A midseason review of the MAC

Last fall Mid-American Conference programs received their ultimate wish. With wins over Maryland, Alabama, Pitt, Kansas State and other BCS programs, MAC teams finally got noticed.

This fall they paid the price for those efforts. There were no sneak attacks or cocky opponents, and most MAC title contenders endured a grueling stretch to begin the season. In the first three weeks no MAC team knocked off a BCS-member opponent, and division favorites Marshall and Toledo started out 0-3 and 0-2, respectively.

League play provided several teams a fresh start, and the battle for the two bowl spots appears to be as tight as last season. Marshall and Toledo are undefeated in the MAC, as is Northern Illinois which can sense its first postseason appearance since 1983.

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