MAC Football

2026 MAC Football Week 3 Early Afternoon Live Game Thread

Six games in the early window gives MAC fans something to munch on over lunch.

Photo credit: JH Jimenez

It's officially Week 3 of the football season, meaning we're reaching the end of the non-conference season pretty soon.

There's lots of matchups in this window where our beloved conference doesn't have high hopes, but that small sliver is the reason we cheer, no?

Below, you'll see each game segmented into its own little space, with observations regarding each game updating in real time, so be sure to bookmark this page and refresh often!

Here's all the previews for the early window, with broadcast and gambling considerations inside:

Akron Zips vs. Minnesota Gophers

Akron kicks off to Minnesota to open the game (15:00 1Q.)
It didn't take very long for Minnesota to go down the field, as they got 30 yards on their very first play and capped it off with a 16-yard TD four plays later. Minnesota up 7-0 (12:19 1Q.)
We had expressed concerns about Akron's secondary in the preview and the first drive did nothing to assuage those fears. We'll see if they tighten up.
Disaster for Akron, as Jordan Gant fumbles the ball on a first-and-10 run and Minnesota's TJ Bush recovers.
The Zips defense manages to recover from the turnover and forces a three-and-out. Minnesota tries to pin the Zips inside their redzone and does.
Akron's offense can't repay the favor, punting the ball after a three-and-out.
Minnesota makes the Zips pay on the next possession, on back-to-back explosive plays to Javon Tracy, including a 44-yard receiving opener and a 20-yard follow-up.
The Akron defense bows up and forces Minnesota into a short field goal, putting the score at 10-0 Gophers (1:36 1Q)
Brayden Roggow has had to enter the game for Cibastian Broughton, and gets a cold welcome, with an incompletion and a 16-yard sack right away.
Akron's punt unit with a bad rep, netting only 42 yards on the punt and then giving up 64 yards on the return to Javon Tracy.
Minnesota only needed seven yards to score and got them, as Noah Jennings crosses the line to put the Gophers up 17-0. (10:55 2Q)
Roggow's arm getting a workout in relief, with eight pass attempts on a 13-yard drive. Unfortunately, two nasty penalties by Akron for illegal block and unsportsmanlike conduct force fourth-and-38 from the Minnesota 39. Not many calls for that scenario.
Minnesota grinds the clock down once again, killing 4:42 off. They get a short field goal and leave one second on the clock, which doesn't leave much for Akron to do. 20-0 Minnesota at half.
The Zips and Gophers exchange some punts to start the second half. Roggow is still in the game for Broughton, who left the game in the second quarter with injury. He's been okay in relief, but the team just looks different with Broughton in there.
The Gophers eventually break the scoring seal, taking advantage of a muffed punt by Sean Patrick to extend what was a good stop by the Akron defense. Drake Lindsey gets an 18-yard passing TD to Jalen Smith with 7:45 3Q.
Akron commits a tough personal foul penalty on a tackle-for-loss on first down. Takes the ball from the Akron 29 to the Akron 18.
Akron's mistake winds up being Minnesota's gain, as AJ Turner gets a four-yard score one play after Akron lines up offsides on second-and-one inside the UA 10. UM up 34-0. (11:37 4Q)
Akron goes three-and-out and TJ Thomas gets a 71-yard TD on the first play of the series. UM goes up 41-0.
Akron snaps the shutout, as Marquese Williams scores against his old team on a 10-yard rush up the middle. The margin now sits at 41-7 with 7:51 4Q.
We've reached the final bell in Minneapolis, with the Golden Gophers winning 41-7. Akron, already down one quarterback, could be looking at entering the meat of conference play on QB3.

Bowling Green Falcons vs. Iowa State Cyclones

Bowling Green starts with the ball (15:00 1Q)
Jay Kastantin got some decent yardage on the first drive (23 yards), but the BG rushing game just can't find any room. They punt the ball back to Iowa State.
Oh, that's a bit of a surprise. Kyle Konrardy misses a field goal from 54 yards out, and that'll give BG a chance to try and tie the game. A good stop for the Falcons early.
Touchdown, Iowa State. They double up with a 34-yard completion from Jaylen Raynor to Jamal Polite to go up 14-0 (5:33 1Q).
BGSU has joined the scoring party! Jay Kastantin dumps the ball off to Winn Sharp and the receiver does the rest, torching the Cyclone secondary for a 59-yard burner! It's 14-7 Iowa State in Ames.
This game has not been the prettiest thing ever put to film for Bowling Green, but they've found ways to persevere. To wit, Drey Braxton just got in front of a Raynor pass to give BGSU another chance to tie.
Man, the BGSU defense has been holding up so well all game, but if the offense can't get going, it might be for naught.
On cue, Aiden Flora gashes the Falcons for a 61-yard TD on the first play of the ensuing series near the end of the quarter. Getting away from BG now, with Iowa State up 21-7 at quarter break.
Aiden Flora now over 100 yards on a 38-yard scamper.
Arnold Barnes gets a touchdown to put the score at 28-7 in favor of the home team with 9:47 2Q, and it might be a long day for the Falcons now.
Bowling Green is going to be seeing nightmares of Aiden Flora dancing around and through Falcon defenders all night at this rate. He gets another explosive running TD, this time from 42 yards out. 35-7 Iowa State. (5:12 2Q)
Jay Kastantin tosses a pick on the first play of the next drive, and I would think any chance of a score before the half is dead. Just that sort of day.
If there's a positive to take away, the BGSU defense has been decent covering any other Cyclone that isn't Flora. They force a turnover-on-downs with 37 seconds left in the half!
Iowa State nets a field goal at the 9:16 mark 3Q to go up 38-7 early in the second half.
Austin Novosad, the former four-star prospect, is now in at QB. The results aren't much different though to start, as BGSU is forced to punt.
Oh, speaking of punts. We noted Aiden Flora was also an all-Big XII punt returner in our preview. He just returned Ryan Kingston's punt for a 66-yard touchdown. It's his third total. (8:07 3Q)
ISU puts the backups in now, grinding away the clock on the ground. Former Falcon Cameron Pettaway gets 12 yards on two plays on his old team to open up the fourth quarter.
Arnold Barnes get another rushing score on the day, this one from eight yards out. ISU now leads 52-7 8:27 4Q.
Kyle Konrardy adds on another field goal to put the score at 55-7 ISU with 2:22 to go, which is where it remains at the final whistle.

Buffalo Bulls vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State won the toss and deferred (15:00 1Q)
The Bulls didn't get very far on their first possession, limited to a three-and-out. The special teams gave up a 38-yard reception, putting the Lions at the doorstep (Buffalo 38-yard line.)
The PSU offense looked to be searching for holes without putting themselves in danger. Eventually, they kick a short field goal after a three-and-out. Penn State up 3-0. (11:53 1Q)
Touchdown, Penn State. James Peoples gets PSU on the board with a 16-yard rush after the defense forced another punt. Penn State 10-0 (8:00 1Q)
It's not getting much better for Buffalo. Jason Wright fumbles the ball in the pocket and PSU recovers deep in UB territory.
PSU converts the turnover into a Andrew Rappleyea touchdown from Rocco Becht. It's 17-0 for the home team (6:19 1Q)
It seems no matter what UB does on offense, it doesn't quite work. Not unexpected, considering their last two games but at some point, they need to show something.
Well, maybe UB just needed to get a few calls going their way to figure something out. Two PSU penalties aid a scoring drive for the Bulls– though getting a field goal on the PSU 4 feels like a missed opportunity. PSU 17, UB 3 (1:39 1Q)
Penn State opens up the second quarter with a field goal to extend the lead to 20-3.
Guess who? It's Penn State again. Koby Howard gets in on the party with a 20-yard rushing score to put PSU up 27-3 (10:47 2Q)
UB's offense continues to look ugly. Two straight three-and-outs sandwich a forced PSU punt. It's getting to be a bit of a familiar story, even with a new quarterback at the helm.
SaVeon Brown gets called for roughing the passer on first-and-10 to put PSU on Buffalo's side of the field. The next play, PSU loses five of those yards on a fumble by Rocco Becht– who jumps on it.
Buffalo's defense forces a punt, somehow, but the offense once again goes three-and-out. Penn State hits the dagger shot on the very first play of the series, as Rocco Becht finds Koby Howard for a 70-yard TD pass. PSU up 34-3. (2:31 2Q)
Buffalo finally opts to go for it on fourth-and-one from their own 33-yard line with under two minutes in the half and converts on a run. That's good to see, but still incredibly frustrating as the very next play is a fumble out of bounds.
Even when UB gets a good drive, they find ways to frustrate you. PSU commits pass interference to extend the drive, but UB gives the yardage right back on intentional grounding off a sack two lays later.
One is left to wonder what could have been were it not for the intentional grounding; UB kicks a short field goal to end the first half and go into the locker room down 34-6.
Carson Hansen gets a 12-yard score to start the third quarter for Penn State, the tally is now 41-0.
I don't think we're going to learn much more about UB's offense in this game. They fumble the ball on the third play of the drive– which was already stuffed for no gain.
PSU converts the turnover to a touchdown, another one for James Peoples, with 8:14 to go 3Q.
Starting to lose count of the three-and-outs for UB at this point. Even knowing this is against Penn State, you'd want them to show a little more pride or inspiration. Anything to spark some hope for conference play.
The backups are officially in for Penn State as we wind down the third quarter.
Penn State goes for it on fourth-and-goal from the UB 1, but Ronnell Davis gets a good stop on Cam Wallace to force the turnover-on-downs! A small play to give some warm and fuzzies on what has been a dreary day.
Well, never mind about that. UB goes three-and-out again on offense and gives PSU the ball right back at their 49-yard line.
One play later, PSU gets another rushing TD from 59 yards out. It's Cam Wallace, who was previously stuffed at the goal line. 56-6 PSU with 12:31 remaining.
Buffalo finally puts up their best scoring drive of the day. It's a 12-play drive, primarily on the ground, with James McNeil Jr. getting rewarded for his efforts with a touchdown run with 5:01 remaining. PSU 55, Buffalo 13.
Penn State runs the clock out, replacing the QB right at the end. The final score is 55-13 for Penn State. We envisioned UB being outmatched as a given; it was even worse than previously thought. Hard to feel hopeful after a performance like today.

Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Wyoming Cowboys

CMU will start the game with the ball (15:00 1Q)
Angel Flores is once again the starter at QB. There is intrigue today if CMU will stick to one QB or insist on their rotation after it produced less-than-stellar results vs. Colgate and New Mexico.
CMU converts an early fourth down to extend the drive. Awful bold go this early in the game.
The Chips once again struggle to finish a drive, but instead of going for it on fourth down again in the red zone, settle for a short field goal to go up 3-0.
This game, as you might have expected from reading our preview, has grounded to a halt as a field position game, as both teams have missed some opportunities in the pass game. CMU and Wyoming combine for 8 pass yards.
The rain has certainly not helped here.
Through one quarter, Angel Flores has been QB the whole way. He sits at 3 passing yards and 55 rushing yards.
Touchdown, Central Michigan! Angel Flores fakes the give to Vaughn Blue on a sweep look and hauls the mail for a 25-yard score. He's nearing 100 yards rushing on his lonesome. Caps an 11-play, 80-yard drive lasting seven minutes. CMU 10-0 (8:00 2Q)
Fascinating development from the MAC, which might be potential fallout from the Bail Mary game: Wyoming challenged an incomplete pass on fourth down in CMU territory to try and extend a drive, forcing a review. The full footage of the review, as well as the officiating audio, was streamed on the game broadcast– and likely at the stadium as well. The call was upheld, and CMU got the ball back, much to the crowd's delight.
CMU has been grinding Wyoming's defense into dust on the ensuing possession. Flores has total command of the field to this point. Even feeling himself on back-t0-back 10+ yard passes to Jayden Clearveaux and Shawn Foster.
CMU makes a statement to end the drive, with Angel Flores scoring on QB power on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line with two seconds to go in the half. CMU now cruising at 17-0.
Friends of the blog The Sickos Committee would certainly enjoy the box score of the last drive, as CMU went 90 yards over 17 plays in 5:05. 13 of those plays were runs.
Wyoming gets tricky to start the third quarter, converting on a fake punt pass. They can't do much afterwards though, punting the ball right back to CMU four plays later.
Evan Sandvik gets a field goal to put Wyoming on the board, trailing 17-3. (6:13 3Q.)
CMU doesn't take long to extend their lead, as Brock Townsend breaks loose for a 38-yard score to go up 24-3. (2:43 3Q)
The Cowboys have found some decent success in the pass game, drawing a defensive pass interference and getting a huge 27-yard reception to get inside the CMU six-yard line. Still lots of time to mount a comeback.
Touchdown, Wyoming. Markell Holman breaks through for a six-yard score to put the score at 24-10 CMU with 14:56 to go.
The Pokes starting to feel themselves on offense a bit, leaning on the pass more now that they got a few in them. However, former Wyoming DB Justin Taylor skies in front of Tyler Hughes' pass and gets an 18-yard return from it.
Wyoming knocking on the door once again, down 24-17 with 1:21 to go. But it falls right into the hands of CMU DB Kameran Hayward, who fields the ball as if it's a punt. That might be that in Mt. Pleasant.
Wyoming's Jayden Willams gets into it with some CMU players and draws an unsportsmanlike conduct call. That gives CMU the extra first down they need to seal the game. Another Wyoming penalty on the next snap for offsides as a defender flies over the line to try and get the ball.
The final score here is 24-10 for Central. A welcome result for the home crowd, as CMU essentially dominated from start to finish against a Mountain West opponent.

Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Wisconsin Badgers

EMU wins the toss and opts to kick, giving Wisconsin the ball. (15:00 1Q)
The Eagles forced a punt on Wisconsin's first offensive drive, which is encouraging. They've played well in first half action in all three of their games so far; the intrigue will be if they can keep that up over the course of a full game.
Noah Kim showing off good awareness with a 23-yard connection between him and Ronn Hardin to get into Badger territory.
Touchdown, EMU! Noah Kim finds Nick Devereaux for an 18-yard scoring strike and the Eagles are up 7-0 in Madison! (9:24 1Q)
The Eagles are just getting everything they like right now, as Rayquan Adkins plucks an interception to gift the offense another possession in favorable territory! Adkins has been an awesome addition to the secondary, impacting every game he's been in so far.
The offense can't do very much with it though, as they opt to pin Wisconsin down at their own nine-yard line.
Wisconsin eventually replies with a field goal, but they still trail 7-3 near the end of the first frame. It caps off a 14-play, 70-yard drive lasting over seven minutes. Luke Fickell will surely be frustrated by the lack of points if UW can't get anything going later.
EMU goes three-and-out on the next offensive possession. Trying not to worry, but you can't do that too much in a game like this.
Our fears were realized pretty quickly, as Wisconsin converts an 11-play, 74-yard drive into a Colton Joseph rushing TD. Wisconin up 10-7 with 8:16 1Q.
EMU goes three-and-out after a holding penalty on first down and two incompletions really kills the drive.
Touchdown, Wisconsin. 75-yard pass from Joseph to Chris Brooks Jr. to put the score at 17-7 Wisconsin with 6:50 2Q. First play of the series. Getting some serious deja vu from last week's game against Michigan State.
Eagles trying to drive before the end of the half, but Noah Kim gets intercepted by Mason Posa, who gets a 24-yard return on it. Boy howdy, it's really getting away from EMU.
Wisconsin gets a 32-yard dart on the first play of the ensuing series, then cashes in on a 10-yard run up the middle by Darrion Dupree. 24-7 Badgers (3:37 2Q)
Anothe series, another forced interception by Kim. This time, it's Matt Jung collecting. Wisconsin will have a chance to add to their tally before the break. EMU does get the ball back at the half, but.... the scenario isn't favorable.
After review, Wisconsin goes up 31-7 courtesy of a 13-yard pass between Joseph and Tyrell Henry. (:44 2Q)
EMU's nightmare game continues, as Noah Kim is sacked for a 16-yard loss on their first possession of the third quarter and Cooper Catalano returns it for a touchdown. 38-7 Wisconsin 14:13 3Q.
EMU goes fumble out of bounds, false start penalty and two runs before punting on their next possession. You can tell they're in survival mode at this point.
Wisconsin adds a field goal to go up 41-7 with 5:25 to go 3Q.
Rudy Kessinger gets a field goal from 38 yards out to cut the deficit to 41-10 with 11:16 remaining. He needed that one; his recent form has been shaky at best.
The backups have played much of the fourth quarter, as expected in a result like this.
One last embarrassment for the Eagles to end the game, as Rudy Kessinger's kick misses, and Donovan Dunmore returns it for a touchdown at the gun. Final score: Wisconsin 54, EMU 10.

Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

Like we described in our preview, the big story coming into this game is Ohio State trying to address mistakes from their previous game vs. Texas.
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith is 26 yards away from setting an all-time receiving mark for the Buckeyes. He's a simply unbelievable prospect.
Ohio State receives the ball to start the game. Kent State won and chose to kick. (15:00 1Q)
Ohio State showed their talent in a big way on the opening drive, knifing the KSU defense to the tune of 65 yards over seven plays, capping it off with Ja'Kobi Jackson's rushing score to go up 7-0 early 1Q.
"MAC Conference" alert from Gus Johnson, drink!
Jeremiah Smith gets the all-time receiving record at Ohio State on a 23-yard reception. He's tackled by A'tiq Muhammad.
Touchdown, Ohio State. This time it's Julian Sayin finding Nate Roberts for a six-yard score. Ohio State 14-0. (6:42 1Q)
Dru DeShields tosses a dangerous pass near the sidelines, but a tip by the Buckeye defender ends up in the hands of Ardell Banks and that's a third-and-long conversion! That's an exciting play for KSU, which has been flattened most of the time.
KSU goes for it on fourth-and-one on their side of midfield, handing the ball off to H-back Hunter Hopperton.... it's short. Kind of an odd call considering they ran the same play on the previous down.
Ohio State with another productive drive, as Isaiah West scores from four yards out to end a short two-minute drive. It's 21-0 OSU near the end of the first quarter.
Things are starting to snowball for Kent State, as another fallow offensive possession leads to a Bo Jackson touchdown run to put the score at 28-0. (No, not that Bo Jackson. And his real name is Lamar. No, not after that Lamar Jackson.) (9:29 2Q)
Aiden Burgess gets a nice sack on Julian Sayin on a fourth-and-five attempt at the KSU eight-yard line. That'll go up on the fridge.
Kent State got good field position near the end of the half and tried to take advantage, but a pass to Wayne Harris falls incomplete on fourth-and-four inside OSU's redzone. Down 28-0, you had to try.
Ohio State is able to convert the turnover-on-downs into another TD. Julian Sayin hits Brandon Innis for a 49-yard strike to put Ohio State up 35-0 at the halftime break.
Kent State's first drive of the third quarter was not good at all, with a fumble on the second play. The ball was recovered by Payton Pierce on the KSU 38.
Ohio State didn't need much to score, as Ja'Kobi Jackson gets another TD to his name to push the score to 42-0.
Both Ohio State and Kent State have the backups in now midway through the third quarter; we'll keep you posted if anything significant happens.
Interception, Kent State! Norey Johnson nabs one from Luke Fahey to give KSU the ball near midfield.
Luke Fahey makes up for his earlier mistake, finding Chris Henry Jr. for a 75-yard score on the first play of a new series to push the margin up 49-0.
Backup QB Ethan Thanthanavong gets tackled well behind the line trying to make something happen and gets stripped of the ball. Jamir Perez falls on it for a defensive touchdown. Ohio State up 56-0.
Ohio State notches on a field goal, it's 59-0 now.
A 30-yard kick by Sean Leonard will bring this game– and KSU's shutout– to its end with 1:56 remaining. The final score is Ohio State 59, Kent State 3.
An expected loss, but it still hurts nonetheless. Kent State showed flashes on both offense and defense, but the Buckeyes simply had too much talent at the end of the day.