We’ve sounded the horn once again, and as ever, several of our intrepid writers have heeded the call!
In what has become one of our favorite preseason traditions, the Hustle Belt staff gathers together to try and see into the future about the upcoming football season, including breakout teams, breakout players, coaches on the hot seat, MVPs of the conference, non-conference upsets, and of course, the MAC Championship Game matchup in Detroit.
How accurate are our predictions? Here’s what we said last
year. Without further ado, let’s open up the table for questioning.
Who will be the breakout team in the MAC for the 2025 season? On the contrary, which bowl eligible team from 2024 takes a tumble?
James Jimenez: It’s hard to tab a team for a breakout in 2025, given the sheer amount of teams who will be on the ground floor. That said, the Buffalo Bulls really caught my eye down the stretch in 2024, and have the most returning talent in the conference by some measure. That means a lot in a league decided by razor-thin margins, and I think their battle-forged roster should be able to decide games on their own.
As for regression, I don’t particularly have faith in Western Michigan to get it together. They really fell apart down the stretch last season despite a fiery start and lost a huge amount of talent in the offseason to graduation and transfer. They have a brutal start to the schedule, with four-straight bowl teams, and need to leave 2-2— including a win over MAC favorite Toledo— to even have a chance at a bowl game. 1-3 is more likely, and that doesn’t bode well.
Steve Helwick: The Akron Zips have only qualified for two bowl games since 2006 and won’t this year due to academic progress rate requirements, but I think Joe Moorhead has the pieces in place. Veteran quarterback Ben FInley has established targets in Alex Adams and Jake Newell, and the secondary has potential to be one of the better units in the MAC. Also the Zips face five FBS teams that went 3-9 or worse in 2024, as well as an FCS opponent.
On the contrary, Miami could take a tumble after 20 wins and two MAC Championship Game appearances in the last two years. The RedHawks are replacing all 11 offensive starters, but at least bringing in former MAC MVP Dequan Finn softens the blow. The defense lost a horde of all-conference talent as well, and while I still trust the unit to be solid, fielding a top-15 FBS scoring defense for the third-straight year will be difficult amidst considerable turnover.
Sam Kasuga: Buffalo caught everyone by surprise last year, I think they improve on their 8-4 finish from 2024. Bowling Green takes a slight tumble under Eddie George in year one, but I see 6-6 being achievable with their schedule.
Alexis Baker: I really, really think it’s finally Buffalo’s year. According to Katie Rose’s new ratings system, which takes into account such factors as returning production and transfers, Buffalo is one of four non-Autonomous programs that have a positive rating, alongside Boise State, Navy, and South Florida. (The Bulls are far behind Boise State and just slightly behind Navy, but quite a bit ahead of South Florida.) They rank #62 in the FBS in this system, ahead of popular non-Autonomous playoff picks such as Tulane and James Madison. They have returning production, good transfer pickups, and a coaching staff that had the Bulls very much on the right foot for much of 2024.
For my tumbler, I have Northern Illinois. This program has given me fits for the last two years and could absolutely be the bane of my existence yet again, but they have some of the lowest returning production in the FBS and were less-than-impressive in league play for a team which knocked out the eventual national runners-up. The ratings system mentioned above is also not favorable to the Huskies, ranking them eighth in the MAC and 108th nationally, with next door neighbors such as Central Michigan and Rice.
Which under-the-radar players, one offensive and one defensive, do you see having a breakout season in 2025?
JJ: It’s really kinda funny to say it, but Sieh Bangura will no doubt be key to Ohio’s success as an offensive unit in 2025. It does technically feel like cheating, but his gap year in Minnesota essentially keeps him fresh to be a weapon with the Bobbies, where he amassed 1,982 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns in two seasons prior. Ohio needs a good ground game to keep opponents on their feet in the piston base look. I think he’ll… hit the ground running.
I’m also curious about Gideon Lampron for Bowling Green. He went viral for his middle name, but Lampron was a legit contributor for Dayton in his time there, with 161 tackles, 31 tackles-for-loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and recoveries, and two blocked kicks over two seasons. He earned first-team FCS All-American honors despite playing at a Pioneer League school, a genuinely impressive feat. I tend to trust up-transfers with production at this level, and this sort of profile is typically the one which transfers well.
SH: Miami receiver Darion Williamson could be poised for a breakout season. Williamson spent five seasons at Florida State, averaging seven receptions and 90.8 yards per year as a recurring rotation piece, but now he’s ready to be a top option in Oxford. Miami has a recent track record of success with under-utilized transfers, turning Mac Hippenhammer and Cade McDonald into stars, and Williamson may be on a similar trajectory.
Redshirt sophomore Mark Hensley should be bound for a breakthrough at NIU as well. Hensley saw action in all 13 games last year and only managed six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, but NIU’s staff should put him in excellent position to thrive alongside returning star defensive end Roy Williams.
SK: He may not be under the radar offensively, but I’m watching Chip Trayanum. Having missed time at Kentucky last year, a fully healthy Trayanum could be a dangerous threat. Defensively, I’m looking at Kobe Stewart. Yes he had 9.5 sacks last season, but it felt overshadowed by the tandem of Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock. I see Stewart getting over ten sacks this year.
AB: If he wins the quarterback battle with incumbent Broc Lowry, Western’s Brady Jones is one of the most exciting transfers I’ve seen to the MAC in a while. In a full season with Riverside City College last year, he threw for almost 4,500 yards, 44 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, while completing 64 percent of his passes. If Jones doesn’t win it, I’ll take CJ Montes out of Kent State. I covered Montes when he played at Fordham a year or so ago, and he’s helped here by having the lowest floor of any starting quarterback in the conference. If he can keep his numbers respectable and stay healthy, he will help that program out in morale if not wins. Kent State fans need some glimmer of hope this year, and I really think he has the potential to be that for them.
Defensively, I’m looking at Toledo’s unit, who consistently starts nationally recognized talent that frequently finds its way to the NFL. Specifically, I’m tabbing Emmanuel McNeil-Warren as my defensive breakout player of the year. He had a shortened campaign in 2024 due to injury, but played well in eight games after a definitive breakout season in 2023. Fellow Rocket Avery Smith deserves honorable mention here, coming off a second-team All-MAC campaign.
Which head coaches have the most at stake in 2025? Also, do you see any coaches at risk for being poached by another program as head coaches?
JJ: Joe Moorhead over at Akron is the one with the dubious crown of “coach with the most at stake” in this cycle, even if it’s a bit unfair. His Akron teams have looked very competitive the last three years— but they’ve also lost a ton of winnable games in that time. The program also came under fire for violating the Academic Progress Rate standards and will now potentially miss the postseason. That is a black mark for a program which does not help the case at all.
The name I think we’re taking for granted here is Mark Carney at Kent State. If he can sneak away with even a 2-10 record here, that will be a miracle of coaching which could certainly make him a candidate to coach— whether that’s at Kent State or elsewhere. If they’re even close to bowling… he might be the head man for a few more years.
As for poaching… it’s really only Jason Candle, who has been resistant to the idea in the past.
SH: The coach with the most at stake is Joe Moorhead, heading into year four at Akron. The Zips made necessary progress in 2024, finally escaping 2-10 territory to produce a 4-8 record — their best since 2018. Akron showed signs of life last fall, defeating Toledo and taking several bowl teams down to the wire. But the program hasn’t seen a winning season since 2015, and they need that tangible achievement soon.
Jason Candle‘s the one MAC coach that could be on the poaching block. Toledo has lofty expectations this year with a batch of returning talent, and it could find itself in 10+ win category. Candle was already labeled a candidate for a Miami (FL) offensive coordinator role last season, so it wouldn’t shock me to see his name mentioned in rumors come December.
SK: The thing about this year is, I don’t see any coaches being fired. I’m going to reword this question as Akron has the most at stake for their future, because I don’t think it’s fair to throw Joe Moorhead under the bus right now, after seeing the poor academic reports for the Zips. I also don’t see any coaches being hired for another program.
AB: Lance Taylor has the most at stake, in my opinion. As I said in my preview, Western Michigan has bounced between 5 to 7 wins every year since their glorious 2016 run, and Taylor hasn’t broken out of that box in his two years in Kalamazoo. I don’t think he’ll be fired if he fails to do it again this year, but there’s going to be questions as to whether he can get the Broncos over the hump in 2026.
I’ll say what I said last year: if a MAC program goes to the playoff this year, that coach will be hired literally the day after they’re eliminated. Whether that’s Jason Candle, or Pete Lembo, or someone else, remains to be seen.
What will be the MAC’s most impressive non-conference win in 2025?
JJ: Of all the games on the schedule, there are two which feel particularly “gettable” here: Toledo vs. Kentucky and Buffalo vs. Minnesota. Two of the MAC’s best teams going on the road against two middling Autonomous programs who 1) might understimate them and 2) they have clear weaknesses against.
Others I have my eye on include NIU vs. Mississippi State and Ohio vs. West Virginia.
SH: Toledo over Kentucky in Week 1. The Wildcats are coming off their worst season since 2013 which somewhat diminishes a Toledo win, but the Rockets going 2-0 in SEC country in two years would be remarkable. Kentucky struggled mightily on offense last season, and the Rockets counter with impressive secondary talent, led by Avery Smith and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Pair Toledo’s defense with an established aerial attack headlined by Tucker Gleason and Junior Vandeross III, and the Rockets could see a repeat of their 2024 Mississippi State result in Lexington.
SK: Toledo-Kentucky for sure, a close second could be Buffalo-Minnesota.
AB: The left-field but kind of cheap answer is Kent State over literally anyone. If the worst program in the FBS by over half a dozen different statistics can log even a single out-of-conference win this year, that will be a massive boon to the program’s morale and break a somewhat common perception among casual fans that the MAC has three or four very good programs and a bunch of also-rans.
The actual answer though would be Toledo over Kentucky or Buffalo over Minnesota. Either of these would basically lock the winning MAC team into playoff conversations and be a massive boost to the MAC’s credence.
Who do you predict wins the MAC Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards?
JJ: I have a good feeling about Buffalo running back Al-Jay Henderson to make a case for Offensive Player of the Year. He’ll be running behind one of the most experienced offensive lines in the conference, and was already one of the MAC’s best runners in 2024. If UB goes as far as we expect them to, he’ll be right there at the end.
Defensively, it’s a toss-up between Red Murdock at Buffalo and Emmauel McNeil-Warren at Toledo. It depends on your preference; do you like the eat-em-up tackler in space or do you like your do-it-all defensive back?
SH: MAC Offensive Player of the Year will be Toledo wide receiver Junior Vandeross III. Vandeross went into complete takeover mode in the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Pitt, making spectacular play after play in a 12-catch, 194-yard, 1-touchdown MVP performance. Operating with Tucker Gleason for a second season, the QB-WR chemistry should be strong, and Vandeross ends the year as the MAC’s leading receiver with well over 1,000 yards.
MAC Defensive Player of the Year will be Buffalo inside linebacker Red Murdock. This seems like a no-brainer pick, because Murdock is aiming for higher honors than all-conference — he might be an All-American just like former teammate Shaun Dolac. Murdock ranked second to Dolac for most tackles in the FBS with 156 last year, while serving as the nation’s leader with seven forced fumbles. He’s the complete package on defense, and his omnipresence will be felt by every opponent.
SK: Defensive Player of the Year will be Red Murdock of Buffalo. Hard to believe he’ll regress after the breakout season he had last year. Offensive Player of the Year is a toss up at this point, but Dequan Finn might be my favorite in his return to the MAC.
AB: Quarterback Tucker Gleason of Toledo and inside linebacker Red Murdock of Buffalo.
The MAC Championship Game takes place the first weekend of December at Ford Field. Which teams meet in Detroit and who emerges with the conference crown?
JJ: It’s hard to see any other result right now except Buffalo defeating Toledo. I realize this runs counter to what a lot of national and regional writers are saying, but sometimes you just have to trust your gut until your eyes tell you something different. I think UB matches up well to Toledo, and UB is a top team in the conference. Either way it goes, that game will be a popcorn-muncher.
Of course, I’m also looking at Miami to make a sneaky case at a run to Detroit and play either of those teams; they’re at their best when doubted.
SH: Buffalo defeats Toledo to win its first MAC Championship Game since 2008. The Bulls return a remarkable amount of talent, bringing back five offensive and nine defensive starters. Al-Jay Henderson quickly rose into one of the MAC’s best rushers toward the end of last season, and Buffalo’s defensive front is beyond stout with Red Murdock and elite passers Kobe Stewart and Dion Crawford. Toledo possesses ample talent to qualify for the game, but the Bulls’ defense will be the deciding factor in Detroit.
SK: My early speculation is Buffalo-Toledo, with Buffalo winning their first championship since 2008.
AB: I think it’ll be Toledo and Buffalo. Bulls win it in a thriller. I think it’ll see more than 60 combined points, and Buffalo wins by 5 points or less.
Will any MAC team reside in the College Football Playoff rankings or be in the conversation for the CFP this season?
JJ: If Toledo does what they’re supposed to do and finish 4-0 or 3-1 in the non-conference slate, then absolutely they’ll be ranked. They’re already just outside of the AP Poll as it stands, and they have brand recognition after years of success and graduating talent to the pros. That will help them hold up with the likes of the Boise States and Libertys of the world when it comes down to it— assuming they do their job.
Buffalo is also capable of this, but would need to be perfect to even be considered due to not having as far a head start in that regard.
SH: Yes, Toledo will be ranked in the AP Poll sometime late in the season. Going 2-0 against Kentucky and WKU in Weeks 1 and 2 is the gateway to a ranking, but even with an early loss, Toledo could still feasibly get to 11-1 or 10-2 to end the regular season. However, the College Football Playoff committee will never rank them as they are traditionally stricter against MAC teams than the AP Poll.
SK: Based on strength of schedule, Toledo could be in the rankings this year. Unfortunately, I don’t see a MAC team in the conversation for the playoff right now.
AB: Yes. Toledo, Buffalo, and maybe Miami and Ohio are in that conversation depending on how the out-of-conference slate goes. Any team that goes 3-1 or 4-0 early, especially with a win over an Autonomous conference program, will absolutely be in that talk as long as they can finish the job in league play.
