Eastern Michigan Athletics
MAC Establishes New Football Schedule Model
11/30/2023 2:04:00 PM | Football
The new scheduling model will eliminate the MAC East and West Divisions
CLEVELAND, Ohio (GetSomeMACtion.com) – The Mid-American Conference has established a new football scheduling model that will go into effect starting with the 2024 season, as announced by the league office Thursday, Nov. 30.
"After significant study and discussion, our membership has made the decision to eliminate divisions in football," said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. "A primary goal in our discussions centered around ensuring the scheduling methodology utilized facilitated the best opportunity to put the two best teams into the championship game. The new model will protect rivalries while facilitating a more even rotation of teams through each institution's schedule."
The new scheduling model will eliminate the MAC East and West Divisions. The top two teams based on conference winning percentage will compete in the MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
This new model will allow for each team to face all 11 conference opponents home and away at least once during a three-year cycle. Additionally, the new format will incorporate protected opponents based on geographic location and rivalries.
Each institution's future opponents will be announced by the end of January 2024, with the full 2024 schedule being released at the end of February.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
The Mid-American Conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio as the Conference office serves 12 full-time members and offer championships in 23 sports.
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
"After significant study and discussion, our membership has made the decision to eliminate divisions in football," said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. "A primary goal in our discussions centered around ensuring the scheduling methodology utilized facilitated the best opportunity to put the two best teams into the championship game. The new model will protect rivalries while facilitating a more even rotation of teams through each institution's schedule."
The new scheduling model will eliminate the MAC East and West Divisions. The top two teams based on conference winning percentage will compete in the MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
This new model will allow for each team to face all 11 conference opponents home and away at least once during a three-year cycle. Additionally, the new format will incorporate protected opponents based on geographic location and rivalries.
Each institution's future opponents will be announced by the end of January 2024, with the full 2024 schedule being released at the end of February.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
The Mid-American Conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio as the Conference office serves 12 full-time members and offer championships in 23 sports.
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
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