The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the MAC teams.
2021 MAC Rankings: Pre-Spring
MAC East
1. Kent State Golden Flashes
Why To Be Happy: Sean Lewis is still the head coach. He’s a strong young talent who’s overdue for a next step up job, but he’s around, as is QB Dustin Crum, who’s back for his senior-plus year. All five starters are expected back on the O line, just enough is back on defense to be okay, and landing S Antwaine Richardson from Maryland and WR Nykeim Johnson from Syracuse is huge.
What To Work On: Matthew Trickett was one of the best kickers in 2019 and was fine in his limited work last year. Now he’s at Minnesota, and good backup QB Woody Barrett is in the transfer portal. The D has to be a whole lot better despite losing a few key parts.
Bottom Line: It’ll be a good fight to be at the top of the MAC East, but the Golden Flashes should have too much offense to not make a run to the MAC Championship game.
2. Buffalo Bulls
Why To Be Happy: The team caught a break when RB Kevin Marks apparently decided to come back. He might not put up Jaret Patterson numbers, but he’s All-MAC good. At least seven starters are expected back on defense, and the quarterbacks are in place to be fine, but …
What To Work On: The team has to replace enough talent to be a problem. The O line needs some reworking, the receiving corps has to find parts, TE Zac Lefebvre took off for WKU, and DE Malcolm Koonce is one of the key defensive stars who’s done.
Bottom Line: This is likely going to be a weaker version of the team that should’ve won last year’s MAC title, but it’s still going to be one of the stars in the East if the O line comes together fast.
3. Ohio Bobcats
Why To Be Happy: Thanks to the return of a De’Montre Tuggle for his senior-plus season, the offensive backfield should be terrific. A few of the receivers are gone, and the line has to do some reshuffling, but the defense that was so young at so many parts should be a bit tighter.
What To Work On: Overall, the pass rush has to be a whole lot stronger, the defense has to be more disruptive, and the passing game has to be more dangerous. That’s a lot to fix, but they’re more tweaks than total overhauls.
Bottom Line: Ohio was supposed to be a whole lot better last year, but it should be a player in the MAC East race as long as the defensive line can start making more things happen in the backfield.
4. Miami University RedHawks
Why To Be Happy: The defensive front seven/six should be strong enough with the returning parts to be among the best in the MAC. QB Brett Gabbert is back along with a slew of decent receivers, and there’s a massive get from the transfer portal with Northwestern’s Isaiah Bowser coming in.
What To Work On: The O line needs new starts. Left tackle Tommy Doyle was a senior who’s now off to try out the NFL, and C Danny Godlevske is not an Oklahoma State Cowboy.
Bottom Line: There’s enough defensively to be terrific with a little time, and the offensive backfield will be good enough to shine if the line can quickly replace Doyle and Godlevske.
5. Akron Zips
Why To Be Happy: The Zips get back just about everyone on offense after going really, really young over the last few years, and the defense is almost all back full, too. There hasn’t been a whole lot coming in from the transfer portal – Michigan State RB Anthony Williams should play a role – but the veterans are there to improve.
What To Work On: Akron has to be better on the lines. The defensive front has to start making things happen in the backfield, and the offense needs to be far, far better in pass protection.
Bottom Line: It has been a brutal run over the last few years, but after two rough seasons under Tom Arth, at least the experience is there to potentially make a little bit of noise.
6. Bowling Green Falcons
Why To Be Happy: The offense should be a bit better. Syracuse transfer Drew Gunther is another option at quarterback, Andrew Clair is a veteran back, and this is when all the young receivers should step up. The D won’t be a brick wall, but it’ll be among the most experienced in the MAC.
What To Work On: The passing game has to work. That’s the whole reason for Scot Loeffler to be the head coach – the O is supposed to rock. It has taken a while, but as long as the turnovers slow down, the team will be a whole lot better.
Bottom Line: Baby steps need to be leaps. It’s the third year under Loeffler and this is when the rebuild needs to be complete. The team needs something it can rely on.
– 2021 Pre-Spring MAC Rankings West
2021 MAC Rankings: Pre-Spring 7-12
2021 MAC Rankings
MAC West
1. Toledo Rockets
Why To Be Happy: Toledo is getting back almost all of its seniors from a veteran offense – ten starters should return – meaning most of the offense is full of fourth and fifth-plus year players. Even better, all 11 starters should be back on D, but …
What To Work On: The pass rush has to improve. The secondary gave up the most passing yards per game in the MAC, and the defense as a whole was an issue, but everything should turn around as long as there are more plays behind the line.
Bottom Line: The Rockets went 4-2 with both losses by three points. They defense has to be better and the offense more efficient, but the talent, depth, and experience are all there to come up with the best team in a loaded MAC West.
2. Ball State Cardinals
Why To Be Happy: Just about everyone returns. Star RB Caleb Huntley and WR Antwan Davis are gone, but the line is loaded, the defensive front should be all back full, the offense should be just as strong, and the team that won the bowl game is mostly coming back.
What To Work On: The wide receiver depth is taking a wee bit of a hit with four players transferring, but it’s nothing to get into a twist over. The biggest problem for the team is the pass protection – the O line has to be a whole lot tighter, but …
Bottom Line: There’s a whole lot to like as head coach Mike Neu has the pieces in place with a good mix of veteran to rely on and dangerous young playmakers. The team that rolled through the MAC Championship and the bowl win over San Jose State should be able to keep it all going.
3. Central Michigan Chippewas
Why To Be Happy: The Chippewas got a nice quarterback prospect in Jacob Sirmon from the transfer portal. An elite get for Washington should be able to roll right away for a passing game that needs more pop. The offense should get everyone else back and the defensive back seven is loaded, but …
What To Work On: The defensive front will need some more bodies after doing a great job for one of the MAC’s best Ds. Tackle Mohamed Diallo is transferring along with two reserve ends, and a few other parts are still up in the air, but …
Bottom Line: If the offense can be a wee bit better, Jim McElwain will have a loaded team of veterans more than good enough to challenge for the MAC title. 2020 was a rebuilding year, and now it should all payoff.
4. Western Michigan Broncos
Why To Be Happy: The Broncos got a huge break with guard Mike Caliendo returning for another year to give them – potentially – four starters back up front. Most of the skill parts are back around QB Kaleb Eleby, the defense returns at least seven starters, and …
What To Work On: There are just enough losses to matter. WR D’Wayne Eskirdge, OT Jaylon Moore and DE Ali Fayad are all off to the NFL, and LB Treshaun Hayward is off to Arizona.
Bottom Line: After losing the last two games of the 4-2 season with a defensive collapse, the Broncos have the firepower to battle anyone and be deep in the mix for the MAC title. They need the star power to show up, though, in a division loaded with veterans.
5. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Why To Be Happy: Few teams get more talent back, with ten of the 11 defensive starters projected to return and Woo Scott stepping in at tackle for the one opening. The offensive side not only is expected to get back all 11 starters, but QB Ben Bryant is transferring in from Cincinnati.
What To Work On: The running game has to get working. The defensive needs to be far, far better after finishing last in the MAC, but the experience is there to do that. The ground attack that stalled too often needs to start doing a better job of controlling games.
Bottom Line: After a disappointing six game run, the Eagles should be a sneaky-interesting team in a MAC loaded with veterans. They were only blown out once in the 2-4 run and should be far more dangerous.
6. Northern Illinois Huskies
Why To Be Happy: There’s a ton of work happening in the coaching staff to try finding the right mix to get the program back to among the living. This was a really, really, really young defense last year that should be far stronger now that everyone has time logged in, the offense gets back enough talent to be better, and QB Rocky Lombardi is transferring in from Michigan State. However …
What To Work On: The transfers hurt. DT Weston Kramer has left for Temple and the wide receiver and secondary have been gutted by the transfer portal. The defense that allowed 40 points or more in four of the six games has to improve on everything.
Bottom Line: This isn’t the year to be in a rebuild in the MAC West, but that’s the deal. While everyone else in the division is loaded with veterans, the Huskies need to find a strong starting 22 that can at least be more competitive.
