Media members have high hopes for the Bobcats despite their losing many defensive starters and their top quarterback.
Ohio was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference East Division in a preseason poll that was released Tuesday at the conference's media day at Ford Field in Detroit.
Miami got the nod to win the MAC East, and Toledo was placed atop the MAC West. The Rockets also were selected as the frontrunners to win the MAC Championship game.
Ohio received eight votes as the top team in the East, but Miami had one more overall point to put the RedHawks in front of the Bobcats. First-place votes count for six points, with five points for second-place votes, and so on.
Team (first-place votes) Overall votes
MAC East
Miami (4) 97
Ohio (8) 96
Temple (4) 88
Kent State 57
Bowling Green 48
Buffalo 37
Akron 25
MAC West
Toledo (8) 83
Northern Illinois (5) 81
Western Michigan (2) 76
Central Michigan (1) 55
Ball State 27
Eastern Michigan 24
