Ranking the Easiest 2024 MAC Non-Conference Schedules

Non-conference schedules are great ways of weighing one conference against another. Plenty of attention is paid to the non-conference slates of contenders and pretenders alike. During the College Football Playoff era, it’s become a bit less important as when it gets down to it, the best teams will be the best teams no matter if they have a great out-of-conference schedule or a weak one.

Let’s start with the MAC, everyone’s favorite mid-week entertainment!

Disclaimer: “Easiest” or “Hardest” is not to mean “these teams will beat those on their schedule.” It could be a fact that the worst team in a conference could have the easiest non-conference schedule and also not be able to win any. These rankings will be based on the average preseason ranking between five major outlets: Phil Steele, Athlon Sports, ESPN FPI, College Football News, and Kelley Ford. There will at least be a little factual standing behind these rather than ranking based on bias and vibes.

Ranking the 6 Easiest 2024 MAC Non-Conference Schedules

6. Ball State: vs. Missouri State (FCS), at Miami (FL), at James Madison, at Vanderbilt

The most difficult of the “easiest” MAC non-conference slate belongs to Ball State. The Cardinals haven’t been able to recapture that 2020 MAC Championship magic and went 1-3 out of MAC play in 2023. Given, they had, easily, the hardest non-conference slate with Georgia and Kentucky on the road. Athlon Sports believes that Ball State can compete in 2024 but it’ll all depend on new quarterback, Kadin Smonza, a redshirt freshman who managed 480 yards and three touchdowns while completing 61% of his passes in four games. It should be noted that while he struggled against Georgia (who didn’t?), he was serviceable in the other three considering the fact that he was a true freshman.

After hosting future Conference USA member Missouri State (FCS), Ball State gets to travel to south Florida. The Hurricanes are going to be an interesting team to watch in 2024. They have plenty of talent because convincing teenagers to become Miami millionaires isn’t terribly difficult, as it turns out. Their NIL efforts have been on par with the Jimbo Fisher Texas A&M regime. They have one of the top portal quarterbacks in Cam Ward and have an incredibly favorable schedule.

Then, they travel to last year’s surprise and feel-good story, James Madison. The Dukes went 11-2 after winning each of their first 10 games. There was an effort to allow them to play for the Sun Belt Championship if it came to it but since they were an FCS-to-FBS promotion, they were ineligible. They were only allowed to go to the Armed Forces Bowl because there weren’t enough bowl-eligible teams to fill the slots. It’ll be interesting to see if they can keep up the success. They lost a number of players to the portal as head coach Curt Cignetti jumped to the Big Ten and is now leading Indiana.

Finally, Vanderbilt. The Commodores are the butt of every SEC joke and have had only seven winning seasons since 1960. Historically, they’re 11-2 against the MAC but they’ve never faced off against Ball State. Last year, they won two games: Hawai’i and Alabama A&M (FCS). Vandy has gone through another overhaul and the portal could be a great equalizer but if they overlook the Cardinals, there could be a MAC-over-SEC upset. #FlyTheFlag.

5. Buffalo: vs. Lafayette (FCS), at Missouri, vs. UMass, vs. UConn

Last year, Buffalo struggled. Overall, they went 3-9 on the year and failed to win even a single out-of-conference game. And that includes a home game against Fordham (FCS). They haven’t been able to get back to the Lance Leipold years but now they are to be led by former Ball State coach, Pete Lembo (33-29 in five years). Lembo did win 10 games in 2013 but his work is certainly cut out for him this year.

After hosting Lafayette (FCS), Buffalo has to travel to one of the dark horses in the SEC, Missouri. There’s admittedly not much to say in this paragraph. Buffalo is sitting at number five because none of the other three non-conference foes are any good. But Mizzou? Mizzou is good. The Tigers are a legitimate threat to the 12-team College Football Playoff. Opt-outs or not, that Missouri defense did anything and everything it wanted against Ohio State in that Cotton Bowl.

Then, Buffalo gets to face off against old friend and future MAC opponent, UMass. The Minutemen are widely considered to be one of the worst teams at the FBS level. They won just three games last year: New Mexico State, Army, and Merrimack (FCS). The win over NMSU was…surprising. The lineup is laden with upperclassmen but if they need to utilize depth, they’ll be in trouble.

Finally, UConn comes to town. The Huskies were one of the worst teams in college football last year and are expected to be the same in 2024. They return a handful of defensive starters, so that should give them a bit more of a fighting chance. But when their three wins came against Rice, Sacred Heart (FCS), and UMass, there is nowhere to go but up.

4. Ohio: at Syracuse, vs. South Alabama, vs. Morgan State (FCS), at Kentucky

The Bobcats couldn’t quite back up their MAC East title from 2022 last year. Over this offseason, Ohio lost almost all of its superstars to the transfer portal. Kurtis Rourke, C.J. Harris, Sieh Bangura, O’Shaan Allison, etc., etc., etc., etc. The portal hit them HARD. They’ve won 20 games over the last two seasons, including a 3-1 mark out of conference last year (with a  10-7 win over the Big 12’s Iowa State). Rickey Hunt, Jr. looks to be the next star, however. That five-touchdown bowl game was a show.

Ohio opens on the road at the ACC’s Syracuse Orange. It’ll be the first game of the coaching career of new Orange coach, Fran Brown. Syracuse managed to scrounge up enough wins last year to earn a 45-0 beatdown at the hands of USF last year. The defense managed to remain mostly untouched with six returning starters including stars, Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron. On offense, Kyle McCord gets his second chance after being unceremoniously ousted from Ohio State. His running back LeQuint Allen broke out for 1,064 yards and nine touchdowns last year as well.

Then, the Sun Belt’s South Alabama makes its way north. The Jaguars have been a sneaky decent team over the last few years but they lost a number of players (and coach) in the offseason. The strength of South Alabama had been its defense with a defensive-minded head coach. He has since left the post to be the new defensive coordinator at Alabama, so there’s an opportunity for the Bobcats.

Then, after a (hopefully) tune-up, the Bobcats travel south to Kentucky. Is Kentucky going to challenge for the SEC crown? Probably not. Is Kentucky going to be good enough to make a little noise? Most likely. The Wildcats brought in an impressive transfer portal haul including Georgia quarterback, Brock Vandagriff and Ohio State running back, Chip Trayanum. The defense is veteran-laden and full of returning starters. Oddly enough, this game against Ohio takes place between bouts with Georgia and Ole Miss. Oof.

3. Eastern Michigan: at UMass, at Washington, vs. Jacksonville State, vs. St. Francis (FCS)

The 2023 edition of the Eastern Michigan season ended in a deplorable fashion. This year, EMU is set to lean on the defense to get back to bowling. Buffalo transfer Cole Snyder is set to take over the offense. In his two seasons with the Bulls, he showed that he’s more than capable. Additionally, the running back room has been picked over. Needless to say, EMU is going to go as far as the defense takes it.

The Eagles kick off the 2024 season on the road against former and future MAC foe, UMass. This will be the sixth time these two programs face off and EMU owns a 3-2 mark against the Minutemen.

Then, they get to face off against the College Football Playoff runner-up, Washington. Obviously, the reason for EMU’s third-place finish on this list is not because of Washington but rather the other three foes. The Huskies get to join the Big Ten after being the last Pac-12 champion. Plus, they lost head coach Dalen DeBeor to Alabama and poached Jedd Fisch from Arizona. Despite only returning one starter from 2023, the Huskies will be fine.

The final FBS non-conference foe on the Eagles’ schedule is brand new to the FBS level, oddly enough. Rich Rodriguez’s return to the FBS level was a successful one. The Gamecocks finished 9-4 and returned a good portion of that team. Jacksonville State is set to compete again this year but will have to do so with a sophomore quarterback and a new offensive coordinator.

2. Toledo: vs. Duquesne (FCS), vs. UMass, at Mississippi State, at Western Kentucky

Toledo is expected to be one of the top teams in the MAC yet again despite losing the likes of Dequan Finn, Peny Boone, and Quinyon Mitchell. Last year, the Rockets were two points away from running the table out of conference. And, realistically, they should’ve won the game against Illinois. Even then, they rattled off 11 wins in a row before falling in the MAC Championship and then a last-second loss in the Arizona Bowl. They’ll have to rebuild the offensive line but Tucker Gleason has enough to lead the offense.

After hosting Duquesne (FCS), Toledo gets to face off against future MAC opponent, UMass. The Rockets are 7-1 all-time against UMass.

The real test for the Rockets will be when they travel down to Mississippi State and have to deal with those cowbells. Jeff Lebby wasn’t the guy after the guy as Zach Arnett didn’t last a full season after replacing Mike Leach, so the expectations aren’t quite as unreachable. The Bulldogs are staring down the barrel of a rough go of it. Baylor transfer Blake Shapen will command the spread offense but if there is anything that’s playing into the strength of the Rockets, its embracing the spread. Over the last three years, Toledo has allowed 183, 183, and 199 yards per game, respectively.

Finally, a matchup of two of the top Group of 5 programs of the last few years. However, while Toledo is expected to compete, WKU is expected to take a step back. The Hilltoppers’ offense has been incredible with some of the most prolific passing attacks. TJ Finley transfers in from Texas State and is more than capable of keeping up the ridiculous spread attack. They have to replace all-everything Malachi Corley. The Rockets should be able to come out of Bowling Green (Kentucky) with a win.

1. Central Michigan: vs. Central Connecticut State (FCS), at FIU, at Illinois, vs. San Diego State

Deciding between the two easiest non-conference slates in the MAC is like splitting hairs because neither Toledo nor CMU face off against a top Power 4 foe. Last season, the Chips went 2-2 in their non-conference slate. This year, they have a much better chance of running the table, though they likely won’t.

After playing host to Central Connecticut State (FCS), the Chips get to travel to Florida International in the second week of the season. FIU is looking rough and in Conference USA, that’s saying something. Realistically, the Panthers are not returning much talent from a 4-8 team from a year ago. They do return 11 starters including sophomore quarterback, Keyone Jenkins. Athlon Sports’ write-up of FIU often considers this year as a difficult one where FIU likely won’t end up bowl-eligible.

Last year, Illinois beat the MAC runner-up. This year, the Fighting Illini get to host CMU. Illinois is going to be an interesting team to watch in 2024. Even then, they’ll likely finish in the bottom half of the Big Ten. Defensively, Illinois will have to step up. They only return four starters and even then, they weren’t all that great. Offensively, Luke Altmyer is set to take the reigns again with three returning offensive linemen. They’ll lean on the running backs again with a capable unit.

Finally, CMU gets to face off against an old friend of the MAC, Sean Lewis. After an eventful season at Colorado, Lewis gets another shot. His “AztecFast” offense will likely remind fans of his “FlashFAST” offense at Kent State. While the feeling is that Lewis will have the Aztecs competing eventually, 2024 will be tough. San Diego State fired Brady Hoke for a reason and they lost quite a bit through the transfer portal. Lewis has some returning talent on the offensive line to block for presumed quarterback, Florida State transfer, AJ Duffy.