MAC Week Seven Schedule & Game Notes

This Week’s MAC Schedule have been provided to NEOSI by the MAC Conference Media Communications team.

Saturday, October 13

Akron at Buffalo, Noon ET (CBS Sports Network)

Toledo at Eastern Michigan, Noon ET (ESPN+)

Kent State at Miami, 2:30 pm ET (ESPN+)

Ball State at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN3)

Western Michigan at Bowling Green, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)

Ohio at NIU, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN+)

MAC QUICK NOTES:

• Week 7 features the MAC continuing with league play with six games on Saturday, Oct. 13. There are two more crossover games this Saturday with Western Michigan at Bowling Green at 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+) and Ohio at Northern Illinois at 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT (ESPN+). In each of the last eight consecutive years (2010-2017), the MAC West Division has bested the East Division in regular season head-to-head crossover games. This season the West Division leads the East Division, 3-2.

• Ohio head coach Frank Solich earned his 100th career victory in leading the Bobcats program after a 27-26 win at Kent State. Solich ranks third all-time in the MAC in career coaching wins.

• NIU improved to 3-0 in league play with a 24-16 win at Ball State to win the ‘Battle for the Bronze Stalk’ Trophy for the tenth straight year.

• Toledo won the I-75 Trophy with a 52-36 win over rival Bowling Green for the ninth consecutive year. The Rockets have held the Trophy since its introduction in 2011.

• Western Michigan held on for a 27-24 win over Eastern Michigan as the Broncos have won four consecutive games. Western Michigan is off to a 2-0 start in MAC play for the fourth straight year.

• Buffalo won its first-ever game at Central Michigan with a 34-24 victory at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

FRANK SOLICH WINS 100TH CAREER VICTORY AT OHIO

The Ohio Bobcats used a thrilling 27-26 come-from-behind road win at Kent State to give head coach Frank Solich his milestone 100th career victory in leading the Bobcats football program. Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke’s eight-yard touchdown run with 1:28 left in regulation was the winning score, as the Bobcats had trailed 14-0 early in the first half. Solich is in his 14th year in leading the Ohio football program and has a 100-73 career record, which ranks third all-time in MAC history. Solich trails Central Michigan’s Herb Deromedi (110 wins from 1978-93) and Ohio’s Bill Hess (108 wins from 1958-77). Solich actually is the third winningest coach in Ohio history, behind Don Peden (121 wins from 1924-46), who coached prior to the creation of the MAC in 1946, and Hess.

MAC WEEKLY NOTES

• Ohio’s Nathan Rourke completed 18-of-20 passes in a 27-26 win at Kent State, setting an Ohio record for completion percentage in a single-game with his 90% completion percentage. Rourke threw for 284 yards with one touchdown and also added 49 yards and a touchdown on 15 rushing attempts.

• Toledo wide receiver Cody Thompson led the Rockets with six receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown in a 52-36 win over rival Bowling Green. This marked the first time in the history of the rivalry that either team has scored at least 50 points in consecutive meetings. Toledo scored 66 points in last year’s meeting. Thompson is tied with Lance Moore and Eric Page for first on Toledo’s career touchdown reception list with 25 touchdowns.

• Western Michigan had a season-best crowd of 24,282 at Waldo Stadium to witness a 27-24 win over Eastern Michigan. Western Michigan has won four straight games and is off to a 2-0 start in league play for the fourth straight season. Broncos quarterback Jon Wassink was 16-27 passing for 235 yards and one touchdown, while running back Jamauri Bogan had 37 yards and one touchdown, his 31st of his career for third-all time in career rushing touchdowns at Western Michigan.

• NIU is off to a 3-0 start in MAC play after a 24-16 win at Ball State. The Huskie defense held the Cardinals to three field goals and one touchdown. NIU leads the MAC in scoring defense by allowing only 23.7 points per game.

• Miami linebacker Brad Koenig was a one-man wrecking crew in a 41-17 win at Akron. Koenig recorded four tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions and one fumble recovery and was responsible for three of Miami’s five takeaways. He was also part of a defense that held Akron to just 56 yards rushing on 28 carries.

• Buffalo remains atop the MAC East Division with a 2-0 record, 5-1 overall. The Bulls defeated Central Michigan, 34-24, for the program’s first-ever win in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Buffalo redshirt freshman running back Kevin Marks rushed for a career-high 167 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. His 167 yards rushing were the most by a Buffalo freshman running back since 2009.