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Mid-American Conference
U.S. college sports conference

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a collegiate athletic conference in the Great Lakes region, spanning from Western New York to Illinois. Its twelve full members compete in the NCAA Division I, with football teams playing in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Most members are located in Ohio and Michigan, with others in Indiana, Massachusetts, and New York. The MAC is headquartered in the Public Square district of Cleveland, Ohio, and leads all NCAA Division I FBS conferences in graduation rates.

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History

The five charter members of the Mid-American Conference were Ohio University, Butler University, the University of Cincinnati, Wayne University (now Wayne State University), and Western Reserve University, one of the predecessors to today's Case Western Reserve University. Wayne University left after the first year. Miami University and Western Michigan University took the place of those charter members for the 1948 season. The MAC added the University of Toledo (1950), Kent State University (1951), and Bowling Green State University (1952). The University of Cincinnati resigned its membership February 18, 1953, with an effective date of June 1, 1953. Cincinnati's decision was based on a new requirement that at least 5 conference football games would have to be scheduled each season, university president Raymond Walters saying they "...regretfully resign...as the university could not continue under the present setup..."2

The membership was steady for the next two decades except for the addition of Marshall University in 1954 and the departure of Western Reserve in 1955.3 Marshall was expelled from the conference in 1969 due to NCAA violations.4 The first major expansion since the 1950s took place in the mid-1970s with the addition of Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University in 1972 and Ball State University and Northern Illinois University in 1973. NIU left after the 1985–86 season. The University of Akron joined the conference in 1992. The conference became the largest in Division I-A with the re-admittance of Marshall and NIU in 1997 and addition of the Bulls from the University at Buffalo in 1998. The University of Central Florida, a non-football all-sports member in the Atlantic Sun Conference at the time, joined for football only in 2002, becoming the first football-only member in conference history. Marshall and Central Florida left after the 2004–05 academic year, both joining Conference USA in all sports.

In May 2005, the Temple Owls in Philadelphia signed a six-year contract with the MAC as a football-only school and began play in the East Division in 2007.5

The Louisville Cardinals were a MAC affiliate for field hockey for a number of years when Louisville was a member of the Metro Conference and Conference USA, winning two MAC tourney titles in 2003 and 2004.6

The Missouri State Bears, Evansville Purple Aces, and Southern Illinois Salukis participate in the MAC for men's swimming and diving.7 In 2012, the West Virginia Mountaineers joined the Florida Atlantic Owls and Hartwick College Hawks as men's soccer affiliates.8 Florida Atlantic departed upon joining Conference USA in 2013. Hartwick's contract was not renewed by the MAC in 2015. Nine schools are wrestling affiliates; most became affiliates when the MAC absorbed the former Eastern Wrestling League in 2019. Appalachian State University and Longwood University are associates in field hockey; Missouri State had also been a member in that sport from 2005 until dropping field hockey after the 2016 season. Binghamton University is an affiliate in men's tennis. In June 2017, SIU Edwardsville (SIUE) was invited to become an affiliate member in both men's soccer and wrestling in 2018.9 When Buffalo suddenly dropped four sports, including men's soccer, SIUE's move in that sport was made immediately.10

The UMass Minutemen joined the MAC as a football-only member in July 2012; the university announced that the team would leave the MAC at the end of the 2015 season due to contractual issues.1112 Meanwhile, Temple ended its affiliation with the MAC in football and joined the Big East for football in July 2012. Following the split of the Big East into football-sponsoring and non-football conferences in July 2013, Temple became a full member of the football-sponsoring portion, the American Athletic Conference, ending its membership in the Atlantic 10 at that time.1314 The Chicago State Cougars were an affiliate for men's tennis until joining the Western Athletic Conference, which sponsors that sport, in July 2013.

The conference unveiled the addition of women's lacrosse to its sport sponsorship in November 2019.15 Lacrosse began competing under the MAC banner with six teams in the 2021 season with MAC members Akron, Central Michigan and Kent State joined by associate members Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris, and Youngstown State. Eastern Michigan became the seventh women's lacrosse member when it added the sport in the 2022 season.16

At the end of the 2022 season, the MAC discontinued men's soccer as a sponsored sport. While the conference realignment of the early 2020s did not affect the MAC's core membership up to that time, it significantly impacted the amount of men's soccer sponsoring programs within the conference, and ultimately led to the conference lacking enough teams to maintain its automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.17 Of the four full MAC members that sponsored men's soccer in the 2022 season, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan moved the sport to the Missouri Valley Conference,18 and Akron moved it to the Big East Conference.19

The MAC eliminated its East and West divisions for football in January 2024. The divisions had already been eliminated for other sports in 2020.2021 Later that year, in late February, it was announced that the UMass Minutemen and Minutewomen will join the conference as a full member beginning in 2025, returning UMass football to the MAC.2223 In July, the conference announced that it would begin sponsoring women's rowing for the 2025–26 season; full members Eastern Michigan, Toledo, and UMass would be joined by affiliate members Delaware, High Point, and Temple.24

On January 3, 2025, it was reported that Northern Illinois had accepted an invitation from the Mountain West Conference to join as an affiliate member for football in 2026.25 This move was made official on January 7, after approval by NIU's governing board.26 Current MAC bylaws stipulate that all members must play football within the conference; correspondingly, multiple media reports in February 2025 indicated that NIU was set to rejoin the Horizon League, a non-football conference in which it had been a member from 1994–1997, in 2026. This move was also made official on February 27, after approval by NIU's governing board. NIU has applied to maintain MAC affiliate membership in women's gymnastics and men's wrestling, neither of which the Horizon sponsors.272829

Member universities

Current full members

There are twelve public universities with full membership:

InstitutionLocationFoundedJoined30TypeEnrollment(Fall 2020)31Endowment(millions)NicknameColors
University of AkronAkron, Ohio18701992Public16,094$235Zips   
Ball State UniversityMuncie, Indiana1918197321,597$325Cardinals   
Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, Ohio1910195218,142$155Falcons   
University at BuffaloBuffalo, New York1846199832,347$1,020Bulls   
Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, Michigan1892197117,311$246Chippewas   
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, Michigan1849197116,294$94Eagles   
Kent State UniversityKent, Ohio1910195126,822$301Golden Flashes   
University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherst, Massachusetts186320253227,420$1,500Minutemen and Minutewomen   
Miami UniversityOxford, Ohio1809194718,880$814RedHawks   
Northern Illinois University33DeKalb, Illinois18951975,199734Public16,769$99Huskies   
Ohio UniversityAthens, Ohio18041946Public25,714$1,007Bobcats   
University of ToledoToledo, Ohio1872195018,319$551Rockets   
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, Michigan1903194719,887$495Broncos   
Notes

Membership map

Current affiliate members

Eighteen schools have MAC affiliate membership status as of 2025. On July 1, 2012, Temple joined the Big East Conference for football only (the school's other sports would join the Big East/American for 2013–14), and Massachusetts replaced Temple as a football-only member in the MAC East Division. On September 19, 2012, the MAC announced Missouri, Northern Iowa and Old Dominion would join as wrestling affiliates; as the Southeastern and Missouri Valley Conferences do not sponsor wrestling. Missouri and Northern Iowa participated only in the conference tournament in the 2012–13 school year, and began full conference play in 2013–14. Old Dominion did not begin MAC competition until 2013–14, when it left the Colonial Athletic Association (which had sponsored wrestling, but no longer does so) for Conference USA (which has never sponsored the sport).3536 Old Dominion discontinued wrestling in April 2020.37

On July 1, 2013, Florida Atlantic's men's soccer program moved with the rest of its athletic program to Conference USA, and Chicago State's men's tennis team followed the rest of its sports to the Western Athletic Conference.

The 2014–15 school year saw one affiliate member leave for another conference and two new affiliates join. The Hartwick men's soccer team left the MAC for the Sun Belt Conference, which had announced in February 2014 that it would reinstate men's soccer, a sport that it last sponsored in 1995, for the 2014 season.38 The new affiliates for 2014–15 were Binghamton in men's tennis and Longwood in field hockey.39

On July 1, 2017, one associate member left the MAC, another associate member dropped one of its two MAC sports, and two new schools became associate members. Northern Iowa wrestling moved from the MAC to the Big 12 Conference.40 Missouri State dropped field hockey,41 but remained a MAC member in men's swimming & diving. Appalachian State joined MAC field hockey,42 and SIU Edwardsville (SIUE) joined in men's soccer.43 SIUE was initially announced as joining in both men's soccer and wrestling in 2018, but less than a week after the initial announcement, the conference indicated that SIUE men's soccer would immediately join.4445 SIUE wrestling joined on its originally announced schedule.

On March 5, 2019, the conference announced that it would be adding the seven former members of the Eastern Wrestling League as affiliate members in wrestling, making the MAC the second-largest wrestling conference for academic year 2019–20.46

With the addition of women's lacrosse, the MAC added affiliate members Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris, and Youngstown State in the 2020–21 academic year. UDM and YSU, all-sports members of the Horizon League, were announced as incoming associates at the same time the MAC announced the addition of lacrosse.47 RMU was announced as an incoming associate in late June 2020, shortly after the school announced it would join the Horizon League in July 2020.48

In June 2020, SIUE announced that it would leave the MAC men's soccer league in 2021 to rejoin its previous men's soccer home of the Missouri Valley Conference.49 It remains in MAC wrestling to this day.

Also in 2021, Missouri left MAC wrestling and returned to its former home of the Big 12 Conference as a wrestling-only member.50 At the same time, four schools became single-sport MAC members—Bellarmine in field hockey,51 Georgia Southern and Georgia State in men's soccer,52 and Valparaiso in men's swimming (the school does not include diving in its men's aquatics program).53

In 2022, West Virginia men's soccer was scheduled to leave the MAC for single-sport membership in Conference USA (CUSA).54 However, due to the tenuous future of CUSA at that time, West Virginia opted instead to join the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) in 2022 as that league reinstated men's soccer. Georgia Southern and Georgia State, both full SBC members, also returned men's soccer to their home conference in 2022.55 In response, the MAC announced that Chicago State would join as a men's soccer affiliate as of the 2022–23 season, as the Cougars prepared to depart the Western Athletic Conference in all sports, including soccer.56 Also in 2022, the MAC gained another affiliate when another Chicago institution, UIC, joined for men's swimming & diving.57 Ultimately, Chicago State's tenure as a MAC affiliate lasted only for the 2022 season, as the conference dropped men's soccer at season's end.58 2023 saw UIC adding men's tennis to its affiliate membership, as well as the announcement that James Madison would be joining as an affiliate for field hockey in 2024.5960

In 2024, the Missouri Valley Conference announced it would begin sponsoring men's swimming & diving for the 2024–25 season. At the time, the MAC men's swimming programs consisted of 2 MAC schools and 5 affiliates from the MVC; correspondingly, all of these programs would move to the MVC for the following season, with the 2 MAC schools (Ball State and Miami) joining the MVC as affiliates for that sport.61 However, shortly after dropping men's swimming, the MAC announced it would begin sponsoring a new sport, women's rowing, in 2025–26. Accordingly, it brought on 3 new affiliates for that sport: Delaware, High Point, and former football affiliate Temple.62

InstitutionLocationFoundedJoinedTypeEnrollmentNicknameColorsMACsportPrimaryconference
Appalachian State UniversityBoone, North Carolina18992017–18Public19,089Mountaineers   field hockeySun Belt
Bellarmine UniversityLouisville, Kentucky19502021–22Private (Catholic)3,973Knights   ASUN
Bloomsburg University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, Pennsylvania18392019–20Public9,950Huskies   wrestlingPSAC63
University of DelawareNewark, Delaware17432025–26Public6423,774Blue Hens   rowingCUSA
University of Detroit MercyDetroit, Michigan18772020–21Private (Catholic)5,700Titans     lacrosse (w)Horizon
George Mason UniversityFairfax, Virginia19572019–20Public35,047Patriots   wrestlingAtlantic 10
High Point UniversityHigh Point, North Carolina19242025–26Private(Methodist)4,545Panthers   rowingBig South
James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, Virginia19082024–25Public21,496Dukes   field hockeySun Belt
Lock Haven University of PennsylvaniaLock Haven, Pennsylvania18702019–204,607Bald Eagles   wrestlingPSAC65
Longwood UniversityFarmville, Virginia18392014–154,800Lancers   field hockeyBig South
Pennsylvania Western University Clarion (Clarion)66Clarion, Pennsylvania18672019–205,225Golden Eagles   wrestlingPSAC67
Pennsylvania Western University Edinboro (Edinboro)68Edinboro, Pennsylvania18574,834Fighting Scots   wrestlingPSAC69
Rider UniversityLawrenceville, New Jersey1865Private (nonsectarian)5,400Broncs     wrestlingMAAC
Robert Morris UniversityMoon Township, Pennsylvania19212020–214,895Colonials     lacrosse (w)Horizon
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville70Edwardsville, Illinois19572018–19Public14,142Cougars   wrestlingOVC
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania18842025–26State related37,365Owls   rowingAmerican
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)Chicago, Illinois18592023–24Public34,199Flames   tennis (m)Missouri Valley
Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, Ohio19082020–2115,058Penguins   lacrosse (w)Horizon
Notes

Former full members

School names, nicknames, and colors listed here reflect those used during each school's MAC tenure.

InstitutionLocationFoundedJoinedLeftTypeNicknameColorsCurrentconference
Butler UniversityIndianapolis, Indiana185519461950PrivateBulldogs   Big EastPioneer (football only)
University of CincinnatiCincinnati, Ohio18191953PublicBearcats   Big 12
Marshall UniversityHuntington, West Virginia183719541969Thundering Herd   Sun Belt
19972005
Wayne University71Detroit, Michigan186819461947Tartars72   GLIAC73
Western Reserve University74Cleveland, Ohio18261955PrivateRed Cats75   UAA76
Notes

Former affiliate members

School names, nicknames, and colors listed here reflect those used during each school's MAC tenure.

InstitutionLocationFoundedJoinedLeftTypeNicknameColorsMACsportCurrentprimaryconferenceCurrentconferencein formerMAC sport
Binghamton UniversityVestal, New York7719462014–152023–24PublicBearcats     tennis (m)America EastNEC
University of Central FloridaOrlando, Florida7819632002–032004–05Golden Knights79   footballBig 12
Chicago State UniversityChicago, Illinois18672007–082012–13Cougars   tennis (m)NEC
2022–23802023–24soccer (m)
University of EvansvilleEvansville, Indiana18542009–102024–25Purple Aces     swimming & diving (m)Missouri Valley
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, Florida19612008–09812012–13Owls   soccer (m)The American
Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, Georgia19062021–222022–23Eagles   soccer (m)Sun Belt
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, Georgia1913Panthers   
Hartwick College82Oneonta, New York17972007–082013–14PrivateHawks   soccer (m)83Empire 884
Indiana University-Purdue UniversityFort WayneFort Wayne, Indiana19172002–03m.ten.2006–07PublicMastodons85   tennis (m)86Horizon
2005–06m.soc.soccer (m)87
University of KentuckyLexington, Kentucky18651995–962004–05Wildcats   SECSun Belt
University of LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky17981994–95Cardinals   field hockey88ACC
University of MassachusettsAmherst, Massachusetts18632012–132015–16Minutemen   footballMAC
University of MissouriColumbia, Missouri18392012–132020–21Tigers   wrestlingSECBig 12
Missouri State UniversitySpringfield, Missouri19052005–062016–17Bears and Lady Bears   field hockey89CUSA(dropped sport)
2009–102024–25swimming & diving (m)CUSAMissouri Valley
University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, Iowa18762012–132016–17Panthers   wrestlingMissouri ValleyBig 12
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, Virginia19302013–142019–20Monarchs     Sun Belt(dropped sport)90
Southern Illinois University CarbondaleCarbondale, Illinois18692009–102024–25Salukis   swimming & diving (m)Missouri Valley
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville9192Edwardsville, Illinois19572017–182020–21Cougars   soccer (m)93OVC
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania18842007–082011–12Owls   footballThe American
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)Chicago, Illinois18592022–232024–25Flames   swimming & diving (m)Missouri Valley
Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso, Indiana18592021–222024–25PrivateBeacons   swimming (m)Missouri Valley
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, West Virginia18672012–132022–23PublicMountaineers   soccer (m)Big 12Sun Belt
Notes

Membership timeline

Full members  Full members (non-football)  Associate members (football only)  Independent  Other Conference  Other Conference 

Academics

One of the current full member schools, the University at Buffalo, is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU).94 All members of the MAC are classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research spending and doctorate production" except for the University at Buffalo, Kent State University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Ohio University, which are classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research spending and doctorate production".95 Member schools are also ranked nationally and globally by various groups, including U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education.

UniversityLocationAffiliationCarnegie96Endowment9798USN Nat.99URAP Global100
University of AkronAkron, OhioPublicResearch (High)$236,000,000293-381763
Ball State UniversityMuncie, IndianaPublicResearch (High)$325,000,0001921,437
Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, OhioPublicResearch (High)$200,000,0002461,443
University at BuffaloBuffalo, New YorkPublicResearch (Very High)$1,020,000,00079279
Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MichiganPublicResearch (High)$246,000,0002401,335
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MichiganPublicResearch (High)$78,000,000293-3812,187
Kent State UniversityKent, OhioPublicResearch (Very High)$188,000,000211801
Miami UniversityOxford, OhioPublicResearch (High)$736,000,000911,061
Northern Illinois UniversityDeKalb, IllinoisPublicResearch (High)$99,000,000293-3811,078
Ohio UniversityAthens, OhioPublicResearch (Very High)$943,400,000176701
University of ToledoToledo, OhioPublicResearch (High)$551,000,000293-381745
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MichiganPublicResearch (High)$495,000,0002461,292

Sports

The Mid-American Conference sponsors championship competition in 9 men's and 13 women's NCAA sanctioned sports, with women's lacrosse becoming the newest sport in 2020–21.101 As of the 2024–25 school year, 16 schools are associate members for four sports.

As the MAC is an FBS conference, its full members are subject to the NCAA requirement that FBS members field teams in at least 16 NCAA-recognized sports. However, as of 2017, the MAC itself required sponsorship of only four sports: football, men's and women's basketball, and women's volleyball.102 This may have since changed, as UMass was accepted as a new conference member effective in 2025 despite not sponsoring women's volleyball.

Teams in MAC competition
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball11
Basketball1212
Cross country912
Field hockey8
Football12
Golf810
Gymnastics7
Lacrosse7
Soccer12
Softball12
Swimming and diving8
Tennis67
Track and field (indoor)412
Track and field (outdoor)512
Volleyball12
Wrestling13

Men's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBaseballBasketballCross countryFootballGolfTennisTrack and field(indoor)Track and field(outdoor)WrestlingTotal MAC sports
AkronYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNo6
Ball StateYesYesNoYesYesYesNoNoNo5
Bowling GreenYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNo5
BuffaloNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes7
Central MichiganYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoYes6
Eastern MichiganYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesNo7
Kent StateYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes8
Miami (OH)YesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesNo6
Northern IllinoisYesYesNoYesYesYesNoNoYes6
OhioYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoYes6
ToledoYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNo6
UMassYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNo6
Western MichiganYesYesNoYesNoYesNoNoNo4
Totals1213101385+1103565+710476+8

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the MAC

Future members in gray.

SchoolIce hockeyLacrosseRifle105SoccerSwimming & divingVolleyball
AkronNoNoGARCBig EastNoNo
Ball StateNoNoNoNoMVCMIVA
Bowling GreenCCHANoNoMVCNoNo
MiamiNCHCNoNoNoMVCNo
Northern IllinoisNoNoNoMVCNoNo
UMassHockey EastA-10NoSummitMVCNo
Western MichiganNCHCNoNoMVCNoNo
Notes

Women's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBasketballCross countryField hockeyGolfGymnasticsLacrosseRowingSoccerSoftballSwimmingTennisTrack and field(indoor)Track and field(outdoor)VolleyballTotal MAC sports
AkronYesYesNoYesNoYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYes10
Ball StateYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYes12
Bowling GreenYesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYes11
BuffaloYesYesNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYes9
Central MichiganYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYes11
Eastern MichiganYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesYes11
Kent StateYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYes11
MiamiYesYesYesNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
Northern IllinoisYesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes10
OhioYesYesYesYesNoNoNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYes10
ToledoYesYesNoYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes11
UMassYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNo11
Western MichiganYesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes10
Totals13136+41061075+31073+3108131298131313137+10

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the MAC

Future member in gray.

SchoolRifle109Synchronized skating110
AkronGARCNo
MiamiNoIndependent

Notes:

Football

Scheduling

On November 30, 2023, the MAC approved a new scheduling format for football effective for the 2024 season, eliminating its East and West Divisions for the first time since 1996 in favor of a pod-based protected rivalry system. Under the new system, teams will be divided into 4 pods of 3 teams each, and each team will be guaranteed to face the other 2 teams in its pod every season. Additionally, every team in the MAC will be guaranteed to face every other team in the MAC at least once every three years. The MAC Football Championship Game, which previously matched the winner of the East Division against the winner of the West Division, will instead put the two teams in the MAC with the highest conference winning percentage. The pods are as follows:111112

MAC Pods
School 1School 2School 3
Pod 1AkronBuffaloKent State
Pod 2Ball StateMiami (OH)Ohio
Pod 3Bowling GreenNorthern IllinoisToledo
Pod 4Central MichiganEastern MichiganWestern Michigan

All-time results

For the most recent season, see 2024 Mid-American Conference football season.

113[when?]

TeamFirst seasonAll-time recordAll-time win %Bowl appearancesBowl recordMAC titlesOther conference titlesStadiumHead coach
Akron1891518–545–36.48831–210InfoCision Stadium – Summa FieldJoe Moorhead
Ball State1924439–402–32.52181–755Scheumann StadiumMike Neu
Bowling Green1919533–364–52.589135–8125Doyt Perry StadiumEddie George
Buffalo1894385–514–28.4306*3–311University at Buffalo StadiumPete Lembo
Central Michigan1896603–400–37.59893–679Kelly/Shorts StadiumJim McElwain
Eastern Michigan1891443–576–47.43841–319Rynearson StadiumChris Creighton
Kent State1920335–535–28.38931-210Dix StadiumKenni Burns
Miami (OH)1888674–446–44.598107–3157Yager StadiumChuck Martin
Northern Illinois1899566–475–51.542114–768Huskie StadiumThomas Hammock
Ohio1894579–566–47.505135–856Peden StadiumTim Albin
Toledo1917517–416–24.5531510–5123Glass BowlJason Candle
Western Michigan1905556–439–24.55771–631Waldo StadiumTim Lester
  • - Buffalo invited to Tangerine Bowl in 1958 / Declined due to Florida's segregation laws at the time which would not have allowed Buffalo's two black players to participate.

MAC champions

Main article: MAC Championship Game

Bowl games

In 2017, the MAC was contracted to provide a team for each of five college football bowl games: the Bahamas Bowl, LendingTree Bowl, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Camellia Bowl (later renamed the Salute to Veterans Bowl) and Quick Lane Bowl (later renamed the GameAbove Sports Bowl). The MAC also has secondary agreements with several ESPN-owned bowls.

NameLocationOpposing conference
Bahamas BowlNassau, BahamasC-USA
LendingTree BowlMobile, AlabamaSun Belt
Famous Idaho Potato BowlBoise, IdahoMountain West
Salute to Veterans BowlMontgomery, AlabamaSun Belt
GameAbove Sports BowlDetroit, MichiganBig Ten
Notes
  • The MAC champion (if not invited to the College Football Playoff or its associated bowls) is not contractually obligated to any specific bowl. The conference and the universities select which teams will play in which of the league's affiliated bowls.

College Football Playoff

The MAC champion, like the other "Group of 5" conferences receives an automatic berth in one of the so-called New Year's Six bowl games associated with the College Football Playoff under either of the following circumstances:

  • Selected as one of the top four teams overall by the CFP selection committee, in which case the team will play in a CFP national semifinal.
  • Ranked by the committee as the top champion among the five conferences (American, C-USA, MAC, MW, Sun Belt) given access to one of the CFP bowls, in which case the team will play in the so-called "Access Bowl" as an at-large selection.

The first "Access Bowl" berth in 2014 went to Boise State (MW); the 2015 berth went to Houston (American). The MAC got its first berth in 2016 with Western Michigan, who had an undefeated regular season that year and finished ranked at No. 15 in the AP Poll.

During the era of the now-defunct Bowl Championship Series (BCS), one MAC team appeared in a BCS bowl game. In 2012, NIU qualified by being ranked in the top 16 (15th) in the season's final BCS standings, and also higher than at least one champion of a conference that received an automatic berth in a BCS game. In the 2012 season, two such conference champions were ranked below NIU: Big East champion Louisville, who was ranked 22nd, and Big Ten champion Wisconsin, who was unranked. NIU lost to Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

Rivalries

Football rivalries involving MAC teams include:

TeamsRivalry nameTrophyMeetingsRecordSeries leaderCurrent streak
AkronKent StateWagon Wheel6737–28–2AkronAkron won 2
AkronYoungstown StateSteel Tire3519–14–2Youngstown StateYoungstown State won 3
Ball StateIndiana StateBlue Key Victory Bell6439–24–1Ball StateBall State won 1
Ball StateNorthern IllinoisBronze Stalk Trophy5325–25–2TieBall State won 3
Bowling GreenKent StateAnniversary Award9262–24–6Bowling GreenBowling Green won 2
Bowling GreenToledoBattle of I-75Battle of I-75 Trophy9043–42–4ToledoBowling Green won 1
Central MichiganEastern MichiganRivalry10264–32–6Central MichiganEastern Michigan won 1
Central MichiganWestern MichiganRivalryVictory Cannon9553–40–2Western MichiganCentral Michigan won 1
MiamiCincinnatiBattle for the BellVictory Bell12861–60–7CincinnatiCincinnati won 1
MiamiOhioBattle of the Bricks10156–43–2MiamiOhio won 1
OhioMarshallBattle for the BellThe Bell6033–21–6OhioMarshall won 1
UMassBoston CollegeRivalry2722–5Boston CollegeBoston College won 11
UMassNew HampshireColonial Clash7443–28–3UMassNew Hampshire won 2
UMassUConnRivalry7838–38–2TieUConn won 3

In addition, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan compete for the Michigan MAC Trophy, which is awarded to the team with the best head-to-head record each year. Since the inception of the trophy in 2005, Western Michigan has won 7 times, Central Michigan has won 5 times, and Eastern Michigan has won the trophy 4 times. Western Michigan has won the trophy three straight years (2018–2020) as well as six of seven years from 2014 to 2020 (2014–2016, 2018–2020).

Basketball

Main articles: Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament and Mid-American Conference women's basketball tournament

See also: Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year

In August 2010, Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that the Mid-American Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments would remain in Cleveland at the venue then known as Quicken Loans Arena and now as Rocket Arena through 2017.114 Both tournaments have flourished since moving to Cleveland in 2000, with the men's semi-finals and championship regularly drawing large crowds at Quicken Loans Arena.115 In 2007, the MAC also announced a format change for both tournaments, bringing all twelve men's and women's teams to Cleveland. The MAC also co-hosted the 2007 Women's Final Four at Quicken Loans Arena after successfully hosting the 2006 NCAA Women's Basketball Regional at the same facility.

On May 12, 2020, Steinbrecher announced a suite of major changes to the conference's competitive format across multiple sports in response to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific to men's and women's basketball, the following changes took effect in 2020–21 and will continue through at least 2023–24:116

  • The conference adopted a single league table, eliminating the divisional standings.
  • The conference schedule increased from 18 to 20 games.
  • Only the top eight men's and women's teams advance to their respective conference tournaments.

Championships

Main article: List of Mid-American Conference champions

Current MAC champions

The following are the most recent conference champions of each MAC sport. Champions from the previous academic year are indicated with the calendar year of their title.

In sports in which regular-season and tournament champions are recognized, "RS" indicates regular-season champion and "T" indicates tournament champion.

Fall 2024

SportSchool
FootballOhio (Rs, T), Miami Ohio (Rs)
Soccer (W)Western Michigan (Rs, T)
Volleyball (W)Bowling Green (Rs), Western Michigan (T)
Cross country (M)Toledo
Cross country (W)Toledo
Field hockey (W)Miami Ohio (Rs, T), Appalachian State (Rs), James Madison (Rs)

Winter 2024–25

SportSchool
Basketball (M)Akron (Rs, T)
Basketball (W)Ball State (Rs, T)
Indoor track and field (M)Akron
Indoor track and field (W)Bowling Green
Swimming and diving (W)Akron
Gymnastics (W)Kent State (Rs), Central Michigan (T)
Wrestling (M)Lock Haven(East Rs, T), Northern Illinois (west Rs), Central Michigan (west Rs)

Spring 2025

SportSchool
BaseballMiami Ohio (Rs, T), Kent State (Rs)
SoftballMiami Ohio (Rs, T)
Outdoor track and field (M)Akron
Outdoor track and field (W)Bowling Green
Golf (M)Kent State
Golf (W)Kent State
Tennis (M)Buffalo (Rs, T)
Tennis (W)Miami Ohio (East Rs), Northern Illinois (west Rs), Buffalo (T)
LacrosseAkron (Rs, T), Eastern Michigan (Rs), Robert Morris (Rs)

Facilities

SchoolFootball stadiumCapacityBasketball arenaCapacityBaseball stadiumCapacity
AkronInfoCision Stadium–Summa Field30,000James A. Rhodes Arena5,500Skeeles Field1,500
Ball StateScheumann Stadium22,500117John E. Worthen Arena11,500Ball Diamond1,700
Bowling GreenDoyt Perry Stadium24,000Stroh Center4,700Warren E. Steller Field2,500
BuffaloUniversity at Buffalo Stadium25,013Alumni Arena6,100Non-baseball school
Central MichiganKelly/Shorts Stadium35,127McGuirk Arena5,300Bill Theunissen Stadium2,046
Eastern MichiganRynearson Stadium30,200George Gervin GameAbove Center8,800Oestrike Stadium1,313
Kent StateDix Stadium25,319Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center6,327Schoonover Stadium1,130
MiamiYager Stadium30,087Millett Hall6,400Stanley G. McKie Field at Joseph P. Hayden Jr. Park1,000
Northern IllinoisBrigham Field at Huskie Stadium23,595Convocation Center10,000Ralph McKinzie Field1,500
OhioPeden Stadium24,000Convocation Center13,080Bob Wren Stadium4,000
ToledoGlass Bowl36,852Savage Arena7,300Scott Park Baseball Complex1,000
MassachusettsWarren McGuirk Alumni Stadium17,000Mullins Center9,493Earl Lorden Field1,000
Western MichiganWaldo Stadium36,361University Arena5,421Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Judson Hyames Field1,500

Athletic department revenue by school

Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights and licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, concessions, and novelties.

Total expenses includes coach and staff salaries, scholarships, buildings and grounds, maintenance, utilities and rental fees, recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues, and insurance.

The following table shows institutional reporting to the U.S. Department of Education as shown on the DOE Equity in Athletics website for the 2023–24 academic year.118

Institution2023–24 total revenue from athletics2023–24 total expenses on athletics
University of Massachusetts$49,525,166$49,525,166
University at Buffalo$42,271,934$42,113,971
Miami University$40,819,194$40,819,194
Western Michigan University$40,487,398$40,487,398
University of Toledo$37,298,170$37,298,170
Eastern Michigan University$37,094,526$37,094,526
Central Michigan University$36,647,135$36,647,135
Kent State University$34,453,185$34,453,185
Ohio University$32,958,838$32,958,838
Bowling Green State University$32,044,229$31,864,946
University of Akron$30,010,416$30,010,416
Ball State University$29,737,219$29,737,219
Northern Illinois University$24,939,848$24,939,848

Hall of Fame

The Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame was the first Division I conference Hall of Fame.119 It was established in 1987 and classes have been inducted in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2012 and 2013.120121

In order to be eligible, a person must have participated during the time the university was in the MAC and five years must have passed from the time the individual participated in athletics or worked in the athletic department.122

The following is a list of the members of the MAC Hall of Fame, along with school affiliation, sport(s) for which they were inducted, and year of induction.

  • Harold Anderson, Bowling Green, basketball, 1991
  • Janet Bachna, Kent State, gymnastics, 1992
  • Joe Begala, Kent State, wrestling, 1991
  • Tom Beutler, Toledo, football, 1994
  • Kermit Blosser, Ohio, golf, 1988
  • Jim Corrigall, Kent State, football, 1994
  • Hasely Crawford, Eastern Michigan, track and field, 1991
  • Ben Curtis, Kent State, golf, 2012
  • Caroline (Mast) Daugherty, Ohio, basketball, 1994
  • Herb Deromedi, Central Michigan, football, 2012
  • Chuck Ealey, Toledo, football, 1988
  • Fran Ebert, Western Michigan, softball / basketball, 1992
  • Wayne Embry, Miami, basketball, 2012
  • Karen Fitzpatrick, Ball State, field hockey, 2012
  • John Gill, WMU athlete / coach / administrator, 1994
  • Maurice Harvey, Ball State, football, 1992
  • Bill Hess, Ohio, football coach, 1992
  • Gary Hogeboom, Central Michigan, football, 1994
  • Fred Jacoby, MAC commissioner, 1990
  • Bob James, MAC commissioner, 1989
  • Ron Johnson, Eastern Michigan, football, 1988
  • Dave Keilitz, Central Michigan, baseball, 2013
  • Ted Kjolhede, Central Michigan, basketball, 1988
  • Kim Knuth, Toledo, women's basketball, 2013
  • Ken Kramer, Ball State, football, 1991
  • Bill Lajoie, Western Michigan, baseball, 1991
  • Jack Lambert, Kent State, football, 1988
  • Frank Lauterbur, Toledo, football, 1990
  • Mel Long, Toledo, football, 1992
  • Charlier Maher, Western Michigan, baseball, 1989
  • Bill Mallory, Miami/Northern Illinois, football, 2013
  • Brad Maynard, Ball State, football, 2013
  • Ray McCallum, Ball State, basketball, 1988
  • Jack McLain, MAC football official, 1992
  • Karen Michalak, Central Michigan, basketball / track and field / field hockey, 1992
  • Gordon Minty, Eastern Michigan, track and field, 1994
  • Steve Mix, Toledo, basketball, 1989
  • Thurman Munson, Kent State, baseball, 1990
  • Ira Murchinson, Western Michigan, track and field, 1990
  • Don Nehlen, Bowling Green, football, 1994
  • Manny Newsome, Western Michigan, basketball, 1988
  • Bob Nichols, Toledo, basketball, 2012
  • John Offerdahl, Western Michigan, football, 2013
  • Bob Owchinko, Eastern Michigan, baseball, 1992
  • Ara Parseghian, Miami, football, 1988
  • Doyt Perry, Bowling Green, football, 1988
  • John Pont, Miami, football player / coach, 1992
  • John Pruis, Ball State, president, 1994
  • Trevor Rees, Kent State, football, 1989
  • David Reese, MAC commissioner, 1988
  • George Rider, Miami, track and field, 1989
  • William Rohr, Miami, basketball coach 1994
  • Dan Roundfield, Central Michigan, basketball, 1990
  • Bo Schembechler, Miami, football coach, 1991
  • Mike Schmidt, Ohio, baseball, 2012
  • Dick Shrider, Miami, basketball, 1990
  • Christi Smith, Akron, track and field, 2013
  • Jim Snyder, Ohio, basketball, 1991
  • Shafer Suggs, Ball State, football, 1989
  • Nate Thurmond, Bowling Green, basketball, 1989
  • Gary Trent, Ohio, men's basketball, 2013
  • Phil Villapiano, Bowling Green, football, 1992
  • Bob Welch, Eastern Michigan, baseball, 1990
  • Dave Wottle, Bowling Green, track and field, 1990
  • Bob Wren, Ohio, baseball, 1989

Media

Broadcasts

A number of MAC sports, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, soccer, wrestling and volleyball, are telecast on Spectrum Sports, replacing SportsTime Ohio and Fox Sports Ohio as the MAC TV partner.123 Along with Spectrum Sports, ESPN, as well as the American Sports Network, retain the "local and regional" syndication telecast rights to the MAC for football and basketball.

In 2000 ESPN began broadcasting MAC football games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The conference agreed to the unusual schedule to increase television ratings by not competing against other football. Fans nicknamed the midweek games MACtion. In 2014 the conference and ESPN agreed to a new contract for 13 years. Each school receives more than $800,000 annually, and plays most November games on weekday nights; 16 of 18 games in 2016 were not on Saturdays, for example. While MACtion decreases stadium attendance, games appear on an ESPN channel to a nationwide audience instead of a less-popular channel or streaming media.124 While noting the smaller attendance, coaches say that midweek games are good for the conference, and give players a break on Saturdays.125

Ball State produces its own comprehensive television package with Ball State Sports Link. Affiliate stations include WIPB in Muncie, WNDY in Indianapolis, WPTA in Fort Wayne, WHME in South Bend, WTVW in Evansville, WYIN in Merrillville and Comcast in Michigan. All Ball State Sports Link games are also broadcast on student radio station WCRD and on the Ball State Radio Network produced by WLBC-FM and Backyard Broadcasting.

NIU has multiple football and basketball games telecast by Comcast SportsNet Chicago. In addition, most NIU football and basketball games can be heard on WSCR-AM 670 "The Score"—Chicago's powerful 50,000-watt, top-rated all-sports station, which reaches 38 states and Canada.

MAC Properties

MAC Properties (a division of ISP Sports) is the sponsorship arm of the Mid-American Conference, and handles all forms of sponsorship and advertising for the MAC which includes managing and growing its stable of official corporate partners. As of 2010, the MAC has five official corporate partners: FirstEnergy, Marathon, PNC Bank, AutoTrader.com and Cleveland Clinic Sports Health. There are approximately 20 other companies engaged as sponsors of the conference at the non-official level. MAC Properties also assists with the management of the conference's television and radio contracts, including those with ESPN Regional, FOX Sports Ohio and ESPN 850 WKNR among others.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mid-American Conference.

References

  1. "MAC Football Programs Lead I-A Public Institutions In Graduation Success Rates" (Press release). Temple Owls. September 29, 2006. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200627221142/https://owlsports.com/story.aspx?filename=092906aaa_298&file_date=9-29-2006

  2. The Lima News, February 19, 1953

  3. "Volume high, but conference movement itself not unprecedented". NCAA. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140224211547/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/NCAANewsArchive/2003/Division+I/volume%2Bhigh,%2Bbut%2Bconference%2Bmovement%2Bitself%2Bnot%2Bunprecedented%2B-%2B12-8-03.html

  4. Wilson, Tracy (December 15, 2006). "The Real Story Behind We Are Marshall". Retrieved November 8, 2011. http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/we-are-marshall2.htm

  5. "2016 MAC Football Media Guide -- History & Records.pdf" (PDF). Dropbox. https://www.dropbox.com/s/we91ugx6xfbim5u/2016+MAC+Football+Media+Guide+--+History+&+Records.pdf?dl=0

  6. "2015 FH Record Book" (PDF). Mid-American Conference. https://getsomemaction.com/documents/2015/8/17/2015_Season_Field_Hockey.pdf

  7. "Missouri State Will Join Mid-American Conference in Men's Swimming". Missouri State University. August 7, 2009. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2020. https://missouristatebears.com/news/2009/8/7/Missouri_State_Will_Join_Mid_American_Conference_in_Men_s_Swimming.aspx

  8. Carvelli, Michael (April 3, 2012). "West Virginia men's soccer team to join the Mid-American Conference next season". The Daily Athenaeum. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012. https://archive.today/20120912021743/http://www.thedaonline.com/a-e/west-virginia-men-s-soccer-team-to-join-the-mid-american-conference-next-season-1.2836883

  9. "SIU-Edwardsville joins Mid-American Conference as affiliate member in two sports". Hustle Belt/Vox Media, Inc. June 2, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017. http://www.hustlebelt.com/2017/6/2/15729058/siu-edwardsville-joins-mid-american-conference-affiliate-member-mens-soccer-wrestling

  10. "SIUE men's soccer to join MAC immediately". The Telegraph. June 8, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017. http://thetelegraph.com/sports/103613/siue-mens-soccer-to-join-mac-immediately

  11. Elton Alexander (April 19, 2011). "University of Massachusetts football to join Mid-American Conference, sources say". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 19, 2011. http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2011/04/university_of_massachusetts_fo.html

  12. UMass Football Will Leave Mid-American Conference at End of 2015 - University of Massachusetts Official Athletic Site Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Umassathletics.com (2014-03-26). Retrieved on 2014-04-12. http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/032614aaa.html

  13. "Temple joining Big East for football in 2012, other sports in 2013". Retrieved June 2, 2017. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2012/03/temple-officially-joining-big-east-for-football-2012/1/

  14. "Temple to play Big East football next season". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 2, 2017. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/temple-owls-join-big-east-football-2012-sports-2013-article-1.1034896/

  15. Staff (November 6, 2019). "MAC adding women's lacrosse for 2020-21". Associated Press. Retrieved February 4, 2020. https://apnews.com/3996973775494eaa8005f06b93b38778

  16. Logue, Brian (November 6, 2019). "MAC Starts Division I Women's Lacrosse League; Eastern Michigan To Add Program". US Lacrosse Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2020. https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/eastern-michigan-to-add-women-s-lacrosse-mac-to-start-di-lacrosse-league/55544

  17. "MAC to Suspend Sponsoring Men's Soccer Following 2022 Season" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2022/11/11/mac-to-suspend-sponsoring-mens-soccer-following-2022-season.aspx

  18. "Missouri Valley Conference To Expand in Men's Soccer for 2023" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022. https://mvc-sports.com/news/2022/11/11/missouri-valley-conference-to-expand-in-mens-soccer-for-2023.aspx

  19. "BIG EAST Adds Akron For Men's Soccer" (Press release). Big East Conference. November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022. https://www.bigeast.com/news/2022/11/16/big-east-adds-akron-for-mens-soccer.aspx

  20. "MAC Announces Future Football Schedule Formats for 2024-26" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. January 25, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/1/25/mac-announces-future-football-schedule-formats-for-2024-26.aspx

  21. Strack, Jordan (May 12, 2020). "Major changes coming to Mid-American Conference". Toledo, OH: WTOL. Retrieved May 12, 2020. https://www.wtol.com/article/sports/major-changes-coming-to-mid-american-conference/512-0e4f0d45-546b-432f-89a1-67a5a6d8fe3c

  22. Withers, Tom (February 27, 2024). "UMass will join Mid-American Conference as a full sports member in 2025, MAC commissioner says". Associated Press. Retrieved February 27, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/umass-mac-realignment-519f806947a7f597cc783290546b585e

  23. Hernandez, Victoria (February 26, 2024). "UMass to join MAC conference, including previously independent football, per reports". USA Today. Retrieved February 27, 2024. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2024/02/26/umass-to-join-mac-conference/72752755007/

  24. "Mid-American Conference to add Women's Rowing in 2025-26" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/7/18/general-mid-american-conference-to-add-womens-rowing-in-2025-26.aspx

  25. Bromberg, Nick (January 3, 2025). "Northern Illinois set to move to Mountain West as football-only member". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved January 5, 2025. https://sports.yahoo.com/northern-illinois-set-to-move-to-mountain-west-as-football-only-member-221640586.html

  26. "NIU Football Joins Mountain West Conference" (Press release). Northern Illinois Huskies. January 7, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2025. https://niuhuskies.com/news/2025/1/7/niu-football-joins-mountain-west-conference.aspx

  27. Vannini, Chris; Baker, Matt (February 24, 2025). "Northern Illinois plans to move non-football programs to Horizon League in 2026". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6157419/2025/02/24/northern-illinois-horizon-league/

  28. Silverman, Blake (February 24, 2025). "Northern Illinois Intends Jump to Horizon League for All Non-Football Teams". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 24, 2025. https://www.si.com/college-basketball/northern-illinois-intends-jump-mac-horizon-league-non-football-teams-2026

  29. "Horizon League Welcomes NIU" (Press release). Horizon League. February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025. https://horizonleague.org/news/2025/2/27/general-horizon-league-welcomes-niu.aspx

  30. "History of the MAC". Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2020. https://getsomemaction.com/sports/2014/5/29/MACHistory.aspx?path=general

  31. "National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, part of the U.S. Department of Education". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved June 7, 2022. https://nces.ed.gov/

  32. UMass was a MAC affiliate in football from the 2012 to 2015 fall seasons (2012–13 to 2015–16 school years).

  33. Northern Illinois announced it will join the Mountain West Conference for football and the Horizon League for other sports no later than July 1, 2026. /wiki/Mountain_West_Conference

  34. Northern Illinois left the MAC after the 1985–86 school year; before rejoining in the 1997–98 school year.

  35. "MAC Adds Three Affiliate Members In Wrestling" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020212436/http://www.mac-sports.com/News/tabid/969/Article/163766/MAC-Adds-Three-Affiliate-Members-In-Wrestling.aspx

  36. "MAC adds Missouri, Northern Iowa and Old Dominion as wrestling members". Fox News. September 19, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mac-adds-missouri-northern-iowa-and-old-dominion-as-wrestling-members

  37. Parsons, Brian (April 3, 2020). "Old Dominion eliminates wrestling program effective immediately". WAVY TV 10. Retrieved April 3, 2020. https://www.wavy.com/ncaa/old-dominion-eliminates-wrestling-program-effective-immediately/

  38. "Sun Belt Men's Soccer to Re-Debut in Fall 2014" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. February 11, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014. http://www.sunbeltsports.org/news/2014/2/11/GENERAL_0211145401.aspx

  39. "Binghamton Joins in Men's Tennis and Longwood in Field Hockey" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. April 21, 2014. Archived from the original on June 15, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014. https://archive.today/20140615094842/http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/341747/Binghamton-Joins-in-Men-s-Tennis-and-Longwood-in-Field-Hockey.aspx

  40. Ryder, Nic (June 8, 2017). "Official: UNI and Fresno State Joining Big 12". IAWrestle.com. Retrieved June 9, 2017. https://iawrestle.com/2017/06/08/official-uni-and-fresno-state-joining-big-12/

  41. "Missouri State Athletics to Restructure Sport Offerings, Reduce Expenses" (Press release). Missouri State Athletics. April 3, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2018. https://missouristatebears.com/news/2017/4/3/general-missouri-state-athletics-to-restructure-sport-offerings-reduce-expenses.aspx

  42. "Appalachian State Joins MAC as Affiliate Member in Field Hockey" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. June 30, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2020. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2016/6/30/fh_0630162011.aspx

  43. "MAC Welcomes SIU Edwardsville as Men's Soccer Affiliate Member in 2017" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/6/1/mac-adds-siu-edwardsville-as-affiliate-member-in-mens-soccer-and-wrestling.aspx

  44. "MAC Welcomes SIU Edwardsville as Men's Soccer Affiliate Member in 2017" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/6/1/mac-adds-siu-edwardsville-as-affiliate-member-in-mens-soccer-and-wrestling.aspx

  45. "SIUE men's soccer to join MAC immediately". The Telegraph. June 8, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017. http://thetelegraph.com/sports/103613/siue-mens-soccer-to-join-mac-immediately

  46. Schofield, Paul (March 5, 2019). "Division I Eastern Wrestling League to merge with MAC next season". Trib Total Media. Retrieved February 4, 2020. https://triblive.com/sports/division-i-eastern-wrestling-league-to-merge-with-mac-next-season/

  47. Logue, Brian (November 6, 2019). "MAC Starts Division I Women's Lacrosse League; Eastern Michigan To Add Program". US Lacrosse Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2020. https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/eastern-michigan-to-add-women-s-lacrosse-mac-to-start-di-lacrosse-league/55544

  48. "Robert Morris to Join MAC as Affiliate Member in Women's Lacrosse" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2020/6/23/general-robert-morris-to-join-mac-as-affiliate-member-in-womens-lacrosse.aspx

  49. "MVC Adds SIUE as Men's Soccer Affiliate" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020. https://mvc-sports.com/news/2020/6/12/mvc-add-siue-as-mens-soccer-affiliate.aspx

  50. "Big 12 Adds Missouri as Affiliate Member in Wrestling" (Press release). Big 12 Conference. April 22, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021. https://big12sports.com/news/2021/4/22/big-12-adds-missouri-as-affiliate-member-in-wrestling.aspx

  51. "Bellarmine to Join MAC as Affiliate Member in Field Hockey" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. June 9, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2020/6/7/bellarmine-to-join-mac-as-affiliate-member-in-field-hockey.aspx

  52. "Georgia Southern, Georgia State Added As Affiliate Members in Men's Soccer" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2021/5/21/georgia-southern-georgia-state-added-as-affiliate-members-in-mens-soccer.aspx

  53. "Valparaiso To Join MAC As Affiliate Member In Men's Swimming & Diving" (Press release). Mid=American Conference. March 4, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2022. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2021/3/3/valparaiso-to-join-mac-as-affiliate-member-in-mens-swimming-diving.aspx

  54. "MSOC: West Virginia Added as C-USA Soccer Member for 2022" (Press release). Conference USA. June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021. https://conferenceusa.com/news/2021/6/13/mens-soccer-msoc-west-virginia-added-as-c-usa-soccer-member-for-2022.aspx

  55. "Sun Belt Conference Announces Return of Men's Soccer This Fall" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022. https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2022/4/6/sun-belt-conference-announces-return-of-mens-soccer-this-fall.aspx

  56. "Chicago State Men's Soccer Joins Mid-American Conference as an Affiliate Member". gocsucougars.com. May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022. https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2022/5/27/general-chicago-state-mens-soccer-joins-mid-american-conference-as-an-affiliate-member.aspx

  57. "UIC to Join MAC As Affiliate Member in Men's Swimming & Diving" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. August 30, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2022/8/30/uic-to-join-mac-as-affiliate-member-in-mens-swimming-diving.aspx

  58. "MAC to Suspend Sponsoring Men's Soccer Following 2022 Season" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2022/11/11/mac-to-suspend-sponsoring-mens-soccer-following-2022-season.aspx

  59. "University of Illinois Chicago to Join MAC As Affiliate Member in Men's Tennis" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. June 5, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2023/6/4/university-of-illinois-chicago-to-join-mac-as-affiliate-member-in-mens-tennis.aspx

  60. "James Madison To Join MAC As Affiliate Member in Field Hockey" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. April 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2023/4/26/james-madison-to-join-mac-as-affiliate-member-in-field-hockey.aspx

  61. "MVC To Sponsor Men's Swimming & Diving in 2024-25" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024. https://mvc-sports.com/news/2024/4/11/swimming-and-diving-mvc-to-sponsor-mens-swimming-diving-in-2024-25.aspx

  62. "Mid-American Conference to add Women's Rowing in 2025-26" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/7/18/general-mid-american-conference-to-add-womens-rowing-in-2025-26.aspx

  63. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference. /wiki/NCAA_Division_II

  64. Delaware is officially chartered as a "privately-governed, state-assisted" institution. This status is broadly similar to that of New York State's statutory colleges, most of which are housed at Cornell University, or institutions in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth System of Higher Education. /wiki/Statutory_colleges

  65. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference. /wiki/NCAA_Division_II

  66. Clarion and Edinboro, previously separate institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education formally named "Location University of Pennsylvania", became campuses of the new Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) on July 1, 2022. Both continue to have their own athletic programs, branded solely with their location (as was the case before the PennWest merger). /wiki/Pennsylvania_State_System_of_Higher_Education

  67. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference. /wiki/NCAA_Division_II

  68. Clarion and Edinboro, previously separate institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education formally named "Location University of Pennsylvania", became campuses of the new Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) on July 1, 2022. Both continue to have their own athletic programs, branded solely with their location (as was the case before the PennWest merger). /wiki/Pennsylvania_State_System_of_Higher_Education

  69. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference. /wiki/NCAA_Division_II

  70. "SIU-Edwardsville joins Mid-American Conference as affiliate member in two sports". Hustle Belt/Vox Media, Inc. June 2, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017. http://www.hustlebelt.com/2017/6/2/15729058/siu-edwardsville-joins-mid-american-conference-affiliate-member-mens-soccer-wrestling

  71. Wayne University became Wayne State University in 1956. /wiki/Wayne_State_University

  72. Wayne State's athletic teams changed from Tartars to Warriors in 1999. /wiki/Wayne_State_Tartars

  73. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference. /wiki/NCAA_Division_II

  74. Western Reserve merged with Case Institute of Technology in 1967 to form Case Western Reserve University, with the athletic programs merging in 1971. /wiki/Case_Institute_of_Technology

  75. Western Reserve's teams were known as the Red Cats during their time in the MAC.[55] With the athletic merger, Case Western Reserve abandoned the nicknames of both former institutions and adopted Spartans.

  76. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference. /wiki/NCAA_Division_III

  77. The campus is physically located in Vestal but has a Binghamton mailing address. /wiki/Binghamton,_New_York

  78. The main campus has an Orlando mailing address but is entirely located in unincorporated Orange County. /wiki/Orange_County,_Florida

  79. Central Florida (UCF), known as the Golden Knights during its MAC tenure, dropped "Golden" from the athletic nickname in 2007 as part of its rebrand to the UCF Knights. /wiki/UCF_Knights

  80. On November 11, 2022, the MAC announced that it was suspending men's soccer as a conference sport effective at the end of the 2022 season (2022–23 school year).[17]

  81. "Year-By-Year Standings" (PDF). 2013 MAC Men's Soccer Media Guide. Mid-American Conference. pp. 25–26. Retrieved July 8, 2014. http://mac-sports.com/documents/2014/7/1/2013_MAC_Men_s_Soccer_Media_Guide.pdf

  82. In early 2014, the MAC made the decision "... to move forward without multi-divisional institutions." The conference then informed Hartwick that their contract as an affiliate member would not be renewed.

  83. "Year-By-Year Standings" (PDF). 2013 MAC Men's Soccer Media Guide. Mid-American Conference. pp. 25–26. Retrieved July 8, 2014. http://mac-sports.com/documents/2014/7/1/2013_MAC_Men_s_Soccer_Media_Guide.pdf

  84. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference. /wiki/NCAA_Division_III

  85. Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), known as the IPFW Mastodons during their affiliation with the MAC for men's soccer and men's tennis, rebranded their athletic program as the Fort Wayne Mastodons in 2016. Following IPFW's split into two separate institutions in July 2018, the Fort Wayne athletic program transferred to the larger of the two new institutions, Purdue University Fort Wayne, and the athletic program rebranded again as the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons. The school colors changed to the old gold and black used by the other members of the Purdue system, most notably the main campus. /wiki/Indiana_University_%E2%80%93_Purdue_University_Fort_Wayne

  86. "MAC Men's Tennis Tournament History" (PDF). 2012 MAC Men's Tennis Record Book. Mid-American Conference. Retrieved April 22, 2013. http://www.mac-sports.com/Portals/20/Tennis/men's%20Tennis%20History-Record%20Book.pdf

  87. "Year-By-Year Standings" (PDF). 2013 MAC Men's Soccer Media Guide. Mid-American Conference. pp. 25–26. Retrieved July 8, 2014. http://mac-sports.com/documents/2014/7/1/2013_MAC_Men_s_Soccer_Media_Guide.pdf

  88. "Annual MAC Standings" (PDF). 2018 MAC Field Hockey Record Book. Mid-American Conference. Retrieved September 16, 2018. https://getsomemaction.com/documents/2014/7/1/2013_Season_-_Field_Hockey.pdf

  89. "Annual MAC Standings" (PDF). 2018 MAC Field Hockey Record Book. Mid-American Conference. Retrieved September 16, 2018. https://getsomemaction.com/documents/2014/7/1/2013_Season_-_Field_Hockey.pdf

  90. Parsons, Brian (April 3, 2020). "Old Dominion eliminates wrestling program effective immediately". WAVY TV 10. Retrieved April 3, 2020. https://www.wavy.com/ncaa/old-dominion-eliminates-wrestling-program-effective-immediately/

  91. "SIU-Edwardsville joins Mid-American Conference as affiliate member in two sports". Hustle Belt/Vox Media, Inc. June 2, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017. http://www.hustlebelt.com/2017/6/2/15729058/siu-edwardsville-joins-mid-american-conference-affiliate-member-mens-soccer-wrestling

  92. SIUE remains a MAC affiliate in wrestling.

  93. "SIUE men's soccer to join MAC immediately". The Telegraph. June 8, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017. http://thetelegraph.com/sports/103613/siue-mens-soccer-to-join-mac-immediately

  94. "AAU Member Institutions and Years of Admission". Association of American Universities. Retrieved June 6, 2014. https://www.aau.edu/about/article.aspx?id=5476

  95. "Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup". Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022. http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/resources/

  96. "Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup". Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022. http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/resources/

  97. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY20 to FY21 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 18, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022. https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Nacubo/Documents/research/2021-NTSE-Public-Tables--Endowment-Market-Values--REVISED-February-18-2022.ashx

  98. "Archived copy". Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) https://web.archive.org/web/20201015032626/https://www.ohio.edu/sites/default/files/sites/finance/budget/files/FY21

  99. "Best College Rankings and Lists". U.S. News & World Report. 2016. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20110521210513/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities

  100. "University Ranking by Academic Performance – United States of America 2016–2017". Informatics Institute, Middle East Technical University. 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017. http://www.urapcenter.org/2016/country.php?ccode=US&rank=all

  101. "MAC > Home". getsomemaction.com. Retrieved February 8, 2020. https://getsomemaction.com

  102. "UB Reduces its Intercollegiate Sports Teams from 20 to 16" (Press release). Buffalo Bulls. April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017. http://www.ubbulls.com/general/2016-17/releases/20170403cae0jo

  103. Affiliate member UIC

  104. Affiliates Bloomsburg, Clarion, Edinboro, George Mason, Lock Haven, Rider, and SIUE

  105. Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and coed teams all compete against each other. Akron fields a coed team.

  106. Affiliate members Appalachian State, Bellarmine, James Madison, and Longwood.

  107. Affiliate members Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris, and Youngstown State

  108. Affiliate members Delaware, High Point, and Temple

  109. Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and coed teams all compete against each other. Akron fields a coed team.

  110. Synchronized skating is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating, not by the NCAA. Most synchronized skating teams are clubs not affiliated with any college or university; Miami is one of about 15 schools that sponsor varsity or club teams. /wiki/Synchronized_skating

  111. "MAC Establishes New Football Schedule Model" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. November 30, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2023/11/30/mac-establishes-new-football-schedule-model.aspx

  112. Jimenez, James; Helwick, Steve (November 30, 2023). "Mid-American Conference to scrap divisions starting in 2024 in favor of 3-team pods". SB Nation. Retrieved December 29, 2023. https://www.hustlebelt.com/2023/11/30/23982931/mid-american-conference-to-scrap-divisions-in-football-starting-in-2024

  113. All time Division I-A football records Archived April 6, 2004, at the Wayback Machine, College Football Data Warehouse http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/misc/div_ia_wins.php

  114. "Mid-American Conference and Quicken Loans Arena Announce Extension to Hold FirstEnergy Mac Tournament at The Q Through 2017". Quicken Loans Arena. 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717022952/http://www.theqarena.com/news/mac_100811/

  115. "MAC Tournament History". 2008-09 Men's Basketball Media Guide. Mid-American Conference. 2008. pp. 62–63. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090716163044/https://www.nmnathletics.com/

  116. Strack, Jordan (May 12, 2020). "Major changes coming to Mid-American Conference". Toledo, OH: WTOL. Retrieved May 12, 2020. https://www.wtol.com/article/sports/major-changes-coming-to-mid-american-conference/512-0e4f0d45-546b-432f-89a1-67a5a6d8fe3c

  117. "Scheumann Stadium". Ball State University. Retrieved June 26, 2016. The most recent renovation transformed the stadium into a major community asset, while increased its capacity to 22,500 and added permanent lighting for night games. http://www.ballstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14200&ATCLID=204778457

  118. "Equity in Athletics Data Analysis". U.S. Department of Education. https://ope.ed.gov/athletics/#/institution/search

  119. "MAC Hall of Fame". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20110714012203/http://www.mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=323273

  120. "MAC Announces 2012 Hall of Fame Class". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130424142630/http://www.mac-sports.com/News/tabid/969/Article/155161/MAC-Announces-2012-Hall-of-Fame-Class.aspx

  121. "MAC Announces 2013 Hall of Fame Class". Mid-American Conference. May 30, 2013. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130603161319/http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/223647/MAC-Announces-2013-Hall-of-Fame-Class.aspx

  122. "MAC Hall of Fame". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20110714012203/http://www.mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=323273

  123. "Time Warner Cable Sports Named New Regional Television Partner > MAC > News". Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140329094111/http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/article/262318/time-warner-cable-sports-named-new-regional-television-partner.aspx

  124. Sherman, Rodger (November 19, 2019). "How the Rise of MACtion Forever Changed MAC Fandom". The Ringer. Retrieved November 20, 2019. https://www.theringer.com/2019/11/19/20972679/mac-midweek-games-maction-television-networks-fan-experience

  125. Briggs, David (July 22, 2023). "Briggs: MAC coaches dish on weeknight games, 'garbage' locker rooms". Toledo Blade. Retrieved July 24, 2023. https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/college/2023/07/22/briggs-mac-coaches-dish-on-weeknight-games-garbage-locker-rooms-and-more/stories/20230722038