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MAC Football Week #1 Quick Notes

From the MAC office

The MAC opens its 60th season of football with six games Thursday and six
additional contests on Saturday. The MAC takes the national stage early with
Thursday's Boston College at Central Michigan game slated for an ESPN2
telecast at 6 p.m.

The two defending MAC Divisional Champions open the season versus the
defending co-champions from the Big Ten. 2005 MAC and East Division Champion
Akron opens at Penn State (3:30, ESPN2) and 2005 MAC West Division title
holder Northern Illinois takes on No. 1 Ohio State (3:30 ABC Sports) on
Saturday.

Cleveland Browns Stadium will be the site of the Bowling Green versus
Wisconsin match up on Saturday (7:00 ERT/Game Plan). Cleveland previously
hosted two MAC games at old Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. In a
doubleheader on Oct. 18, 1975, Toledo defeated Western Michigan 25-7 and
Bowling Green topped Kent State 35-9. 2006 College Football Hall of Fame
inductee Don Nehlen was head coach of that 1975 BGSU squad.

Big Ten member Northwestern plays at Miami Thursday night on ESPNU (7:30)
and Kent State hosts Minnesota also on Thursday at 7:30 (ESPN360). Minnesota
head coach Glenn Mason served as head coach for the Golden Flashes from
1986-87 and was MAC Coach of the Year in 1986 for directing KSU to an 8-4
record and 6-2 league slate. The MAC has 19 games with Big Ten members this
season and plays each Big Ten school at least once.

Seven MAC opponents on the opening weekend played in bowl games last year
and four of them were winners - Boston College (MPC Computers) at Central
Michigan, Ohio State (Tostitos Fiesta), hosting Northern Illinois, Penn
State (Orange) hosting Akron, and Wisconsin (Capital One) vs. Bowling Green
at Browns Stadium. Other bowl foes are Minnesota (Gaylord Hotels Music) at
Kent State, Northwestern (Vitalis Sun) at Miami and Iowa State (EV1.net
Houston) hosting Toledo.

While Penn State head coach Joe Paterno will be coaching his 475th career
game when his Nittany Lions host defending MAC Champ Akron, five other head
coaches will be making their debuts this week in games involving MAC teams
or their opponents. Two newcomers will square off against each other when
Buffalo (Turner Gill) hosts Temple (Al Golden). Three coaches will mark
their first game as head coach when Bowling Green plays Wisconsin (Brian
Bielema); Miami hosts Northwestern (Pat Fitzgerald); and Ohio welcomes
Tennessee-Martin (Jason Simpson).

This week's games - thursday - August 31

Thursday - August 31

Boston College (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at Central Michigan (0-0, 0-0 MAC) - 6 pm

Site: Kelly Shorts Stadium (30,199/field turf) - Mount Pleasant, Mich.

2005 Records: BC 9-3 (5-3 ACC Atlantic); CMU 6-5 (5-3 MAC West)

Television: ESPN2.John Saunders (play-by-play), Craig James (analyst), Doug
Flutie (sideline)

Series: BC leads 1-0 . the Eagles won 43-0 in 2002 at Chestnut Hill.

Coaches: BC-Tom O'Brien (66-42, 10th season);  CMU-Brian Kelly (10-12,
second year at CMU; 128-47-2 16th season overall).

Notes: This is the first ever visit by an ACC team to CMU . last year the
Chips opened the season by hosting Big Ten foe Indiana (L 13-20) . Brian
Brunner is the leading candidate to replace the departed Kent Smith (2,799
yards, 16 TD) at QB ... leading rusher Ontario Sneed (1,065 yards, 8 TD)
returns after a stellar freshman campaign . CMU's most acclaimed player is
MAC Defensive Player of the Year Dan Bazuin (25.5 TFL, 16 sacks) . Bazuin
and the CMU defense will be challenged by Eagles' QB Matt Ryan, who went 5-0
as a starter last year, while directing the ACC's No. 1 squad in total
offense (387.8 ypg).



Eastern Michigan (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Ball State (0-0, 0-0 MAC) - 6:30

Site: Sheumann Stadium (22,500/grass) - Muncie, Ind.

2005 Records: EMU 4-7 (3-5 MAC West) BSU 4-7 (4-4 MAC West)

Television: Comcast Local - Ben Holden (play-by-play); Rob Otto (analyst).

Series: BSU leads 25-20-2 . BSU captured last year's game 26-25 in Ypsilanti
. the teams have split the last four meetings in Muncie . BSU has won two of
the last three overall.

Coaches: EMU-Jeff Genyk (8-14, third year); BSU-Brady Hoke (10-24, fourth
season).

Notes: This will be the lone conference game in the MAC this weekend . BSU
ended last season by winning 3 of its 4 final games . 3 of EMU's conference
losses last year were by a total of 10 points . BSU returns QB Joey Lynch,
who set a school record with 18 TD passes in 2005, completing 63.1 pct.
(198-314) of his pass attempts . Cardinals soph B.J. Hill rushed for 420
yards and was named second team Freshman All-America by the College Football
news and Rivals.com last year, as was his teammate LB Bryant Haines
(team-high 83 tackles) . EMU will feature a new starting QB in either Tyler
Jones (R-So.) or Andy Schmitt (R-Fr.) . whoever start will target WR Eric
Deslauriers, who has career numbers of 174 receptions and 22 touchdowns.



Temple (0-0, Independent) at Buffalo (0-0, 0-0 MAC) - 7:00

Site: UB Stadium (29,013/artificial sportexc 46) - Buffalo, N.Y.

2005 Records: TU 0-11 (Independent); UB 1-10 (1-7 MAC East)

Television: CN8 - Chris Carrino (play-by-play), Jon Ritchie (analyst); Rhea
Hughes (sideline)

Series: UB leads 9-1 . this is the first meeting since the Owls' only win in
the series, a 21-8 triumph in 1970 . UB last won 33-0 in 1969.

Coaches: TU-Al Golden (0-0, first game); UB-Turner Gill (0-0, first game)

Notes: Rookie head coaches face each other as future (2007) MAC member
Temple and Al Golden challenge Turner Gill's first Buffalo squad . the Owls
have a 12-game losing streak, last winning Nov. 13, 2004, with a 34-24
decision over Syracuse . the Bulls' lone win last year was a 10-6 triumph at
Kent State . Temple will unveil a new starting QB with sophomores Shane
Kelly and Colin Clancy and frosh Jarrett Dunston the candidates . UB
signalcaller Drew Willy returns after starting 8 games in 2005 as a freshman
. Willy set a school record with his 60.6 pct. on pass attempts (149-246 for
1,481 yards, 6 TDs) . both teams return 8 starters on offense, but Temple
may have the edge defensively with 9 starters back to UB's 5.



Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Kent State (0-0, 0-0 MAC) - 7:30

Site: Dix Stadium (29,287/field turf) - Kent, Ohio

2005 Record: UM 7-5 (4-4 Big Ten); KSU 1-10 (0-8 MAC)

Television: ESPN360 - Frank Giardina (play-by-play), Ron Brown (analyst)

Series: first meeting.

Coaches: UM-Glen Mason (58-50, 10th season at school; 117-114-1, 21st season
overall); KSU-Doug Martin (6-16, third season).

Notes: The Gophers are the first Big Ten team ever to play at Kent State as
the Golden Flashes open at home for the first time since 2002 . Glen Mason
was KSU's head coach in 1986-87 . the Golden Flashes return 18 starters (9
offense, 9 defense) and its entire defensive backfield from 2005 . UM has 17
starters returning from last year's team that played in the Music City Bowl
... this is the third consecutive season opener for KSU vs. a Big ten foe
(Michigan State 2005; Iowa 2004) .  KSU QB Michael Machen passed for 2,071
yards and 11 TDs last year . LB Daniel Muir is the lone returning All-MAC
selection back for KSU . the Flashes played 14 true freshman last year . the
Gophers are the only team in the nation to have rushed and passed for over
2,000 yards in each of the last 7 seasons.



Northwestern (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Miami (0-0, 0-0 MAC) - 7:30

Site: Yager Stadium (24,286/field turf) - Oxford, Ohio

2005 Records: NU 7-5 (5-3 Big Ten); MU 7-4 (5-3 MAC East)

Television: ESPNU- Mike Gleason (play-by-play), Chris Martin (analyst),
Quint Kessenich (sideline)

Series: Miami leads 6-1 . the RedHawks have won the last five in a row .
most recent meeting was a 44-14 Miami triumph in 2003 . among Miami's
victories is a 1995, 30-28 win over the Big Ten and Rose Bowl bound
Wildcats, then ranked No. 25.

Coaches: NU-Pat Fitzgerald (0-0, first game); MU-Shane Montgomery (7-4,
second year)

Notes: Pat Fitzgerald makes his head coaching debut as he takes over the
program following the unexpected death of Randy Walker in June . Walker
served as Miami's head coach from 1990-98 prior to going to Northwestern .
Miami lost 19 seniors from last year's squad and will build behind new QB
Mike Kokal (15-27, 139 yards in 2 years) . all-purpose Ryan Robinson will
display his talent as WR (167 rec., 2,519 yards, 14 TDs) and PR (103 ret.,
14.6 ypr, 6 TDs) . the Wildcats are the second Big Ten team to play at Miami
(Iowa, 2002) . NU will look to replace Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
(as selected by media) Brett Basanez (3,622 passing yards, 21 TDs), but
brings back Big Ten Freshman of the Year (media and coaches) Tyrell Sutton
(1,474 rushing yards, 16 TDs) as well as all five starting OL.



Toledo (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Iowa State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) - 7:00

Site: Jack Trice Stadium (46,721/grass) - Ames, Iowa

2005 Records: UT 9-3 (6-2 MAC West); ISU 7-5 (4-4 Big 12 North)

Television: None

Series: first meeting . ISU returns the visit to Toledo in 2007.

Coaches: UT-Tom Amstutz (45-18, seventh season); ISU-Dan McCarney (52-77, 12
year)

Notes: Although Toledo returns 16 starts, QB Bruce Gradkowski (2,469 yards,
29 TDs) is not one of them . sophomore Clint Cochran (33-42, 262 yards, 1
TD) steps in and has a starting assignment at Fresno State in 2005 on his
resume . three all-MAC players do return for UT - LB Mike Alston, OT John
Greco and TE Chris Hopkins . Rocket WR Steve Odom has a reception in 37
consecutive games, the longest active streak in the nation . Tom Amstutz
needs one win to tie Gary Darnell (WMU 1997-04) for 19th place all-time in
MAC history . Cyclone QB Bret Meyer tossed 19 TD passes last year in leading
ISU to the Houston Bowl . UT is 0-2 all-time vs. the Big 12, losing twice to
Kansas . UT and ISU both have produced 10 defensive TDs from 2003-05, tied
for the fifth highest total in the nation.


Saturday - Sept. 2

Akron (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Penn State (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) -3:30

Site: Beaver Stadium (107,282/grass) - University Park, Pa.

2005 Records: UA 7-6 (5-3 MAC East); PSU 11-1 (7-1 Big Ten)

Television: ESPN2 - Pam Ward (play-by-play, Mike Gottfried (analyst), Jimmy
Dykes (sideline)

Series: PSU leads 2-0 . the Nittany Lions won 70-24 in 1999 and 48-10 in
2004.

Coaches: UA- J.D. Brookhart (13-11, third season); PSU- Joe Paterno
(354-117-3, 41st season)

Notes: The defending MAC Champion Zips open at co-Big Ten title holder Penn
State . Akron returns QB Luke Getsy (3,455 yards, 23 TDs) who led UA to its
first-ever MAC title and bowl game last season . the Zips defense was much
improved last year, jumping from a No. 8 MAC Ranking in 2004 (425.9 ypg
allowed) to No. 2 in 2005 (339.8 ypg) . anchoring UA's stop troops this year
is DL Jermaine Reed (13.5 tfl, 7 sacks), LB Kevin Grant (73 tackles, 11.5
tfl as a frosh) and DL Kiki Gonzalez (7 tfl) . the Orange Bowl champion
Nittany Lions lose Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (as voted by head
coaches) QB Michael Robinson and return just eight starters (4 offense, 4
defense) . Akron's three consecutive winning seasons is its best since
joining the I-A ranks (1987) . PSU looks to produce back-to-back winning
campaigns for the first time since 1998-99.



Northern Illinois (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Ohio State (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) - 3:30

Site: Ohio Stadium (102,329/grass) - Columbus, Ohio

2005 Records: NIU 7-5 (6-2 MAC West); OSU 10-2 (7-1 Big Ten)

Television: ABC - Mark Jones (play-by-play), David Norrie (analyst).

Series: first meeting

Coaches: NIU- Joe Novak (54-60, 11th season); OSU- Jim Tressel (50-13, sixth
season at school; 185-70-2, 21st season overall).

Notes: The Huskies will open the campaign at No. 1 ranked Ohio State . both
head coaches at one time served as an assistant coach at MAC member Miami -
Novak 1974-76 and Tressel 1979-80 . the Huskies are paced by TB Garrett
Wolfe, who averaged 175.6 rushing yards per game and 200.2 all-purpose yards
per game last year . NIU named Phil Horvath (168-238, 2,001 yards, 18 TDs in
9 games) as its starting QB . the Buckeyes feature the double Heisman
candidate team of QB Troy Smith (2,282 pass yards, 16 TDs) and FL Ted Ginn,
Jr. (803 yards, 4 TDs; 29.6 ypr on kickoffs), as well as TB Antonio Pittman
(1,331 yards, 7 TDs) . NIU returns seven starters, OSU just two starters on
defense return . in three of the last four years, the Buckeyes have finished
the season in the top five (No. 1 in 2002; No. 4 in 2003 and 2005) . NIU has
been MAC West Division co-champion in four of the last five seasons.



Western Michigan (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Indiana (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) - 6:00

Site: Memorial Stadium (52,354/astro-play) - Bloomington, Ind.

2005 records: WMU 7-4 (5-3 MAC West); IU 4-7 (1-7 Big Ten)

Television: None

Series: IU leads 2-0 . the Hoosiers were triumphant in 1995, 24-10, and
1998, 45-30.

Coaches: WMU- Bill Cubit (7-4, second season at school; 41-22-1, seventh
season overall); IU- Terry Hoeppner (4-7, second season at school; 52-32,
eighth season overall).

Notes: The Broncos won five league games last year after going winless in
MAC play in 2004, amounting to the greatest single season turnaround in
league history . the Hoosier are coached by former Miami mentor Terry
Hoeppner (1999-2004) . QB Ryan Cubit returns after suffering a broken leg in
the fourth game of 2005 (65-108, 674 yards, 6 TDs) and earning the season
back in an NCAA ruling . WMU will have to replace three offensive producers
- MAC Offensive Player of the Year in WR Greg Jennings (98 rec., 1,259
yards, 14 TDs), RB Trovon Riley (1,004 yards, 6 TDs) and TE Tony Scheffler
(57 rec., 670 yards, 9 TDs) . Mark Bond (456 yards, 3 TDs) could step up
after a productive sophomore campaign . the LB duo of Ameer Ismail (20 tfl,
8 sacks) and Paul Tithof (38 tackles, 8 games) anchor the defense . IU is
looking for a start that will lead to its first winning season since 1994
and returns QB Blake Powers (22 TDs, 2,305 passing yards).



Bowling Green (0-0, 0-0 MAC) vs. Wisconsin (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) - 7:00

Site: Browns Stadium (73,000/grass) - Cleveland, Ohio

2005 Records: BGSU 6-5 (5-3 MAC West); UW 10-3 (5-3 Big Ten)

Television: ERT/Game Plan - Wayne Larivee (play-by-play), Chris Martin
(analyst)

Series: UW leads 2-0 . the Badgers won last year 56-42 and in 1992, 39-18.

Coaches: BGSU- Gregg Brandon (26-11, fourth season); UW- Brian Bielema (0-0,
first game).

Notes: BG QB Freddie Barnes, a redshirt freshman, will be making his first
career start for the Falcons . Barnes will have the benefit of four
returning starters on the OL and at TE, however a new backfield and set of
WR will also debut for the Falcons . just four defensive starter return for
BG on defense . among that crew is DE Devon Parks (8.5 tfl) and LB Terrel
White (100 tackles) . UW returns three starters on offense and eight
defensive starters . Badgers QB John Stocco (2,920 passing yards, 21 TDs) is
back for UW . Bret Bielema makes his head coaching debut, taking over for
Barry Alvarez (118-73-4, 1990-05) . BG has produced five consecutive winning
seasons with Gregg Brandon (offensive coordinator 2001-02; head coach
2003-05) on staff, compiling a 43-17 record during that time.



Tennessee-Martin (0-0, 0-0 Ohio Valley) at Ohio (0-0, 0-0 MAC) - 7:00

Site: Peden Stadium (24,000/field turf) - Athens, Ohio

2005 Records: UTM 6-5 (4-4 OVC); OU 4-7 (3-5 MAC)

Television: None

Series: first meeting

Coaches: UTM-Jason Simpson (0-0, first game); OU-Frank Solich (4-7, second year at school; 62-26, ninth season overall.

Notes: Ohio returns with eight offensive starters and nine defensive starter
returning for the second year under Frank Solich . All-American CB Dion Byrum (6 int.) is the key loss . QB Austen Everson (1,151 yards, 4 TDs in 2005), WR Scott Mayle (79 career rec., 1,436 yards, 11 TDs) and TB Kalvin McRae (1,153 yards, 7 TDs in 2005) key the offensive talent . LB Matt Muncy, a first-team All-MAC selection (115 tackles) returns . the Bobcats have not produced a winning season since 2000 . last year's team had a 16-10 overtime win over Big East member Pittsburgh on national television on ESPN2 . Jason Simpson will be making his head coaching debut for the Skyhawks.