Monday MAC Musings: 2026 Week 2

Monday MAC Musings is back for Week 2. It's our weekly column where we dive into every thought, statistic, opinion, or takeaway that floats through the brain when watching MAC football.

Week 2 did not have the chaos of Week 1. There were no secret clocks that added time to prevent MAC teams from reveling in an unforgettable moment. UMass won big, as expected (wait, what?), except it was against FCS competition instead of a Big Ten opponent. And no MAC teams played ranked competition, nor fell victim to FCS opponents this week.

So let's get to the Week 2 musings:

Kent State 36, Wofford (FCS) 15

• Believe it or not, Kent State was trailing in the fourth quarter of this game. The Golden Flashes have trailed their FCS opponent in the fourth quarter in three-straight seasons, but won the last two.
• The Golden Flashes thoroughly outplayed Wofford, out-gaining the FCS team, 448-173. Perhaps a more insane disparity was the third down differential. Kent State converted 11-of-19 attempts, while Wofford went 0-of-12.
• That being said, special teams was a huge equalizer. Kent State gave up a safety with a bad snap on a punt, which swung the momentum in the game. The Flashes also muffed a punt and doinked a field goal — other mistakes which allowed Wofford to preserve a lead longer than it should have.
• Kent State is in the feature game on Big Noon Kickoff next week against Ohio State. It's cool to see the Flashes constantly in advertisements during NFL games, even if every highlight in the ad belongs to Ohio State.

Central Michigan 13, Colgate (FCS) 10

• Central Michigan currently looks significantly different from the team it was last year. The Chippewas don't have that same physicality that took them to seven wins last year. There was plenty of roster turnover, especially at their best positions like running back, defensive line, and linebacker.
• This was probably the grossest game of Saturday's entire slate. There were seven total turnovers. Both teams were fumbling left and right. Central Michigan missed a 29-yard field goal and had a blocked extra point.
• I mentioned in last week's Monday MAC Musings that Central Michigan didn't look built to play from behind due to its lack of passing game. That still could be the case, but it erased a 10-0 deficit in the final 16 minutes of action. I'd attribute that more to the significant FBS-FCS talent gap.
• Central Michigan might finally be ditching its multi-QB system. The Chippewas started Angel Flores, used Jadyn Glasser on the second series, and then inserted Marcus Beamon in for the third drive. But the offense didn't find any consistency until the rotation stopped. Flores closed the game and led two consecutive long touchdown drives while recording 122 of the Chippewas' 200 rushing yards.

Miami (OH) 45, Holy Cross (FCS) 7

• David McComb looks fantastic. He had his moments against Pitt, but any time you finish 13-of-13 against any opponent, that's incredible. Not one incompletion. He had 234 yards and three touchdowns, and Miami's passing game looks far improved from last year. McComb is really good at selling fake handoffs too in RPOs — fooled the Holy Cross defense several times.
• Lynel Billups-Williams is going to be a fun breakout player in this offense, especially if Keith Reynolds remains out for the long haul. This wide receiver corps doesn't exactly have an established WR1 yet, but it's a deeper unit than Miami is used to having.
• Miami played a perfect first half. It was 42-0 at halftime with five touchdowns on five drives and a blocked punt return. The RedHawks are usually known for winning low-scoring bouts under Chuck Martin, but this team could do some damage with its offense. We saw flashes of that vs. Pitt too.

Ball State 41, Stony Brook (FCS) 17

• Keldric Luster is incredibly fun. In his second FBS start, he finished 27-of-32 for 256 yards and three touchdowns. My favorite play he had involved stiff-arming a different while scrambling and launching a deep ball down the right sideline. He throws a pretty deep ball and connected on a lot of them Saturday.
• I'm concerned with Ball State's offensive line. The Cardinals played very well in most areas, but allowing four sacks against Stony Brook was certainly worrisome.
• The TJ Horton and Jalen Bonds running back duo was excellent. They combined for 202 rushing yards on 15 carries (13.5 average) with several breakaway runs.
• It's still tough to get a read on Ball State after playing Ohio State and an FCS team. We'll learn a lot more about the Cardinals when they travel to Liberty next week.

Michigan State 35, Eastern Michigan 7

• Michigan State has won 19 consecutive games against the MAC. The Spartans have been down throughout the 2020s decade (save for 2021), but the MAC still can't capture that elusive win. Last MAC team to take down Michigan State was the Dan LeFevour/Antonio Brown-led MAC champion Central Michigan in 2009.
• Eastern Michigan's offense has really struggled this year, despite good, veteran skill position talent. The Eagles had eight full possessions in the game. They punted six times, fumbled once, and scored one touchdown. That touchdown drive was the only time they crossed the Michigan State 30-yard line.
• Eastern Michigan is averaging 7.3 punts per game (currently fifth in the FBS) with a larger sample size than most teams, considering Saturday was its third game. I'd say improved pass protection is the No. 1 thing this offense needs right now.
• Michigan State is 11-0 vs. Eastern Michigan. The series began in 1898 when the two teams played twice in a single season. Michigan Agricultural (Michigan State) defeated Michigan State Normal (Eastern Michigan) in October and November in that late 19th century season.
• I can't tell if Michigan State has turned the corner, or if this is another 5-7 team. We shall see how the Spartans fare in East Lansing.

Akron 45, Robert Morris (FCS) 10

• Huge shoutout to Marty Whims II, who won the fan offensive coordinator of the game promotion. Akron handled the whole ordeal exceptionally, allowing him to lead the team out of the tunnel. What a moment for him.
• I feel bad for Marty, because I loved the way Akron moved the ball on that opening drive. He was cooking with that no-huddle offense, racking up 23 yards in four plays. Unfortunately, his coordinator tenure came to an end with a fumble. They should have given him another chance, maybe in the fourth quarter when it was 38-10. I can only imagine the prep work and commitment he put into calling those four plays.
• I will forever wonder if Marty had some crazy trick play up his sleeve. Like the Ohio Bobcats' offensive lineman cartwheel play. Or Arkansas State's fainting goat fake punt. We could have witnessed greatness if not for that fumble.
• Weird stat, but Akron's quarterbacks have gone exactly 28-of-33 in two consecutive weeks. Cibastian Broughton was incredibly efficient for a second-straight game, faring 22-of-27 for 227 yards and four touchdowns. Brayden Roggow has also maintained incredible efficiency in both weeks in backup duty, completing 12-of-13 attempts.

Toledo 63, Central Connecticut (FCS) 10

• Toledo flat-out annihilates its FCS opponent every single year. Here are the Rockets' recent FCS scores — 60-0 in 2025, 49-10 in 2024, 71-3 in 2023, 37-0 in 2022, 49-10 in 2021, 45-0 in 2019, and 66-3 in 2018. In a conference which doesn't have the finest track record in these games, you can always count on Toledo.
• Welcome to the show, Rico Bond. I had high hopes for Bond heading into this season. Last week, Adjatay Dabbs (who transferred from Mercer) stole the show from the Toledo receiver room, but Bond (who transferred from Lindenwood) proved to be another viable option. This wide receiver room should be one of the deepest, if not the deepest, in the MAC.
• I highlighted Isaac Zay in this column last week, and he already looks like an All-MAC linebacker. He followed up his 12-tackle performance from the Michigan State game with seven tackles and an interception. He'll be one of the incumbent breakout players in the MAC this year.

UMass 37, Sacred Heart (FCS) 10

• UMass is 2-0 for the first time since joining the FBS in 2012. This is the first time the Minutemen have won back-to-back games since 2023. They also won consecutive games in 2014, 2017 (twice), and 2018.
• UMass has never won three-straight games since joining the FBS, and it hosts FCS opponent Stonehill next week. Additionally, the Minutemen are inching closer to tying their FBS record four wins in a season. This is going to be a season of many firsts and new records in Amherst, MA.
• It's nice to see UMass finally dominate an FCS team like it should. It was 37-0 by the 10:23 mark of the third quarter. Last year's loss to Bryant (which finished 1-8 vs. fellow FCS competition) was the most disastrous loss in Minutemen history. This year, they leave no doubt and Pop Watson enjoyed a highly-efficient performance before getting an early rest.

FIU 33, Buffalo 20

• Buffalo might have found an answer to its quarterback controversy in this game. Elijah Holmes got his second-straight start, but Jason Wright checked in and led both Buffalo touchdown drives in this game. Holmes finished 9-of-14 for 64 yards, while Wright was 13-of-27 for 185 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Still, Buffalo has room to grow at the position.
• Chance Morrow is incredible. He's been at Buffalo for an eternity, but this 2026 version of him is a completely different player. The listed 6'4" receiver (I think he's taller than 6'4") had three end zone fade route touchdowns in Week 1, including a spectacular one-handed grab while being interfered with. In Week 2, he went for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 11 receptions. "Throw it up, Chance Morrow's down there somewhere" is an effective offensive strategy for Buffalo this season.
• Buffalo had been blessed with Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock in recent years. The defense looks so different without one of them roaming, guaranteed to make nearly every play. There was a real lack of pressure on FIU's passing game, and JJ Kohl made the Bulls pay with his 367 yards and three touchdowns.
• We're in year three of five of the naming rights deal, but I still love the fact that something called Pitbull Stadium exists in college football. Dalé.

Ohio 29, Jacksonville State 27

• Strange, but true: not a single FBS game went beyond two overtimes last year. This 4-overtime affair was the first time we saw that two-point shootout style ending since the 6-overtime 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl between Toledo and Pitt.
• Ohio wins the MAC crowd of the week. Once overtime started, everyone in Athens populated the end zone seating and formed a loud and raucous crowd. I'd estimate 80 percent of that crowd was shirtless, and the energy was non-stop. Also, it was in the pouring rain, so shoutout to that passion in Athens for prevailing through the elements. It helped bring home a Bobcat win.
• What a gutsy win finishing this game without Nick Poulos and Matt Vezza, who were both knocked out by devastating hits while on the run. And then. Third-string quarterback Levi Davis showed that signature Ohio quarterback mobility, finishing the game with the deciding two-point conversion in fourth overtime.
• Every Ohio quarterback plays exactly like Parker Navarro. Even Matt Vezza, who didn't even play with Navarro. Scott Isphording has been the Bobcats' quarterbacks coach since 2014, and you can tell he has a type.
• Jacksonville State always struggles early before figuring things out in conference play. A 5-7 Eastern Michigan team beat the same 2024 Jax State team that won the CUSA.

Western Michigan 49, Monmouth (FCS) 14

• Western Michigan improves to 2-0 on the season.
• Now that Michigan defeated Oklahoma in wire-to-wire fashion, is Western Michigan going to get more credit? It felt like the Wolverines were always getting more flak than the Broncos credit for that Week 1 showing in the Big House. This is a veteran, physical Western Michigan team with a horde of starters back after winning 10 of its last 11 games in 2025. It's supposed to be a good ballclub.
• Also, you can tell by the dramatic AP Poll shift that the Bail Mary controversy is fading from the public interest. Michigan is reveling in the spotlight after a statement win, and Western Michigan is no longer on the A-block of sports programming. Kudos to the MAC for releasing a statement and trying to flip the result, but it probably won't amount to anything, especially now that the public has shown signs of moving on.
• Anyway, about this game, nothing really surprised me except the fact Western Michigan passed for 266 yards and only rushed for 148. But I get it. The Broncos need more fine tuning to the passing game before MAC play kicks off, and that was accomplished in this rout.

Nebraska 56, Bowling Green 7

• Well this was quite ugly for the Falcons. The offensive issues persist. Bowling Green never gained 20 yards on a play all game. It averaged 3.5 yards per play.
• JoJo Johnson secured an interception on the second play from scrimmage for Bowling Green. Couldn't have asked for a better momentum starter defensively. But the Falcons offense did absolutely nothing. Five three-and-outs and an interception on six first half possessions.
• Austin Novosad got his first snap as a Falcon in this game but didn't throw a pass. I'm curious if Bowling Green tries him at quarterback eventually to spark the offense. He lost the fall camp QB battle to Jay Kastantin but still hasn't played a non-garbage time snap in his college career. A former 4-star recruit at Oregon, he was the backup to Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, and Dante Moore.
• This is the best Nebraska offense in a long, long time. Ohio saw it last week and then Bowling Green faced it. Anthony Colandrea is such a fearless quarterback, and he's electrifying quarterback to watch. He was that way at Virginia and UNLV too.

Fresno State 49, Sacramento State 3

• Sacramento State showed fight against Eastern Michigan in Week 0 and then blew out Mississippi Valley State of the FCS in Week 1, but this was the Hornets' true "welcome to the FBS" moment.
• It's really unfortunate Carson Conklin is injured. Not only does he give Sac State its best chance to win, but this was a revenge game he probably had circled all offseason after starting several games for Fresno State in 2025.
• This was probably the worst time to face Fresno State considering the Bulldogs were fresh off a shutout at USC. Man, did they figure out their offense Saturday night. Jayden Mandal dominated with a 23-of-26 stat-line, passing for 316 yards and two touchdowns. The run game added 193 yards and four touchdowns. Sac State still has a long way to go on both sides of the ball.