THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE THE MAC
Since its inception in 1946, the Mid-American Conference has progressively grown and developed into one of the most aggressive Division I conferences in the country. One of only ten football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences, the MAC named Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher as its eighth commissioner in March of 2009.
HISTORY
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE 24 Public Square, 15th Floor Cleveland, OH 44113 (216) 566-4622 www.getsomemaction.com
Based in Cleveland since July of 1999 following a 15-year stay in Toledo, Ohio, the MAC has established historic measurements in both football and men’s and women’s basketball since moving to Northeast Ohio. The MAC was founded as a five-school league on February 24, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio with Ohio, Butler, Cincinnati, Wayne State and Western Reserve admitted as charter members. The Mid-American Conference membership consists of 12 universities across five states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Ohio) as well as affiliate members in several sports, including men’s soccer (SIUE and West Virginia University). Comprising the East Division is the University of Akron (joined in 1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946) and Temple University (2007). The West Division members are Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, 1997), University of Toledo (1950) and Western Michigan University (1947). In 1946 men’s basketball was the first competitive sport in the MAC, which now sponsors a total of 23 sports. Women’s sports were brought into the conference’s structure in 1980.
23 SPORTS
2020(-21) MAC STANDINGS
School (Overall) MAC Pts. PPG 1. Bowling Green (7-5-1) 5-2-1 16 2.00 2. Western Mich. (7-3-1) 5-3-1 16 1.78 3. West Virginia (6-3-1) 4-3-1 13 1.63 4. Akron (4-4-2) 3-4-1 10 1.25 5. Northern Illi. (5-8-1) 4-6-0 12 1.20 6. SIUE (5-5-0) 2-5-0 6 0.86 • Teams listed in order of points per game • Teams earn 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie
Men’s sports sponsored by the conference include football, basketball, baseball, cross country, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, wrestling, golf and tennis. For women, the sports of basketball, softball, volleyball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, gymnastics, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and tennis are sponsored. In the fall of 2021, BGSU, Akron, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan are joined by affiliate members Georgia State, Georgia Southern and West Virginia as MAC men’s soccer-playing institutions.
The Falcons score vs. Kentucky in the 1996 MAC Tournament’s championship match at Cochrane Field. BGSU went on to win the match, for the second of three-straight league tourney crowns
6 • BGSU FALCONS • 2021 MEN’S SOCCER
