So close we can almost taste it.
Well, not that close. But the schedule release makes it seem like MACtion is right around the corner. The 2024 MAC schedule was finally released last week, meaning all of the FBS schedules are now out:
This will be the first year that the league won’t have any divisions since 1996. Instead, the top two teams that finish atop the standings will play in the conference title game Dec. 7 at Ford Field. In the new scheduling strategy, each team will play the 11 other teams, both home and away, in a three-year cycle.
There are four “pods” of three teams that will play each other every year, however:
In this new look format, here are some notable items:
Good Luck Akron And Kent State
The Zips and the Golden Flashes finished as the bottom two teams in the conference last season. Now, they face arguably the toughest non-conference slate in the league.
Akron will open the season at Ohio State before visiting Rutgers and then South Carolina in Week 4. Kent State plays at Pittsburgh in Week 1 before visiting Tennessee and Penn State in Weeks 3 and 4. Brutal.
UMass Arriving To The Party Early
It’s not 2025 yet, but the Minutemen are already getting in on the MACtion. The Minutemen will play five MAC schools this season. They open the year at Eastern Michigan before playing Toledo, Buffalo, Miami, and Northern Illinois.
The Independent program will be a member of the league next season.
Ball State’s Late Start
Somehow someone thought Ball State’s Week 2 start to the season was a good idea. No doubt the Cardinals will be going through some serious FOMO in Week 1, but while all teams have at least two bye weeks — and some with three — the Cardinals now technically have just one bye week, and this doesn’t come until Week 10.
The Cardinals will play eight consecutive games and this includes a three-game road trip — with visits to Miami (FL) and James Madison — and another two-game road trip.
No Easy Sledding For Miami
The RedHawks are the only team in the conference that faces all FBS opponents. Interestingly, they play two Power Four programs (Northwestern and Cincinnati) and two Independent squads (Mass and Notre Dame).
Conference play doesn’t look to be too bad for Miami, although it does face Toledo and Ohio in a three-week stretch.
When Does The Midweek MACtion Start?
Week 11. That’s when midweek MACtion starts. There will be two games on Tuesday, Nov. 5 when Bowling Green/Central Michigan meet and BSU/Miami square off. There will be two games on Nov. 6 when Western Michigan hosts NIU and Ohio visits Kent State.
What Will Week 14 Provide?
You can never assume anything, but there’s an idea of which teams will be successful next year and what teams will be on the outside looking in toward the season’s end.
Based on the current matchups in the final week of the season, it’s possible that the conference title game may already be set. Hopefully, this isn’t the case, however, and there are some teams that make some noise in 2024 and the championship game will be decided in the final week.
Let’s not forget, Kent State was in the MAC title game just three years ago.
