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    MAC Football Championship Game

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 11 min
    For the basketball championships, see Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament and Mid-American Conference women's basketball tournament
    MAC Football
    Championship Game
    SportCollege football
    ConferenceMid-American Conference
    Current stadiumFord Field
    Current locationDetroit, Michigan
    Played1997–present
    Last contest2024
    Current championOhio Bobcats
    Most championshipsMarshall, Northern Illinois (5)
    TV partner(s)ESPN/ESPN2
    Official websiteMAC-Sports.com football
    Sponsors
    Marathon Petroleum (2003–2019)
    Rocket Mortgage (2020–2022)
    Host stadiums
    Marshall University Stadium (1997–2000, 2002)
    Glass Bowl (2001)
    Doyt Perry Stadium (2003)
    Ford Field (2004–present)
    Host locations
    Huntington, West Virginia (1997–2000, 2002)
    Toledo, Ohio (2001)
    Bowling Green, Ohio (2003)
    Detroit, Michigan (2004–present)

    The MAC Football Championship Game is an annual postseason college football game played to determine the champion of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

    History

    [edit]
    Locations of the full members of the Mid-American Conference.

    The game has been played since 1997, when the conference was first divided into divisions. For the 2024 season the MAC eliminated divisions and the game now features the teams with the best conference records.[1] A new tiebreaker system was established to compare teams with the same conference record.[2] The winner of the game is guaranteed a berth in a bowl game which the MAC has contractual obligations to field a team. Unlike the MAC's Group of Five contemporaries, which hold their respective championship games on campus sites, the MAC Championship Game is held at a neutral site. Ford Field in Detroit has been the venue since 2004 and is scheduled to host through at least 2025.[3][4]

    In 2000, 2001, and 2007, due to an unbalanced conference schedule, the team with best division record within each division was awarded that division's championship game berth. In other years, the teams with the best overall conference records received a berth. Starting in 2024 the MAC will eliminate divisions and include the two teams with the best overall conference records.[5]

    The game is held on the first Saturday in December, on the same weekend that other NCAA Division I FBS conferences hold their championship games.

    Results

    [edit]

    Below are the results from all MAC Football Championship Games played. The winning team appears in bold font, on a background of their primary team color. Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.

    From 1997 through 2003, the championship game was played at campus sites. Since 2004, the game has been played at Ford Field in Detroit where it is scheduled to be held through at least 2025.[6]

    Year West East Site Attendance
    1997 Toledo Rockets 14 Marshall Thundering Herd 34 Marshall University Stadium • Huntington, WV 28,021
    1998 Toledo Rockets 17 Marshall Thundering Herd 23 28,085
    1999 Western Michigan Broncos 30 11 Marshall Thundering Herd 34 28,069
    2000 Western Michigan Broncos 14 Marshall Thundering Herd 19 24,816
    2001 Toledo Rockets 41 20 Marshall Thundering Herd 36 Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH 20,025
    2002 Toledo Rockets 45 24 Marshall Thundering Herd 49 Marshall University Stadium • Huntington, WV 24,582
    2003 20 Bowling Green Falcons 27 13 Miami RedHawks 49 Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH 24,813
    2004 Toledo Rockets 35 Miami RedHawks 27 Ford Field • Detroit, MI 22,138
    2005 Northern Illinois Huskies 30 Akron Zips 31 12,051
    2006 Central Michigan Chippewas 31 Ohio Bobcats 10 25,483
    2007 Central Michigan Chippewas 35 Miami RedHawks 10 25,013
    2008 12 Ball State Cardinals 24 Buffalo Bulls 42 12,871
    2009 Central Michigan Chippewas 20 Ohio Bobcats 10 23,714
    2010 24 Northern Illinois Huskies 21 Miami RedHawks 26 12,031
    2011 Northern Illinois Huskies 23 Ohio Bobcats 20 13,052
    2012 19 Northern Illinois Huskies 442OT 18 Kent State Golden Flashes 37 18,132
    2013 16 Northern Illinois Huskies 27 Bowling Green Falcons 47 21,106
    2014 Northern Illinois Huskies 51 Bowling Green Falcons 17 15,110
    2015 Northern Illinois Huskies 14 Bowling Green Falcons 34 16,425
    2016 13 Western Michigan Broncos 29 Ohio Bobcats 23 45,615
    2017 Toledo Rockets 45 Akron Zips 28 16,225
    2018 Northern Illinois Huskies 30 Buffalo Bulls 29 10,255
    2019 Central Michigan Chippewas 21 Miami RedHawks 26 22,427
    2020 Ball State Cardinals 38 23 Buffalo Bulls 28 0‡
    2021 Northern Illinois Huskies 41 Kent State Golden Flashes 23 10,317
    2022 Toledo Rockets 17 Ohio Bobcats 7 15,550
    2023 Toledo Rockets 14 Miami RedHawks 23 20,200
    Year No. 1 seed No. 2 seed Site Attendance
    2024 Miami RedHawks 3 Ohio Bobcats 38 Ford Field • Detroit, MI 15,478

    ‡ 2020 game attendance was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Results by team

    [edit]
    Appearances School Wins Losses Win % Year(s) Won Year(s) Lost
    9 Northern Illinois Huskies 5 4 .556 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2021 2005, 2010, 2013, 2015
    8 Toledo Rockets 4 4 .500 2001, 2004, 2017, 2022 1997, 1998, 2002, 2023
    7 Miami RedHawks 4 3 .571 2003, 2010, 2019, 2023 2004, 2007, 2024
    6 Marshall Thundering Herd 5 1 .833 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 2001
    6 Ohio Bobcats 1 5 .167 2024 2006, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2022
    4 Central Michigan Chippewas 3 1 .750 2006, 2007, 2009 2019
    4 Bowling Green Falcons 2 2 .500 2013, 2015 2003, 2014
    3 Buffalo Bulls 1 2 .333 2008 2018, 2020
    3 Western Michigan Broncos 1 2 .333 2016 1999, 2000
    2 Akron Zips 1 1 .500 2005 2017
    2 Ball State Cardinals 1 1 .500 2020 2008
    2 Kent State Golden Flashes 0 2 .000   2012, 2021

    Eastern Michigan and UMass are the only teams currently in the conference to have not qualified for a Championship Game. Marshall is the only Championship Game Winner to not be a current member of the MAC. Bowling Green is the only team that has represented both the East and West Divisions in the Championship Game (was a member of the West Division prior to Marshall's departure from the MAC). Temple and UCF were previously in the conference during this era and never reached the championship game; UMass will return to the MAC in 2025.

    Common matchups

    [edit]

    Matchups that have occurred more than once:

    # of Times East Division West Division Record Years played
    4 Marshall Toledo Marshall, 3–1 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002
    3 Bowling Green Northern Illinois Bowling Green, 2–1 2013, 2014, 2015
    2 Marshall Western Michigan Marshall, 2–0 1999, 2000
    2 Ohio Central Michigan Central Michigan, 2–0 2006, 2009
    2 Miami Central Michigan Tied, 1–1 2007, 2019
    2 Buffalo Ball State Tied, 1–1 2008, 2020
    2 Kent State Northern Illinois Northern Illinois, 2–0 2012, 2021

    MVPs

    [edit]
    Year MVP(s) Team Position
    1997 Randy Moss Marshall WR
    1998 Chad Pennington QB
    1999
    2000 Byron Leftwich
    2001 Chester Taylor Toledo RB
    2002 Byron Leftwich Marshall QB
    2003 Ben Roethlisberger Miami
    2004 Bruce Gradkowski Toledo
    2005 Luke Getsy Akron
    2006 Damien Linson Central Michigan WR
    2007 Dan LeFevour QB
    2008 Mike Newton Buffalo DB
    2009 Dan LeFevour Central Michigan QB
    2010 Thomas Merriweather Miami RB
    2011 Nathan Palmer Northern Illinois WR
    2012 Jordan Lynch QB
    2013 Matt Johnson Bowling Green
    2014 Drew Hare Northern Illinois
    2015 Travis Greene Bowling Green RB
    2016 Corey Davis Western Michigan WR
    2017 Logan Woodside Toledo QB (Offensive)
    Danzel McKinley-Lewis WR (Special Teams)
    2018 Marcus Childers Northern Illinois QB (Offensive)
    Sutton Smith LB (Defensive)
    2019 Jack Sorenson Miami WR (Offensive)
    Emmanuel Rugamba LB (Defensive)
    2020 Drew Plitt Ball State QB (Offensive)
    Jimmy Daw LB (Defensive)
    2021 Jay Ducker Northern Illinois RB (Offensive)
    C.J. Brown DB (Defensive)
    John Richardson PK (Special Teams)
    2022 Dequan Finn Toledo QB (Offensive)
    Dyontae Johnson LB (Defensive)
    Jonathon Batzke P (Special Teams)
    2023 Aveon Smith Miami QB (Offensive)
    Matt Salopek LB (Defensive)
    Graham Nicholson K (Special Teams)
    2024 Parker Navarro Ohio QB (Offensive)
    Bradley Weaver DE (Defensive)
    Gianni Spetic K (Special Teams)

    Game records

    [edit]
    Team Record, Team vs. Opponent Year
    Most points scored (one team) 51, Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green 2014
    Most points scored (losing team) 45, Toledo vs. Marshall 2002
    Fewest points scored (winning team) 17, Toledo vs. Ohio 2022
    Fewest points scored 3, Miami vs. Ohio 2024
    Most points scored (both teams) 94, Marshall (49) vs. Toledo (45) 2002
    Fewest points scored (both teams) 24, Toledo (17) vs. Ohio (7) 2022
    Most points scored in a half 35, Buffalo (2nd half) vs. Ball State
    Ball State (1st half) vs. Buffalo     		2008
    2020
    Most points scored in a half (both teams) 49, Marshall vs. Toledo (2nd half) 2002
    Largest margin of victory 35, Ohio (38) vs. Miami (3) 2024
    Smallest margin of victory 1, Akron (31) vs. Northern Illinois (30)
    Northern Illinois (30) vs. Buffalo (29)     		2005
    2018
    Total yards 576, Miami (440 passing, 136 rushing) vs. Bowling Green 2003
    Rushing yards 334, Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green 2014
    Passing yards 440, Miami vs. Bowling Green 2003
    First downs 32, Ohio vs. Miami 2024
    Fewest yards allowed 189, Ohio vs. Miami (127 passing, 62 rushing) 2024
    Fewest rushing yards allowed 37, Western Michigan vs. Ohio 2016
    Fewest passing yards allowed 102, Kent State vs. Northern Illinois 2021
    Individual Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
    All-purpose yards 448, Ben Roethlisberger, Miami vs. Bowling Green 2003
    Touchdowns (all-purpose) 5, Matt Johnson, Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois 2013
    Rushing yards 270, Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois vs. Akron 2005
    Rushing touchdowns 4, Trinity Dawson, Toledo vs. Marshall 2002
    Passing yards 440, Ben Roethlisberger, Miami vs. Bowling Green 2003
    Passing touchdowns 5, Matt Johnson, Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois 2013
    Receiving yards 191, Damien Linson, Central Michigan vs. Ohio 2006
    Receiving touchdowns 4, Denero Marriott, Marshall vs. Toledo 2001
    Tackles 17, Ty Wise, Miami vs. Ohio 2024
    Sacks 2, shared by nine players, most recent:
    Tyrece Woods Jr., Buffalo vs. Ball State    		 2020
    Interceptions 2, Dechane Durante, Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green 2014
    Long Plays Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
    Touchdown run 96, Ontario Sneed, Central Michigan vs. Ohio 2006
    Touchdown pass 86, Randy Moss from Chad Pennington, Marshall vs. Toledo 1997
    Kickoff return 64, Clint Stephens, Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois 2014
    Punt return 48, Danzel McKinley-Lewis, Toledo vs. Akron 2017
    Interception return 64, Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green 2015
    Fumble return 92, Mike Newton, Buffalo vs. Ball State 2008
    Punt 75, Curtis Head, Marshall vs. Toledo 2001
    Field goal 52, shared by:
    Chris Nendick, Northern Illinois vs. Akron
    Tyler Tate, Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois
    Gianni Spetic, Ohio vs. Miami
    2005
    2013
    2024
    Miscellaneous Record, Team vs. Team Year
    Game attendance 45,615, Ohio vs. Western Michigan 2016

    Source:[7]

    [edit]
    • Before 2006 MAC Championship Game
      Before 2006 MAC Championship Game
    • 2006 MAC Championship: Central Michigan vs. Ohio
      2006 MAC Championship: Central Michigan vs. Ohio

    See also

    [edit]
    • List of NCAA Division I FBS conference championship games

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ Ramsey, Jared (November 30, 2023). "MAC to replace divisions with new system for 2024". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
    2. ^ "MAC Announces New Football Tiebreaker Procedures". MAC. September 18, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
    3. ^ "MAC Announces Three Year Contract Extension With Ford Field". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
    4. ^ Kelly, Kyle (November 30, 2023). "MAC signs three-year extension to keep football title game at Ford Field". FBS Schedules. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
    5. ^ Paul, Tony (November 30, 2023). "Mid-American Conference to go to pods alignment for 2024". Detroit News. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
    6. ^ Kelly, Kevin (2023-11-30). "MAC Championship Game to remain in Detroit through 2025 season". FBS Schedules. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
    7. ^ "C-USA Records Master" (PDF). conferenceusa.com. pp. 35–36. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
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    Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC Football Championship Game
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