Sports Editor Frank Gogola reassesses the MAC football landscape now that all 13 teams have played at least four conference games. With the MAC Championship game Dec. 5 at Ford Field in Detroit, who makes the cut?

MAC East

1. Bowling Green Falcons (5-3, 3-1 MAC)

Original prediction: 11-1, 8-0 MAC; first in MAC East

Remaining schedule: at Akron, vs. Kent State, at Toledo, vs. Ball State

Updated prediction: 8-4, 6-2 MAC; second in MAC East

In a nutshell: Losing quarterback Matt Johnson after the first game has proven to be not too big of a loss for the Falcons. But, they have a tough road ahead with their two biggest tests — Akron and Toledo — away from home.

2. Akron Zips (4-4, 2-2 MAC)

Original prediction: 7-5, 6-2 MAC; second in MAC East

Remaining schedule: vs. Bowling Green, at Buffalo, vs. UMass, at Kent State

Updated prediction: 8-4, 6-2 MAC; first in MAC East

In a nutshell: The Zips were flying high — and well above my prediction — until they lost the last two weeks to Ohio and Ball State. They will likely play in the MAC Championship game if they beat Bowling Green; they’ve got a chance to upset the Falcons.

3. Ohio Bobcats (4-5, 2-3 MAC)

Original prediction: 6-6, 4-4 MAC; fourth in MAC East

Remaining schedule: vs. Buffalo, vs. NIU, at Miami (Ohio)

Updated prediction: 5-7, 3-5 MAC; fourth in MAC East

In a nutshell: The Bobcats have been on a bumpy ride as of late; they either win in tight games or get blown out. Two of their final three games are at home, and getting that coveted sixth win to become bowl eligible may be a stretch.

3. Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (2-7, 2-3 MAC)

Original prediction: 2-10, 1-7 MAC; sixth in MAC East

Remaining schedule: vs. Western Michigan, at Central Michigan, vs. Ohio

Updated prediction: 3-9, 3-5 MAC; third in MAC East

In a nutshell: The RedHawks have been a surprise in 2014 under Chuck Martin, first-year head coach. Redshirt senior quarterback Andrew Hendrix has finally gotten regular playing time, and he hasn’t disappointed, throwing for 2,597 yards and 19 TDs.

3. Massachusetts Minutemen (2-7, 2-3 MAC)

Original prediction: 0-12, 0-8 MAC; seventh in MAC East

Remaining schedule: vs. Ball State, at Akron, vs. Buffalo

Updated prediction: 3-9, 3-5 MAC; fifth in MAC East

In a nutshell: The Minutemen have been better than advertised in 2014, their penultimate season in the MAC. They’ve played in some tight games, with their losses coming by 23, three, three, 41, five, one, and seven points.

6. Buffalo Bulls (3-5, 1-3 MAC)

Original prediction: 8-4, 5-3 MAC; third in MAC East

Remaining schedule: at Ohio, vs. Akron, vs. Kent State, at UMass

Updated prediction: 4-8, 2-6 MAC; sixth in MAC East

In a nutshell: The Bulls were expected to be a contender in the MAC East, but they’ve faceplanted. Their season has gone downhill after losing 36-35 Oct. 4 to Bowling Green. Head coach Jeff Quinn was fired one week later after a loss to Eastern Michgan.

7. Kent State Golden Flashes (1-7, 0-4 MAC)

Original prediction: 4-8, 2-6 MAC; fifth in MAC East

Remaining schedule: vs. Toledo, at Bowling Green, at Buffalo, vs. Akron

Updated prediction: 1-11, 0-8 MAC; seventh in MAC East

In a nutshell: This was supposed to be a season where Kent State continued the rebuilding process, but it has struggled all around. The Golden Flashes’ schedule is stacked against them, and they may not get their next win until 2015.

MAC West

1. Toledo Rockets (5-3, 4-0 MAC)

Original prediction: 8-4, 6-2 MAC; second in MAC West

Remaining schedule: at Kent State, at NIU, vs. Bowling Green, at Eastern Michigan

Updated prediction: 8-4, 7-1 MAC; first in MAC West

In a nutshell: The Rockets are an offensive juggernaut but rank last in the MAC in pass defense. A Toledo win over NIU 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at Huskie Stadium wouldn’t surprise me. The Rockets may be on a high and get knocked off by the Falcons the next week.

2. NIU Huskies (6-2, 3-1 MAC)

Original prediction: 10-2, 8-0 MAC; first in MAC West

Remaining schedule: at Ball State, vs. Toledo, at Ohio, at Western Michigan

Updated prediction: 9-3, 6-2 MAC; second in MAC West

In a nutshell: The Huskies have refound their identity as a running team, but they still need to be consistent in all three phases. They get Toledo at home, but they don’t look like a team that is ready to or deserves to play in a MAC title game.

2. Western Michigan Broncos (5-3, 3-1 MAC)

Original prediction: 3-9, 2-6 MAC; fifth in MAC West

Remaining schedule: at Miami (Ohio), vs. Eastern Michigan, at CMU, vs. NIU

Updated prediction: 8-4, 6-2 MAC, third in MAC West

In a nutshell: Jarvion Franklin, true freshman running back, has been a workhorse, leading the MAC with 1,148 rushing yards and 19 rushing TDs. The Broncos’ lone conference loss came by one point, 20-19, in overtime Oct. 4 against Toledo.

4. Central Michigan Chippewas (5-4, 3-2 MAC)

Original prediction: 6-6, 5-3 MAC; third in MAC West

Remaining schedule: at Eastern Michigan, vs. Miami (Ohio), vs. WMU

Updated prediction: 7-5, 5-3 MAC; fourth in MAC West

In a nutshell: One week after upsetting the Huskies, the Chippewas lost at home to Ball State, 32-29. Having already fallen to Toledo, the loss put an end to the Chippewas’ chances to play in the title game barring complete chaos in the division

5. Ball State Cardinals (3-5, 2-2 MAC)

Original prediction: 7-5, 4-4 MAC; fourth in MAC West

Remaining schedule: vs. NIU, at UMass, vs. Eastern Michigan, at Bowling Green

Updated prediction: 5-7, 4-4 MAC; fifth in MAC West

In a nutshell: Things were ugly for the Cardinals until they knocked off Central Michigan and Akron the last two weeks. Given their remaining schedule, they likely will finish .500 in MAC play if they show the effort they did against CMU and Akron.

6. Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-6, 1-3 MAC)

Original prediction: 2-10, 1-7 MAC; sixth in MAC West

Remaining schedule: vs. Central Michigan, at WMU, at Ball State, vs. Toledo

Updated prediction: 2-10, 1-7 MAC; sixth in MAC West

In a nutshell: It’s a rebuilding season at EMU, and there are few, if any, wins remaining on its schedule. The recent play of freshman quarterback Reginald Bell Jr. has made future seasons look a little brighter in Ypsilanti, Mich.

MAC East predictions originally appeared in the Aug. 26 issue of the Northern Star. Read online: bit.ly/1ld6f1e

MAC West predictions originally appeared in the Aug. 27 issue of the Northern Star. Read online: bit.ly/1tByQ3o