Branden Oliver scored a TD against Baylor, but the Bulls were no match for the Bears. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
With conference powerhouse Northern Illinois sitting on the sidelines due to its bye week, the rest of the conference got a chance to enjoy some extra headlines. The Mid-American Conference didn’t produce any noteworthy upsets over BCS opponents, but a few programs answered some key questions.
First, the Huskies. After beating Iowa on the road in the opener, the Huskies got a break at a time when they most likely would’ve preferred playing. But Northern Illinois heads to a tough venue for its second game, heading out to Idaho. It should be an interesting game.
The MAC East Division is shaping up after Bowling Green and defending East champion Kent State tangled in Week 2. Bowling Green’s defense is strong and experienced, but the offense stole the show with sophomore quarterback Matt Johnson lighting up Kent State in his first career start. Johnson passed for 357 yards and two touchdowns to lift Bowling Green’s record to 2-0 on the season.
Kent State tailback Dri Archer’s ankle is more serious than first reported, with Archer sitting out the second game of the season. His absence hurt Kent State in key early-season battle that might determine the division champion.
The conference gets many shots this week at recording upset victories. Akron is coming off its first win of the season, but likely won’t be getting a second straight win with its next game at Michigan. Bowling Green might be deemed the favorite by some experts for Saturday’s showdown at Indiana. Buffalo should get its first win of the season when it hosts Stony Brook. Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck can answer some questions about his coaching with a solid effort at Northwestern. Kent State has the tough task of playing at LSU this Saturday, while Central Michigan travels to UNLV.
FIVE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM WEEK 2 IN THE MAC
1. The Kent State offense needs Dri Archer back. And in a hurry. Archer is one of the most electric players in the country, capable of taking over a game in a variety of fashions with his speed and versatility. But Archer has been sidelined with an ankle injury suffered in the opener. He has three rushes for 10 yards this season.
2. Bowling Green is a team that might be able to knock Northern Illinois off its lofty perch. The Falcons might finally have a big-play offense to match their stingy defense. Sophomore Matt Johnson torched Kent State for 357 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start. Bowling Green’s defense has limited Tulsa and Kent State, two quality offenses, to 29 points.
3. Toledo’s 0-2 record is deceiving. The Rockets made some money for their athletic department, scheduling their first two games at SEC teams, Florida and Missouri. The damage won’t be known until the next few weeks. The Rockets struggled on offense, committing silly mistakes and not scoring with consistency in the red zone. Most likely, the Rockets’ problems will be fixed with a home game against Eastern Michigan followed by a contest at Central Michigan. The Rockets have the firepower to be a player in the MAC West Division race. But they must build off two hard-fought losses to quality opponents.
4. Western Michigan first-year coach P.J. Fleck is not over his head. The grumblings of WMU’s fan base aren’t the true indicator of the program. Fleck’s tried to use his nonstop energy to encourage the fans to come to games. He started some new traditions before Saturday’s home game. Fleck, a former standout wide receiver at Northern Illinois, is a capable coach with an extensive background. But getting the focus to the play on the field is the most important job for any head coach. The Broncos have lost their first two games, with Saturday’s loss to FCS opponent, Nicholls State, a bad sign for a new era.
5. After a breakout 2012 season for the conference, including Northern Illinois snagged the first conference BCS bowl bid, the 2013 season might be a step back for the conference. Northern Illinois looks strong and might carry the mantle as the best team in the conference again, but Ohio, Kent State, Central Michigan and Toledo don’t look as strong as last year’s teams. Miami-Ohio, UMass and Buffalo have suffered crippling defeats, all three teams stand at 0-2 on the season.
