MAC 2025-26 SZN

[UAZippers]

10 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

If UA is Miami’s best win, then their undefeated record is hollow. They haven’t played anyone, and it shows. Playing someone like Yale or Murray State would’ve answered real questions BUT I think it's likely they lose worse than we did.

 

Instead, if this is the model going forward, just schedule D2 and D3 schools outside of MAC play and call it what it is—and if a few D1 games are unavoidable, grab the weakest teams from the SWAC or MEAC.  Against a real opponent, Miami gets boat raced.  If UA played Miami 10 times, how many do you think UA would win?  I think it's north of six!! 

I don't disagree with anything that you said. I fully believe Akron is the better team. 

 

There are teams with terrible schedules every single season. It is rare for those teams to have a 30 win season. Bad opponents or not, it is impressive to be able to go out every night and take care of business. Even the best Akron teams have one or two headscratchers every season. 

 

Once again, I still do not believe that Miami will win 30 games, but if they do I think they can pull an at large bid. 

[AkronAlumnus]

18 minutes ago, UAZippers said:

I don't disagree with anything that you said. I fully believe Akron is the better team. 

 

There are teams with terrible schedules every single season. It is rare for those teams to have a 30 win season. Bad opponents or not, it is impressive to be able to go out every night and take care of business. Even the best Akron teams have one or two headscratchers every season. 

 

Once again, I still do not believe that Miami will win 30 games, but if they do I think they can pull an at large bid. 

I see where you’re coming from—it’s similar to the CFB argument.  Why include two G5 teams that realistically couldn’t beat anyone in the B1G or SEC?  I understand the rules that justify their inclusion, but everyone knows teams like Notre Dame, BYU, or Vanderbilt would have put up a better showing. We can take them just for the sake of inclusion, but pretending they’re truly top-25 caliber isn't good for the sport even if they run the very weak MAC. 

 

EDIT: I actually think Miami's strength of schedule got harder once MAC play started and that's really saying something. 

Edited 3 hours ago by AkronAlumnus

[kreed5120]

37 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

If UA is Miami’s best win, then their undefeated record is hollow. They haven’t played anyone, and it shows. Playing someone like Yale or Murray State would’ve answered real questions BUT I think it's likely they lose worse than we did.

 

Instead, if this is the model going forward, just schedule D2 and D3 schools outside of MAC play and call it what it is—and if a few D1 games are unavoidable, grab the weakest teams from the SWAC or MEAC.  Against a real opponent, Miami gets boat raced.  If UA played Miami 10 times, how many do you think UA would win?  I think it's north of six!! 

 

I still don't think it's going to happen, but going 18-0 in MAC play would be worth an at-large. No team has gone undefeated in conference play in nearly 70 years and the MAC has seen some terrific teams during that time. That's not just a formula that you can easily replicate.

 

I watched the end of both their games against UB and Kent and they appeared to have some bounces go their way. I don't feel they're some unbeatable juggernaut, like UB a few years ago (who ended up losing 2 MAC games), but if they achieve that feat they deserve credit.

[kreed5120]

13 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

I see where you’re coming from—it’s similar to the CFB argument.  Why include two G5 teams that realistically couldn’t beat anyone in the B1G or SEC?  I understand the rules that justify their inclusion, but everyone knows teams like Notre Dame, BYU, or Vanderbilt would have put up a better showing. We can take them just for the sake of inclusion, but pretending they’re truly top-25 caliber isn't good for the sport even if they run the very weak MAC. 

 

EDIT: I actually think Miami's strength of schedule got harder once MAC play started and that's really saying something. 

 

The MAC is actually fairly strong this year. Last I saw it was ranked around 13th for conference strength. I would imagine it's still in the top 15.

[csims0917]

3 hours ago, AkronAlumnus said:

Anyone saying Miami deserves an at-large doesn't know ball

There’s never been a team denied an at large with <= 2 losses. It’s hard to not have any duds even if the schedule is easy. We should know that with some of our OOC blunders in years past 

Edited 2 hours ago by csims0917