Due to some technical difficulties, the weekly G5 Top 10 is out a little later tonight than usual. We experienced a bit of upheaval throughout the top 10 with Army and Houston taking advantage in earning a spot. Overall, this was a closer than usual vote (other than the top four) with NIU and Houston only two votes ahead of Troy and North Texas.
Others Receiving Votes: North Texas 11, Troy 11, Fresno State 8, Wyoming 5, Florida International 4, Navy 1.
One thing I never saw coming this week was a takeover from the MAC with three teams earning spots in the top 10. Ohio joins Toledo and NIU in the rankings, making the MAC tied for the most most represented with the AAC.
Others Receiving Votes: Houston 14, Fresno State 14, Troy 11, Army 8, Florida International 3, North Texas 3, SMU 2.
We are trying something new at College Football Outpost and reaching out to fellow “media” members for a more conclusive G5 Top 10 poll. Several took to the cause in the inaugural week so that you are subjected to a more varied top 10 than if I did it on my own.
Enough of my jabbering, let’s take a look at the CFO G5 Top 10.
1. San Diego State (5 First Place Votes): 95 votes.
2. South Florida (4 First Place Votes): 91 votes.
3. Central Florida (1 First Place Vote): 82 votes.
4. Troy: 48 votes.
5. Navy 46 votes.
6. Houston: 37 votes.
7. Toledo: 24 votes.
8. Memphis: 24 votes.
9. SMU: 19 votes.
T-10. UTSA: 16 votes.
T-10. Ohio: 16 votes.
Others considered: Northern Illinois 10, Western Michigan 9, Appalachian State 9, Colorado State 9, Boise State 7, Louisiana Tech 7, Marshall 1.
No conference does a better job on a yearly basis of scheduling compelling G5/G5 games than the MAC. From CUSA to the MWC, every conference is represented with games you must watch. Let's just hope that more of the MAC can win a few games in these matchups and make the entire conference look better this fall.
Let's take a look at the ten MAC non-conference games to watch.
Tulsa at Toledo (September 16): Why do we not get games like this every year? Two quality G5 teams playing one another rather than wasting it with a lower quality opponent. The Golden Hurricane will have time to recover from the Oklahoma State game to start the season and should be able to control the line of scrimmage in the run game. Toledo could be in position to make some noise nationally if they can get through Elon, Nevada, Tulsa, and Miami (Fl.) to start the season. This game could be the toughest of the season for the Rockets.
Miami at Marshall (September 2): A matchup that goes well into the history of both programs, the Thundering Herd and RedHawks could end up giving us one of the most interesting games of the non-conference season. Among the many aspects of the game to watch, the battle of quarterbacks Gus Ragland and Chase Litton nearly guarantees us a high-scoring affair. Currently, Miami looks like the early favorite to win this game.
Boston College at NIU (September 1): After the disaster of the 2016 season, the Huskies host a solid P5 team with a chance to make national news. The Eagles are coming off of their third bowl berth in the last four seasons, attempting to improve on a consistent 7-6 record in those three seasons. NIU must quickly have players step up in the offensive backfield and at wide receiver if they want to win. Expect this game to be a lower scoring affair with the winner scoring no more than 24 points.
UAB at Ball State (September 9): This is the first FBS game for the Blazers since putting together the pieces of a disbanded program not all that long ago. UAB is a complete mystery full of players that have been with the program more than a year before playing their first game. Do not expect them to beat Ball State, but it may be more competitive than many think. Ball State needs a hot start to the season if they want to go bowling and this is a must win game.
Idaho at WMU (September 16): This is a sneaky good game that could make up for the two duds we got from the Georgia Southern-Western Michigan series. The Vandals are in their final year of FBS play and could be sending out their best team in a very long time. Led by star quarterback Matt Linehan, they can put up points in bunches. Idaho scored 37+ points in each of the last four games of the 2017 season. The Broncos have arguably the best duo of running backs in the nation this season. Between Bogan and Franklin, WMU can run over the majority of its schedule without resorting to the passing game all that much. Expect lots of points.
Ohio at Purdue (September 8): In what has become a common occurrence, the Bobcats are again favored to win the MAC East Division and play for the conference title. Ohio is a very disciplined team that makes other teams work to beat them. Purdue is a big of a question mark with former WKU head coach Jeff Brohm taking the reins. The Boilermakers are probably a year or two away from amassing the talent that can make Brohm’s system run, but they are still a dangerous team. I feel like this is a game Ohio can and should win.
Toledo at Nevada (September 9): What this game could have been if James Butler decided to stay with the Wolfpack. The star running back took advantage of the graduate transfer rule and headed to Iowa in the offseason. Instead of Butler, the Wolfpack will likely rely upon Alabama quarterback transfer David Cornwall to light up the Rockets defense. Toledo has players to replace (especially at running back and tight end), but there are players on the roster to fill the gaps. I can’t see anyone handling wide receiver Cody Thompson in man coverage. Expect the Rockets to roll.
Cincinnati at Miami (September 16): This is a game that will show just where both teams are headed into conference play. The Bearcats are in rebuilding mode, but have some talent on the roster left over by Tuberville. The program is being built the right way by Fickell and company, but that means a rough 2017 is in store. Miami has high expectations and a win over, albeit down, Cincinnati would do wonders for the RedHawks.
Ball State at WKU (September 23): A year after watching MAC rival Miami nearly knock off one of the top three G5 teams in the nation last season, the Cardinals look to do the same. There is quite a bit of talent on the Ball State roster, but it will take a nearly perfect effort to knock off the kings of Conference USA. The Hilltoppers are in a very slight rebuilding process, but still have Mike White, a stable of talented running backs, and the most dynamic return man in the nation. WKU has questions on defense, but they can normally score enough for that to be only a small problem.
Northern Illinois at San Diego State (September 30): I have never seen a team struggle more with games they should win than the Aztecs. They lost in back to back seasons to a decent at best South Alabama squad and the Huskies had every chance to take control of their matchup last season. SDSU loses a lot on defense and must replace Donnel Pumphrey, but recruiting is not a problem in San Diego. The Huskies would love to have a signature win like this in 2017, but this is asking a lot. A win here could quell many of the shouts for Rod Carey’s job.
Just missed the list: Buffalo at Minnesota, Charlotte at EMU, Ball State at Illinois, WMU at Michigan State, Bowling Green at Michigan State, Kent State at Clemson, Western Michigan at USC.
MACtion is finally headed back this fall and we could not be any more excited for the possibilities. 2016 was all about WMU and its attempt at perfect, but this season is much more balanced with Toledo looking like the early favorite.
Lots of talented offensive players are now on NFL rosters, so it is time for the youth of the MAC to step up and sit at the adult table. Let's take a look at the top returning offensive skill position players in the MAC heading into the 2017 season.
Rushing:
Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan: 248/1,353/12TD
James Gilbert, Ball State: 251/1,332/12TD
Jamauri Bogan, Western Michigan: 179/923/8TD
Dorian Brown, Ohio: 158/825/4TD
Ian Eriksen, Eastern Michigan: 184/771/9TD
Others to watch: Devon Spalding CMU (138/758/6TD), Alonzo Smith MIAMI (1638/709/3TD), Josh Cleveland BGSU (101/649/2TD), Terry Swanson TOLEDO (116/583/4TD), Kenny Young MIAMI (88/557/2TD), Justin Rankin KENT STATE (108/511/3TD), Donovan Wilson BGSU (110/503/5TD).
As was the case in 2016, the Broncos of Western Michigan are stacked once again with two of the top three returning rushers from last fall. Franklin and Bogan combined for just over 2,200 yards and 20 touchdowns, leading WMU to the Cotton Bowl.
James Gilbert was a treat to watch in 2016 and should be even better for a Ball State team ready to go bowling. The player I have an eye on is Toledo running back Terry Swanson. The senior has played three years in the shadow of Kareem Hunt and will be the man for the prolific Rockets offense. Also, watch Dorian Brown as we attempt to figure out if he is the back that rushed for 212 versus Toledo or the one that was held under 50 yards on 5 occasions (in addition to missing three games).
James Morgan, Bowling Green: 183-326/2,082/16TD/116.8 Efficiency
Thomas Woodson, Akron: 146-242/2,079/18TD/152.1 Efficiency
Others to watch: Tyree Jackson BUFFALO (1,772/9TD), Gus Ragland MIAMI (1,537/17TD), Quinton Maxwell OHIO (1,252/8TD), Billy Bahl MIAMI (1,154/8TD), Nick Holley KENT STATE (868/4TD).
For the most part, this group of MAC quarterbacks is Logan Woodside and a bunch of other guys. When you start to take a deeper look, multiple quarterbacks look poised to put up video game numbers this fall. Two signal callers to watch are Riley Neal of Ball State and Gus Ragland of Miami.
Ragland, in particular, looked like one of the better quarterbacks in the G5 in the second half of the season. He turned a 0-6 team into a 6-6 team that nearly became the first team to earn a winning record after losing their first six games of the season.
Receiving:
Cody Thompson, Toledo: 64/1,269/11TD
Corey Willis, CMU: 71/1,087/9TD
Scott Miller, BGSU: 74/968/10TD
Sergio Bailey II, Ohio: 60/868/7TD
Jon’Vea Johnson, Toledo: 40/773/10TD
Others to watch: James Gardner MIAMI (45/750/6TD), Mark Chapman CMU (44/592/4TD), Tyler Conklin CMU (42/560/6TD), Jared Murphy MIAMI (43/552/5TD), Austin Wolf AKRON (36/550/5TD).
Talk about losing a bit of talent to the NFL. The MAC lost Corey Davis, Kenny Golladay, Jerome Lane, KaVonn Mabon, and JoJo Natson from the top five receiving list of 2016. While those losses will definitely hurt the overall product, there are plenty of players ready to accept the challenge. Remember, Scott Miller, Sergio Bailey, and Jon’Vea Johnson had a combined 16 catches in their careers before last season.
A player to watch is CMU tight end Tyler Conklin. The 6-4 receiver looked quite impressive at times in route to a 42 catch season last fall. With other losses on offense, expect the Chippewas to add a renewed focus on tight end this year.
Next week, we will take a look at defense and special teams for the Mid-American Conference before rolling out conference previews.
Another week is in the books for the 2015 college
football season with the Mid-American Conference going 3-10 with no conference
games taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week four
MAC football action.
Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with MAC
going 6-7 with only one conference game
(Ball State-EMU) taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of
week three MAC football action.
We are finally getting into a little more G5-G5 play with seven G5 games that I expect to be good matchups. I am oddly interested in the Army-UConn game, make because it will be close but ugly. **Some G5-G5 games may be listed in other categories. i.e. Games of the Week.**
The MAC is getting started with 12 games during Week One of the college football season with two G5 teams coming to town? I see the MAC going 5-7 in those 12 games.
Week One of the FBS season is only two weeks away and brings us 55 games involving G5 teams including six games of G5 versus G5 teams. Today I will predict all 13 Thursday night games.
In honor of the combine and the upcoming NFL draft, here is a list of the MAC players in the NFL. Every MAC program has at least one player in the NFL with Toledo leading the way with 9 NFL players. In total, 64 players from the MAC are in the NFL.
