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MAC Football Rankings: Spring 2026 First Look After Huge Changes
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- MAC Football Rankings: Spring 2026 First Look After Huge Changes
The MAC just got more interesting.
Losing Northern Illinois to the Mountain West hurts, but bringing in Sacramento State changes the league's footprint.
Meanwhile, Western Michigan appears to be dangerous enough to make a bit of a national splash, Miami University should be good, and despite way too many big losses in the transfer portal, the conference keeps chugging on.
Here's our ranking of all 13 MAC teams going into spring ball.
Ranking Every MAC Team Heading Into Spring Practice
Western Michigan head coach Lance Taylor, center, watches a play against Michigan State during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, August 29, 2025.© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
13 UMass
UMass won't take over the MAC, but there should finally be a few wins and plenty of improvement. Plenty of good new players are coming in - the talent is improving.
2025 Record:0-12
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 135 | Final: 136
Top Transfer:Andrew Zock, EDGE Mercer
Top Transfer Lost:K'Von Sherman, LB to UConn
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12 Akron
Things aren't getting any easier for head coach Joe Moorhead with too many key transfers gone. The receiving corps is positive, and QB Reese Poffenbarger is good.
2025 Record:5-7
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 133 | Final: 123
Top Transfer:Dawayne Galloway Jr., CB West Virginia
Top Transfer Lost:Israel Polk, WR to Oklahoma State
11 Eastern Michigan
The Eagles need a bounceback year after last year's dud. They have a nice offensive backfield - Noah Kim leads a deep bunch of QBs - and the line will be a plus in time.
2025 Record:4-8
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 119 | Final: 124
Top Transfer:Tyler Brumfield, OT Oklahoma State
Top Transfer Lost:Mack Indestad, OT to UCLA
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10 Ball State
It was a rough season, losing top players in the portal after a disappointing run. But this spring should have plenty of good battles for what should be a far better team.
2025 Record:4-8
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 124 | Final: 130
Top Transfer:Jovan Clark, LB, Washington State
Top Transfer Lost:Darin Conley, DT to Washington
9 Kent State
Mark Carney did wonders, pulling out five wins, and then the rest of college football raided the talent through the portal. There's surprising depth, though, to work with.
2025 Record:5-7
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 136 | Final: 119
Top Transfer:Davion Pritchard, CB Pitt
Top Transfer Lost:Cade Wolford, WR to Cincinnati
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8 Bowling Green
Eddie George has a few nice quarterbacks to work with, and the D line will be good in time, but the Falcons lost a whopping amount of transfers, even for the MAC.
2025 Record:4-8
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 134 | Final: 127
Top Transfer:Austin Novosad, QB, Oregon
Top Transfer Lost:Jacob Harris, TE to Wisconsin
7 Sacramento State
Easily the most fascinating team in college football this season, the Hornets lose almost everyone, LOADED UP through the portal, and they'll hit the ground running.
2025 Record:7-5
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: NR | Final: NR
Top Transfer:Amari Wallace, CB, Miami
Top Transfer Lost:Ernest Campbell, WR to Colorado
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6 Buffalo
You'll notice that most MAC teams got shredded by the portal. UB did okay, considering mass talent losses are part of the deal now. The QB gig is up in the air.
2025 Record:5-7
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 100 | Final: 125
Top Transfer:Joe Crocker, OG Baylor
Top Transfer Lost:Junior Poyser, DT to Wisconsin
5 Ohio
After a rocky end to the season, Ohio has its coach in John Hauser. Now it needs a QB after Parker Navarro turned pro. There's rebuilding to do, but it's Ohio. It'll be fine.
2025 Record:9-4
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 94 | Final: 86
Top Transfer:Tyler Gillison, EDGE Michigan State
Top Transfer Lost:Chase Hendricks, WR to Cal
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4 Toledo
The Rockets were GUTTED by the portal - former head man Jason Candle took 14 players to UConn - but Mike Jacobs got enough players to be a factor in the MAC.
2025 Record:8-5
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 78 | Final: 90
Top Transfer:Randall King, WR Campbell
Top Transfer Lost:Marques White, EDGE to SMU
3 Central Michigan
A rising team under Matt Drinkall, the Chippewas have a fun QB to work around in Angel Flores. For the MAC, they crushed the portal, especially for the secondary.
2025 Record:7-6
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 131 | Final: 94
Top Transfer:Jayden Clerveaux, RB, Holy Cross
Top Transfer Lost:Kalen Carroll, CB to TCU
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2 Miami University
The RedHawks took a hit at wide receiver, but the rest of the offense did a nice job in the portal to add to the decent base. There's more depth than most MAC teams.
2025 Record:7-7
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 89 | Final: 93
Top Transfer:Mikah Coleman, EDGE Cincinnati
Top Transfer Lost:Adam Trick, EDGE to Texas Tech
1 Western Michigan
The defending MAC champion did the impossible and kept a slew of its players. QB Broc Lowry and RB Jalen Buckley are both back behind what should be a solid line.
2025 Record:10-4
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 122 | Final: 80
Top Transfer:Kouri Crump, S VMI
Top Transfer Lost:Brady Jones, QB to Oregon State
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This story was originally published by College Football News on Feb 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
