Woodside, Toledo class of MAC
Senior gives Rockets good shot at rejoining conference’s elite tier
Leading up to the start of the season, USA TODAY Sports is publishing a preview of one Football Bowl Subdivision conference daily. Today, the Mid-American.
For all the program’s relative success, you’d have to go back to 2004 to find the last time Toledo represented the West Division in the MAC championship game. It has been Northern Illinois’ playground in the decade-plus since, with temporary rises from Central Michigan, Ball State and Western Michigan tossed in — but no Toledo.
All eyes will be on the Rockets and second-year head coach Jason Candle in 2017. The expectations are clear: Toledo anticipates winning the rowdy West Division and taking the MAC as a whole, achievements that would place the team in the thick of the New Year’s bowl race.
The Rockets have a quarterback, senior Logan Woodside, with the numbers to rival any at his position in the FBS. Each positional unit — from quarterback through special teams — ranks easily in the top half of the conference, most among the top three.
There’s a chance for national exposure: On Sept. 23, one week after matching up against highpowered Tulsa, the Rockets will face Miami (Fla.) on the road. Better yet, Toledo will draw Northern Illinois and Western Michigan at home.
All that is in the way is a complete season. When the Rockets beat the Huskies, as they did a year ago, the Broncos put together a regular season to remember; when the Rockets beat everyone else, NIU has the last laugh.
Will 2017 be any different? It’s easy to say that the stars have aligned for Toledo, if slightly more difficult to predict an easy romp through conference play. But the path is clear: Toledo holds the inside track to the MAC title — and maybe a January bowl.
BEST UNITS
Quarterback: Toledo. Woodside is ready for his close-up after tossing 45 touchdowns a year ago. Running back: Western
Michigan. The combination of Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan is the best in the MAC. Wide receivers and tight
ends: Toledo. Joining Woodside in the Rockets’ powerful passing game is the league’s top receiver corps, paced by all-conference talents in Cody Thompson and Jon’Vea Johnson.
Offensive line: Western Michigan. You can very credibly make the case for three Broncos
on the preseason all-conference team.
Defensive line: Ohio. It might not be up to last year’s standard, but the defensive front is one reason the Bobcats are the favorite in the East Division.
Linebacker: Western Michigan. While Robert Spillane gets the nod on our preseason allconference team, the list did squeeze out another impressive starter in senior Asantay Brown.
Secondary: Northern Illinois. Some of this optimism depends on a full and healthy season from cornerback Shawun Lurry.
Special teams: Ohio. The Bobcats have two of the best at their respective positions in kicker Louie Zervos and punter Michael Farkas.
RANKING THE STARTING QUARTERBACKS
1. Woodside, Toledo. He stands heads and shoulders above the rest of the MAC’s quarterback crop.
2. Brogan Roback, Eastern
Michigan. Roback will be at his best yet as a senior.
3. Gus Ragland, Miami
(Ohio). Ragland avoids interceptions, tossing one in 179 attempts last fall, and has a way with winning, going 6-1 as the starter, so he’s easily one of the MAC’s best. 4. Ryan Graham, Northern
Illinois. Graham must stay healthy should NIU hope to regain its stride in the West Division.
5. Riley Neal, Ball State.
Neal has the ability, particularly when counting his skills as a runner, to contend for all-conference honors during his final two seasons. 6. Thomas Woodson, Ak
ron. When he gets rolling — and stays upright — Woodson is a crucial and potentially irreplaceable piece of the puzzle for Terry Bowden and the Zips. 7. Quinton Maxwell, Ohio.
Maxwell should be the starter for Frank Solich, but the staff did bring in junior college transfer Nathan Rourke for a reason. 8. Nick Holley, Kent State.
He’s not much of a passer — as you might expect from a player who began his career at running
back — but Holley’s athleticism gives Kent State a puncher’s chance. 9. James Morgan, Bowling Green. Morgan will definitely improve in his second season in Mike Jinks’ system, but don’t sleep on freshman Jarret Doege.
10. Tyree Jackson, Buffalo.
Jackson, a sophomore, oozes potential as the program’s current and long-term answer under center. 11. Shane Morris, Central
Michigan. I’d give Morris the nod for the opener, but I doubt it will be long before the Chippewas turned to redshirt freshman Tony Poljan. 12. Jon Wassink, Western Michigan. Best of luck to Wassink, a sophomore, as he attempts to replace Zach Terrell, perhaps the best quarterback in school history.
GAMES OF THE YEAR
Western Michigan at Southern California, Sept. 2. Let’s see how one of the MAC’s top teams fares against Sam Darnold and friends.
Central Michigan at Kan
sas, Sept. 9. If CMU is better than I expect — take comfort in the fact I’m always wrong — it’s not hard to picture the Chippewas going 3-0 against Power Five competition: Kansas, at Syracuse a week later and at Boston College on Sept. 30. Tulsa at Toledo, Sept. 16.
The first team to 40 wins. Or 50?
Toledo at Miami (Fla.), Sept. 23. This matchup provides Toledo with its biggest platform to impress national voters.
Miami (Ohio) at Notre Dame, Sept. 30. A nice reunion for Brian Kelly and former Notre Dame assistant Chuck Martin.
Northern Illinois at Toledo, Nov. 2. Toledo got past Northern Illinois last year, so maybe the tide has turned in this once-lopsided rivalry.
Toledo at Ohio, Nov. 8.
Don’t be surprised if these teams meet again less than a month later.
Western Michigan at Toledo, Nov. 24. The Broncos have the talent to take this divisional race down to the final weekend of the regular season.