Why Your Favorite MAC/Independent Team Will and Won't Make a Playoff Run
While the conference seems to have lost its depth, the MAC has plenty of teams that can provide entertaining games. Toledo has proven that Jason Candle can make a transition from Matt Campbell, and still keep the Rockets competitive. Northern Illinois may not be the team they used to be, but the tide might be turning in a positive direction. Eastern Michigan shook a negative trend and made a bowl game, while Western Michigan competed with Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl. There is still some work to be done, but the top teams have shown that they can compete with Power 5 competition.
PREVIOUSLY: PAC-12, MOUNTAIN WEST, SEC, SUN BELT
MAC
TOLDEO
WILL: Do not doubt the Rockets. Matt Campbell may be gone, but Jason Candle has made a seamless transition so far. After a 9-4 season, Toledo has their sights on being the best Group of 5 team. Fantasy owners everywhere: Logan Woodside is going to torch defenses. He threw 45 touchdowns last year after redshirting in 2015. Unless another team explodes this year, this is the team to beat.
WON’T: Unfortunately, when you score a lot of points, your defense is on the field more. Toledo’s defense struggled at times last year, surrendering 55 points twice. Losing to Appalachian State put a damper on the season as well.
AKRON
WILL: Remember when Lebron James played his high school game on Akron’s campus?
WON’T: They’ve got the wrong Bowden (Terry) for a playoff run.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
WILL: While 5-7 may not be an impressive season, the Huskies could have been 8-4 as three games were lost by a combined 18 points. Injuries plagued the quarterback position, but that shouldn’t be a problem this year. The coaching staff is still doing a good job of bringing talent to campus, now they just have to get back to their winning ways. Shawun Lurry could be one of the best defensive backs in the country.
WON’T: The magic seems to have worn off during Rod Carey’s tenure. NIU ended a streak of eight consecutive seasons making a bowl game last year, and Carey is also 0-4 in bowl games and his teams have given up 159 points in those games. Hopefully the can get back to their old “BCS Buster” ways even if the BCS is outdated.
KENT STATE
WILL: Dri Archer was fun to watch when he was still on campus.
WON’T: He’s not anymore, and the Golden Flashes still struggled even when he was. Quarterback Nick Holley can’t do everything alone this year.
EASTERN MICHIGAN
WILL: Chris Creighton won the same number of games last year as the Eagles did the four years previously, and this might be a new era for Eastern Michigan. Brogan Roback (above) and Sergio Bailey II return to lead the offense, and another bowl berth is the minimum goal.
WON’T: Even with their best team since 1987, the Eagles still weren’t threatening for the conference championship, and got stomped by Missouri.
BUFFALO
WILL: My brother won the national championship with the Bulls in EA Sports’ NCAA College Football, so I guess it’s possible.
WON’T: Lance Leipold is finding that things aren’t even close to the same as they were at UW-Whitewater (seven losses in his first year with the Bulls to only six in his eight seasons with the Warhawks).
OHIO
WILL: I know kickers don’t make a huge difference in the game, but Louis Zervos is fun to watch. The Bobcats schedule also is favorable, and could win at least eight games.
WON’T: Zervos can’t score all of their points, and the Bobcats need to be more consistent on both sides of the ball (lost to Texas State 56-54 but beat Akron 9-3).
BALL STATE
WILL: Well, James Gilbert is at least fun to watch.
WON’T: Quarterback Riley Neal needs to get better, and the Cardinals might be fighting just to stay in the middle of the conference.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
WILL: PJ Fleck may be gone, but the Broncos still have talent. Running backs Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan are back after rushing for a combined 2,276 yards and 20 touchdowns. Seven starters also return on defense, meaning first year coach Tim Lester has plenty to work with. Another run at a conference title is possible.
WON’T: PJ Fleck is gone, and most of that magic left with him to Minnesota. The first two games (at USC and at Michigan State) probably will be losses.
MIAMI (OH)
WILL: This team has resiliency, and proved that last year when they made a bowl game after starting the year 0-6. To top that off, they nearly pulled off an upset of Mississippi State. This could be a sleeper team in the conference this year with the returning talent, and Chuck Martin leading the way. Avoiding Toledo and Western Michigan on their schedule is a huge plus.
WON’T: Starting 0-6, including losses to two FCS teams won’t exactly get you places. Their non-conference schedule is more difficult this year so, while another 0-6 start probably won’t happen, it won’t be smooth sailing.
BOWLING GREEN
WILL: James Morgan and Scott Miller may keep the offense afloat this year.
WON’T: The defensive production was rough.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
WILL: The Chippewas are still celebrating their upset win over Oklahoma State.
WON’T: We won’t ruin the mood by talking about this year, so just think about the play that shouldn’t have occurred.
INDEPENDENT
BYU supplanted Notre Dame as the best Independent team last year, and the Cougars keep churning out winning records. The Irish should get back on their feet after a surprisingly bad season, but that doesn't mean Brian Kelly isn't' feeling the pressure. Army broke through with Jeff Monken, and has its sights on loftier goals for 2017. UMass may struggle, but at least tight end Adam Breneman will give them a potential NFL Draft pick.
ARMY
WILL: Imagine how great it would be to have any triple option team make it to the playoff. Yes, half of the audience wouldn’t know where the ball went, but still. One can dream, right? Anyway, Army finally broke their losing streak to Navy, but what comes next? Jeff Monken gave this program their first winning season since 2010, and the Commander-In-Chief’s trophy should be a goal this year.
WON’T: Army hasn’t won the Commander-In-Chief’s trophy since 1996, and it’s been harder than ever the last two years with both Navy and Air Force being successful. Oh, and good luck beating Ohio State this year too. Army loses a lot on defense, which could hurt them.
BYU
WILL: Taysom Hill finally graduated. Sad day. But Tanner Mangum (above) might be better than Hill. In 2015, after Hill got hurt, Mangum threw for 3,377 yards and 23 touchdowns, leading many to believe that he is the future. Now, he gets his shot. BYU isn’t afraid to schedule anyone, and they will play five Power 5 teams plus Boise State in six of their first seven contests.
WON’T: Their second game is against LSU in Houston, and that is followed by games against Utah and Wisconsin. It’s going to be difficult for Mangum to reproduce his totals from 2015 and lead the team to a similar record as last year.
MASSACHUSETTS
WILL: Minutemen we’re important in this country in the 1700’s, so there is some history there.
WON’T: That history doesn’t involve any football and, it’s been a little while since the 1700’s.
NOTRE DAME
WILL: Any team that has luck and Jesus on their side should be good, regardless of talent. With the luck of the Irish and Touchdown Jesus, Notre Dame is in good hands. Brian Kelly has shown that he can get that talent to a national championship, and he can turn things around after a rough year in 2016.
WON’T: Jesus can’t save the Irish unless he comes back and plays (if you believe that stuff). There’s also a saying that “you make your own luck” and the Irish didn’t do that last season. Oh and that national championship run was a joke. Can you say most overrated team in college football history? Kelly’s seat is pretty hot, and luck only gets this team so far.
