# 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.

## Schedule
### Regular season
#### Week 1

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Buffalo | Minnesota | TCF Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN | BTN | L 7-17 | 43,224 |
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Elon | Toledo | Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH | ESPN3 | W 47-13 | 22,104 |
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Rhode Island | Central Michigan | Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI | ESPN3 | W 30-27 $^{3OT}$ | 16,311 |
| September 1 | 6:30 p.m. | Charlotte | Eastern Michigan | Rynearson Stadium • Ypsilanti, MI | ESPN3 | W 24-7 | 12,823 |
| September 1 | 8:30 p.m. | Boston College | Northern Illinois | Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL | CBSSN | L 20-23 | 16,421 |
| September 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Akron | No. 6 Penn State | Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA | ABC | L 0-52 | 101,684 |
| September 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Bowling Green | Michigan State | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | ESPNU | L 10-35 | 71,202 |
| September 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Ball State | Illinois | Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL | BTN | L 21-24 | 42,505 |
| September 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Kent State | No. 5 Clemson | Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC | ESPN | L 3-56 | 80,121 |
| September 2 | 5:15 p.m. | Western Michigan | No. 4 USC | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA | P12N | L 31-49 | 61,125 |
| September 2 | 6:30 p.m. | Miami | Marshall | Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV | STADIUM | L 26-31 | 22,463 |
| September 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Hampton | Ohio | Peden Stadium • Athens, OH | ESPN3 | W 59-0 | 17,501 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||

#### Week 2

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 8 | 8:00 p.m. | Ohio | Purdue | Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN | FS1 | L 21-44 | 45,633 |
| September 9 | 12:00 p.m. | Buffalo | Army | Michie Stadium • West Point, NY | CBSSN | L 17-21 | 24,017 |
| September 9 | 2:30 pm | Eastern Illinois | Northern Illinois | Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL | ESPN3 | W 38-10 | 16,722 |
| September 9 | 3:00 p.m. | Central Michigan | Kansas | Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, KS | FSN | W 45-27 | 28,531 |
| September 9 | 3:05 p.m. | UAB | Ball State | Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN | ESPN3 | W 51-31 | 11,555 |
| September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Howard | Kent State | Dix Stadium • Kent, OH | ESPN3 | W 38-31 | 20,312 |
| September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Austin Peay | Miami | Yager Stadium • Oxford, OH | ESPN3 | W 31-10 | 15,960 |
| September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | Rutgers | High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ | BTN | W 16-13 | 37,661 |
| September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Western Michigan | Michigan State | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | BTN | L 14-28 | 72,910 |
| September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | South Dakota | Bowling Green | Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH | ESPN3 | L 27-35 | 19,912 |
| September 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | Akron | InfoCision Stadium • Akron, OH | ESPN3 | W 52-3 | 17,464 |
| September 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Toledo | Nevada | Mackay Stadium • Reno, NV | ESPN3 | W 37-24 | 18,617 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||

### Week 3

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 16 | 12:00 p.m. | Kansas | Ohio | Peden Stadium • Athens,OH | ESPNU | W 42-30 | 24,000 |
| September 16 | 12:00 p.m. | Iowa State | Akron | InfoCision Stadium • Akron, OH | CBSSN | L 14-41 | 22,811 |
| September 16 | 12:00 p.m. | Northern Illinois | Nebraska | Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE | FS1 | W 21-17 | 89,664 |
| September 16 | 3:00 p.m. | Tennessee Tech | Ball State | Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN | ESPN3 | W 28-13 | 14,265 |
| September 16 | 3:30 p.m. | Central Michigan | Syracuse | Carrier Dome • Syracuse, NY | ACCN | L 17-41 | 33,004 |
| September 16 | 6:00 p.m. | Colgate | Buffalo | UB Stadium • Buffalo, NY | ESPN3 | W 33-10 | 11,546 |
| September 16 | 6:30 p.m. | Kent State | Marshall | Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV | | L 0-21 | 24,044 |
| September 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Tulsa | Toledo | Glass Bowl • Toledo | ESPN3 | W 54-51 | 24,239 |
| September 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Idaho | Western Michigan | Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI | ESPN3 | W 37-28 | 25,732 |
| September 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Bowling Green | Northwestern | Ryan Field • Evantson, IL | BTN | L 27-49 | 33,706 |
| September 16 | 8:00 p.m. | Cincinnati | Miami | Yager Stadium • Oxford, OH | ESPN3 | L 17-21 | 21,811 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||

### Championship game
#### Week 14 (MAC Championship game)
## Records against FBS conferences

2017 records against FBS conferences
| Conference | Record |
| The American | 1–1 |
| ACC | 0–6 |
| Big Ten | 2–7 |
| Big 12 | 2–1 |
| C-USA | 3–4 |
| Independents | 2–2 |
| Mountain West | 1–1 |
| Pac-12 | 0–1 |
| SEC | 0–1 |
| Sun Belt | 1–1 |
| Total | 12–25 |

### Power–Five conferences and independents

| Power 5 Conferences | Record |
| ACC | 0–6 |
| Big Ten | 2–7 |
| Big 12 | 2–1 |
| Pac-12 | 0–1 |
| SEC | 0–1 |
| Notre Dame | 0–1 |
| Power 5 Total | 4–17 |

### Group of Five conferences

| Group of 5 Conferences | Record |
| American | 1–1 |
| C-USA | 3–4 |
| Mountain West | 1–1 |
| Independents (Excluding Notre Dame) | 2–1 |
| Sun Belt | 1–1 |
| FBS Total | 8–8 |

### FCS Subdivision

| FCS Opponents | Record |
| Football Championship Subdivision | 10–1 |
| Total FCS Record | 10–1 |

## 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 Michiga
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
| Power 5 Conferences | Record |
| ACC | 0–0 |
| Big Ten | 0–0 |
| Big 12 | 0–0 |
| Pac-12 | 0–0 |
| SEC | 0–0 |
| Power 5 Total | 0–0 |
| Other FBS Conferences | Record |
| American | 0–0 |
| C–USA | 0–0 |
| Independents (Excluding Notre Dame) | 0–0 |
| Mountain West | 0–0 |
| Sun Belt | 0-0 |
| Other FBS Total | 0–0 |
| Total Bowl Record | 0–0 |

## 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 |