2026 ZIPS SCHEDULE WITH PRESEASON RANKINGS FOR OPPONENTS

[Blue & Gold]

4 hours ago, exit322 said:

 

You know what, that's a great idea.

 

I'd go as far as yo kick off the whole season with that game.

What if we'd kick off the season v KSUcks... as a non-conference game?

Then the conference game (2nd meeting) would be worth all the marbles as the official Wagon Wheel game?

Play the game twice/year... one home & one away; one to kick off the season & the other (hopefully early) in the conference season.

[ZippyRulz]

4 hours ago, ZippyDoo said:

 

 

stumbled on this guy David Delano who broke down Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Zips.  Apparently Zips are -105 to go under 4.5 wins according to DraftKings.  The only sure win according to him was RMU.  Thought Zips "should beat" Umass, never know about Kent State cause its a rivalry and its on the road, and thought you could throw in MAYBE one upset win somewhere but definitely does not see five wins this year.  The Zips coverage starts at the 8:19 mark...

 

Kind of hard to argue with the logic, unfortunately

 

Sounds like 5 wins by the Zips could earn you a pretty penny. I guess a lot will depend on the QB, and as it's been mentioned, most of the MAC teams lose top talent and are now constantly rebuilding, making it hard to predict, even for the 'experts'.

Edited Friday at 05:07 PM by ZippyRulz

[exit322]

7 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

What if we'd kick off the season v KSUcks... as a non-conference game?

Then the conference game (2nd meeting) would be worth all the marbles as the official Wagon Wheel game?

Play the game twice/year... one home & one away; one to kick off the season & the other (hopefully early) in the conference season.

 

I don't hate this idea.  Not sure how feasible is, but I don't hate it.

[GP1]

9 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

What if we'd kick off the season v KSUcks... as a non-conference game?

Then the conference game (2nd meeting) would be worth all the marbles as the official Wagon Wheel game?

Play the game twice/year... one home & one away; one to kick off the season & the other (hopefully early) in the conference season.

No. It waters down a football rivalry. 

[72 Roo]

Delano did not convince me that we can't get 6 wins. His only significant position analysis was on Poff at QB. There are some sure MAC losses such as Miami and WMU, but Kent, UMass, EMU, CMU and Buffalo are winnable. Add them to RMU and we have six. OU is the only school that give me pause to say we can win.   

[GP1]

15 hours ago, 72 Roo said:

Delano did not convince me that we can't get 6 wins. His only significant position analysis was on Poff at QB. There are some sure MAC losses such as Miami and WMU, but Kent, UMass, EMU, CMU and Buffalo are winnable. Add them to RMU and we have six. OU is the only school that give me pause to say we can win.   

With the amount of roster turnover every year, I'm not sure how to predict any outcomes. 

[ZippyDoo]

Here is the 2026 MAC Football Coaches Preseason Pool ** Coaches were not allowed to Vote for themselves

 

1. Western Michigan (9) – 138 points  (Week 10)
2. Miami (4) – 134 points                     (Week 7 )
3. Toledo  – 115 points
4. Ohio – 107 points                               (Week 9)
5. Central Michigan – 101 points           (Week 5)
6. Buffalo – 81 points                             (Week 13)
7. Eastern Michigan – 76 points            (Week 6)
8. Kent State – 64 points                       (Week 8 )
9. Bowling Green – 59 points
10. Akron – 52 points
11. Ball State – 34 points
12. Sacramento State – 28 points
13. Massachusetts – 25 points               (Week 11)

 

MAC TITLE Game Champion: Western Michigan  vs Miami, Oh

[ZippyDoo]

Home Squad Sports Preview... Predicts 4-8 for the Zips they do say Zips could easily end up 6-6 and surprise people.  I think the guys are drunk but it's pretty entertaining.  Zip coverage starts at 36:00

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by ZippyDoo

[Zips1991]

21 minutes ago, ZippyDoo said:

Here is the 2026 MAC Football Coaches Preseason Pool ** Coaches were not allowed to Vote for themselves

 

1. Western Michigan (9) – 138 points  (Week 10)
2. Miami (4) – 134 points                     (Week 7 )
3. Toledo  – 115 points
4. Ohio – 107 points                               (Week 9)
5. Central Michigan – 101 points           (Week 5)
6. Buffalo – 81 points                             (Week 13)
7. Eastern Michigan – 76 points            (Week 6)
8. Kent State – 64 points                       (Week 8 )
9. Bowling Green – 59 points
10. Akron – 52 points
11. Ball State – 34 points
12. Sacramento State – 28 points
13. Massachusetts – 25 points               (Week 11)

 

MAC TITLE Game Champion: Western Michigan  vs Miami, Oh

I hate seeing that we don't play 9th, 11th, or 12th

[ZippyRulz]

My prediction is 4-8 earns JoeMo a new job.

 

[ZippyDoo]

if anyone is interested, the 2026 MAC Football Kickoff is live on ESPN right now (12:49 pm).  They are doing the coach player interviews now and they have not done the Zips yet.

 

 

[exit322]

52 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

My prediction is 4-8 earns JoeMo a new job.

 

 

The Zips can't afford (and shouldn't waste the money) on a firing.  JoeMo only leaves after 2026 if he wants to go back to being a P4 OC or similar.

[MangoZip]

2 hours ago, ZippyDoo said:

if anyone is interested, the 2026 MAC Football Kickoff is live on ESPN right now (12:49 pm).  They are doing the coach player interviews now and they have not done the Zips yet.

 

 

Hopefully someone can post a link to the interview. 

[MangoZip]

Found this - certainly not any earth shattering insight: 

 

https://youtu.be/jpv5YkEFwcw?feature=shared

 

Edited 2 hours ago by MangoZip