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Week 2 gave us some clarity in the MAC, with a couple of statement wins, a historic coaching milestone, and plenty of ground games setting the tone across the league.
Ohio delivers a Fly the Flag moment.
In front of a record crowd in Athens, Ohio stunned West Virginia 17-10 for the MAC’s first Power Four win of the season. The Bobcats rattled off 17 unanswered in the first half and slammed the door after the break, holding WVU to just 50 total yards in the second half. Parker Navarro’s dual-threat ability (87 rushing yards) and Chase Hendricks’ 121 receiving yards gave Ohio’s offense the spark, but it was the linebacking corps—Michael Molnar, Jack Fries, and Cameron Hollobaugh—that sealed the win.
Toledo’s new wins leader.
Jason Candle became the winningest coach in Rockets history with his 74th victory, a 45-21 rout of Western Kentucky. Toledo jumped out fast with a defensive touchdown and never looked back. Chip Trayanum was unstoppable with 163 rushing yards and three total TDs, while the defense suffocated WKU’s run game and forced two turnovers. The Rockets look every bit the preseason MAC favorite.
Buffalo’s ground-and-pound dominance.
The Bulls flexed their muscle in a 45-6 win over Saint Francis, racking up 370 rushing yards—their highest total since 2020. Ta’Quan Roberson led the charge with 133 passing yards, 88 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns. On the other side, Buffalo’s defense allowed just 11 rushing yards. That’s as lopsided as it gets.
Special teams shine in Kalamazoo.
Western Michigan may have lost in overtime to North Texas, but kicker Palmer Domschke earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He drilled three field goals from 40-plus yards, including a clutch 48-yarder in overtime. If WMU can find consistency elsewhere, they’ve already proven their kicker can change games.
Bowling Green’s historic kick return.
The Eddie George era started with fireworks as Cameron Pettaway took the opening kickoff 98 yards to the house in the Falcons’ opener. Amazingly, it marked the second straight year BGSU opened a season with a kick-return TD—the first time in FBS history that’s ever happened.
As we move into Week 3, the MAC looks competitive and opportunistic. With conference play about to ramp up and another round of high-profile non-conference games, the league has a chance to build even more momentum heading into mid-September.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
