MAC Sports Blog by VanDelay Sports

Consistently one of the last conference looked to when bowl bids are handed out, anytime the MAC has more than their expected 3 teams in bowl games it is a big deal. In 2004 when 5 MAC teams were selected to play in bowl games it marked the first time that the Mid-American Conference had this many teams participating in bowl games and the 2008 bowl season will once again feature 5 MAC football teams after 6 teams were bowl eligible. Only Bowling Green, who recently dismissed head coach Gregg Brandon, was bowl eligible in the MAC and not selected to participate in the postseason.

Of the 5 MAC teams in bowl games, the list is headlined by the 2008 MAC Football Champion Buffalo Bulls. Despite Turner Gill’s name being floated around for the Auburn & Syracuse openings, Gill lead his Bulls to a 8-5 season and a upset of previously-unbeaten Ball State in the MAC Championship Game. UB will face the Connecticut Huskies in the International Bowl on January 3rd in Toronto. The GMAC Bowl, played in Mobile, Alabama on January 6th, will feature 12-1 Ball State vs 10-3 Tulsa as once of the few bowl games featuring multiple 10+ win teams. Northern Illinois was just 6-6 this season but landed in the Independence Bowl to face Louisiana Tech of the WAC on December 30th. On that same day Western Michigan travels to Houston for the Texas Bowl to face the hometown Rice Owls. Kicking off the 2008 bowl season for the MAC will be Central Michigan, a participant in both the 2006 & 2007 Motor City Bowl games, as they once again play in Detroit on the day after Christmas as they play Sun Belt member Florida Atlantic.

Answering the drive by Buffalo that put the Bulls up 14-10, Ball State drove down the field with a 7-play, 65 yard drive to take the lead back 17-14. MiQuale Lewis’ 1-yard run was his 2nd TD of the game as Ball State took just 3:17 to respond to UB’s score.

On the ensuing possession, James Starks dropped the high handoff from Drew Willy and Ball State recovers at the Buffalo 38 yard line, leading 17-14.

Ball State looks to remain undefeated and become the first MAC team to go undefeated since Marshall in 1999. Fans can pickup Ball State hats & gear online through VanDelay Sports.