DeKALB – NIU football plays eight conference games in 2023 against its MAC foes and look to improve upon their 2-6 conference record from a season ago.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
An injury-riddled 2022 season hit the Huskies hard as the 2021 MAC champions followed up their conference championship with a 3-9 record, finishing last in the MAC West division. Despite losing key pieces such as former wide receiver Cole Tucker and former defensive end Izayah Green-May, the Huskies are much healthier in 2023 and look to regain their 2021 form.
With redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi and redshirt junior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph set to return after missing almost the entirety of 2022 due to injuries, expect the Huskies to at least double their win total from 2022 with a seven or eight win season.
UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO
The defending MAC champions should be in store for another successful season in 2023. The Rockets posted a 9-5 record in 2022, the best in the MAC West division, and defeated Ohio University in the MAC Championship. Toledo also defeated Liberty University in the Boca Raton Bowl last season.
I expect the Rockets to have an even better 2023. Four of Toledo’s five losses last season were one score games. I believe a few more of those games go Toledo’s way this year, and it will win ten or more games.
OHIO UNIVERSITY
The Bobcats posted the best record in the MAC last season, finishing 10-4 and cruising to first place in the MAC East. However, Ohio was unable to win the MAC, falling to Toledo in the championship.
With MAC Offensive Player of the Year graduate quarterback Kurtis Rourke returning for one more season, the Bobcats will once again be a powerhouse in the MAC. I believe that Ohio once again will win double digit games and take home the MAC championship.
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
The Eagles had an impressive 2022, finishing in second place in the MAC west with a 9-4 record. Eastern Michigan just missed out on a chance to play for the MAC championship due to being on the losing side of a head-to-head tiebreaker against Toledo.
The Eagles finished 2022 on a high note, winning their final four games, including a victory over San Jose State University in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. They will once again be one of the top teams in the MAC and will be Toledo’s biggest threat in the MAC West.
UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO
Buffalo had a solid 2022 season, finishing the season with a 7-6 record and placing second in the MAC West. The Bulls were very up and down last season, having two separate three game losing streaks and a five game winning streak.
The Bulls are already off to an 0-2 start and given their recent history as a streaky team, I believe they will take a slight step back and win five or six games in 2023.
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
Bowling Green was right in the middle of the pack in 2022, finishing 6-7 and never falling more than two games below .500 or being two games over .500. The Falcons finished 2022 in third place in the MAC East.
The majority of Bowling Green’s wins last year were extremely close and the majority of its losses were not. I expect the Falcons to win four or five games in 2023.
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
The Broncos turned in a 5-7 2022 campaign, earning a third-place finish in the MAC West. Back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher running back Sean Tyler transferred to the University of Minnesota.
I believe that Western Michigan will struggle to compete with Toledo, Eastern Michigan and NIU in a crowded MAC West. Because of the strength of the MAC West, I think that Western Michigan will once again hover around the four to five mark.
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
The Golden Flashes finished in fourth place in the MAC East in 2022 with a record of 5-7. Kent State played a tough schedule last season with two of its losses coming against No. 1 University of Georgia and No. 7 University of Oklahoma.
Although the Golden Flashes play an easier schedule in 2023, they could be in for a long season. Kent State has struggled more than any other team in the MAC this year, being outscored 84-12 through two weeks. Expect this team to win three or four games.
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY
Ball State finished the 2022 season with a 5-7 record, finishing in fourth place in the MAC West. The Cardinals raced out to a 5-4 record last season but ended the year on a three game skid, ending any possibility of making the MAC Championship.
The Cardinals have had a brutal schedule through the first two weeks, opening up with road games against the University of Kentucky and the University of Georgia, losing both games. I believe that Ball State will improve as its schedule gets easier, and it will win six or seven games.
MIAMI UNIVERSITY (OHIO)
The RedHawks posted a 6-7 record in 2022 but finished in fifth place in a strong MAC East. After missing the majority of the 2022 season with an injury, redshirt junior quarterback Brett Gabbert is once again healthy for the RedHawks.
Gabbert was Third Team All-MAC in 2021. I believe that with Gabbert healthy, he will return to 2021 form, and Miami will be one of the most improved teams in the MAC. This team can win eight or nine games.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Central Michigan is coming off a 4-8, fifth-place finish in the MAC West in 2022. The Chippewas won just one home game against MAC opponents last year.
I believe that, with NIU and Ball State making improvements this season, Central Michigan will once again be towards the bottom of the MAC West and the MAC in general. I expect the Chippewas to win four or five games this season.
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
The Zips are coming off a rough 2022, in which they won just two games. Akron finished in last in the MAC and finished with a 1-7 conference record. The Zips’ only wins in 2022 came against NIU and Saint Francis University.
Following such a difficult 2022 season, the Zips are bound to improve. At 1-1 in 2023, they are already halfway to last season’s win total. Expect Akron to win four or five games.
