2021 Hustle Belt Mid-American Conference Football Power Rankings: Week 2

12. Akron zippers (Latest rankings: t-11)

• High Votes: 11 (six)
• Low voice: 12 (one)
• Average votes: 11.14

Akron quickly kicked off in the unfortunate Temple Owls and got a double-digit lead over the American Sports Conference Team early in the first quarter. They finally seemed to have turned things around in recent years, and optimism was high!

Then Kato Nelson crashed, Temple threw a big rally to win the game with a final score of 45-24, and the zippers shrank to their former average. Now they are 0-2 and they are starving for victory against FCS Bryant. Someone was supposed to be last this week, and it was in Akron week 2.

11. Ohio Bobcats (LR: 9)

• High Votes: 10 (three)
• Low voice: 12 (three)
• Average votes: 11

It is completely impossible to accept a loss to the FCS team in any way. It’s disgusting to look like a smaller team from the FCS team at home. And it’s completely irreconcilable that Ohio had to hold a comeback rally in order to bring the scoreboard close to respect.

Even Duquense’s award was a 4-1 team that was overtime away from winning the NEC championship, and there is no defense for Ohio, especially given their 29-6 finish for Syracuse the previous week.

There is much to be done in Ohio to restore faith. They will play for the recently confused Louisiana team under the lights of the week on Thursday.

10. Bowling Green Falcons (LR: t-11)

• High Votes: 10 (four)
• Low voice: 12 (three)
• Average votes: 10.85

It was a brave attempt for BGSU Falcons on Saturday, which was a very strange game in Doyt. These teams came pretty evenly, and it was a full back-and-forth case all the time, South Alabama narrowly winning the Falcons with a last-second kick through the verticals.

BGSU was in the lead for most of the competition, showing encouraging signs of growth in its 2020 performance and seemingly confident after being close to Tennessee the previous week. But they still lost, and now they are home to the dog FCS Murray State. Many obstacles remain to be addressed.

9. Eastern Michigan Eagles (LR: 7)

• High Votes: 6 (once)
• Low voice: 9 (four)
• Average votes: 8.28

Well, Wisconsin did what Wisconsin does, and ate the MAC team late for dinner on Saturday night, keeping EMU an attack less than 100 yards away at night and collecting more than 500 yards of offense.

This MAC team was an EMU with still unresolved issues, especially when it comes to their attack and busy defense. They’re 1-1 at the moment, and it’s still hard to get read when they start the game against UMass looking for their first win against Minutemen.

8. Northern Illinois Husky (LR: 8)

• High Votes: 5 (once)
• Low volume: 9 (once)
• Average votes: 7.42

The NIU fell back to the ground for a moment, suffering a hangover from his Boneyard victory against Georgia Tech. They ended up staying out of Wyoming as high as 42-16 in the third quarter, watching every part of the youth Huskies team we saw in 2020, and more or less expected in 2021.

Look, when they were left behind 42-16, the Huskies staged a furious 27-point rally to take the lead with just under three minutes left in the game. Wyoming, in need of a defensive stop, made a quick goal attack and tapped a key point conversion to turn the score into 50-43, leaving the NIU below expectations. They have another chance to do things interesting against the current Michigan Wolverines, which previously handed over WMU in Week 1.

7. Miami RedHawks (LR: 10)

• High Votes: 4 (twice)
• Low volume: 9 (twice)
• Average votes: 6.57

Of all the teams that threw a surprise result (non-Toledo class), many didn’t expect Miami to take Minnesota to the wire, and especially not after RedHawks ’pathetic performance against Cincinnati a week ago.

In the first half, down 21-3, the Miami adjustments certainly made a difference as they crossed the Gophers road 23-2, including a 10-0 stoppage in the third quarter to reach a single point. Miami reached one point, but it was unfortunately as close as they would be, losing 31-26. They will host second-year FCS-level team LIU Sharks on Saturday.

6. Buffalo Bulls (LR: 9)

• High Votes: 3 (once)
• Low voice: 7 (three)
• Average votes: 5.85

Buffalo was a shocked special favorite last week against the Nebraska program, which seems to be in a difficult position from an outside perspective, but they just couldn’t achieve anything in a 28-3 loss to Lincoln.

Passport defense, in particular, had a long day at the office, handing over 296 yards from 14 receptions and two touches made by Samori Toure with two 68-yard touches. It’s not going to be any easier for the Bulls because their next opponent is a nationwide coastal Carolina that engages in one of the country’s most creative crimes.

They jump sixth because the teams are mixed up with each other.

5. Central Michigan Chippewas (LR: 6)

• High Votes: 2 (once)
• Low volume: 7 (once)
• Average votes: 5

Caring for the Chippewies was a business on Saturday and won home against the impoverished Robert Morris. However, we didn’t learn much from this CMU team about victory was first shutdown after November 2013.

They certainly have the ability to annoy teams, as they showed against Mizzou in Week 1 action, and this tendency will be tested when they receive a motivated LSU under Saturday’s lights in Death Valley.

4. Western Michigan Broncos (LR: 4)

• High Votes: 4 (four)
• Low volume: 6 (twice)
• Average votes: 4,714

The WMU, just like their blood rival CMU, also took care of their FCS side and destroyed a pretty good Illinois state program that should compete in the playoffs at their level.

It was a particularly dominant victory that showed the team’s potential, especially on the ball’s defensive side. They gave the Redbirds only a 57-yard offense and tied a program record, and the attack also seemed to understand it for itself, an encouraging sign as they always receive the unpredictable Pitt Panthers.

3. Ball State Cardinals (LR: 3)

• High Votes: 3 (four)
• Low volume: 7 (once)
• Average votes: 4

Ball State is still in place in 3rd place, despite two rather disappointing performances.

Ball State only managed 13 points against Penn State in Happy Valley, allowing 44 in the process. it wasn’t close at any point as Penn State scored at least two points each quarter, while Ball State was only able to collect two field goals in the first half and a garbage-time contact in the second half. They also committed a 493-yard offense and picked up 295 yards (only 69 yards on the ground).

They’ll be playing Wyoming next weekend in a game that can determine the direction of the season.

2. Kent State Golden Flashes (LR: 1)

• High Votes: 1 (twice)
• Low voice: 2 (five)
• Average votes: 1.71

Kent State showed offensive ability in the VMI Keydets defeat of 6-10 last weekend.

They had eight different skill players who got grounded, including seven different opponents (everyone gets a touchdown!), An encouraging sign for a team better known as a pass-heavy team led by Dustin Crum. KSU also took four kidnappings a day, which also feels good if you’re a Golden Flash fan waiting for a weekend game against Iowa.

It’s been a season of shocks in 2021, and there’s a good chance of being a shocked specialty at KSU / Iowa.

# 1. Toledo Rockets (LR: 3)

• High Votes: 1 (five)
• Low volume: 3 (once)
• Average votes: 1.42

Who other than Toledo could rise to No. 1 in the Hustle Belt Power Rankings after it had almost shocked nationally acclaimed Notre Dame in Best The Nobody Saw?

The Rockets were a striker against Fighting Irish anyway and remained in possession throughout the game. It could have been a whole different game if Chris McDonald hadn’t made a critical, pace-changing abduction. 46 players missed the first half to get the Irish sweat to go to the locker rooms.

Toledo had remained in fierce defense, although had to settle for field goals in the first half before that. But the attack woke up in the second half, and two consecutive fourth-quarter goals took the lead for a moment and 1:35 was left before the defense slipped, allowing the three-game 75-yard drive in just 29 seconds to leave.

The Rockets were a pre-season favorite to compete for MAC West for a reason, and showed viewers why last week. They will be greeted at the Colorado State Glass Bowl on Saturday.

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