2018 MAC Football Power Rankings Week One: Toledo’s back on Top
The Rockets are number one, but what else is new?

Free on Saturday’s Week Two Power Rankings
#1: Toledo Rockets (Last Week: Win vs. VMI 66–3)
Good: Cody Thompson had an amazing punt block
Bad: Toledo is so 2017. (Oh, and ESPN got his name wrong)
Would you expect anything else from Toledo against VMI? Mitchell Guadagni’s debut went well, but he hasn’t been tested yet. If he can answer future tests against better competition then we should probably just hand them the trophy now.
#2: Buffalo Bulls (Last Week: Win vs Delaware State 48–10)
Good: Tyree Jackson.
Bad: The Bulls left us no choice but to put them at number two.
Buffalo looked really good against Delaware State. Most teams should. It’s encouraging to see Tyree Jackson get off to such a hot start and spread the ball around a bit. Next week they are underdogs against Temple, who just lost to Villanova. We’ll learn a lot about the Bulls next week.
#3: Ohio Bobcats (Last Week: Win vs Howard 38–32)
Good: Their backup quarterback was ready to play.
Bad: Their backup quarterback had to play.
It’s always good when a team can take the “next man up” trope and apply it to real life. Quinton Maxwell stepped in nicely for a struggling Nathan Rourke. However, it’s not a great sign when your second team All-MAC quarterback from a year ago struggles against Howard.
#4: Eastern Michigan Eagles (Last Week: Win vs Monmouth 51–17)
Good: Tyler Weigers, Iowa transfer extraordinaire.
Bad: Brogan Roback was cut by the Browns
No, the Eagles weren’t punished here because of the Browns. It’s just the only thing I could find not to like about week one. Tyler Weigers showing what he’s got so early on is an encouraging sign for the Eagles.
#5: Northern Illinois Huskies (Last Week: Loss @ Iowa 33–7)
Good: Defense.
Bad: Offense.
NIU will be fine. Losing your starting tight end and number one wide receiver in the same week makes the already daunting task of scoring against Iowa even more so. Next week the Huskies get Utah at home. Maybe we had their Power Five upset pegged a week too early.
#6: Miami RedHawks (Last Week: Loss vs Marshall 35–28)
Good: Gus Ragland seems ready to have a big year.
Bad: The running backs do not.
Same old story with Miami. It can’t win close games. They still figure to be one of the better teams in the MAC despite the loss. Marshall is a good football program that’s usually good for 10 wins a year, so there’s no shame in losing to the Herd.
#7: Ball State Cardinals (Last Week: Win vs Central Conn. State 42–6)
Good: The Cardinals won big and didn’t look rusty.
Bad: Nothing really. Basically sitting at seven based on recent reputation.
Ball State could have one of the best rushing attacks in the league this season if everyone stays healthy. Mike Neu’s done a great job getting talent to Muncie and in his third year everything should start to come together.
#8 Akron Zips (Last Week: Game Cancelled @ Nebraska)
Good: Didn’t play, didn’t lose.
Bad: Didn’t play, didn’t win.
According to Nebraska, Akron elected not to play the game on Sunday, which is odd considering last time weather moved a game to Sunday it worked out pretty well for the Zips.
#9 Western Michigan Broncos (Last Week: Loss vs Syracuse 55–42)
Good: Pretty much everyone on offense is fast, Jon Wassink found his deep ball.
Bad: Defense optional again.
WMU averaged nearly 10 yards per play and lost by 13 at home. But hey, at least D’Wayne Eskridge was the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week.
#10 Kent State Golden Flashes (Last Week: Loss @ Illinois 31–24)
Good: Nearly beat a Big Ten school
Bad: The Big Ten school was Illinois
If you’re a Kent State fan you might feel like 10 is unjustified considering how poorly the MAC played as a whole last week. If the Flashes really have turned a corner, we’ll see it in the coming weeks. While Woody Barrett’s performance was a welcome surprise, “nearly beating Illinois” isn’t something Sean Lewis seems eager to boast about.
#11 Central Michigan Chippewas (Last Week: Loss @ Kentucky 35–20)
Good: Defense played extremely well, Devonni Reed is fun
Bad: Not fooling anyone on offense just yet
One of the hardest teams in the MAC to figure out got to play its first game on the road in the SEC. It went well! Central gave up a monster run to Benny Snell, but other than that the defense held pretty strong and even scored some points. The offense, however, is one big question mark and needs to improve.
#12 Bowling Green Falcons (Last Week: Loss @ Oregon 58–24)
Good: Played extremely well in the first, third and fourth quarters
Bad: Gave up 30 points in the second
The Falcons played much better than expected. The problem is so did CMU and Kent State, so here at 12 they reside. This week Bowling Green gets a shot at Maryland at home. The Terps are coming off of a big win against Texas and could be overlooking Jarrett Doege and company.

