The true beauty of sports is watching David face Goliath, and no conference better represents David than the Mid-American Conference.
Whether it’s Northern Illinois reaching a BCS bowl, Ohio defeating Penn State or Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher being selected first-overall in the NFL Draft, the MAC knows how to put a stunned look on the average fans’ faces, and isn’t that why we watch sports, anyway?
Sure, as we approach the first week of college football, there will be plenty of cupcake games disguising themselves as a David and Goliath matchup, only to have Goliath drop 75 points on a David with no speed in the secondary.
One could say the same for the five MAC teams playing a ranked opponent to start the season, or open it up to include the seven playing a team from a major conference.
After the transpiring of last year, who could truly count a MAC team out?
When Buffalo sets foot in the Horseshoe to face Ohio State, the Bulls will have the appearance of a cupcake team to fans in the stands, but to those more familiar with the MAC, the Bulls will be making their first impression on whether or not they will move into the upper echelon of the conference, led by linebacker Khalil Mack — one of the top NFL prospects in the conference.
When Western Michigan takes the short trip to East Lansing, Mich., to face Michigan State, the Broncos will try to prove to the world that a team wearing brown uniforms can, in fact, win on a football field.
Central Michigan will look to fuel a hot start in the Big House playing one of the most prolific teams in college football against Michigan.
When Northern Illinois invades Iowa, the Huskies will be looking to avenge last season’s opening loss to the Hawkeyes and prove to the world that Jordan Lynch and Co. are just as good as last year’s group, which reached a BCS game.
On the other hand, as Toledo travels to the swamp in Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators, the Rockets hope to dethrone Northern Illinois in the MAC West.
Fighting for its FBS life, UMass starts its season at Camp Randall facing a rugged Wisconsin team always known to badger their opponents.
Lastly, as Ohio opens its season on Sunday against a Louisville team that many feel has an outside shot at a national title, the Bobcats will look to post a second consecutive upset in a season opener.
They’ll also look to get the team back to where they were before a rash of injuries derailed what could’ve been an undefeated season, one that would’ve landed them in the spot of NIU.
Although each team playing host to the MAC dandies are probably going to win, their story lines are certainly not as great or as personal, as the MAC’s are the underdogs from Middle America.
That’s why we watch sports, to witness the awakening of many Davids looking for some “MACtion.”
as299810@ohiou.edu
@akarl_smith
