Before we know it, MACtion will be here. Gracing your television sets with midweek football on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there is no better time of year than early November in the midwest. Before we get there, though, we can asses which teams should have the easiest roads — and toughest — ahead of them to get to MACtion and compete for a MAC title in 2024.
The MAC Strength of Schedule analyzes all 12 teams and the difficulty ahead of them this fall.
2024 MAC Strength of Schedule
Before we get to the rankings, we need to examine how we generated these metrics.
From our cross-conference strength of schedule:
CFN’s exclusive strength of schedule metric was crafted carefully using as many resources as possible ahead of the 2024 season. Using a bevy of metrics such as returning production, roster projections, coaching staff, incoming talent, home-field advantage, and other factors, the CFN SOS analyzes which teams have the most difficult and easiest schedules this season.
CFN’s strength of schedule metric included each team’s transfer portal classes, valued quarterbacks returning to their school, and continuation among the coaching staffs into the ranking.
These factors all awarded schedule difficulty more heavily based on merit and projection, as opposed to looking back at results from last season, though those results were factored in moderately. They’ve also been updated following all the reports from spring practice, final transfer portal class numbers, and the most up-to-date roster and depth chart files we have on hand.
MORE: Strength of Schedule for All 134 Teams
Here’s how the MAC teams stacked up ahead of the 2024 season:
1) Kent State Golden Flashes
Toughest Game: @ Penn State
Easiest Game: vs. St. Francis (PA)
S.O.S. Score: 9.33
National Rank: 70th
MORE: Kent State’s 2024 Football Schedule
2) Akron Zips
Toughest Game: @ Ohio State
Easiest Game: vs. Colgate
S.O.S. Score: 9.19
National Rank: 71st
MORE: Akron’s 2024 Football Schedule
3) Western Michigan Broncos
Toughest Game: @ Ohio State
Easiest Game: vs. Bethune-Cookman
S.O.S. Score: 8.15
National Rank: T81st
MORE: Western Michigan’s 2024 Football Schedule
4) Miami (OH) RedHawks
Toughest Game: @ Notre Dame
Easiest Game: vs. UMass
S.O.S. Score: 7.92
National Rank: 87th
MORE: Miami’s 2024 Football Schedule
5) Northern Illinois Huskies
Toughest Game: @ Notre Dame
Easiest Game: vs. Western Illinois
S.O.S. Score: 7.90
National Rank: 88th
MORE: NIU’s 2024 Football Schedule
6) Bowling Green Falcons
Toughest Game: @ Penn State
Easiest Game: vs. Fordham
S.O.S. Score: 7.75
National Rank: 91st
MORE: Bowling Green’s 2024 Football Schedule
7) Central Michigan Chippewas
Toughest Game: @ Miami (OH)
Easiest Game: vs. Central Connecticut
S.O.S. Score: 6.71
National Rank: 104th
MORE: Central Michigan’s 2024 Football Schedule
8) Ohio Bobcats
Toughest Game: @ Miami (OH)
Easiest Game: vs. Morgan State
S.O.S. Score: 6.52
National Rank: 105th
MORE: Ohio’s 2024 Football Schedule
9) Ball State Cardinals
Toughest Game: @ JMU
Easiest Game: vs. Missouri State
S.O.S. Score: 6.25
National Rank: 112th
MORE: Ball State’s 2024 Football Schedule
10) Buffalo Bulls
Toughest Game: @ Missouri
Easiest Game: vs. Lafayette
S.O.S. Score: 5.63
National Rank: 121st
MORE: Buffalo’s 2024 Football Schedule
11) Toledo Rockets
Toughest Game: @ Western Kentucky
Easiest Game: vs. Duquesne
S.O.S. Score: 5.42
National Rank: 123rd
MORE: Toledo’s 2024 Football Schedule
12) Eastern Michigan Eagles
Toughest Game: @ Washington
Easiest Game: vs. St. Francis (PA)
S.O.S. Score: 5.35
National Rank: 124th
MORE: Eastern Michigan’s 2024 Football Schedule
KEEP READING: Top 10 Easiest College Football Schedules in 2024
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