Ball State University Athletics
MAC Divisions and 2012 Football Opponents Announced
January 04, 2012 | Football
The Mid-American Conference announced a new divisional alignment in football beginning with the 2012 season as UMass joins the conference to bring the number of football playing members to 14 beginning this fall.
With the addition of UMass, who will compete in the East Division, Bowling Green will move to the MAC West Division.
"Ever since our announcement of the addition of UMass in football last spring, divisional alignment has been a topic of conversation among our presidents and directors of athletics," MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher says. "We considered a number of different paradigms and ultimately we focused on the core principles of geography, travel and rivalries. We now have a true rotational cycle for football and a scheduling model that will extend for future years."
The divisional alignment was unanimous in a vote by the MAC Council of Presidents, as recommended by the Council of Director of Athletics. This alignment will be for football only.
Akron, Buffalo, Kent State, UMass, Miami University, Ohio and Temple will make up the MAC East.
Joining Ball State in the MAC West Division will be Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan.
This will be the first time since 2006 the MAC will have balanced divisional schedules. Each member will continue to play an eight game conference schedule, however each member will now play six divisional games and two non-divisional crossover games. There will no longer be protected crossover games.
UMass will begin conference play for the 2012 football season and will be eligible for the conference football championship game and a bowl game beginning in the 2013 football season.
In addition, the MAC announced football opponents for the 2012 season. Ball State will host Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois in MAC West games plus Ohio in a MAC crossover contest. The Cardinals will play at Bowling Green, Toledo, Central Michigan in MAC West divisional games plus play at Miami University in a crossover contest.
The conference office will announce dates and times for the 2012 regular season football schedule at a later time.
Ball State's non-conference 2012 football schedule is as follows:
Sat., Sept. 8 at Clemson
Sat., Sept. 15 at Indiana
Sat., Sept. 22 HOME vs. South Florida
Sat., Oct. 27 at Army
