Mid-American Conference

Top story lines

By Howard Smith, US Presswire

Miami (Ohio) wide receiver Nick Harwell, eluding two Temple defenders to score Nov. 9, had 97 catches and nine TDs in 2011 and could be just as productive this season.

By Howard Smith, US Presswire

Miami (Ohio) wide receiver Nick Harwell, eluding two Temple defenders to score Nov. 9, had 97 catches and nine TDs in 2011 and could be just as productive this season.

Ohio is the overwhelming favorite in the East Division, but the West seems wide open. …Terry Bowden returns to Division I coaching at Akron. … Temple has left the MAC, and Massachusetts joins as a football-only member.

Top players

Offense: QB Tyler Tettleton (Ohio), 6-0, 200. Passed for 28 TDs and ran for 10 scores in 2011.

Defense: DT Roosevelt Nix (Kent State), 5-11, 245. Has 14½ career sacks and was MAC defensive player of the year in 2010 as a freshman.

From the top down

East Division

Ohio: Confidence still high after last year's 24-23 bowl win against Utah State.

Bowling Green: Falcons lead MAC with 20 returning starters.

Miami (Ohio): Zac Dysert-to-Nick Harwell (97 catches, 1,425 yards, nine TDs) connection should be among nation's best.

Kent State: Nix leads what should be an improved defense.

Buffalo: With 18 returning starters, there is true hope for improvement.

Akron: Running back Jawan Chisholm leads offense that has some promise with eight returning starters.

Massachusetts: Charley Molnar brings 28 years of coaching experience.

West Division

Toledo: Quarterbacks Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens combined to complete 68.5% of their passes last season.

Northern Illinois: Huskies' nine-game winning streak is nation's longest.

Western Michigan: Broncos lost 10 starters but still have quarterback Alex Carder, who led MAC in passing yards (322 a game) last season.

Ball State: There are eight starters back on offense, including quarterback Keith Wenning.

Eastern Michigan: Sixteenth-best running game in nation last season. Could be a sleeper.

Central Michigan: Chippewas are 6-18 in last two seasons under Dan Enos.

Top men

Frank Solich, Ohio, eighth season

Bill Cubit, Western Michigan, eighth

Ron English, Eastern Michigan, fourth

Dave Clawson, Bowling Green, fourth

Jeff Quinn, Buffalo, third

Dan Enos, Central Michigan, third

Dave Doeren, Northern Illinois, second

Pete Lembo, Ball State, second

Don Treadwell, Miami (Ohio), second

Darrell Hazell, Kent State, second

Terry Bowden, Akron, first

Matt Campbell, Toledo, first

Charley Molnar, Massachusetts, first

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