The prodigal children have returned to the promised land of bowl games and championships. The Mid-American Conference was established as a five-school league in 1946, and the University of Ohio is the only remaining charter member.

Today the MAC is composed of 13 teams, but next year Northern Illinois will leave for the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member.

UMass kickd off its conference schedule Saturday, Oct. 4 when it hosts Western Michigan on Homecoming Day. 

Each team will play an eight-game conference schedule, and the two teams with the best conference records will play for the MAC championship on Dec. 6 at Ford Field in Detroit. In 2024, seven MAC teams accepted bowl bids.

  • UMass (Minutemen)
  • Amherst, MA.
  • Enrollment: 24,000
  • 2024 Record 2-10 (Ind)
  • 2025 Season Over/Under: 3.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference Schedule: Temple, Bryant, @ Iowa, @ Missouri
  • Coach: Joe Harasymiak (1st Season)
  • Impact Players: QB Jordan Grant; QB AJ Hairston; RB Rocko Griffin
  • Gameday Tickets: $25
  • Venue: McGuirk Alumni Stadium (18,000)
  • Surface: AstroTurf RootZone 3DH
  • Notable Alumni: Greg Landry; Milt Morin; Victor Cruz
  • Odds to win MAC: 6,000/1

  • Western Michigan University (Broncos)
  • Kalamazoo, MI
  • Enrollment: 14,300
  • UMass Game: Sat., Oct. 4 @ McGuirk 3:30 p.m.
  • Head-to-Head: 0-2
  • 2024 Record 6-6/5-3; 5th place
  • 2025 Season Over/Under: 4.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference: @Michigan State; No. Texas; @Illinois; URI
  • Coach: Lance Taylor (3rd season) 
  • Impact Players: QB Brady Jones; DT Tyson Lee; TE Blake Bosma
  • Driving Distance from Amherst 827 Miles
  • Drive Time: 12 hrs. 25 min.
  • Closest Nonstop Airport from BIA* to Venue: Detroit (128 M)
  • Gameday Tickets: $21 & Up
  • Venue: Waldo Stadium (36,361)
  • Surface: FieldTurf
  • Notable Alumni: Chukwuma Okorafor, Greg Jennings
  • Misc.: WMU Men’s Hockey won NCAA championship
  • Odds to win MAC: 1,600/1

  • Kent State University (Golden Flashes)
  • Kent, Ohio
  • Enrollment: 25,500
  • UMass Game: Sat., Oct. 11 at Kent TBD
  • UM Head to Head: 1-1
  • 2024 Record: 0-12/0-8; 12th place
  • 2025: Over/Under: 1.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference: Merrimack; @Texas Tech; @FSU; @Oklahoma
  • Coach: Mark Carney (Interim)
  • Impact Players:  RB Jordan Nubin; WR Dashawn Martin  
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 590 Miles
  • Driving Time: 8 hours, 50 minutes
  • Closest Nonstop Airport from BIA to Venue: Pittsburgh (89 M)
  • Venue: Dix Stadium (25,319)
  • Surface: FieldTurf
  • Gameday Tickets: $20 & Up
  • Notable Alumni: Julien Edelman
  • Misc.: “One touchdown catch from last year returns.”— Yahoo Sports
  • Odds to win MAC: 20,000/1

  • University of Buffalo
  • Buffalo, N.Y.
  • Enrollment: 21,300
  • UMass Game: Sat., Oct. 18, @McGuirk, 3:30 p.m.
  • Head-to-Head: 4-5
  • 2024 Record: 9-4/6-2; 3rd place
  • 2025 Over/Under: 6.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference: @Minn; Saint Francis; Troy; UConn
  • Coach: Pete Lembo (2nd Season)
  • Impact Players: RB Al-Jay Henderson; DT Dion Crawford; LB Red Murdock
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 380 Miles
  • Driving Time: 5 Hrs. 45 Min.
  • Closest Nonstop Airport from BIA to Venue: Buffalo (8 M)
  • Single Game Tickets: $32
  • Venue: UB Stadium (29,000)
  • Surface: A-Turf Titan
  • Notable Alumni: Gerry Philbin, Khalil Mack
  • Odds to win MAC: 400/1

  • Central Michigan University (Chippewas)
  • Mount Pleasant, MI.
  • Enrollment: 14,500
  • UMass Game: Sat., Oct. 25 at CMU, TBA
  • Head-to-Head: 0-2
  • 2024 Record: 2-6/4-8; 10th place
  • 2025 Over/Under: 5.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference: @San Jose St; @Pitt; @Michigan; Wagner 
  • Coach: Matt Drinkall (1st Season)
  • Impact Players: LB Jordan Kwiatkowski; LB Dakota Cochran
  • Driving Distance from Amherst 743 M**
  • Drive Time: 11 Hrs.
  • Closest Nonstop Airport from BIA to Stadium: Detroit (159 M)
  • Venue: Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255)
  • Surface: Astro Turf GameDay Grass
  • Game Day Tickets: $23 & Up
  • Notable Alumni: Gary Hogeboom; Antonio Brown
  • **Shortest drive is through Canada; Bring Passport
  • Odds to win MAC: 2,000/1

  • University of Akron (Zips)
  • Akron, Ohio
  • Enrollment: 14,800 (2024)
  • UMass Game: Tues., Nov. 4, at Akron 7 p.m.
  • Head-to-Head: 2-3
  • 2024 Record: 3-5/4-8; 8th place
  • 2025 Over/Under: 4.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference: Wyoming; @Nebraska; @UAB; Duquesne
  • Coach: Joe Moorhead (2nd season)
  • Impact Players: QB Ben Finley; OT Darrell Johnson
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 592 M
  • Drive Time: 8 hrs, 37 minutes
  • Closest Non Stop Airport from BIA to Stadium: Pittsburgh (110 M)
  • Venue: InfoCision Stadium (30,000)
  • Surface: Rhino Blend 48 AstroTurf
  • Game Day Tickets: $25 & Up
  • Notable Alumni: Jason Taylor
  • Odds to win MAC: Ineligible (Low Academic Rate)

  • Northern Illinois University
  • DeKalb, Ill.
  • Enrollment: 15,415 (2023)
  • UMass Game: Wed., Nov. 12 at McGuirk (7 p.m.)
  • Head-to-Head: 0-3
  • 2024 Record: 4-4/8-5; T-7th
  • 2025 Over/Under: 6.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference: Holy Cross; @Maryland; @Miss. St.; San Diego St.
  • Coach: Thomas Hammack (6th season)
  • Impact Players: RB Telly Johnson; QB Josh Holst; QB Jackson Proctor
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 895 miles
  • Driving Time: 16 Hrs.
  • Closest Nonstop Airport from BIA to Stadium: Chicago (62 miles)
  • Venue: Huskie Stadium (28,211)
  • Surface: AstroTurf
  • Game Day Tickets: $33
  • Notable Alumni: P.J. Fleck; Kenny Golloday
  • MISC: Defeated Fresno St. 28-20 in 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
  • Odds to win MAC: 1,200/1
  • Ohio University  (Check No.3 & No. 13 stats vs Rutgers et al)
  • Athens, Oh.
  • Enrollment: 18,500
  • UMass Game: Tues., Nov. 18 at Ohio 7 p.m.
  • Head-to-Head: 0-4
  • 2024 Record: 7-1/11-3 (T-1; MAC Champion)
  • 2025 Over/Under: 7.5 wins
  • Non-Conference: @Rutgers; West Va.; @Ohio State; Gardner-Webb
  • Coach: Brian Smith (1st Season)
  • Impact Players: QB Parker Navarro; TE Mason Williams; RB Sieh Bangura
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 690 miles
  • Driving Time: 11 Hrs.
  • Closest Nonstop Airport from BIA to Stadium: Columbus (82 M)
  • Venue: Peden Stadium (25,200; 98th year)
  • Surface: FieldTurf
  • Game Day Tickets: $20 & Up
  • Notable Alumni: Blair Brown
  • MISC: Defeated Jacksonville State 30-27 in the Cure Bowl)
  • Odds to win MAC: 320/1

  • Bowling Green State University (Falcons)
  • Bowling Green, Ohio
  • Enrollment: 20,300
  • UMass Game: Tues., Nov. 25 @ McGuirk, TBD
  • Head-to-Head: 0-4
  • 2024 Record: 6-2/7-6 (T-3)
  • 2025 Over/Under: 6.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference: Lafayette; @Cincinnati; Liberty; @Louisville
  • Coach: Eddie George (1st Season)
  • Impact Players: QB Drew Pyne; DE Collins Acheampong; C Alex Padgett
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 680 Miles
  • Driving Time: 10 Hrs. 15 Min.
  • Closest Nonstop Airport from BIA to Stadium: Detroit  (71 miles)
  • Venue: Doyt Perry Stadium (33,500)
  • Surface: FieldTurf
  • Game Day Tickets: $8 & Up
  • Notable Alumni: Urban Meyer (coach); Phil Villapiano
  • Odds to win MAC: 1,000/1

OFF SCHEDULE IN ‘25

  • Ball State University (Cardinals)
  • Muncie, Ind.
  • Enrollment: 14,900
  • Head-to-Head: 1-1
  • 2024 Record: 2-6/3-9 (T-10)
  • 2025 Over/Under: 3.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference: @Purdue; @Auburn; UNH; @UConn
  • Coach: Mike Uremovich (1st Year)
  • Impact Players: RB Qua Ashley; LB Joey Stemler
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 830 M (12 Hrs. 50 Min.) 
  • Closest Nonstop Airport from BIA to Stadium: Cincinnati (104 M)
  • Venue: Scheumann Stadium (22,500)
  • Surface: FieldTurf
  • Game Day Tickets: $7 & Up
  • Notable Alumni: Art Stringer
  • Odds to win MAC: 7,000/1
  • Eastern Michigan University (Eagles)
  • Ypsilanti, MI
  • Enrollment: 12,600
  • Head to Head: 2-4
  • 2024 Record: 5-7/2-6; T-9th place
  • Non-Conference: @Texas State; LIU; @Kentucky; Louisiana
  • Coach: Chris Creighton (12th Season)
  • Impact Players: QB Noah Kim; DT Tyrell Martin; WR Terry Lockett Jr.
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 671 Miles
  • Drive Time: 10 Hours
  • Closest Nonstop Airport from BIA to Stadium: Detroit (35 M)
  • Venue: Rynearson Field (The Factory; 30,200)
  • Surface: FieldTurf (Gray)
  • Gameday Tickets $15 & Up
  • Notable Alumni: Maxx Crosby, Charlie Batch
  • Odds to win MAC: 3,000/1
  • University of Toledo (Rockets)
  • Toledo, Oh.
  • Enrollment: 14,400
  • Head to Head: 0-7
  • 2024 Record: 4-4; 7-5 (T-7th)
  • 2025 Over/Under: 8.5 Wins
  • Non-Conference: @Kentucky, Western Ky, Morgan St., @Wash. St.
  • Coach: Jason Candle (10th Season; Two-time MAC coach of year)
  • Impact Players: LB Langston Long; TE Jacob Petersen; DB Braden Awls
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 687 M
  • Drive Time: 10 1/2 Hrs.
  • Closest Nonstop from BIA to Stadium: Detroit (55 M)
  • Venue: Glass Bowl
  • Surface: FieldTurf
  • Gameday Tickets: $35
  • Notable Alumni: Kareem Hunt, Mel Long
  • MISC: Glass Bowl built in ’36 (WPA); Toledo home of National Museum of the Great Lakes
  • Odds to win MAC: 230/1

  • Miami of Ohio (RedHawks)
  • Oxford, Oh.
  • Enrollment: 18,500
  • Head to Head: 1-5
  • 2024 Record: 7-1/9-5
  • 2025 Win Total: 6.5
  • Non-Conference: @Wisc., @Rutgers, UNLV, Lindenwood
  • Coach: Chuck Martin (12th Season)
  • Impact Players: RB Kenny Tracy; QB DeQuan Finn; DE Kam Wilson
  • Driving Distance from Amherst: 793 Miles 
  • Drive Time: 14 Hrs.; 40 minutes
  • Closest Nonstop from Bradley: Cincinnati (50 Miles)
  • Venue: Yager Stadium (24,000)
  • Surface: FieldTurf
  • Gameday Tickets: $19 & Up
  • Notable Alumni: Ben Roethlisberger, John Harbaugh, Sean McVay
  • Odds to win MAC: 700/1