The 2017 Mid-American Conference football season was the 72nd season for the

Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region (North America), Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Its members co ...

(MAC) and part of the

2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season The 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 2017. The regular season began on August 26, 2017, and end ...

. The season began on August 31 and ended on November 25. The entire schedule was released on March 1. The Toledo Rockets won the conference championship game over the Akron Zips.

Previous season

Preseason

Preseason Poll

The Preseason poll was released at the MAC Media Day in

Canton, Ohio Canton () is a city in Stark County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, eighth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 70,872 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Canton–Massillo ...

East Division

Ohio Bobcats The Ohio Bobcats are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I Intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Ohio University, located in Athens, Ohio, United States. Ohio University is a charter member (1946 ...

(11), 131 #

Miami RedHawks The Miami RedHawks are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Miami is a member of the Mid-American Conference ...

(12), 129 #

Bowling Green Falcons The Bowling Green Falcons are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Bowling Green State University (BGSU), in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The Falcons compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Divi ...

(1), 88 #

Akron Zips The Akron Zips are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, United States. The Zips compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the NCAA Division I, Division I level as a memb ...

, 79 #

Buffalo Bulls The Buffalo Bulls are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University at Buffalo (UB) in Buffalo, New York. The Bulls compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of Mid-Ame ...

, 41 #

Kent State Golden Flashes The Kent State Golden Flashes are the athletic teams that represent Kent State University. The university fields 19 varsity athletic teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the NCAA Division I, Division I level with footba ...

, 36

West Division

Toledo Rockets The Toledo Rockets are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The ...

(22), 142 #

Western Michigan Broncos The Western Michigan Broncos are a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I program representing Western Michigan University (WMU) in college athletics. They compete in the Mid-American Conference in men's coll ...

(1), 107 #

Northern Illinois Huskies The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University (NIU). The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I and the Mid-American Conference (M ...

(1), 89 #

Eastern Michigan Eagles The Eastern Michigan Eagles, formerly known as the Normalites and the Hurons, are the athletic teams for Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. The Eagles compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ...

, 74 #

Central Michigan Chippewas The Central Michigan Chippewas are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Central Michigan University (CMU), located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school fields sixteen men's and women's intercollegiate teams that compete at the ...

, 62 #

Ball State Cardinals The Ball State Cardinals are the athletic teams that represent Ball State University, located in Muncie, Indiana. The Cardinals are part of the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference. Charlie Cardinal is the team mascot. The Ball State Univer ...

, 30

MAC Championship

The

were selected as favorites to win the Mid-American Conference by receiving 21 of 24 votes. Others receiving one vote a piece were defending champions,

and

Head coaches

Pre-season coaching changes

Schedule

Regular season

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Championship game

Week 14 (MAC Championship game)

Records against FBS conferences

2017 records against FBS conferences

Power–Five conferences and independents

Group of Five conferences In college football, the Group of Five (G5) are five athletic conferences whose members are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Bowl Subdiv ...

FCS Subdivision

Postseason awards

2017 MAC Specialty Award Winners

Coach of The Year –

Jason Candle Jason Tyler Candle (born November 12, 1979) is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach at the University of Toledo, a position he had held since the 2016 season. Candle had been an assistant at Toledo since 2009, and was ...

, Toledo
Freshman of the Year – Marcus Childers, Northern Illinois
Offensive Player of the Year –

Logan Woodside Logan Miles Woodside (born January 27, 1995) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League ( NFL). He played college football for the Toledo Rockets football, Tole ...

, Toledo
Defensive Player of the Year –

Sutton Smith Sutton Smith (born March 22, 1996) is an American former professional football fullback. He played college football for the Northern Illinois Huskies, mainly as a linebacker. Early life Smith played running back for Francis Howell High School i ...

, Northern Illinois
Special Teams Player of the Year –

Darius Phillips Darius Phillips (born June 26, 1995) is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football at Western Michigan and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. College career Phillips pl ...

, Western Michigan
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner – Logan Woodside, Toledo

All Conference Teams

2017 All–MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback –

, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Max Scharping, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman –

Chukwuma Okorafor Chukwuma Okorafor (born August 8, 1997) is a Nigerian professional American football offensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots. He played ...

, Western Michigan
Offensive Linemen –

Elijah Nkansah Elijah Osei Sefah Nkansah (born December 28, 1994) is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Toledo. Early life Nkansah was born in 1994, the son of Amy Coppess and Shadrack Nkansah, who married ...

, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Brant Weiss, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – John Keenoy, Western Michigan
Tight End – Shane Wimann, Northern Illinois
Wide Receiver –

Diontae Johnson Diontae Lamarcus Johnson (born July 5, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Toledo Rockets and was selected by the Pittsbu ...

, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Anthony Johnson, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – James Gardner, Miami
Wide Receiver –

Sergio Bailey Sergio Bailey II (born August 21, 1994) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Eastern Michigan. Early life and high school career Bailey grew up in San Diego with a single mother who worked "two, sometimes t ...

, Eastern Michigan
Running Back – Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan
Running Back – Terry Swanson, Toledo
Placekicker – Jameson Vest, Toledo 2017 All–MAC First team Defense
Outside Linebacker –

Ulysees Gilbert Ulysees Gilbert III (born August 9, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football at Akron and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Professional career Pittsburgh ...

, Akron
Outside Linebacker – Jim Jones, Kent State
Inside Linebacker – Khalil Hodge, Buffalo
Inside Linebacker –

Quentin Poling Quentin Poling (born August 17, 1994) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football at Ohio. Early life Poling attended Elida High School in Elida, Ohio. College career Poling played college football at Ohio Univ ...

, Ohio
Down Lineman –

, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman –

Maxx Crosby Maxx Robert Crosby (born August 22, 1997) is an American professional American football, football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles football, ...

, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineman –

Joe Ostman Joe Ostman (born July 12, 1995) is an American former professional football defensive end. He played college football for Central Michigan. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Professional career After g ...

, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Anthony Winbush, Ball State
Defensive Back – Amari Coleman, Central Michigan
Defensive Back –

, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back – Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois
Punter – Joe Davidson, Bowling Green 2017 All–MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan
Punt Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo 2017 All–MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback –

Nathan Rourke Nathan Rourke (born May 24, 1998) is a Canadian professional football quarterback for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Rourke played college football for the Ohio Bobcats. Nicknamed "Kid Canada," Rourke set the single-season ...

, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Jake Pruehs, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Jimmy Leatiota, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Joe Lowery, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Luke Juriga, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Joe Anderson, Ohio
Tight End – Donnie Ernsberger, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Corey Willis, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver –

Justin Hall Justin Hall (born December 16, 1974, in Chicago, Illinois) is an Americans, American journalist and entrepreneur, best known as a pioneer blogger. Biography Born in Chicago, Hall graduated Francis W. Parker School (Chicago), Francis W. Parker ...

, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Papi White, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Teo Redding, Bowling Green
Running Back – A. J. Ouellette, Ohio
Running Back – Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan
Placekicker – Jake Suder, Bowling Green 2017 All–MAC Second Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Bobby Jones IV, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker – Chad Moore, Ohio
Inside Linebacker –

Robert Spillane John Robert Spillane (born December 14, 1995) is an American professional football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos. Early life Spillane ...

, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Malik Fountain, Central Michigan
Down Lineback – Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineback –

Ola Adeniyi Olasunkanmi "Ola" Adeniyi (born September 12, 1997) is a Nigerian-born former professional American football linebacker. He played college football at Toledo. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Early li ...

, Toledo
Down Lineback – Demone Harris, Buffalo
Down Lineback – Jon Cunningham, Kent State
Defensive Back – Alvin Davis, Akron
Defensive Back – Josh Cox, Central Michigan
Defensive Back –

Sam Beal Sam Beal (born August 30, 1996) is an American former professional football cornerback. He played college football at Western Michigan, and high school football at Ottawa Hills High School. Early life Playing at Ottawa Hills High School in ...

, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Javon Hagan, Ohio
Punter – Derek Adams, Kent State 2017 All–MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo
Punt Return Specialist –

, Western Michigan 2017 All–MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback – Brogan Roback, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – JP Quinn, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – James O’Hagan, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Vinnie Palazeti, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Jordan Rigg, Miami
Tight End –

Tyler Conklin Tyler Conklin (born July 30, 1995) is an American professional football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played one season of college basketball at Northwood before transferring to Central Michig ...

, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Mark Chapman, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver –

Scotty Miller Scott Thomas Miller (born July 31, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bowling Green Falcons and was selected by the Tampa ...

, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Tra’Von Chapman, Akron
Wide Receiver – Spencer Tears, Northern Illinois
Running Back – Jordan Huff, Northern Illinois
Running Back – Andrew Clair, Bowling Green
Placekicker – Louie Zervos, Ohio 2017 All–MAC Third Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Jawuan Johnson, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker – Asantay Brown, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Jason Beck, Eastern Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Nate Locke, Bowling Green
Down Lineman – Chuck Harris, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Josh Corcoran, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Jamal Davis II, Akron
Down Lineman – Ikeem Allen, Miami
Defensive Back – Heath Harding, Miami
Defensive Back – Demetrius Monday, Kent State
Defensive Back – Bradd Ellis, Ohio
Defensive Back – Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan
Punter – Derrick Mitchell, Western Michigan 2017 All–MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Malik Dunner, Ball State
Punt Return Specialist – Papi White, Ohio https://getsomemaction.com/news/2017/11/28/mac-announces-2017-postseason-football-awards.aspx