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We are back with our week four power rankings, and you already know the drill, votes by those folks who live, eat, breathe, sleep, and watch the MAC. A few spots are shaken up, check them out below!
1. Ohio Bobcats (+/- 0 spots from last week) - To earn a clean sweep of the top spot, you have to show it on the field, and the Bobcats did just that against BGSU this weekend. Offensive and defensive scores were poppin' for this Ohio team who raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. BGSU didn't score until the fourth and the Bobcat defense has been unreal allowing less than 10 points per game since their Week 0 loss. This could very well be the best team in the MAC. They get a bye this weekend. (1.000 Average, highest ranking: 1, lowest ranking: 1)
2. Toledo Rockets (+/- 0 spots from last week) - Was there a Toledo hangover after the SJSU win? There might have been for a half anyway. When you're the defending champs, you get everyone's best shot, and WMU gave them all they could handle... until the third quarter. Injuries to Dequan Finn and Quinyon Mitchell only served to fuel the team more as they turned a 10-point halftime deficit into an 18-point win over WMU. The Rockets host the reeling NIU Huskies for homecoming this Saturday. (2.142 Average, highest ranking: 2, lowest ranking: 3)
3. Miami (OH) RedHawks (+/- 0 spots from last week) - Well, no Victory Bell hangover here as the RedHawks clobbered Delaware State at home. The passing game was good enough, but it was the ground game that dominated the day, with 466 yards and six rushing scores for Miami as they keep moving through their schedule. They kick off MAC play this weekend at Kent State. (3.000 Average, highest ranking: 2, lowest ranking: 4)
4. Central Michigan Chippewas (+2 spots from last week) - Welcome to the top four, CMU! A HUGE win over South Alabama on the road, (our selection team went 0-3 on this one) and CMU finds itself at 2-2 on the year, much better than the dismal 1-3 they were looking at. Jase Bauer looked excellent for CMU and the Chips defense did enough when it mattered to help seal the victory. Former Toledo Rocket Carter Bradley didn't have enough to take down CMU, and now it is conference play time as CMU welcomes Michigan MAC rival EMU to Kelly/Shorts this weekend. (4.000 Average, highest ranking: 3, lowest ranking: 5)
5. Akron Zips (+4 spots from last week) - Ok, so the top four seemed easy this week.. after that? Everyone lost in different ways to different opponents. Akron slots in at five because their loss... looked the best? A four OT thriller and the 2023 DJ Irons Show took off in Bloomington. Notre Dame-Ohio State was the talk of the country, but Akron-Indiana was the best game in the state. A couple of missed opportunities to secure a BIG win for the Zips, but they forced the Hoosiers to beat them with everything they had. A heartbreaker and no moral victories for the team (who is now 1-3), but you can't help but be excited about Akron. The Zips host Buffalo in a rematch of last year's 22-21 thriller at UB. (5.571 Average, highest ranking: 4, lowest ranking: 7)
6. Eastern Michigan Eagles (-2 spots from last week) - The Eagles had multiple opportunities to win this game, and they just couldn't find the endzone. Three costly interceptions for both of the Eagles quarterbacks while being limited to under 100 yards passing is not how you want to enter conference play. EMU was outgained on offense 388-152, and while the defense limited Jacksonville State to twenty-one points, you can't win when you have a zero in your points column. EMU travels to Mount Pleasant for their first MAC game on Saturday. (6.00 Average, highest ranking: 5, lowest ranking: 8)
7. Northern Illinois Huskies (+1 spot from last week) - The defense did all it could to help the Huskies get a win at home, but similar to EMU, the offense couldn't get it done. Justin Lynch gave the offense a much-needed spark with his touchdown scoot, and Ethan Hampton and Trayvon Rudolph connected for six, the offense doesn't have a real identity after their season-opening win at Boston College. NIU deployed multiple QB's in the game to mix things up, but it leaves folks to wonder... is Rocky Lombardi still dealing with an injury? NIU hits the road to take on Toledo and has a shot at knocking off the defending champions this weekend if the offense can get into a rhythm. (8.000 Average, highest ranking: 7, lowest ranking:9)
8. Western Michigan Broncos (+2 spots from last week) - The Broncos woke up in Toledo and chose violence, silencing the Glass Bowl with a 24-14 halftime lead with ten points coming in the last 3:30 of the first half. Then, the wheels fell off the upset bid as the Broncos defense surrendered 35 second-half points. Treyson Bourguet looked sharp on the day, and Jalen Buckley had the second-best ground game with 196 and two scores, but two fumbles and an interception in the second half don't help your chances against a high-powered offense on the road. The Broncos look to turn the ship around at home against Ball State this weekend. (8.285 Average, highest ranking: 6, lowest ranking: 12)
9. Bowling Green Falcons (-4 spots from last week) - After an impressive effort against the number two team in the country a week ago, the Falcons (injured and bruised) tangled with the Bobcats, and this week's number one team in the MAC. It was a game that was effectively over after Ohio dominated the first quarter. The turnover defense we saw in Ann Arbor was gone but the defense still did what they could. The offense, again battered and bruised, lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions. It doesn't get easier for BGSU this week as they travel down to Georgia Tech, who lost their last outing against a MAC school (22-21 vs. NIU in 2021). (9.285 Average, highest ranking: 7, lowest ranking: 11)
T-10. Ball State Cardinals (-3 spots from last week) - Well, it is officially panic button time for the Cardinals fans. Getting blasted at home 40-3 against Georgia Southern did the opposite of instilling confidence in this season. 197 total yards, two turnovers, and merely 10 first downs...? Mike Neu owned it in his postgame presser saying "It's on me to get this team prepared and I need to take a look in the mirror". Ball State looked out of sorts on offense and defense. Any hopes of a bowl this season means five MAC wins, and they look to snag their first against WMU at Waldo Stadium this weekend. (9.714 Average, highest ranking: 7, lowest ranking: 11)
T-10. Buffalo Bulls (+2 spot from last week) - Buffalo climbs out of the cellar this week after a solid effort against Louisiana had them within a score late in the game but ultimately couldn't complete the comeback after throwing a pick with 15 seconds to go. Needless to say, the Bulls are thankful non-conference is over. The defense was again non-existent this week but the offense showed some brilliance and that's definitely something to look at heading into conference play. They travel to Akron this Saturday for game one of MAC play. (9.714 Average, highest ranking: 6, lowest ranking: 12)
12. Kent State Golden Flashes (-1 spot from last week) - Their rise from the bottom was short-lived after traveling to Fresno and getting the brakes beat off of them, 53-10. We knew this was going to be a rebuilding year, replacing every starter on offense while learning a whole new playbook, but now the focus turns to MAC play. Kent State gets a hot Miami team at Dix Stadium this Saturday. (11.285 Average, highest ranking: 6, lowest ranking: 12)
Is someone too high? Too low? Let us know what you think!
A big thank you to SSN Ball State, SSN Buffalo, SSN CMU, SSN EMU, SSN NIU, SSN Toledo, and FQ MACtion for voting on this week's power rankings.
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