When it comes to the college football hierarchy and the ESPN FPI, the Mid-American Conference is often toward the bottom. The MAC rarely comes up in the conversation as the best conference even among the Group of 5 but it regularly steps up in big moments and has even made it a habit of taking down Power 4 programs.
Heading into the season, defending MAC Champs Miami (OH) led the way as the 90th-ranked team in all of college football according to ESPN’s FPI. Toledo was behind them at 100th overall. Now, there’s a new leader in the room AND they were the biggest positive mover in the nation.
Central Michigan. Up 32 spots to 83rd.
ESPN FPI Massively Rewards CMU After Big Win
New Quarterback, No Problem
It was expected that Bert Emanuel would quarterback the Chippewas in 2024. However, due to an injury, he was unavailable and Iowa transfer Joe Labas took over.
At Iowa, Labas only appeared in one game where he started the Music City Bowl against Kentucky after the 2022 season. He passed for 139 yards and a touchdown in that one.
In his first action since, Labas went 18/24 with 342 yards and three touchdowns against Central Connecticut. Even if it was against an FCS program, only a handful of FBS players put up better numbers in Week 1.
His top receiver was Solomon Davis, one of the best playmakers CMU has had over the last few years. He only caught four passes but he went 109 yards and scored two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was a 79-yarder where he blew past the coverage and was wide open. He made Labas’ job significantly easier on the night.
Fire Up Chips Defense
The offense wasn’t the only unit balling out for the Chips. The defense only allowed one touchdown and an impressive 50-yard field goal at the beginning of the second half.
In total, CMU allowed just 91 yards through the air and no touchdowns. On the ground, Central Connecticut had a little more success, rushing for 198 yards and a score at 4.4 yards per rush. However, the Blue Devils had eight different players run the ball. Their two top rushers, Donny Marcus and Elijah Howard, ran the ball 14 times each and the Chips held them to just 3.1 yards per carry.
They did only force one turnover but it was a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown for the game’s final score.
The big plays were all over the board as well. CMU returned the ensuing kickoff after the Central Connecticut touchdown back for a touchdown. In the fourth, they also took a punt back for a touchdown.
Overall, it was a complete effort from the Chips.
#MACtion is Back
Time will tell if CMU’s dominant win will translate to MAC success. They’re now the favorite to take the conference according to the ESPN FPI.
They’ll have to earn it, though. At the end of October and beginning of November, the Chips will have back-to-back-to-back games against the three other favorites, Miami (OH), Bowling Green, and Toledo.
