It may sound like old school football but the team that is able to run the ball well has a good chance of winning the game. The Eagles definitely were able to run to ball as senior running back Samson Evans had 257 yards on 35 carries and a touchdown.
Eastern Michigan never trailed in this game in which they were heavy under dogs and they played well from start to finish. The Sun Devils only other loss coming into this game was a road loss against No. 9 ranked Oklahoma State.
The only other team from MAC football with a notable victory is Bowling Green who defeated Marshall but that was on their home field and Falcons lost to Eastern Kentucky a team that Eastern Michigan defeated the week prior. So how can the Eagles win their division and win the conference crown?
The Mid-American conference is not playing as well overall this season as compared to the previous past seasons of late. The only team in the MAC this season with a winning record with two wins is Toledo and they have zero road wins and just lost to Ohio State 77-22. Let’s take a look at Eastern Michigan’s schedule and path to a conference championship.
EMU could legitimately win a MAC football title
The Eagles first conference game is at home this week against Buffalo. Even though the Bulls are winless at 0-3, they did have two tough road games against Maryland and Coastal Carolina. However, the reason for Eastern Michigan winning this game and starting the conference season 1-0 is because it is a home game and the Bulls did lose at home to Holy Cross who is in the FCS.
After playing UMass the following week at home for their last non-conference game of the year, Eastern Michigan plays in-state rival Western Michigan on the road. The Eagles more than likely will be 4-1 entering this game and it will not be easy but Eastern Michigan has won the last three games against the Broncos and the Eagles should be able to win this game late in the fourth quarter to go to 2-0 in conference play.
Maybe the toughest match up in conference play is when Northern Illinois comes to town. Last year on the road, the Eagles played the Huskies tough but lost by a touchdown. Even though Northern Illinois has won two in a row against the Eagles, due to this game being a home game for Eastern Michigan, look for the Eagles to win this game by a touchdown.
The Eagles in their fourth conference game of the season travel to play Ball State. The Cardinals lost by 49 to Tennessee, lost by a touchdown to Western Michigan, and easily defeated FCS opponent Murray State. Ball State has won the last three meeting between these two schools but all three games were decided by seven or less points. Look for Eastern Michigan to need overtime but the Eagles win in a high scoring game.
One of if not the toughest conference game will be against Toledo. The good news is that Eastern Michigan hosts Toledo and last season, the Eagles went on the road and defeated the Rockets in a game that combined for over 100 points. This game will be considered a toss up but Eastern Michigan wins this game by one and remains undefeated in conference play.
The Eagles get a little breather in their next game when they travel to play Akron. The Zips look to be getting their program on the right path with a new coach but it will take some time. The last time these two teams meet was in 2019, when the Eagles easily defeated Akron by a score of 42-14. This time the score may not be exactly that but expected Eastern Michigan to win by two touchdowns in this contest.
Eastern Michigan after starting off conference play winning their first six games, loses their first conference game when they go on the road to play Kent State. Last time these two teams played was when the Eagles traveled to play the Golden Eagles in 2020 and even though Eastern Michigan played a good game, they lost by only four points. Kent State playing at home wins this game but it will be close.
If there is one team in recent years that the Eagles don’t match up well with it is Central Michigan. The past three seasons, Eastern Michigan has lost all three games by scores of 42-16, 31-23, and 31-10. This game will be at home which is good for the Eagles but the Chippewas win on a last second field goal.
Eastern Michigan ends conference play at 6-2 tied with Northern Illinois at the top of the Mid-American West division. The Eagles go to the MAC championship game due to defeating Northern Illinois earlier in the season.
In the MAC championship game, the Eagles face off against Miami of Ohio at Ford Field in Detroit. Eastern Michigan is the only team currently in the conference to have not qualified for a championship game prior to them qualifying this year. The last time these two teams met was in 2021 when it was a defensive matchup where Eastern Michigan defeated the RedHawks 13-12 in a low scoring game. In this game, the Eagles score the winning touchdown with less than a minute to go to earn their first conference championship since 1987.
Many things must happen happen for Eastern Michigan to win their conference championship but after their impressive road victory at Arizona State, they look to be the new favorites to win the MAC in 2022.