2006 College Football Preview: The Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC)

East Division
1. Akron- Quarterback Luke Getsy's numbers will rely on the ability of his receiving corps to mature and get open against MAC defenses. As well, the Zips need to develop a solid running game in order to give Getsy some wiggle room on play action and roll-out passes. However, his offensive line is experienced and his defense is solid so the Zips are in good hands in 2006.

2. Miami of Ohio- The piece of the puzzle that stops the RedHawks from competing with Akron for the East Division title is their defense, which was good last year but only has two returning starters. The offense is effective, but not spectacular, and teams like Kent State and Bowling Green will be nipping at Miami's heels. If Miami of Ohio can finish second in 2006, look for a championship season in 2007 with a more experienced group coming back on both sides of the ball.

3. Kent State- Kent State has two good running backs in Tony Howard and Eugene Jarvis that will platoon in order to give this offensive squad a more balanced output. These two backs will help improve Kent State's standing in 2006, after a dismal 2-10 campaign in 2005. The defense is talented, but once again they will underachieve in close games. If this team could fulfill its potential in talent, they would compete for the East Division title. However, a third place finish would be spectacular for Kent State.

4. Bowling Green- The loss of prolific MAC quarterback Omar Jacobs means that the Falcons will sink a bit in the MAC Eastern division. A young defense, a new quarterback in Anthony Turner, and new players at the running back and receiving positions means that Bowling Green fans will have to wait and see for 2007 and 2008 for a MAC championship contender.

5. Buffalo- Turner Gill's first years as coach of the University of Buffalo will see some instant improvement, which shouldn't take much considering a 2-10 year in 2005 and no more than three wins per season since joining Division 1-A. Gill's offensive scheme will preach patience and balance with a young but fairly talented group at the skill positions and a cobbled-together offensive line. The Buffalo defense will be better than the offense, with a new 4-3 scheme and some talented defensive players like linebacker Ramon Guzman and safety Jesse Imes. Look for more than last year's two wins but not much more, with some closer games in the works under Gill.

6. Ohio- Frank Solich's Bobcats squad has a good running game and that's about it. The quarterback position is unresolved, the receiving corps inexperienced, and the defensive squad relatively intact after a bad 2005 season. Look for one to two victories in a tough year for Ohio University football.

West Division
1. Toledo- While the big question is whether quarterback Clint Cochran can take over for Brad Gradkowksi in 2006, it seems that the Rockets' offense runs itself. The offensive line is experienced, the Rockets have three pro caliber tight ends, and receiver Steve Odom is outstanding. Their defense will improve throughout 2006 and Cochran will grow into his role as play caller, giving Toledo the Western Division and a great chance in the MAC championship game.

2. Northern Illinois- Running back Garrett Wolfe is a next-level player with great athletic ability and a hard-nosed running style. Wolfe will give Northern Illinois 100-plus yards every game this season. While NIU has two solid quarterbacks in Phil Horvath and Dan Nicholson, only one can play at a time and the temptation to split quarterback duties may be too great for the offensive staff. The defense is going to get knocked around quite a bit, with a smaller and quicker defense suffering from a truly dominating presence along the defensive line. With one or two big stoppers in the middle of this defense, Northern Illinois would contend (and probably win) the MAC championship. However, they will be unable to get a pass rush and will have a lot of tackles in the back seven.

3. Central Michigan- The Chippewas' defense will be one of the best in the MAC and possibly one of the most underrated in the nation, with future NFL defensive end Dan Bazuin terrorizing quarterbacks all season long and a well-rounded squad around Bazuin. The reason why Central Michigan doesn't move up is that the quarterback position is unsettled and all the talent in the world on the offensive line and receiver doesn't matter if there isn't a consistent presence in the pocket. Brian Brunner should get the spot, but if he falters early, look for any of the several backups to get their turn at leading the offense down field.

4. Western Michigan- Despite losing a load of talent to graduation and the NFL, Western Michigan is rebuilding in 2006. The receiving and running corps is being filled with young talent which could be great down the road but the upcoming season will be one of growing pains. The quarterback position is set with Ryan Cubit and Tim Hiller, but the question is whether they can stay on the field after knee injuries. The defense is solid but the real question is whether the offense can come together and put up some points. Look for five to six victories in 2006, with the potential for a Western Division champion in 2007 and 2008.

5. Ball State- Ball State has little chance of getting out of the bottom of the MAC cellar this season, considering their general lack of talent outside of quarterback Joey Lynch. Lynch should look to keep on his feet in 2006 as the offensive line struggles to gel and the receiving corps underachieves against tougher MAC defenses. The Ball State defense was porous last year and with tough offensive schemes facing them all year long, expect the same poor effort from Ball State in 2006.

6. Eastern Michigan-Eastern Michigan will languish at the bottom of the Western Division in 2006 because of a lack of consistency. The Eastern Michigan offense has a good spread offensive scheme but its parts are not nearly good enough to execute it effectively. The defense is too young and the MAC is too good for Eastern Michigan to be very competitive in 2006, with little hope for the next couple of years unless they can really make a big step toward the end of this season.

MAC Championship Game: Akron versus Toledo- Akron and Toledo are mirror images to one another, with great offensive attacks and improving defensive squads. However, Akron's Luke Getsy is a veteran in the Zips' backfield and Toledo is replacing prolific MAC quarterback Brad Gradkowski in 2006. As well, the Akron defense appears to be slightly better than Toledo at this point and Akron won it all last season so they are hungry to repeat.

Best NFL Prospect: Akron quarterback Luke Getsy- Getsy was All-Conference in 2005, with other quarterbacks like Omar Jacobs of Bowling Green competing with him for such an honor. Getsy has a great arm and will get superb protection from his offensive line this year. This will mean big numbers and a quick move up the NFL Draft board, much like Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt in the 2006 draft.

Most Improved Team: Kent State- Kent State has two great running backs and in a conference with a tradition for solid quarterbacks, Michael Machen will shine in the MAC. Kent State might compete in the West Division but has the misfortune of running against Miami of Ohio and Akron in the East. An underachieving defense will keep them from making a serious run to the MAC Championship game, but they will impress against most of the MAC.