The 2016 Mid-American Conference football season was the 71st season for the

Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twel ...

(MAC) and was part of the

2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season The 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The regular season began on August 26, 2016 and ended on Dec ...

Previous season

Preseason

Preseason poll

On July 28, 2016, the conference held its MAC Football Media Day. A poll of the league's media members was conducted. Western Michigan and Bowling Green were chosen to win their respective divisions while Western Michigan was predicted to win the MAC Championship game.

East Division

West Division

MAC Championship Game winner

Head coaches

East Division West Division

Pre-season coaching changes

Regular season

Postseason awards

2016 MAC Specialty Award Winners

Coach of The Year –

P. J. Fleck Philip John Fleck Jr. (born November 29, 1980) is an American football coach and former wide receiver. He has served as the head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team since 2017. Born in Sugar Grove, Illinois, Fleck played colle ...

, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year –

Javon Hagan Javon Hagan (born February 22, 1997) is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. After playing college football at Ohio, he signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Professional career Tampa Bay Buccaneers ...

, Ohio
Offensive Player of the Year – Corey Davis, Western Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year –

Tarell Basham Tarell Basham (born March 18, 1994) is an American football outside linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio from 2013 to 2016. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the ...

, Ohio
Special Teams Player of the Year –

Darius Phillips Darius Phillips (born June 26, 1995) is an American football cornerback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Western Michigan and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of ...

, Western Michigan
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner –

Zach Terrell Zachary Steven Terrell (born May 1, 1993) is an American football quarterback. He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos where he won the William V. Campbell Trophy his senior year. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an und ...

, Western Michigan

All Conference Teams

2016 All–MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Logan Woodside, Toledo
Offensive Linemen –

Taylor Moton Taylor Moton (born August 18, 1994) is an American football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Western Michigan. He was drafted by the Panthers in the second round o ...

, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Storm Morton, Toledo
Offensive Lineman –

Chukwuma Okorafor Chukwuma Okorafor (born August 8, 1997) is a Nigerian professional American football offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Western Michigan. Early years Okorafor was bo ...

, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Max Scharping, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Mike Ebert, Toledo
Tight End – Michael Roberts, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Corey Davis, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver –

Kenny Golladay Kenneth Golladay (born November 3, 1993) is an American football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota and Northern Illinois and was drafted by the Detroit Lions ...

, Northern Illinois
Wide Receiver – Cody Thompson, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Scott Miller, Bowling Green
Running Back –

Kareem Hunt Kareem AJ Hunt (born August 6, 1995) is an American football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Toledo and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the ...

, Toledo
Running Back – James Gilbert, Ball State
Placekicker – Louis Zervos, Ohio 2016 All–MAC First team Defense
Outside Linebacker –

Blair Brown Bonnie Blair Brown (born April 23, 1946) is an American theater, film and television actress. She has had a number of high-profile roles, including in the play ''Copenhagen'' on Broadway, the leading actress in the films ''Altered States'' ( ...

, Ohio
Outside Linebacker –

Ulysees Gilbert Ulysees Gilbert III (born August 9, 1997) is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Akron and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Professional career Pittsb ...

, Akron
Inside Linebacker –

Quentin Poling Quentin Poling (born August 17, 1994) is an American football linebacker for the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Ohio. Early years Poling attended Elida High School in Elida, Ohio. ...

, Ohio
Inside Linebacker – Malik Fountain, Central Michigan
Down Lineman –

, Ohio
Down Lineman – Terence Waugh, Kent State
Down Lineman – John Stepec, Toledo
Down Lineman – Pat O'Connor, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back –

, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Amari Coleman, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Heath Harding, Miami
Defensive Back – Najee Murray, Kent State
Punter – Joe Davidson, Bowling Green 2016 All–MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Aregeros Turnerm, Northern Illinois
Punt Return Specialist –

JoJo Natson Bruce "JoJo" Natson Jr. (born February 1, 1994) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist. He played college football at Utah State and Akron. College career Natson played for three seasons at Utah State where he is ti ...

, Akron 2016 All–MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback –

, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman –

John Keenoy John Keenoy (born February 26, 1997) is an American football center who is a free agent. He played college football at Western Michigan. High school career Keenoy attended East Kentwood High School, where he was a three-star prospect. He did no ...

, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Troy Watson, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Levon Myers, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Collin Buchanan, Miami
Tight End –

Mason Schreck Mason Schreck (born November 4, 1993) is an American football tight end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Buffalo. Amateur career Schreck attended Medina High School in Medina, Ohio ...

, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Corey Willis, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Kevonn Mabon, Ball State
Wide Receiver –

Jon'Vea Johnson Jon'Vea J'Qyay Johnson (born December 23, 1995) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of Toledo. Johnson has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicag ...

, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Jojo Natson, Akron
Running Back – Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan
Running Back –

Joel Bouagnon Joel Bouagnon (born March 28, 1995) is a former American football running back. He played college football at Northern Illinois University, and signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2017. High school and college career Bo ...

, Northern Illinois
Placekicker – Paul Fricano, Eastern Michigan 2016 All–MAC Second Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Trenton Greene, Bowling Green
Outside Linebacker – Asantay Brown, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Robert Spillane, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Khalil Hodge, Buffalo
Down Lineback – Joe Ostman, Central Michigan
Down Lineback – JT Jones, Miami
Down Lineback – Treyvon Hester, Toledo
Down Lineback – Keion Adams, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois
Defensive Back – Dejuan Rogers, Toledo
Defensive Back –

, Ohio
Defensive Back – Jerrell Foster, Kent State
Punter – Austin Barnes, Eastern Michigan 2016 All–MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist –

, Western Michigan
Punt Return Specialist –

, Western Michigan 2016 All–MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback –

Cooper Rush Cooper Robert Rush (born November 21, 1993) is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Central Michigan, and was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free ag ...

, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Andrew Wylie, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Jake Pruehs, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Tim Mcauiffe, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman – Logan Dietz, Bowling Green
Tight End –

Donnie Ernsberger Donald "Donnie" Ernsberger (born October 13, 1996) is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Western Michigan. College career Ernsberger played four seasons for the Western Michigan Broncos football team, playing b ...

, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Jerome Lane, Akron
Wide Receiver – Sebastian Smith, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Sergion Bradley, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – James Gardner, Miami
Running Back – Jordan Johnson, Buffalo
Running Back – Fred Coppet, Bowling Green
Placekicker – Tom O'Leary, Akron 2016 All–MAC Third Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Sean Wiggins, Ball State
Outside Linebacker – De'Andre Montgomery, Miami
Inside Linebacker – Ju'Wuan Woodley Toledo
Inside Linebacker – Junior McMullen, Miami
Down Lineman – Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineman – Jon Cunningham, Kent State
Down Lineman – Casey Sayles, Ohio
Down Lineman – Anthony Winbush, Ball State
Defensive Back – Justin Ferguson, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Josh Cox, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Daquan Pace, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back – Jamari Bozeman, Bowling Green
Punter – Michael Farkas, Ohio 2016 All–MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Maurice Thomas, Miami
Punt Return Specialist – Corey Jones, Toledo http://mac–sports.com/news/

Bowl Games

Six MAC schools participated in bowl games. NOTE: All times are local

Home game attendance

Bold – Exceed capacity
†Season High

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2016 Mid-American Conference Football Season