friday. Here are all the reported signings so far with highlights.

It is a bit easier to read here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

Player Size Stars Status Highlights
QB

RB
Porter, Mar'Kel-TX 5'11 220 3 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/15122107/Markel-Porter
Amachree, Nakaii-Michigan 5'11 195 3 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/14485786/Nakai-Amachree
Pettaway, Cameron-Michigan 5'9 165 NA Verbal Oakland Press https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15270948/6 ... 04f46a0829
WR
Sharp, Winn-Whitehouse 6'4 190 3 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/14002425/Winn-Sharp
Clay, Austin-Cleveland 6'1 165 2 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/14587512/Austin-Clay
TE
Ballew, Jaylin-NY 6'3 210 3 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/16719957/Jaylin-Ballew
Jacon-Duffy-Moeller 6'4 220 2 Verbal 247 https://www.hudl.com/profile/14831453/Eli-JaconDuffy
Owens, Elias-Mansfield 6'5 215 3 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/14726114/Elias-Owens
OL
Harris, Alex-Cleveland 6'4 291 2 Verbal Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/17362075/alex-harris
Merdith-Smith, Aqil-NY 6'2 285 2 Verbal Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/15955116/A ... edithSmith
Robinson, Dillon-Anthony Wayne 6'4 270 2 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/13978495/Dillon-Robinson
Steele, Rico-Penn 6'4 300 NA Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/15044250/Rico-Steele
K

LS

DL
Shimko, Joe-FL 6'3 242 3 Verbal 247 https://www.hudl.com/profile/16029244/joe-shimko
Campbell, Caden-De La Salle 6'4 240 NA Verbal D Zone https://www.hudl.com/profile/15304355/Caden-Campbell
Dillard, Matreece-GA 6'4 263 3 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/12956777/Martreece-Dillard
LB
Pringle, Dorian-Massilon 6'0 220 2 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/17580767/D ... ngle/about
S
Parker, Elijah-Michigan 6'2 198 2 Verbal Rivals https://www.on3.com/db/elijah-parker-17 ... os/172848/
CB
Nelson, TJ-Cincinnati 6'0 190 2 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/11113722/TJ-Nelson
Jenkins Jr., Steven-Penn 6'2 194 2 Verbal Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/16060767/Steven-Jenkins
Bernard-Blue, Elijah-FL 6'1 170 2 Verbal Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/15406566/E ... ernardBlue
Banks, Dkyah-Georgia 6'4 160 3 Verbal 247, Rivals https://www.hudl.com/profile/15955032/DKyah-Banks
Haynes, Maurice-Georgia 6'0 169 3 Verbal 247

[BGSU33]

We had some of our best seasons in the early 2000's when we were in the West "pod" with Toledo and NIU....

Nine of the last 12 years (likely going to be 10 of the last 13) the MAC Champion has come from the pod BG is now in (UT, NIU, BG). Only 2 have come from the southern pod (MU, OU, BSU), 1 from the directional Michigan pod (WMU, CMU, EMU) and none from the eastern pod (UA, KSU, UB) in that stretch. Let that sink in for a minute. We already had the MAC’s hardest crossover game as a tie-in and we were just shoulder with not only UT but the program that has nearly half of the titles during that stretch against the rest of the MAC combined. This pod is head and shoulders the toughest. You think one of the pod members of UA, KSU or UB would be interested in trading BG places??? How about one of the directional Michigan schools??? In short, BG has somewhat been moved to the West and Ball State has somewhat been moved to the East in this move. But make no mistake about it, if the level of MAC football continues to play out as it has for years, BG has gotten royally screwed being placed in this pod over what some of these other structured pods now have. This is extremely disappointing as a BG alum and fan.

How are they royally screwed? Already play Toledo every year. NIU has been about on par with BG the last few years. If anything this should force the MAC as a whole to up their game. The East teams lose out on nearly automatic wins in Akron and Kent every year. Some of the West teams will see BG, Miami, Buffalo & Ohio more. It's a wash.

I think it's a win for the long-term health of the conference and puts the best team in position to have a stronger resume when going against namely the SBC & MWC.

It’s not a good for BG overall based on everything written and explained above. Either UT or NIU have appeared in 16 of the 26 MAC Championship games in the history of the event alone. Both schools lead the conference for most appearances and it’s not even close. And now BG is going to have to play both of them annually. There isn’t another team that would willingly trade places with BG. Toledo is Toledo and is always going to be a tough matchup. It’s not like the MAC protected our anniversary series with KSU - a series BG has dominated. I saw it mentioned on Twitter that with these pods that BG is about to become the new version of EMU in the MAC and never see the light of Detroit again. Toledo’s not going anywhere. We’ve always had the toughest crossover tie-in with them. While NIU has had a few down years here and there, they’ve also dominated the MAC including UT for stretches in recent years. BG got the toughest draw out of any MAC team. Period. All of that said, I do think the move is good overall for the MAC as a whole. But it is not a good move for BG, IMO.

[jpfalcon09]

We had some of our best seasons in the early 2000's when we were in the West "pod" with Toledo and NIU....

Nine of the last 12 years (likely going to be 10 of the last 13) the MAC Champion has come from the pod BG is now in (UT, NIU, BG). Only 2 have come from the southern pod (MU, OU, BSU), 1 from the directional Michigan pod (WMU, CMU, EMU) and none from the eastern pod (UA, KSU, UB) in that stretch. Let that sink in for a minute. We already had the MAC’s hardest crossover game as a tie-in and we were just shoulder with not only UT but the program that has nearly half of the titles during that stretch against the rest of the MAC combined. This pod is head and shoulders the toughest. You think one of the pod members of UA, KSU or UB would be interested in trading BG places??? How about one of the directional Michigan schools??? In short, BG has somewhat been moved to the West and Ball State has somewhat been moved to the East in this move. But make no mistake about it, if the level of MAC football continues to play out as it has for years, BG has gotten royally screwed being placed in this pod over what some of these other structured pods now have. This is extremely disappointing as a BG alum and fan.

How are they royally screwed? Already play Toledo every year. NIU has been about on par with BG the last few years. If anything this should force the MAC as a whole to up their game. The East teams lose out on nearly automatic wins in Akron and Kent every year. Some of the West teams will see BG, Miami, Buffalo & Ohio more. It's a wash.

I think it's a win for the long-term health of the conference and puts the best team in position to have a stronger resume when going against namely the SBC & MWC.

It’s not a good for BG overall based on everything written and explained above. Either UT or NIU have appeared in 16 of the 26 MAC Championship games in the history of the event alone. Both schools lead the conference for most appearances and it’s not even close. And now BG is going to have to play both of them annually. There isn’t another team that would willingly trade places with BG. Toledo is Toledo and is always going to be a tough matchup. It’s not like the MAC protected our anniversary series with KSU - a series BG has dominated. I saw it mentioned on Twitter that with these pods that BG is about to become the new version of EMU in the MAC and never see the light of Detroit again. Toledo’s not going anywhere. We’ve always had the toughest crossover tie-in with them. While NIU has had a few down years here and there, they’ve also dominated the MAC including UT for stretches in recent years. BG got the toughest draw out of any MAC team. Period. All of that said, I do think the move is good overall for the MAC as a whole. But it is not a good move for BG, IMO.

I don't see the negative in playing two of the better programs in the conference every season. A lot complain on here about how poor the bottom half of the conference is, and how it sucks playing those teams year in and year out. I'm fine with having somewhat of a measuring stick each year for BG's program. I'm sure Derek, Scot, and the team would feel the same. And again, it should help boost BG's SOS numbers. We're guaranteed to get one of those two programs at the Doyt every year too. That's pretty cool.

[mbenecke]

Really just hoping we can keep the core together and not be ravaged by the portal.

[hammb]

We had some of our best seasons in the early 2000's when we were in the West "pod" with Toledo and NIU....

Nine of the last 12 years (likely going to be 10 of the last 13) the MAC Champion has come from the pod BG is now in (UT, NIU, BG). Only 2 have come from the southern pod (MU, OU, BSU), 1 from the directional Michigan pod (WMU, CMU, EMU) and none from the eastern pod (UA, KSU, UB) in that stretch. Let that sink in for a minute. We already had the MAC’s hardest crossover game as a tie-in and we were just shoulder with not only UT but the program that has nearly half of the titles during that stretch against the rest of the MAC combined. This pod is head and shoulders the toughest. You think one of the pod members of UA, KSU or UB would be interested in trading BG places??? How about one of the directional Michigan schools??? In short, BG has somewhat been moved to the West and Ball State has somewhat been moved to the East in this move. But make no mistake about it, if the level of MAC football continues to play out as it has for years, BG has gotten royally screwed being placed in this pod over what some of these other structured pods now have. This is extremely disappointing as a BG alum and fan.

How are they royally screwed? Already play Toledo every year. NIU has been about on par with BG the last few years. If anything this should force the MAC as a whole to up their game. The East teams lose out on nearly automatic wins in Akron and Kent every year. Some of the West teams will see BG, Miami, Buffalo & Ohio more. It's a wash.

I think it's a win for the long-term health of the conference and puts the best team in position to have a stronger resume when going against namely the SBC & MWC.

It’s not a good for BG overall based on everything written and explained above. Either UT or NIU have appeared in 16 of the 26 MAC Championship games in the history of the event alone. Both schools lead the conference for most appearances and it’s not even close. And now BG is going to have to play both of them annually. There isn’t another team that would willingly trade places with BG. Toledo is Toledo and is always going to be a tough matchup. It’s not like the MAC protected our anniversary series with KSU - a series BG has dominated. I saw it mentioned on Twitter that with these pods that BG is about to become the new version of EMU in the MAC and never see the light of Detroit again. Toledo’s not going anywhere. We’ve always had the toughest crossover tie-in with them. While NIU has had a few down years here and there, they’ve also dominated the MAC including UT for stretches in recent years. BG got the toughest draw out of any MAC team. Period. All of that said, I do think the move is good overall for the MAC as a whole. But it is not a good move for BG, IMO.

I don't see the negative in playing two of the better programs in the conference every season. A lot complain on here about how poor the bottom half of the conference is, and how it sucks playing those teams year in and year out. I'm fine with having somewhat of a measuring stick each year for BG's program. I'm sure Derek, Scot, and the team would feel the same. And again, it should help boost BG's SOS numbers. We're guaranteed to get one of those two programs at the Doyt every year too. That's pretty cool.

If the concern/goal is Making the MACC by beating up on downtrodden programs, I'd concur with BGSU33 that this move makes life more challenging for BGSU.

If the goal is to create a program capable of competing at the top of the MAC (It should be), and play entertaining football against the top of the MAC (It should be), then I don't see this as a bad thing at all. In fact, I welcome the fact that we will be playing 2 of the top programs in the MAC every year.

I definitely think this is a good move for the conference as a whole. I'd actually almost prefer they go completely off the reservation and create a 2 tier table where the bottom of the top half gets relegated each year. Want to play at the top of the MAC? Win. Want to become bowl eligible by playing the worst teams in CFB, but not being competitive with the top class? Enjoy the bottom, but we aren't sending you to Detroit.

[jpfalcon09]

DeShawn Jones Jr. is in the transfer portal.

[Flipper]

Well that sucks...

Washington State's QB Cam Ward has entered the portal...rumor has it is he has over 10 $1,000,000+ NIL deals on the table. Crazy...