In week one, Western Michigan upset a Power Five team in Northwestern. This week, five more Mid-American Conference teams attempt that feat.
Central Michigan at No. 22 Oklahoma State
In the first week of the season, Central Michigan beat Presbyterian 49-3. This week, the Chippewas travel to play nationally ranked Oklahoma State.
Coach John Bonamego hopes his team can repeat their performance from last week, but knows the game against Oklahoma State is a whole new challenge.
“Each one of these things is an event independent of the other,” Bonamego said. “What you do against one team, does not necessarily carry over to the next week. I’m a believer that you got to do what you have to do to win.”
Akron at No. 10 Wisconsin
Wisconsin was unranked in the preseason polls, but after upsetting then No. 5 LSU, the Badgers jumped to the 10 spot in the AP Poll.
Coach Terry Bowden had high praise for Wisconsin.
“I don’t know how you prepare your team to play a Wisconsin team that is one of the best defenses in the country, and one of the most powerful running attacks in the country,” he said. “Physically, they have the ability to line up and physically whip you.”
However, that does not mean Akron will be scared to face Wisconsin on Saturday.
“(We) got to play our best football, and go after them,” Bowden said.
Ball State at Indiana
Ball State plays an in-state Big 10 school in the Indiana Hoosiers.
Coach Mike Neu knows it is a great opportunity for his team.
“Indiana has got a good program right now, and they are coming off a big win against Florida International the other night,” Neu said.
Indiana may not be the strongest Big 10 team, but it still poses a huge challenge to Ball State.
Eastern Michigan at Missouri
Eastern Michigan was projected to finish near the bottom of the MAC. However, the Eagles won their first game 61-14, which is impressive for a team that was picked to finish so low, even if it was against a Football Championship Subdivision school in Mississippi Valley State.
This week its competition is a little step up in a Southeastern Conference team: Missouri.
Coach Chris Creighton is not putting too much stock in his team’s week one performance going into week two.
“I don’t know how much week one matters in terms of week two,” Creighton said. “We’re not going to feel good about ourselves just because of the score, and just because we won. We have certain standards that we evaluate ourselves by, and whether we meet those or don’t, we are improving throughout the football season."
