Team-by-team story lines from around the MAC.
Akron Zips
If it wasn't for a schedule that includes trips to Miami and Marshall, the Zips might be considered a darkhorse to win the MAC East. They made national news last season with their upset of Marshall, and they return all 11 offensive starters from that team, including QB Charlie Frye, who is one of the top players in the league. If the defense can sustain its late-season improvement from 2002, expect Akron to surprise some teams this year.
Ball State Cardinals
New head man Brady Hoke returns to his alma mater with eight years of training as a defensive coach at Michigan. He has experience to work with on his favorite side of the ball, as seven starters return, including LB Lorenzo Scott, who has led the team in tackles each of the last three seasons. On offense, a decision must be made between two proven QBs, and a successor to RB Marcus Merriweather must be found. A very big opportunity comes early on the schedule, as Missouri makes a trip to Ball State Stadium on Sept. 6.
Bowling Green Falcons
The Falcons were one of the national Cinderella stories of 2002, starting 8-0 before defensive injuries and three tough road games ended the dream of a 10-win season and a MAC West title. Their success was enough to draw higher bidders for the services of head coach Urban Meyer, however, so Gregg Brandon now takes over the reins. BG is still dangerous because of Josh Harris at QB and a defense that returns eight starters. Winning the West likely comes down to home games against Northern Illinois and Toledo.
Buffalo Bulls
The Bulls have won just three conference games in their first four seasons in the MAC, but there were some encouraging signs in 2002. They had an easy road victory against a major-conference opponent (34-11 at Rutgers), 11 freshmen started the final game of the season, and RB Aaron Leeper was named the MAC Freshman of the Year. The team is obviously young, but 17 starters return, including an offensive line that is filled with starting experience. Job one is to end a current 10-game losing streak, and the first chance comes at Rutgers on Aug. 30.
Central Michigan Chippewas
CMU wants to be more competitive in the MAC, and success must start at home. Last season, the Chippewas lost all four conference games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, which is always a certain path to finishing near the bottom of the standings. There is still some uncertainty at QB, but three receivers and one running back who were injured last year are back to full speed. The conference schedule, unfortunately, looks ugly with trips to BG and UCF along with visits from Northern Illinois and Toledo.
Eastern Michigan Eagles
The Eagles made great offensive strides last season, but are likely to take a step back this year after losing their starting QB, a 1,200-yard rusher and a 1,300-yard receiver. The good news, however, is that the other eight starters all return on that side of the ball. Defensively, 10 starters are back, but they will basically be starting from scratch. That unit was the worst in college football last season (117th in both total defense and scoring defense), and will be rebuilt this year by new coordinator Tim Rose.
Kent State Golden Flashes
Despite having one of the conference's best rushing attacks, Kent State had trouble getting the ball in the end zone last season. The Flashes scored just 22 offensive TD in 12 games. For that to improve, Cribbs must stay healthy (he missed all or part of five games with a hamstring injury in 2002), and he must become more efficient as a passer (48.9 percent, 4 TDs, 14 INTs last year). He must also get a little help from his defense, and head coach Dean Pees has assumed double duty as defensive coordinator to make sure that unit improves.
Marshall Thundering Herd
For the first time since Marshall joined Division I-A in 1997, it will enter a season without Chad Pennington or Byron Leftwich as its starting QB. Stan Hill, who filled in for Leftwich and orchestrated the dramatic win over Miami last year, is the new starter. Skill position talent is still plentiful, but the offensive line must be rebuilt. Defensively, the concern will be replacing two key starters in the secondary. Bob Pruett has a 47-7 record against MAC teams, but is not favored to win the East because of trips to Miami and UCF.
Miami RedHawks
The RedHawks have nine straight winning seasons, but simply having more wins than losses won't be enough to satisfy the fans this year. A conference title is the goal, and the offensive talent is certainly in place for it. The key will be improving a pass defense that allowed a combined 666 yards and 7 TDs to Marshall's Stan Hill and UCF's Ryan Schneider last season. Stopping those QBs is essential to win the East. Miami opened three of its first four seasons under Terry Hoeppner with a road win against a major-conference foe. This year, the opener is at Iowa.
Northern Illinois Huskies
The role of favorite will be a new one for Joe Novak and his Huskies this season, but it's a big statement as to how he's rebuilt this program. RB Michael Turner is just the headliner for the talent that returns at the skill positions, and the only offensive concern will be replacing three starters on the line. This season of high expectations will begin in style on Aug. 28, when No. 13 Maryland becomes the highest-ranked team ever to visit Huskie Stadium. NIU also takes on Alabama before turning its attention to winning its first MAC title since 1983.
Ohio Bobcats
Some may argue against the idea of moral victories, but the Bobcats had to be feeling better about themselves this offseason after closing 2002 with a three-point loss to Marshall and a 10-point defeat at UCF. Not to mention, the 4-4 conference mark was much better than the 1-7 record from the year before. Whether Ohio can keep improving will likely depend on the success of a new two-QB system. Eight starters return on defense, although the secondary lost two very important members from last season.
Toledo Rockets
In two seasons under head coach Tom Amstutz, the Rockets have won a pair of MAC West titles and finished the year in the Motor City Bowl both times. As he did in 2002, Amstutz will once again have to replace his starting QB, but this time there is also turnover at receiver. Fortunately, there is a stable of good ball carriers. The defense will also be solid if replacements can be found for a pair of all-MAC linebackers. A September game is never do or die, but the trip to Marshall is huge for Toledo's setup in the West race.
UCF Golden Knights
In their first year in the MAC, the Golden Knights nearly won the Eastern Division. They went 6-2 in conference play, losing only to championship-game participants Marshall (26-21) and Toledo (27-24). UCF may have an even better chance this season. East favorites Miami and Marshall must both make the trip to Orlando, so the Knights will likely win the division if they can hold their home field. UCF can also make its presence felt on the Big East with games at Virginia Tech, Syracuse and West Virginia.
Western Michigan Broncos
The MAC's best defense last season lost some key starters, but it won't drop off too much as long as Babin is around. A major need for this year is to improve a running game that was held under 90 yards six out of 12 times. The other point of emphasis will be finding a way to win close games. WMU was 1-4 in games decided by a touchdown or less in 2002 -- all four losses to good teams (Purdue, UCF and NIU by 4 and Bowling Green by 3 in OT). The opener at Michigan State will be a good gauge for this year's Broncos.
Brad Edwards is a researcher for ESPN.
