Predicted Order of Finish
*2023 Record in Parenthesis
*Rosters are Subject to Change
East Division
1. Miami (OH) (11-3)
Good News- the defending MAC Champions return 14 starters including 6th year senior QB Brett Gabbert (59 career TD’s)
Bad News- injury-prone Gabbert has only played 1 full season since arriving in Oxford in 2019
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 7.5
2. Bowling Green (7-6)
Good News- the Falcons' defense, which ranked 25th in yards allowed in 2023 (326.1) has experience at every position
Bad News- the receiving corps lost over 1,500 yards of production and September road games against Penn State and Texas A&M could thwart a 2nd straight winning season
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 6.5
3. Ohio (10-3)
Good News- projected starters senior QB Parker Navarro and redshirt freshman RB Ricky Hunt Jr. shined in the Bobcats 41-21 bowl victory
Bad News- the roster was decimated by graduation and the transfer portal, returning just 3 starters
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 6.5
4. Buffalo (3-9)
Good News- the O-line could be one of the best in the MAC for new HC Pete Lembo who has won everywhere he’s been (112-65 career record)
Bad News- projected starting senior QB CJ Ogbonna completed just 8 of 21 passes while tossing 2 INT’s last season
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 4.5
5. Akron (2-10)
Good News- incoming transfers junior QB Ben Finley (Cal) and senior RB Jordon Simmons (Michigan State) give a sputtering offense (16.3 ppg) hope
Bad News- the Zips face 3 power 5 schools on the road (Ohio State, Rutgers, South Carolina) in the first 4 games
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 3.5
6. Kent St. (1-11)
Good News- junior QB Tommy Ulatowski showed signs of promise throwing 7 TD’s while appearing in 7 games in 2023
Bad News- the schedule features road games against power 5 schools (Pitt, Tennessee, Penn State) and MAC contenders Miami Ohio and Bowling Green
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 2.5
West Division
1. Toledo (11-3)
Good News- returning senior RB Jacquez Stuart rushed for 574 yards and 6 TD’s as a backup in 2023 while senior WR Jerjuan Newton is back to lead the receiving corps
Bad News- the Rockets must replace the entire O-line which ranked 4th in the nation in sacks allowed
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 8.5
2. NIU (7-6)
Good News- senior RB Antario Brown (1,296 yards, 10 TD’s) leads a deep and talented backfield on offense
Bad News- the Huskies have lacked consistency in HC Thomas Hammock’s 5 seasons and with the QB spot unsettled there is uncertainty heading into 2024
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 6.5
3. Western Mich. (4-8)
Good News- second year HC Lance Taylor will benefit from the return of 15 starters along with key additions via the transfer portal
Bad News- Broncos are breaking in new coordinators on both sides of the ball and will be tested early with road games against Wisconsin and Ohio State to start the season
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 6.5
4. Eastern Mich. (6-7)
Good News- HC Chris Creighton, who has led the Eagles to 6 bowls in 8 seasons, landed a quality QB in senior transfer Cole Synder (Buffalo)
Bad News- the backfield will be without the services of star RB Samson Evans, who compiled 41 rushing TD’s in 4 seasons
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 4.5
5. Central Mich. (5-7)
Good News- the Chippewas return their top 3 receivers from last season along with leading rusher senior RB Marion Lukes (737 yards, 5 TD’s)
Bad News- sophomore QB Bert Emanuel Jr. needs development as a passer and the defense must force more takeaways after totalling just 8 in 2023
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 5.5
6. Ball St. (4-8)
Good News- the O-line should be one of the biggest strengths with 3 starters back
Bad News- new offensive coordinator Jared Elliot lacks a clear-cut option at QB while new defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles has just 1 returning starter to work with
OVER/UNDER TOTAL WINS 4.5
Buy
Buffalo (MAC)- There are plenty of winnable games on the schedule and if Lembo can find a viable option at QB in Ogbonna or elsewhere the Bulls could make a surprise push for bowl eligibility.
Sell
None
2023 FBS Statistical Rankings
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