2026 MAC Football Power Rankings: Week 8

Hello everyone and welcome back!

We only had two games over the last week, as the vast majority of MAC teams took their BYE week ahead of weeknight #MACtion. Sacramento State snagged a historic win under the Friday Night Lights against Kent State, while Western Michigan preserved their MAC title hopes with a win over Bowling Green.

These rankings will reflect both the last full week and those two in-between games. With that in mind, it's about time to see where every team stands:

13. Akron Zips (LW: 12, down 1)

• High vote: 12 (twice)
• Low vote: 13 (three)
• Average vote: 12.6

It's been a rough campaign for Akron, blowing an opportunity to take back the Wagon Wheel from Kent State in the late going to take a sixth-straight loss.

Even with the potential for starting QB Cibastian Broughton to come back as soon as this week, it's much too late to matter, as the Zips are out of bowl contention and staring down the barrel of a ninth-consecutive losing season.

12. Sacramento State Hornets (LW: 13, up 1)

• High vote: 11 (once)
• Low vote: 13 (twice)
• Average vote: 12.2

Sac State picked up a historic win over the Golden Flashes and did so in dramatic fashion, with five takeaways– including four on four-straight possessions in the fourth quarter– and two rushing touchdowns from the emergent true freshman back Isaiah Ene.

It was easily their most competitive game of the season, showing from kickoff they were ready for what KSU was running schematically. It was nice seeing them put it all together after multiple games this season where they crumbled under the pressure.

MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a recent interview the Hornets would sneak up and get someone soon; that they got a win a week later is wonderful timing.

11. Kent State Golden Flashes (LW: 9, down 2)

• High vote: 9 (twice)
• Low vote: 12 (once)
• Average vote: 10

Speaking of Kent State, you just can't lose a game like that. Outside of an early 90+ yard touchdown pass on a blown assignment, the KSU offense struggled against one of the MAC's worst defenses in terms of yards and points allowed. They absolutely melted down late as well with four giveaways while the game was still relatively competitive.

We've kept trying to see the spark with this team, and there are certainly individual performances to point to, but as a unit, they're just not there right now.

t-9. Ball State Cardinals (LW: 10, up 1)

• High vote: 9 (three)
• Low vote: 11 (once)
• Average vote: 9.6

When the Cardinals are on-schedule, they're one of the thorniest teams in the MAC, just as capable to pushing the ball downfield as they are grinding the clock. The defense has also gelled recently, allowing the team to remain competitive. They're now on a two-game win streak and are still alive for a potential postseason bid at 3-5 entering the weeknight slate.

If you're not familiar yet with QB Keldric Luster, get ready to be. The five-foot-10, 250 lb. dual-threat QB is one of the MAC's most electric playmakers and will be in a great position to show that off this week.

t-9. Bowling Green Falcons (LW: 10, up 1)

• High vote: 8 (twice)
• Low vote: 11 (twice)
• Average vote: 9.6

The last two games have been brutal for Bowling Green, losing to Ball State in walk-off fashion in overtime and then losing grip on an early first-half lead in a 23-10 loss to Western Michigan in consecutive weeks. They've shown enough growth and progression to be competitive in a lot of these games, but have also tended to crumble in the worst moments– especially on the offensive side of the ball.

The stutter-step offensive unit has left the defense (which has been one of the best pass-rushing looks in the MAC) pretty much out to dry in a lot of these games.

Hard to feel positivity here; they could well have 1-2 more wins if it weren't for their own mistakes.

8. UMass Minutemen (LW: 8)

• High vote: 7 (twice)
• Low vote: 11 (once)
• Average vote: 8.6

QB Pop Watson III might have returned too early from his ankle injury. He clearly struggled after the scripted plays and was noticeably slower and more hesitant to make something happen and UConn took advantage. One wonders what the game would have looked like if a healthy Logan Inagawa was under center.

But the past is the past; UMass hopes the extended BYE gives time for some of their best contributors on both sides of the ball enough time to recover and get back on the field as the postseason is still attainable despite their four-game losing streak. UMass only needs one more win to secure their best-ever season as an FBS member.

7. Central Michigan Chippewas (LW: 7)

• High vote: 7 (three)
• Low vote: 8 (twice)
• Average vote: 7.4

No movement for CMU from last week, getting the same exact votes as last time. They suffered another tough loss last time out, this time to Miami by one point.

The CMU offense showed off a new-look offense under newly-appointed starting QB Jadyn Glasser, passing for over 200 yards in the effort– a notable departure from their usual run-based attack. However, inexperience and mistakes on the back end of the defense was their undoing, allowing some crucial end-of-half touchdowns in both the second and fourth quarters.

Losing Angel Flores for the season will have an out-sized impact on the team as they try to clinch a bowl bid against a tough end slate of games.

6. Eastern Michigan Eagles (LW: 6)

• High vote: 5 (once)
• Low vote: 6 (four)
• Average vote: 5.8

No movement for Eastern Michigan either.

They took a shellacking at the hands of Toledo two weeks ago and then couldn't stop Ohio from coming back to beat them last time out despite establishing the tone early. Those are two of the best teams in the MAC, so you can't beat them up too bad, but it's a pretty clear indication they're just a step below the best, and that's fine.

Even before the season started, they were in a position where they likely needed help to get to Detroit anyways.

We still don't know how long QB Noah Kim will be out after missing the Ohio game; his health may go a long way towards the future of the Eagles on-field.

5. Miami RedHawks (LW: 5)

• High vote: 5 (four)
• Low vote: 6 (once)
• Average vote: 5.2

Feels like a broken record here, but Miami did not move at all from last week's rankings.

The RedHawks have lived life on the edge in 2026. Five of their last six games have all been decided by one score or less, with a 3-2 record in those games. Crucially, two of those wins have been in the last two weeks of MAC play– with a smackdown of Akron sandwiched in for good measure. They're on a three-game win streak despite an offense which has lacked consistent bite thanks in part to a stellar rushing defense.

Miami is supremely talented and battle-tested; they can still make an outside run at the MAC title. This week will be a test, going against one of the best rushing offenses in the MAC potentially down their leading tackler Malcolm McCain.

4. Buffalo Bulls (LW: 4)

• High vote: 3 (twice)
• Low vote: 4 (three)
• Average vote: 3.6

UB has established themselves as a dark horse title contender out of nowhere. We weren't sure of UB's roster build after a disappointing 2025, and even less sure after they struggled in non-conference, but somehow, someway, they've put together a legitimate case for the MAC Championship.

The defense is what steers this ship, giving up only 17.5 points per game to MAC opponents and notching seven turnovers in their last four contests. Combined with a complimentary run game which has seen their staritng halfback Messiah Burch rush for over 100+ yards in five-straight games, and you have the makings of a team which can define the pace of play.

That's an important identity to have in a league with such parity as the MAC.

t-2. Western Michigan Broncos (LW: t-1, down 1)

• High vote: 2 (three)
• Low vote: 4 (once)
• Average vote: 2.6

The Broncos finally took the loss they couldn't afford two weeks ago, getting downed by the Toledo Rockets by a 45-38 margin. Even in the loss, they showed what makes the team dangerous, bridging a nearly three-score gap to tie the game late with a suddenly-explosive passing offense and give the Rockets a scare.

They were able to re-establish their rushing game pedigree against Bowling Green a few days later. The 2026 season has shown the ability to win in multiple ways, less dependent on the run game and having Broc Lowry go to the air more often in order to keep teams off-balance.

Now they've got a chance to rest and recover on a BYE week and let the rest of the league shake itself out ahead of three-straight Tuesday night games.

t-2. Ohio Bobcats (LW: t-1, down 1)

• High vote: 1 (once)
• Low vote: 4 (once)
• Average vote: 2.6

The Ohio Bobcats are the league's only undefeated team– which is why it's a surprise they only earned one vote as the #1 team in the conference.

Detractors can point at their current wins (Kent State, Sac State, CMU, EMU) and say they've had an easy go of it at this point, which is understandable, but they have largely taken care of business in all those games.

Their stiffest challenge was last week against EMU with a backup QB. The 'Cats narrowly won thanks to some last-minute heroics to preserve their FBS-best home winning streak, but showed some vulnerabilities which could be taken advantage of against the top echelon of the league.

That said, they still have Toledo and Miami scheduled in the future and control their own destiny going forward. They'll have a part to play in the rest of the MAC campaign.

1. Toledo Rockets (LW: t-1)

• High vote: 1 (four)
• Low vote: 2 (once)
• Average vote: 1.2

The Rockets walked into the BYE week with a statement win over the previously-undefeated Western Michigan Broncos, and now own a crucial tiebreaker as they look towards the rest of their conference slate.

Toledo is the #1 offense in the league by a country mile in most significant categories, and also feature a strong defense which has had no problem getting into the backfield. They're a lethal matchup nightmare for any team in their way. Toledo is a favorite, and for a very good reason.

They're well-positioned for a trip to Detroit too boot, with only one game scheduled against a team with a winning record over the last month of games– that one being the season finale against Ohio.

For transparency, here is our anonymous chart for this week. Did we get it right? Did we miss the mark? Let us know on Twitter @ByTheBelt, over on Bluesky at bythebelt.bsky.social, or in the comments section below!