2012 Mid-American Conference football season

The 2012 Mid-American Conference football season is the 67th season for the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The University of Massachusetts joins the conference to create a 13-team, two-division league. Last season at the Marathon MAC Championship game, Northern Illinois defeated Ohio 23–20 for the championship.

Preseason

Preseason coaching changes

Terry Bowden was hired as Akron 27th head coach before the season started. Chuck Amato was named the associate head coach and defensive coordinator.

Transfers

Regular season

Week One

2012 MAC Specialty Award Winners

Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: QB Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois<br> Coach of the Year: Darrell Hazell, Kent State<br> Offensive Player of the Year: QB Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois<br> Defensive Player of the Year: DT Chris Jones, Bowling Green<br> Special Teams Player of the Year: KR Dri Archer, Kent State<br> Freshman of the Year: WR Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan

All Conference Teams

2012 All-MAC First Team Offense<br> Quarterback – Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois<br> Center – Zac Kerin, Toledo<br> Offensive Linemen – Brian Winters, Kent State<br> Offensive Lineman – Eric Fisher, Central Michigan<br> Offensive Lineman – Dann O'Neill, Western Michigan<br> Offensive Linemen – Austin Holtz, Ball State<br> Tight End – Zane Fakes, Ball State<br> Wide Receiver – Martel Moore, Northern Illinois<br> Wide Receiver – Bernard Reedy, Toledo<br> Wide Receiver – Willie Snead IV, Ball State<br> Wide Receiver – Jamill Smith, Ball State<br> Running Back – Dri Archer, Kent State<br> Running Back – David Fluellen, Toledo<br> Placekicker – Steven Schott, Ball State

2012 All-MAC First Team Defense<br> Outside Linebacker – Khalil Mack, Buffalo <br> Outside Linebacker –Gabe Martin, Bowling Green<br> Inside Linebacker – Dan Molls, Toledo<br> Inside Linebacker – Perry McIntyre, UMass<br> Down Lineman – Chris Jones, Bowling Green <br> Down Lineman – Roosevelt Nix, Kent State <br> Down Lineman – Sean Progar-Jackson, Northern Illinois <br> Down Lineman – Alan Baxter, Northern Illinois<br> Defensive Back – Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois <br> Defensive Back – Dayonne Nunley, Miami <br> Defensive Back – BooBoo Gates, Bowling Green<br> Defensive Back – Jermaine Robinson, Toledo<br> Punter – Jay Karutz, Eastern Michigan

2012 All-MAC First Team Specialists<br> Kickoff Return Specialist – Dri Archer, Kent State<br> Punt Return Specialist –Bernard Reedy, Toledo

2012 All-MAC Second Team Offense<br> Quarterback – Keith Wenning, Ball State<br> Center – Skyler Allen, Ohio<br> Offensive Lineman – Eric Herman, Ohio <br> Offensive Lineman – Josh Kline, Kent State<br> Offensive Lineman – Tyler Loos, Northern Illinois<br> Offensive Lineman – Jordan Roussos, Bowling Green<br> Tight End – Garrett Hoskins, Eastern Michigan <br> Wide Receiver – Nick Harwell, Miami <br> Wide Receiver – Alex Neutz, Buffalo<br> Wide Receiver – Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan<br> Wide Receiver – Titus Davis, Central Michigan <br> Running Back – Beau Blankenship, Ohio<br> Running Back – Zurlon Tipton, Central Michigan<br> Placekicker – Matt Weller, Ohio

2012 All-MAC Second Team Defense<br> Outside Linebacker – Tyrone Clark, Northern Illinois<br> Outside Linebacker – Justin Cudworth, Eastern Michigan <br> Inside Linebacker – Travis Freeman, Ball State <br> Inside Linebacker – Luke Batton, Kent State <br> Down Lineman – Jonathan Newsome, Ball State<br> Down Lineman – Freddie Bishop, Western Michigan <br> Down Lineman – Steven Means, Buffalo<br> Down Lineman – Andy Mulumba, Eastern Michigan<br> Defensive Back – Jahleel Addae, Central Michigan <br> Defensive Back – Luke Wollet, Kent State <br> Defensive Back – Darren Thellen, UMass<br> Defensive Back – Justin Currie, Western Michigan<br> Punter – Brian Schmiedebusch, Bowling Green

2012 All-MAC Second Team Specialists<br> Kickoff Return Specialist – Bernard Reedy, Toledo<br> Punt Return Specialist – Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan

2012 All-MAC Third Team Offense<br> Quarterback – Zac Dysert, Miami<br> Center – Kevin Galeher, Western Michigan<br> Offensive Lineman – Greg Mancz, Toledo<br> Offensive Lineman – Dominic Flewellyn, Bowling Green<br> Offensive Lineman – Jordan Hansel, Ball State <br> Offensive Lineman – Cam Lowry, Ball State<br> Tight End – Alex Bayer, Bowling Green<br> Wide Receiver – Marquelo Suel, Akron<br> Wide Receiver – Andy Cruse, Miami<br> Wide Receiver – Cody Wilson, Central Michigan <br> Wide Receiver – Alonzo Russell, Toledo<br> Running Back – Jahwan Edwards, Ball State<br> Running Back – Trayion Durham, Kent State<br> Placekicker – Jeremiah Detmer, Toledo

2012 All-MAC Third Team Defense<br> Outside Linebacker – C.J. Malauulu, Kent State <br> Outside Linebacker – Alphonso Lewis, Ohio<br> Inside Linebacker – Dwayne Woods, Bowling Green <br> Inside Linebacker – Desmond Bozeman, Western Michigan<br> Down Lineman – Nate Ollie, Ball State <br> Down Lineman – Jake Dooley, Kent State<br> Down Lineman – Neal Huynh, Ohio<br> Down Lineman – Ted Ouellet, Bowling Green<br> Defensive Back – Cam Truss, Bowling Green<br> Defensive Back – Eric Patterson, Ball State<br> Defensive Back – Cheatham Norrils, Toledo<br> Defensive Back – Johnnie Simon, Western Michigan <br> Punter – Colter Johnson, UMass

2012 All-MAC Third Team Specialists<br> Kickoff Return Specialist – Jamill Smith, Ball State<br> Punt Return Specialist – Jamill Smith, Ball State

Bowl games

The MAC placed seven teams in bowl games in 2012. This was the highest number of MAC bowl teams in the conference's history. For the first time, the MAC placed a team in a BCS Bowl with Northern Illinois playing in the Orange Bowl.

NOTE: All times are local

Notable players

Previous season

References