The MAC is always in flux, and there are always haves and have-nots, but this year’s divide is expected to be more pronounced than ever.
Ball State, Central Michigan, and Ohio have new head coaches, Bowling Green is still looking for one, and UMass is not only getting its own head coach, but it is also joining the MAC a year before Northern Illinois leaves for the Mountain West.
Most MAC teams were hammered by bigger programs snagging talent through the portal, but some, like Toledo, were able to rebound. Overall, most of the MAC is being rebuilt.
Before spring ball really gets going, and before we do the full deep dive,
MAC Football Pre-Spring Rankings: 2025 Season First Look
13 UMass
Welcome back to the MAC, UMass. New head coach Jose Harasymiak should put in place a hard-nosed defense, even if he doesn’t have the guys. It’ll be a long road.
2024 Record 2-10
2024 Rankings Final 130, Preseason 134
Top Transfer: Reece Adkins, TE from UCF
Top Transfer Lost: Kofi Asare, EDGE to Florida
Season Opener: Temple
12 Kent State
In Year Three, head coach Kenni Burns could use a little luck. Unlike the last few years, the program didn’t get hammered by the portal. It’ll still be an uphill climb.
2024 Record 0-12
2024 Rankings Final 134, Preseason 132
Top Transfer: Jordan Nubin, RB from Minnesota
Top Transfer Lost: Chrishon McCray, WR to Michigan State
Season Opener: Merrimack
11 Ball State
The program is starting over under new head coach Mike Uremovich, and that includes replacing almost everyone. The offense will eventually be interesting.
2024 Record 3-9
2024 Rankings Final 126, Preseason 131
Top Transfer: Walter Taylor III, QB from Colorado
Top Transfer Lost: Tanner Koziol, TE to Wisconsin
Season Opener: at Purdue
10 Bowling Green
At the moment there’s a problem with head coach Scot Loeffler leaving to be the QB coach for Philadelphia. The program is now in complete rebuild mode.
2024 Record 7-6
2024 Rankings Final 104, Preseason 103
Top Transfer: Collins Acheampong, EDGE from UCLA
Top Transfer Lost: Alex Wollschläger, OT to Kentucky
Season Opener: Lafayette
9 Akron
The Zips continue to fight the good fight under Joe Moorhead, but they lost a slew of key starters to the portal and need the new skill guys to rise up fast.
2024 Record 4-8
2024 Rankings Final 114, Preseason 129
Top Transfer: Tim Grear, WR from Fresno State
Top Transfer Lost: Jarvin James, OT to Maryland
Season Opener: Wyoming
8 Northern Illinois
In the last year before moving to the Mountain West – let’s just say the portal was unkind. No one in America has to replace more players. The depth is non-existent.
2024 Record 8-5
2024 Rankings Final 91, Preseason 120
Top Transfer: Jackson Proctor, QB from Dartmouth
Top Transfer Lost: Amariyun Knighten, CB to Indiana
Season Opener: Holy Cross
7 Eastern Michigan
Gutted is too strong a word for EMU in the transfer portal, but it’s missing too many parts. It’ll be tough, but Chris Creighton knows out to make things work.
2024 Record 5-7
2024 Rankings Final 116, Preseason 115
Top Transfer: Noah Kim, QB from Coastal Carolina
Top Transfer Lost: Carson Lee, OG to Mississippi State
Season Opener: at Texas State
6 Western Michigan
This is a big season in Year Three of the Lance Taylor era. The wins have to come, but his offense is starting over talent-wise, but the portal brought in plenty of help.
2024 Record 6-7
2024 Rankings Final 112, Preseason 123
Top Transfer: Cole Cabana, RB from Michigan
Top Transfer Lost: Jaden Nixon, RB to UCF
Season Opener: at Michigan State
5 Miami University
No one in the MAC lost more offensive talent, but getting former Toledo star QB Dequan Finn (Baylor) could kickstart the attack. MU went HUGE in the portal.
2024 Record 9-5
2024 Rankings Final 69, Preseason 83
Top Transfer: Dequan Finn, QB from Baylor
Top Transfer Lost: Will Jados, OT to Texas Tech
Season Opener: at Wisconsin
4 Central Michigan
New head coach Matt Drinkall inherits a good group, especially on defense. The former Army assistant should instantly make CMU one of the MAC’s X factors.
2024 Record 4-8
2024 Rankings Final 117, Preseason 106
Top Transfer: Trey Cornist, RB from Tulane
Top Transfer Lost: Jonah Pace, DT to Iowa
Season Opener: at San Jose State
3 Ohio
The transition from assistant to head man shouldn’t be hard for Brian Smith. Last year’s MAC Champion team might not be quite as strong, but it won’t be far off.
2024 Record 11-3
2024 Rankings Final 66, Preseason 119
Top Transfer: Sieh Bangura, RB from Minnesota
Top Transfer Lost: Bradley Weaver, DE to Rutgers
Season Opener: at Rutgers
2 Buffalo
Pete Lembo continues to make UB strong after a great first season. The defense is loaded with veterans, there were minimal portal losses, and it’s MAC title or bust.
2024 Record 9-4
2024 Rankings Final 75, Preseason 124
Top Transfer: Ta’Quan Roberson, QB from Kansas State
Top Transfer Lost: Upton Bellenfant, PK to Texas Tech
Season Opener: at Minnesota
1 Toledo
Toledo easily came up with the most portal talent in the MAC. The offense is loaded, the defense will be okay, and it’ll be another great season under Jason Candle.
2024 Record 8-5
2024 Rankings Final 74, Preseason 84
Top Transfer: Trayvon Rudolph, WR from Northern Illinois
Top Transfer Lost: Jay’Quan Bostic, S to Bowling Green
Season Opener: at