MAC Predictions 2026: Odds, Best Bets & Expert Picks
The Mid-American Conference may not be one of college football’s powers. However, MACtion is absolutely very much part of the college football experience, specifically toward the end of the regular season when the league plays on Tuesday and Wednesday nights on national TV with wild, wintry weather usually in the mix.
The MAC’s 2026 theme is turnover, from a membership standpoint all the way down to the players on the field. The conference picked up two new members in UMass and Sacramento State, replacing the departed NIU. On the field, eight of the conference’s 13 teams rank 100th or worse in returning overall production, while all but one program sit outside the top 70. Not to mention, four programs are led by new head coaches, while another four have coaches going into their second year.
Coming into the 2026 season, the MAC is an extremely intriguing conference. In my opinion, one of the three clear favorites per the oddsboard has no business being there, while there are a handful of other teams that are fully capable of putting together a run reminiscent of last year’s champion in Western Michigan. Let’s break down the league landscape and identify some best bets, while you can find more of our college football futures leading into Week 0.
2026 Mid-American Conference Championship Odds
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook at the time of publishing.
- Toledo Rockets +370
- Miami (OH) RedHawks +430
- Western Michigan Broncos +430
- Ohio Bobcats +700
- Central Michigan Chippewas +750
- Eastern Michigan Eagles +1000
- Bowling Green Falcons +1600
- Buffalo Bulls +1700
- Akron Zips +2200
- Sacramento State Hornets +3000
- Kent State Golden Flashes +3500
- Ball State Cardinals +5500
- Massachusetts Minutemen +12500
2026 MAC Favorites
Toledo Rockets +370
Some would argue the Rockets have been the class of the MAC for a while, usually sitting at the top of the oddsboard like they are right now. However, there is plenty of change in Toledo, as head coach Jason Candle is now in UConn after leading the Rockets for 10 seasons. Candle was solid, but under him, the Rockets were prone to losing as double-digit favorites, leaving Toledo disappointed in most seasons. They did win the MAC twice under him, but I would argue it should have been more.
Mike Jacobs will take over for Candle, and there’s likely to be an adjustment period considering Jacobs has not coached at the FBS level since 2007. However, he won over 40 games in four years at Notre Dame College, 29 games in three years at Lenoir-Rhyne and 19 games in two seasons at Mercer, including two playoff appearances. This will be his 11th season as a head coach, and he has yet to have a losing season in that role.
Jacobs brought in 27 transfers, a vast majority of which followed him from Mercer or transferred up from smaller schools. As such, the talent on this roster is not what we’re used to seeing from this program recently. That’s not to say the incoming transfers were not productive in their previous programs, because they were, specifically running back CJ Miller and defensive end Andrew Zock. However, there’s so much talent to replace, especially on the defensive side – as Toledo held conference opponents under 10 points and 250 yards per game in 2025.
The Rockets have a few returning pieces like quarterback John Alan Richter, linebacker Langston Long, safety Nicholas Thompson, and up to three offensive linemen, but I’m very pessimistic of their chances this year with a new head coach that hasn’t been in the FBS ranks recently and potentially more than 20 new starters. For reference, Toledo is 109th in returning offensive production and 135th (fourth-worst nationally) on the defensive side.
The Rockets will benefit from not having true back-to-back road games at any point this season, but they also have to fly all the way out to Sacramento State for a conference game, while they have to play both Western and Eastern Michigan, as well as a road game at Ohio. Rival Bowling Green may not be a piece of cake this year, either.
Miami (OH) RedHawks +410
One of the few MAC programs with longstanding head-coach continuity, this will be Chuck Martin’s 12th season in Oxford, Ohio. The RedHawks have won two MAC championships (2019, 2023) under Martin, while they have been in the title game now three years in a row after two disappointing losses to Ohio and Western Michigan following their championship over Toledo in 2023.
Miami should have a bit more on-field continuity than most MAC programs, but they still have holes to fill, sitting 95th in returning offensive production and 68th on the defensive side. The stop-unit should be strong once again after finishing top-five in league in scoring and total defense, as defensive coordinator Bill Brechin usually has this unit somewhere in the top-50 nationally. Replacing linebacker Adam Trick (Texas Tech) won’t be easy after he tallied 8.5 sacks last year, but returning pieces like linebackers Malcolm McCain and Jackson Kutwatch, defensive linemen Bai Jobe and Nasir Washington and defensive backs Eli Blakney and Kaleb Martin offer a great foundation once again.
The RedHawks will have a new offensive coordinator in Gus Ragland this season, a former RedHawk quarterback himself. There is plenty to replace on this unit, including the starting quarterback, top running back and two of the team’s top three pass-catchers, but there are three returning offensive linemen that played more than 500 snaps each joining all-MAC tackle Evan Malcore, who transferred in from NIU. Quarterback Thomas Gotkowski is probably the leader in the clubhouse after playing some last year, but Kansas-transfer David McComb and a Division II transfer are hot on his tail. Each of these options figure to be dual-threat, while the RedHawks should benefit from a strong running back room consisting of D’Shawntae Jones – he scored seven touchdowns for the RedHawks last year – Monmouth-transfer Rodney Nelson (1,805 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Wisconsin-transfer Cade Yacamelli.
Miami will benefit from not having to fly out west to play Sacramento State, but road games at Central and Western Michigan will not be easy, especially considering that WMU will be the second of back-to-back road games. Home games against Bowling Green, Akron, Buffalo and Ohio are very manageable, though, so look for the RedHawks to continue their home dominance in conference.
Western Michigan Broncos +430
The defending MAC champions come into this contest with some momentum under fourth-year head coach Lance Taylor. Unlike Toledo, Western Michigan has plenty of returning production, relative to the rest of the conference. They sit 71st nationally in overall returning production, spearheaded by a top-50 mark on the offensive side, though they are outside the top 100 on defense.
Headlining the returning offensive production is quarterback Broc Lowry, who was 166-of-262 for 1,803 yards, nine touchdowns and three picks as a passer while rushing 203 times for 963 yards and 14 more scores (including sacks). In tandem with returning running back Jalen Buckley, this WMU rushing should be one of the best rushing attacks in the conference, especially with three senior offensive linemen. A former walk-on, Buckley is a two-time 1,000 yard rusher and has scored 29 total touchdowns in three seasons of real playing time. Out wide, two of WMU’s top three pass-catchers return, in tandem with an SEC transfer in Emazon Littlejohn.
The defensive side is the most concerning heading into this season. The Broncos were second in the MAC last year, holding conference opponents to just 14.5 points and 284.5 yards per game, but that production is likely to drop off this year considering defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary is now with the Los Angeles Chargers – who also drafted former WMU defensive end Nadame Tucker after he tallied 20.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks last year in Kalamazoo. New defensive coordinator Greer Martini worked under O’Leary last year, so there is some continuity with the staff, but with an influx of new talent, who knows what the final product will look like.
With non-conference games against Michigan and Boise State, back-to-back road games at Central Michigan and Toledo at the end of October and back-to-back home games against Eastern Michigan and Miami (OH) in the last two weeks of the regular season, WMU’s schedule is not the easiest. In tandem with the overhauled defense, I struggle to be excited about this price. However, WMU will be a tough out for any MAC competitor along the way.
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2026 MAC Mid-Tier
Ohio Bobcats +700
Like Toledo, Ohio is a proud MAC program going through major overhaul this season. It will be the second season in a row the Bobcats will have to incorporate a new head coach, as Brian Smith was fired for misconduct at the end of last season. John Hauser will replace him, becoming the fourth coach in Athens since the pandemic. Prior to Smith, Ohio benefited from well-regarded coaches in Frank Solich and Tim Albin, the latter of whom took the Bobs to two MAC title games, winning one. Fortunately for Ohio, Hauser has a good bit of experience in the MAC, so although he is in his first season as a head coach at the collegiate level, he is very versed in this conference.
That said, Hauser will have some work to do. Ohio is 129th in overall returning production, anchored down by an offense that is dead last (138th). There are plenty of question marks on an offensive line that doesn’t have a ton of depth, and whoever wins the quarterback battle will have very big shoes to fill following the careers of Parker Navarro and the Rourke brothers. On the defensive end, the Bobcats sit 81st, so at least they have that going for them. In fact, as many as four of the top five tackles return from a unit that was top-four in scoring and total defense in 2025.
The 2024 MAC Champions will likely go through quite a bit of growing pains this year, especially when you consider their schedule along with all their moving pieces. Non-conference tilts against Nebraska, Jacksonville State and South Alabama are all losable ahead of their FCS opponent in Stonehill. In conference, they start with a road game at Kent, but then will have to play against Central Michigan, at Sacramento State and against Eastern Michigan in a three-week span before a bye week, which is about as brutal as it gets from a travel perspective in the MAC this year. Following the bye, they have back-to-back road games at Akron and then Miami before ending the season at home against Ball State and Toledo. This has to be the most difficult conference schedule we’ve discussed thus far.
Central Michigan Chippewas +750
I would consider Matt Drinkall’s first season in Mount Pleasant a success, as the Chippewas finished 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the conference, earning a trip to a bowl game against a power-conference opponent. The Chips were about league average offensively, averaging just over 25 points per conference game, which could improve this season considering they are 36th nationally in returning offensive production. Seven offensive linemen with starting experience return, while leading-receiver Langston Lewis looks to improve on his 596 yards and three touchdowns with Angel Flores stepping into a full-time role under center after being more of a run-game specialist last year. Joining Flores in the backfield will be redshirt sophomore Brock Townsend, who averaged just over five yards per carry and scored four touchdowns on just 82 carries behind Nahree Biggins and Trey Cornist. Biggins and Cornist carried the ball 105 times each, and Townsend was arguably better than both of them, as he had more touchdowns than both combined and more yards per carry than Cornist.
Defensively, CMU is going through a major shakeup. The Chips sit outside the top 130 in returning defensive production, as only two of the 15 players with 250+ snaps return this season. As many as 10 transfers are competing for spots on the two-deep, and only one of them has FBS experience. I’m expecting a massive dip in defensive success this year after CMU finished third in scoring and sixth in total defense against conference opponents in 2025.
CMU’s conference travel situation isn’t the worst, especially because they only have three conference road games thanks to Eastern Michigan giving up a home game to play Central at a neutral site in early November. However, consecutive games against Western Michigan and Miami prior to that neutral-site game will be extremely difficult. There is absolutely upside here for a CMU team that will seemingly be led by its offense, but that three-game stretch of WMU, Miami and EMU will be instrumental in where the Chips land in the MAC standings at the end of the year.
Eastern Michigan Eagles +1000
Like Miami, Eastern Michigan benefits from a ton of coaching continuity and familiarity, as Chris Creighton is in his 13th season in Ypsilanti. Last season’s 4-8 record was EMU’s worst full-season result since Creighton’s second year in 2015 and was the second straight season failing to make a bowl game after three straight postseason appearances from 2021-2023. However, with the most returning production in the conference by wide margin (24th nationally), EMU has a perfect opportunity to improve on the foundation that was laid last year, even if the results were not ideal. Keep in mind, three of those losses were one-score losses – one even went to overtime – and could have gone either way.
Of the two units, the offense has less returning production than the defense, but graduate-transfer quarterback Noah Kim returns after throwing for 2,817 and 18 touchdowns and being sacked fewer than once per game last year in his first year at EMU. For what it’s worth, Kim was third in the MAC in big-time throws while leading the conference in pressure-to-sack rate according to PFF, showcasing the talent that was seen by Michigan State – where he started his collegiate career. Joining him will be three of his top four pass catchers from a season ago, including leading receiver Nick Devereaux, who tallied 34 catches, 510 yards and seven touchdowns. As far as the run game goes, Dontae McMillan’s production will be missed and will have to be replaced by a committee approach. Meanwhile, the offensive line has five transfers competing for starting time, four of them with power-conference experience at some point in their career.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles are 15th nationally in returning production after playing a ton of guys last year. The unit was admittedly mediocre from a results standpoint, but heading into this season, it will be led by as many as seven seniors and graduate students projected in the starting lineup, as well as a couple redshirt juniors. Leading-tackler and team-leader in interceptions Bryce Llewellyn, defensive linemen Quincy Byas and Carter Evans, linebacker Barry Manning and defensive back Caleb Coley offer plenty of excitement and upside going into 2026.
Eastern Michigan’s conference schedule is very forgiving, aside from the fact that they gave up a home game to play Central Michigan at a neutral site. Still, they avoid Miami, don’t have to travel to Sacramento State, get Toledo at home and have a very manageable road back-to-back situation against UMass and Akron. The biggest game of the season could end up being a road game at Western Michigan, though the Eagles will have almost two weeks to prepare for that one.
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2026 MAC Championship Best Bet: Eastern Michigan Eagles (+1200)
Odds courtesy of bet365 at the time of publishing. Playable to +1000.
I cannot get past the combination of coaching stability, roster continuity and a beneficial schedule for Eastern Michigan, especially when considering the price in relation to the rest of the conference. With Kim under center, Eastern Michigan has one of the best quarterbacks in the conference, spearheading a passing attack that could be very, very good thanks to Devereaux and returning tight end Joshua Long. Not to mention, the defense comes into this season with plenty of playing experience.
The biggest concerns I have for this team are the run game and the offensive line, though the talent on the line is somewhat undeniable at this level. Luckily, the Eagles will have some time to figure out both units, as their first three conference games are against Sacramento State, UMass and Akron. At the end of the day, my concerns are not enough to pass on what feels to be a very fair price in a wide-open conference.
2026 MAC Prop Bet: Ohio Bobcats Under 4.5 Conference Wins (+135)
Odds courtesy of bet365 at the time of publishing. Playable to +120.
Fading the Bobcats can be a fool’s errand, but this isn’t your dad’s, brother’s or cousin’s Ohio. I’m expecting this to be a tough season in Athens with all of the changes in the staff and on the field, specifically at the quarterback position. This program has benefitted from elite Group-of-Five quarterback play for almost a decade, and I don’t see that type of production this year between career-backup Nick Poulous or FCS-transfer Matt Vezza behind what could be a dreadful offensive line.
The three-week stretch of playing at home against Central Michigan, traveling to Sacramento State and then playing at home Eastern Michigan could be a run of three straight losses, and I don’t give them much of a chance at Miami on November 10. Let’s say Ohio wins one of those three games against CMU, Sac State and EMU; they would need one more loss to cash this bet, which I could see coming against Toledo in the regular season finale, once the Rockets establish their identity under new leadership.
