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2025 Hustle Belt MAC Football Power Rankings: Week 1 The middle of the table sees a slight jostle after one week of action.

The first week of #MACtion has come and gone, and that means the arrival of our latest MAC Football Power Rankings!

There's a new leader atop the board, while the race for the bottom sees three different teams get at least one 13th place vote: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

2025 MAC Football Week 1 Game Recap: Central Michigan Chippewas 16, San Jose Spartans 14 The first game of the Drinkall era ends in dramatic fashion, as special teams proved to be the pivot point.

The Matt Drinkall era of Central Michigan football begins in dramatic fashion with a 16-14 victory over San Jose State under the Friday night lights: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

2025 MAC Football Week 1 Game Preview: Central Michigan Chippewas at San Jose State Spartans All eyes will be in San Jose for a late-night dual out West between two intriguing programs in the midst of rebuilds.

Gather 'round, folks: we're in for a late one tonight.

The Central Michigan Chippewas under first-year coach Matt Drinkall travel West to take on Ken Niumatalolo's San Jose State Spartans in a game scheduled for a 10:30 p.m. Eastern time kick-off: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

2025 MAC Football Week 1 Game Recap: Rutgers Scarlet Knights 34, Ohio Bobcats 31 Big Ten hopefuls escape a home loss by a few lucky second-quarter breaks.

The Ohio Bobcats put up a spirited effort against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Thursday, but a costly second quarter on special teams created too big a hole to dig out of in a 34-31 loss: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

2025 MAC Football Week 1 Game Preview: Temple Owls at UMass Minutemen For all the latest news and opinion on the MAC

For the first time in over a decade, the UMass Minutemen will carry a conference banner into a football game. Their opponent? The Temple Owls, who look to re-tool under famous program-builder KC Keller.

What can we expect to see in this former A-10 clash?
www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

Miami (OH) hangs around, yet is shut out at Wisconsin, 17-0 Miami trailed just 3-0 until the late third quarter. But the offense never showed a sign of life in Madison.

Despite their efforts, the Miami RedHawks earned a dubious distinction on Thursday night, failing to score a touchdown in a third-straight season-opening contest.

It was a wounding end to a night which saw a 3-0 score deep into the third quarter:
www.hustlebelt.com/miami-redhaw...

2025 MAC Football Week 1 Game Preview: Ball State Cardinals at Purdue Boilermakers A highly anticipated first look at the state of the programs under new leadership.

The Ball State Cardinals will stay close to home for the start of the Mike Uremovich era, traveling to West Lafayette for an opening clash with the Purdue Boilermakers-- who also seek to start a new coaching regime off right under Barry Odom:
www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

Buffalo offense falls short against Minnesota, 23-10 Buffalo hangs around Minnesota, but the Gophers deliver a knockout blow in the 4th quarter.

Buffalo's stellar defensive efforts kept them in the running early, but Minnesota found their sea legs at game's end to drown the Bulls by a final score of 23-10-- thanks in part to an epic drive lasting nearly 10 minutes of the fourth quarter: www.hustlebelt.com/buffalo-bull...

#MACtionMade!

2025 MAC Football Week 1 Game Recap: Wyoming Cowboys 10, Akron Zips 0 A night all about execution finds Akron short of it when it mattered most.

The Akron Zips flop in their 2025 season opener against Wyoming, wilting under the pressure in a 10-0 loss to the Cowboys: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

2025 MAC Football Week 1 Game Recap: Bowling Green Falcons 26, Lafayette Leopards 7 For all the latest news and opinion on the MAC

The Eddie George era starts off in style, as the BGSU asserted their dominance over Lafayette in all three phases in a smothering 26-7 victory at Doyt Perry Stadium: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

Can’t stop thinking about pudge

2025 MAC Football Preview: FCS Roundup, Week 1 Taking a look at the little guys one program at a time.

The MAC faces three intriguing FCS clubs in Week 1 action-- including a team with six-straight conference titles in Holy Cross, a re-building Lafayette and the bizarre independent team Merrimack College.

We break down each program in our brand-new FCS Roundup: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

MAC Football Spoonwatch 2025: Preseason Edition Just how low can the bottom of the table go? Let’s find out, together.

Our newest weekly piece is here, as we chronicle the chase for the Wooden Spoon!

Spoonwatch will use a combination of predictive data and on-field performance metrics to determine which MAC team can claim the prize at the end: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

Thank you for your astute analysis as always, FedEx Cup Fall Insider Meghan McCain. Your father would be proud. 🫡

Central Michigan debuts new uniforms ahead of 2025 season For the first time in six years, CMU debuts a new uniform set, emphasizing the program’s more traditional aspects.

For the first time in six years, Central Michigan football has a new uniform set, returning to a more classic look inspired by both their sporting tradition and the Chippewa tribe.

The new set will debut against San Jose State on Friday night:
www.hustlebelt.com/uni-watch/41...

Ye Olde Roundtable: Predicting the 2025 MAC Football Season HEAR YE, HEAR YE! Yond Roundtable hath assembled once more… Prithee thee stay and lend an ear towards our judgements!

HEAR YE, HEAR YE!

Ye Olde Roundtable has assembled once again to predict the potential storylines of the 2025 #MACtion season, and they've got some intriguing thoughts about it: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

2025 Hustle Belt MAC Football Power Rankings: Preseason For all the latest news and opinion on the MAC

It's officially college football season, so you know what that means: it's time for our first MAC Football Power Rankings of 2025!

Check in to see where your favorite team stands: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

2025 MAC Football Week 1 Game Preview: Ohio Bobcats at Rutgers Scarlet Knights For all the latest news and opinion on the MAC

The first game of the Brian Smith era is near, as the Ohio Bobcats start their 2025 campaign on the road with a Big Ten battle against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

2025 Mid-American Conference Football Preseason Previews Your one-stop shop to catch up on all the preseason previews for the 2025 Mid-American Conference!

Hey folks, ya like preseason content? Well good news: we have in-depth previews of all 13 MAC teams under one roof for your convenience!

Check in with your favorite teams now before kickoff: www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football...

Well, we did ask for honesty...

2025 Hustle Belt Improvement Questionnaire: Welcome Page Hello, Belters! We're considering our current and future content schedules and would appreciate your feedback. We've broken up this survey into parts to prevent endless scrolling and allow you the ab...

Hello, Belters!

As we get ready to embark on another year of reporting MACtion, we'd like to ask you how you think we're doing coverage-wise. Please check out the Google Form below if you have some free time and answer any questions you find relevant! forms.gle/DFF2PE8RcnbP...

A Central Michigan perspective on the Connor Stalions saga The Chippewas were made aware of a potential interloper on Monday night, but questions linger about an incident from two months ago.

We have updated our piece about CMU's potential involvement in the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal with new information from the NCAA's infraction decision report on Michigan: www.hustlebelt.com/2023/11/3/23...

Toledo receives 13 votes in 2025 preseason AP Poll Toledo receives the most preseason AP votes for any MAC team since 2013.

Toledo received 13 votes in the 2025 preseason AP Top 25, checking as the #36 team in the country.

The Rockets' 13 preseason votes are the most by any MAC team since 2013 Northern Illinois: www.hustlebelt.com/toledo-rocke...

Happy 15th Birthday, Hustle Belt! For all the latest news and opinion on the MAC

"Until the track is ripped out from under us, we’ll continue to run... in pursuit of enriching the beautiful, flawed, undefinable, intimate world that is college sports."

Happy 15th birthday, Hustle Belt! Here's to many more. www.hustlebelt.com/site-notes-o...

2025 MAC Football Preseason Preview: UMass Minutemen A new era begins in Amherst, as the Minutemen take to the field for the first time as a fully-fledged MAC member.

Our 2025 football preseason previews kick off with the (re)debutantes of the MAC!

#UMass showed flashes of potential in 2024, but will once again start from the bottom under first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak. What can we expect to see in Amherst? www.hustlebelt.com/umass-minute...

How Brad Maynard won MAC Defensive Player of the Year without a single tackle Sheridan, Indiana’s Maynard helped lead Ball State to glory in 1996— earning a unique place in MAC history on the way.

In 1996, the MAC rewarded its Defensive Player of the Year to someone who did not log a single tackle, sack, or interception.

That's how impactful Brad Maynard was as punter for Ball State.

The story of Ball State's only consensus All-American: www.hustlebelt.com/ball-state-c...

MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher gives 2025 State of the Conference address The commissioner hit on a number of topics in Detroit, with special focus centered on changes in "non-Autonomous" synergy and movement.

MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher took to the podium on Wednesday to present his annual State of the Conference address.

The House settlement, College Football Playoff and potential business partnerships with other FBS conferences were all discussed:
www.hustlebelt.com/2025/7/25/24...

As far as my immediate memory can recall, yes. The MAC has previously had teams play in Toronto and Nassau in the postseason, but never in the regular season.

We have updated the article above to include Western Michigan's statement about ongoing discussions regarding the venue change.