2017 Mid-American Conference football season

The 2017 Mid-American Conference football season was the 72nd season for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and part of the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on August 31 and ended on November 25. The entire schedule was released on March 1. The Toledo Rockets won the conference championship game over the Akron Zips.

Preseason

Preseason Poll

The Preseason poll was released at the MAC Media Day in Canton, Ohio.

East Division

1. Ohio Bobcats (11), 131
2. Miami RedHawks (12), 129
3. Bowling Green Falcons (1), 88
4. Akron Zips, 79
5. Buffalo Bulls, 41
6. Kent State Golden Flashes, 36

West Division

1. Toledo Rockets (22), 142
2. Western Michigan Broncos (1), 107
3. Northern Illinois Huskies (1), 89
4. Eastern Michigan Eagles, 74
5. Central Michigan Chippewas, 62
6. Ball State Cardinals, 30

MAC Championship

The Toledo Rockets were selected as favorites to win the Mid-American Conference by receiving 21 of 24 votes. Others receiving one vote a piece were defending champions, Western Michigan Broncos, Bowling Green Falcons and Miami RedHawks.

Head coaches

Pre-season coaching changes

Schedule

Regular season

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Championship game

Week 14 (MAC Championship game)

Records against FBS conferences

2017 records against FBS conferences

Power–Five conferences and independents

Group of Five conferences

FCS Subdivision

Postseason awards

2017 MAC Specialty Award Winners

Coach of The Year – Jason Candle, Toledo<br> Freshman of the Year – Marcus Childers, Northern Illinois<br> Offensive Player of the Year – Logan Woodside, Toledo<br> Defensive Player of the Year – Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois<br> Special Teams Player of the Year – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan<br> Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner – Logan Woodside, Toledo

All Conference Teams

2017 All–MAC First Team Offense<br> Quarterback – Logan Woodside, Toledo<br> Offensive Lineman – Max Scharping, Northern Illinois<br> Offensive Lineman – Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan<br> Offensive Linemen – Elijah Nkansah, Toledo <br> Offensive Lineman – Brant Weiss, Toledo<br> Offensive Lineman – John Keenoy, Western Michigan<br> Tight End – Shane Wimann, Northern Illinois<br> Wide Receiver – Diontae Johnson, Toledo<br> Wide Receiver – Anthony Johnson, Buffalo<br> Wide Receiver – James Gardner, Miami<br> Wide Receiver – Sergio Bailey, Eastern Michigan<br> Running Back – Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan<br> Running Back – Terry Swanson, Toledo<br> Placekicker – Jameson Vest, Toledo

2017 All–MAC First team Defense<br> Outside Linebacker – Ulysees Gilbert, Akron<br> Outside Linebacker – Jim Jones, Kent State<br> Inside Linebacker – Khalil Hodge, Buffalo<br> Inside Linebacker – Quentin Poling, Ohio<br> Down Lineman – Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois<br> Down Lineman – Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan<br> Down Lineman – Joe Ostman, Central Michigan<br> Down Lineman – Anthony Winbush, Ball State<br> Defensive Back – Amari Coleman, Central Michigan<br> Defensive Back – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan<br> Defensive Back – Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan<br> Defensive Back – Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois<br> Punter – Joe Davidson, Bowling Green

2017 All–MAC First Team Specialists<br> Kickoff Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan<br> Punt Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo

2017 All–MAC Second Team Offense<br> Quarterback – Nathan Rourke, Ohio<br> Offensive Lineman – Jake Pruehs, Ohio<br> Offensive Lineman – Jimmy Leatiota, Eastern Michigan<br> Offensive Lineman – Joe Lowery, Ohio<br> Offensive Lineman – Luke Juriga, Western Michigan<br> Offensive Lineman – Joe Anderson, Ohio<br> Tight End – Donnie Ernsberger, Western Michigan<br> Wide Receiver – Corey Willis, Central Michigan<br> Wide Receiver – Justin Hall, Ball State<br> Wide Receiver – Papi White, Ohio<br> Wide Receiver – Teo Redding, Bowling Green<br> Running Back – A. J. Ouellette, Ohio<br> Running Back – Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan<br> Placekicker – Jake Suder, Bowling Green

2017 All–MAC Second Team Defense<br> Outside Linebacker – Bobby Jones IV, Northern Illinois<br> Outside Linebacker – Chad Moore, Ohio<br> Inside Linebacker – Robert Spillane, Western Michigan<br> Inside Linebacker – Malik Fountain, Central Michigan<br> Down Lineback – Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan<br> Down Lineback – Ola Adeniyi, Toledo<br> Down Lineback – Demone Harris, Buffalo<br> Down Lineback – Jon Cunningham, Kent State<br> Defensive Back – Alvin Davis, Akron<br> Defensive Back – Josh Cox, Central Michigan<br> Defensive Back – Sam Beal, Western Michigan<br> Defensive Back – Javon Hagan, Ohio<br> Punter – Derek Adams, Kent State

2017 All–MAC Second Team Specialists<br> Kickoff Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo<br> Punt Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan

2017 All–MAC Third Team Offense<br> Quarterback – Brogan Roback, Eastern Michigan<br> Offensive Lineman – JP Quinn, Central Michigan<br> Offensive Lineman – Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois<br> Offensive Lineman – James O’Hagan, Buffalo<br> Offensive Lineman – Vinnie Palazeti, Ball State<br> Offensive Lineman – Jordan Rigg, Miami<br> Tight End – Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan<br> Wide Receiver – Mark Chapman, Central Michigan<br> Wide Receiver – Scotty Miller, Bowling Green<br> Wide Receiver – Tra’Von Chapman, Akron<br> Wide Receiver – Spencer Tears, Northern Illinois<br> Running Back – Jordan Huff, Northern Illinois<br> Running Back – Andrew Clair, Bowling Green<br> Placekicker – Louie Zervos, Ohio

2017 All–MAC Third Team Defense<br> Outside Linebacker – Jawuan Johnson, Northern Illinois<br> Outside Linebacker – Asantay Brown, Western Michigan<br> Inside Linebacker – Jason Beck, Eastern Michigan<br> Inside Linebacker – Nate Locke, Bowling Green<br> Down Lineman – Chuck Harris, Buffalo<br> Down Lineman – Josh Corcoran, Northern Illinois<br> Down Lineman – Jamal Davis II, Akron<br> Down Lineman – Ikeem Allen, Miami<br> Defensive Back – Heath Harding, Miami<br> Defensive Back – Demetrius Monday, Kent State<br> Defensive Back – Bradd Ellis, Ohio<br> Defensive Back – Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan<br> Punter – Derrick Mitchell, Western Michigan

2017 All–MAC Third Team Specialists<br> Kickoff Return Specialist – Malik Dunner, Ball State<br> Punt Return Specialist – Papi White, Ohio

Postseason

Bowl games

(Rankings from final CFP Poll; All times EST)

References