When you look at the upcoming non-conference Mid-American Conference schedule, featuring some high profile teams, you would not think the MAC was a mid-major conference.
The MAC is still obviously a mid-major conference, but that is not stopping them from playing the nation's top football teams in 2003.
There will be a league record of 10 Division I-A non-conference opponents in MAC stadiums come this fall. It is a huge step up from normal non-conference games, where Division I-AA teams often visit MAC teams.
"This year's non-conference schedule is the most ambitious and exciting ever played," said MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst.
The 10 home games against I-A teams include seven teams that are from Bowl Championship Series [BCS] conferences. These conferences compete for the right to play in the Fiesta, Sugar, Rose, and Orange Bowls. Conferences with automatic berths include the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and the Southeastern Conference.
"We are still going to be underdogs to the favorites in the non-conference schedule but that's OK," said Chryst.
The BCS conference teams nearly occupy all of the top 25 spots in the National Rankings. Marshall was one of three non-BCS teams to be nationally ranked last year as they finished 19th in the nation. More games against BCS teams is a sign that the conference is gaining respectability around the nation, and possibly the reluctance of "power conference" teams to schedule mid-majors (where typically the power team has everything to lose) is beginning to fade.
Buffalo will square off against Big-10 co-champion Iowa Sept. 6. Iowa, who participated in the Orange Bowl, ended last year as the No. 8 team in the nation. This is just a teaser of what lies ahead for the MAC in their non-conference schedule.
The MAC will be going up against 13 bowl winners of last year. With high caliber teams like Maryland, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh playing against the MAC this fall, there's an opportunity for many exciting non-conference match-ups.
Speaking of high caliber teams, Bowling Green squares off against Ohio State, the reigning national champion, at Ohio State University Sept. 20.
The question at hand is whether or not the MAC is ready for such a competitive non-conference schedule. Chryst thinks they are.
"I really think for all 13 schools, the non-conference schedules fit as well as they have for where each program is."
The new schedule can be thought of as MAC football's biggest step, but works two ways. If MAC teams fall short in competition, it could mean a step back for the conference in 2004. If they succeed, however, the benefits could be seen for seasons to come.
One thing is for sure, the MAC will certainly be seen in 2003. The most games ever in the history of the league will be televised on national television.
"With the commitment from ESPN we are going to be seen nationally and will be given the chance to show the nation what we are capable of doing" says Chryst.
Maryland and Iowa will take on two MAC opponents each. Maryland will face Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan. Iowa takes on UB as well as Miami of Ohio. The MAC schedule also consists of the top five teams in last year's Big-10 race, Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State and Purdue. The second through fifth finishers of the Big East - West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Boston College - will also knock heads with the MAC.
The MAC went 11-6 in home non-conference games last season, a figure that includes Division I-AA opponents.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
