+1

I think the last two years Ohio had excellent chances to win a MACC. They obliterated Buffalo last year and gave away a game at NIU .... the two "best" teams in the MAC. They just gagged in that Miami game and it cost them.

Similar scenario in 2017 ... they beat up a Toledo team that ended up winning the MACC ... but that ugly loss at Akron cost them. In all honesty, that season is really a "what-if" ... could easily have been 12-1 that year.

Here's hoping to no ugly losses this year! Hopefully that NIU loss will constitute as the ugly loss and won't end up costing them a trip to Detroit.

It's all in front of them .... can't ask for a better situation.

I completely disagree. If they "gagged" in a game, it was NIU. The Miami game gave Ohio an extra hurdle, and Ohio wasn't able to overcome it. The problem with the MAC mid-week games is that every year some team gets crapped on, and last year, it was Ohio's turn. They played at WMU on November 1, then at Miami 6 days later. With road games on both ends of a short week, they essentially had 5 days rest. Meanwhile, Miami had an extra day. The fresher team had a big advantage and Ohio couldn't overcome it, though they very nearly managed to come from behind and win.

I don't see that as a game where Ohio "gagged" at all. Instead, I see it as an epic battle where they did their best, and it wasn't quite enough. The problem is, Ohio should have beaten NIU, and then the Miami game wouldn't have mattered. Now, if you want an example of a game where Ohio "gagged", how about Kent State in 2010? Blech....

Interestingly, the Akron game in 2017 was another case where Ohio had a short week, and Akron didn't. Ohio still needs to find ways to win those, but seriously, the MAC needs to find a way where, if one team has a short week, so does the other. If they can't do that, at least they should have the team with the short week have the home game.

This year there is once again a game where Ohio has a short week, and the other team doesn't. It is in a game that hopefully won't matter, thanks to the win over Ball State. Ohio plays WMU on 6 days rest, while WMU has 7. At least, though, it's a home game, and the week before is a home game for Ohio as well. Having home games on both ends of a short week negates a lot of the disadvantages.

Completely agree on the midweek #MACtion nonsense. It is absurd how poorly it's planned out.

I honestly think with a little bit of math, they could sit down and find a way for everyone to get equal rest.

As far as the 2017 Akron and 2018 Miami losses ... I'll give the short weeks may have played a factor. But, as you said, they have to find a way to win those games. With what was on the line ... those are MUST-WIN games. And to fall behind like they did vs. what was a 3-6 Miami team .... somewhat unacceptable.

In those two losses, Ohio was not prepared well. They allowed 58 points (28 to Miami and 30 to Akron) in the first halves. Those were games where they had a chance to win a division title?!?!

Add in that 2010 Kent disaster ... where they were down 14-3 at the half.

That's three "division championship" games in the Solich era where Ohio was outscored 72-34 in the first half.

One common factor ... all were road games. At some point, your team has to be prepared and have the right mindset going into a game like that. And to go into each of those games and get punched in the mouth the first 30 minutes was tough to watch.

Reality ... Ohio has four MAC East titles during the Solich era.

What-If ... Ohio should have 7 ... and it could be 9. Just think if the inexplicable mid-season swoon in 2015 doesn't happen ... or the downward spiral of 2012 & 2013.

We've seen a lot of close calls in that epic quest for the MACC .... let's hope this is the year that things bounce in Ohio's favor.

But once again ... they could be staring at road games vs. BG and Akron (two horrid teams that are absolutely beatable) as must-wins to get to Detroit.

First things first ... gotta win next Wednesday.

Exactly ... same can be said in Akron game.

Got down 30-24 at half ... 2nd half held Akron to 7 points.

Same thing vs. Miami ... down 28-7 at half ... 2nd half held Miami to 2 points.

Damn right, or they could as least work it out where the team with the short week is the home team.

They claim there were 16k at EMU, 12k at BG (vs Akron) and only 10k at CMU today. Saturday games in November don't draw much better than midweek games in November.

The couple of Sun Belt games that are in October go head-to-head with baseball playoffs, so I don't imagine they get much audience. We only go against NBA and NHL regular season games. We probably have it better.

Dingdingding

I would much rather have been driving to A-Town yesterday for the Fiami Game. It's just not something I can do next week given the work situation. That said, this Wednesday is an exception. Weather, stage, rival, etc. will make Wednesday a party night for me and some buds here in Cincy.

Had Ohio played Saturday, first thing in the morning, like the other MAC games, it would have been 46 degrees, and up to 49 by the end of the game. The weather Wednesday night is expected to be 45. With no sun, that will definitely feel cooler than it would have Saturday morning, but the sun helps more in the afternoon than the morning. I do agree that I prefer Saturday afternoon games, and that would be over either Wednesday night games, or Saturday morning games.

At least the weather will be decent Wednesday for a night game this time of year.

Not certain CMU scheduled those byes or the MAC just did the scheduling for them. ESPN probably figured CMU would be one of the worst teams and therefore didn't want them on that many midweek games.

You understand the weather does not follow a weekday/weekend pattern right? The chances for bad and good weather are the same.

Everybody pull up your panties and show up or don’t. Quit whining about November football weather. Jeez. Bunch of ladies.