Monday MAC Musings: 2026 Week 5

Everything you thought you knew about the MAC is FALSE.

Well, perhaps some things.

Winless Bowling Green defeated a Miami (OH) squad that knocked off UConn and nearly upset Cincinnati. UMass watched its undefeated season dissolve at home in a blowout to Eastern Michigan. Buffalo was inches away from upsetting Western Michigan. Kent State nearly took Ohio to overtime. And even Toledo struggled in the first half against Ball State.

It was a weird week for a conference known for weirdness. This season appeared to be a more predictable one for the MAC. But the contender tier of Western Michigan, Toledo, and Miami (OH) might be closer to the others than we thought. Here are takeaways, thoughts, and stats from Week 5 in the MAC in this week's edition of Monday MAC Musings.

Western Michigan 20, Buffalo 17

• What an ending. One yard decided the entire outcome of this game. Jason Wright scrambled toward the left pylon on the final play but was stuffed by Western Michigan cornerback Josh Franklin and defensive end Scoop Garnder Jr. Credit to Wright for making a quick decision after not finding an open man in the end zone. But Franklin made a great stop at the goal line, and Gardner delivered the most necessary blow by changing Wright's trajectory as he dove for the pylon.
• Western Michigan is the king of winning ugly. Other than the 41-6 thrashing in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, the Broncos haven't really destroyed an opponent since the start of their six-game win streak to end 2025. But being the king of winning ugly also means they're the king of winning, and that's the most important thing.
• Broc Lowry has grown as a passer and that's necessary, because opponents are just going to continue stacking the box against Western Michigan. We've only seen one Jalen Buckley 100-yard performance this season, and Lowry hasn't got more than 54. Opponents' gameplans for the Broncos shows how difficult repeating is, even when you return a slew of starters.
• Interesting decision for Western Michigan to kick a field goal on 4th-and-1 from the 21-yard line with 1:22 remaining. With a conversion, the Broncos would have controlled clock and been able to win at the buzzer. And I think I would have trusted Lowry to plunge forward for a yard. But they took the points, and Buffalo had nearly 80 seconds to counter... and it fell one yard short of winning. Moot point now, but something I thought about during the game.

Toledo 39, Ball State 24

• Toledo has looked excellent ever since the second half of Week 1 at Michigan State. The Rockets are MAC contenders in year one under Mike Jacobs, despite losing all but one starter and reloading with a slew of FCS transfers. This has been very impressive roster management and development by Jacobs and staff.
• Good to see Keldric Luster and TJ Horton back to full health after Luster missed last week and Horton was limited. Ball State's offense has proven to be capable with those two in the game. The unit moved the ball well, just fell short thanks to a few miscues and turnovers.
• The sign of a good offense is multidimensionality and Toledo has it. We know John Alan Richter can light up defenses with 300 yards and a ton of touchdowns. But watching CJ Miller produce 196 rushing yards, while Connor Walendzak adds 103? This offense can do it all, and man, are they explosive. Toledo is tied for second with five 60+ yard plays. Miller iced this one with a 68-yard touchdown run.
• Andrew Zock has been as good as advertised. The reigning FCS Defensive Player of the Year now has a share of a sack in four straight games. He had a key trifecta in the first quarter — the sack, the forced fumble, and the fumble recovery.

Central Michigan 41, Akron 17

• I love when a team commits to its own style, and it works. Central Michigan once again proved you don't need to pass to win football games. While the Chippewas' 17 attempts were far more than their seven in their Week 3 win against Wyoming, they once again won through their ground attack. 45 attempts for 332 yards and four touchdowns. Flores is becoming an expert in Matt Drinkall's system, and he's getting good running back support.
• New Mexico is hammering everyone, and there's not much shame in Central Michigan's Week 1 result in Albuquerque. The Colgate game might have been a fluke, and the Chippewas were fortunate to escape victorious. But this team has shown more often than not it can be a dangerous lurker in a MAC that's seemingly becoming more wide-open by the day.
• In a recurring stat brought up in Monday MAC Musings, Akron lost the sack differential 3-0 in this game. Sure, Central Michigan doesn't pass much, but the Zips' pass protection continues to be their Achilles heel. That's now 2.6 sacks allowed per game (tied for 20th-most in FBS). As I mentioned previously, Akron has allowed at least 2.5 sacks per game every year in the 2020s.
• Central Michigan struggled mightily with turnovers prior to this game, committing nine in Weeks 1-4. But the Chippewas thoroughly dominated the turnover battle 3-0 against Akron. Now the Zips also have nine giveaways on the season. It's been a struggle for Akron's offense, although its 17 points in Mount Pleasant were its most against FBS competition this season.

Eastern Michigan 38, UMass 14

• UMass wins this week's MAC crowd of the week. What a scene in Amherst. It was beautiful. The entire community rallied around this football team after a historic 4-0 September. However, it was very reminiscent of Western Michigan last week where a fantastic crowd doesn't always translate to a desired result.
• I hope the result of this game doesn't prevent UMass fans from showing up again this season. The passion in Amherst has been so cool this season.
• This was the Eastern Michigan offense I envisioned before the season. Noah Kim looked like the veteran longtime starting quarterback that he is. The three running backs — Amareon Blue, Joey Mattord, and Braydon Bennett — all pulled their weight. This had to feel cathartic for every Eagle offensive player.
• It felt like Eastern Michigan was wounding UMass with a million papercuts. Look at these drives: 13 plays, 80 yards, touchdown, 7:16 consumed; 13 plays, 64 yards, touchdown, 7:09 consumed; 10 plays, 75 yards, touchdown, 4:50 consumed; 10 plays, 61 yards, touchdown, 4:30 consumed; 13 plays, 64 yards, field goal, 8:10 consumed. Slow and steady wins the race.
• I think UMass needed to design more Pop Watson runs in this one.

Ohio 13, Kent State 10

• That's a tough one for Kent State. Had a 32-yard field goal to send it into overtime... one week after making a 53-yarder. Golden Flashes never led in this game but faced a 1st-and-10 from the Ohio 16-yard line with under a minute remaining. This could have been the best win of the Mark Carney era.
• Kent State's offense hasn't been nearly as explosive as it was last year. The Golden Flashes are a bit more methodical this year. You're not seeing those regular 70+ yard touchdowns by Cade Wolford (who transferred to Cincinnati) anymore. But the run game hasn't been established yet, so a boom-or-bust offense that seeks explosives through the passing game might be necessary.
• It sounds like Ohio could return Nick Poulos soon. Gritty win for the Bobcats using backups Matt Vezza and Levi Davis. It wasn't the best passing performance, as each quarterback only completed four passes, but they contributed enough on the ground to eke out a close win.
• Michael Molnar, what a performance. The middle linebacker was everywhere. He registered eight tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. He also broke up two passes and intercepted another. Easily the best player on the field in this particular game.

Bowling Green 24, Miami (OH) 20

• Bowling Green had one specialty in the first four weeks, and that was the pass rush. That won this game. The Falcons produced six sacks against a veteran Miami offensive line — three from Eriq George (who got the game-winning sack on Miami's Hail Mary attempt), two from Cashmire Lewis, and one from Myles Bradley, who was doubtful to play in this game. Bradley has 6.5 sacks on the season, by the way. Bowling Green is going to be a headache for most MAC offensive lines this season.
• It's so unfortunate Miami is down David McComb for the season, after already losing Thomas Gotkowski in fall camp. Quarterback was the biggest question heading into the season, and McComb turned that question mark into an exclamation point. He was up there as the best passer in the MAC, along with John Alan Richter — and he had zero experience before this season. Caleb Heavner played fine, but an offense without McComb is the new reality for the RedHawks. Now the question returns: Can this offense do enough to reach a fourth-straight MAC Championship Game?
• In the words of Shaquille O'Neal... Jay Kastantin — I owe you an apology, I wasn't really familiar with your game. Anyway, what a showing by Kastantin. Bowling Green's offense had nothing going the first four weeks and suddenly he shows up and rocks the RedHawks with 305 passing yards and two touchdowns when the run game wasn't working. Most impressively, he guided a game-winning drive with incredible poise.
• Also, Miami's passing defense is very, very concerning. Remember when Pitt threw for 480 and seven touchdowns, or when Cincinnati had 309 and two touchdowns? RedHawks are fourth-to-last in FBS and have allowed 13 touchdowns, while intercepting just one pass thus far. Not ideal.
• Fullback dive for the game-winning touchdown in the year 2026 absolutely rules. Also, Leo Kemp led Bowling Green in rushing. When was the last time a fullback, outside of a service academy, did that? Fullbacks are so back. Mike Alstott would be proud.