The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is one of the popular conferences for college football under the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). This conference was established in 1946 and is notable for supervising college football games in the Great Lakes region of the United States. These include the states of Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, New York and Michigan. The conference is established in Cleveland, Ohio, United States.
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has 12 college football teams under its realm, as of 2024. These college football teams compete with each other for the conference titles every season. These teams also have a rivalry with one another over several trophies that were created for them. The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has operated under Jon Steinbrecher as its commissioner since 2009. Notably, the Miami RedHawks serve as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion, which they won in 2023.
Mid-American Conference Football Rivalry
All twelve teams of The Mid-American Conference (MAC) participate in rivalries throughout the season. These rivalries are Akron-Kent State rivalry, Akron-Youngstown State rivalry, Ball State-Indiana State rivalry, Battle for the Bronze Stalk (Ball State-Northern Illinois rivalry), Battle for the Anniversary Award (Bowling Green-Kent State rivalry), Battle for I-75 (Bowling Green-Toledo rivalry), Central Michigan-Eastern Michigan rivalry, CMU-WMU rivalry (Central Michigan-Western Michigan rivalry), Battle for the Bell (Miami-Cincinnati rivalry), Battle of the Bricks (Miami-Ohio rivalry) and Battle for the Bell (Ohio-Marshall rivalry).
Akron-Kent State Rivalry
The Akron-Kent State football rivalry is a part of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The two teams in this are the Akron Zips of the University of Akron and the Kent State Golden Flashes of Kent State University. These teams have a rivalry for the Wagon Wheel trophy.
Akron-Youngstown State Rivalry
The Akron-Youngstown State rivalry consists of the teams of the Akron Zips of the University of Akron and the Youngstown State Penguins of Youngstown State University. These teams used to compete for the Steel Tire trophy. However, the game was last played in 1995 and since then, the rivalry has been discontinued.
Ball State-Indiana State Rivalry
The Ball State-Indiana State rivalry includes the teams of the Ball State Cardinals of Ball State University and the Indiana State Sycamores of Indiana State University. These compete for the Blue Key Victory Bell trophy.
Battler for the Bronze Stalk
The Battle for the Bronze Stalk rivalry comprises the teams of the Ball State Cardinals of Ball State University and Northern Illinois Huskies of Northern Illinois University. Their rivalry is for the Bronze Stalk trophy.
Battle for the Anniversary Award
The Battle for the Anniversary Award comprises the rivalry of the Bowling Green Falcons of Bowling Green State University and the Kent State Golden Flashes of Kent State University. The two teams compete for the Anniversary Award.
Battle for I-75
The Battle for I-75 rivalry included the teams of Bowling Green Falcons of Bowling Green State University and the Toledo Rockets of the University of Toledo. Their rivalry is for the Battle of I-75 trophy.
Central Michigan-Eastern Michigan Football Rivalry
The two teams in this rivalry are the Central Michigan Chippewas of Central Michigan University and the Eastern Michigan Eagles of Eastern Michigan University. Their rivalry started in 1902 and has been continuing as of 2024.
CMU-WMU Rivalry
The teams in this rivalry are the Central Michigan Chippewas of Central Michigan University and the Western Michigan Broncos of Western Michigan University. They compete for the Victory Cannon.
Battle for the Bell
The teams in this rivalry are the Cincinnati Bearcats of the University of Cincinnati and the Miami RedHawks. These teams compete for the Victory Bell.
Battle of the Bricks
This is the college football rivalry between the Miami RedHawks of Miami University and the Ohio Bobcats of Ohio University. These two teams have carried on their rivalry for 110 years with their 101st face-off scheduled on December 7, 2024.
Battle for the Bell
This college football rivalry is between the teams of the Marshall Thundering Herd of Marshall University and the Ohio Bobcats of Ohio University. They compete to win The Bell.
Table of Mid-American Conference Rivalries
| Rivalry Name | Team Name | Trophy | Began | Trophy Series Began |
| Akron-Kent State Rivalry | Akron Zips vs Kent State Golden Flashes | Wagon Wheel | October 6, 1923 | November 16, 1946 |
| Akron-Youngstown State | Akron Zips vs Youngstown State Penguins | Steel Tire | November 2, 1940 | November 4, 1995 |
| Ball State-Indiana State | Ball State Cardinals vs Indiana State Sycamores | Blue Kell Victory Bell | October 18, 1924 | November 16, 1940 |
| Ball State-Northern Illinois | Ball State Cardinals vs Northern Illinois Huskies | Bronze Stalk Trophy | October 4, 1941 | November 5, 2008 |
| Battle for the Anniversary Award | Bowling Green Falcons vs Kent State Golden Flashes | Anniversary Award | November 6, 1920 | October 26, 1985 |
| Battle for I-75 | Bowling Green Falcons vs Kent State Golden Flashes | Battle of I-75 Trophy | October 3, 1919 | October 15, 2011 |
| Central Michigan-Eastern Michigan Rivalry | Central Michigan Chippewas vs Eastern Michigan Eagles | N/A | November 1, 1902 | N/A |
| CMU-WMU Rivalry | Central Michigan Chippewas vs Western Michigan Broncos | Victory Cannon Trophy | October 19, 1907 | October 18, 2008 |
| Battle for the Bell | Cincinnati Bearcats vs Miami RedHawks | Victory Bell | December 8, 1888 | November 28, 1946 |
| Battle of the Bricks | Miami RedHawks vs Ohio Bobcats | N/A | October 17, 1908 | N/A |
| Battle for the Bell | Marshall Thundering Herd vs Ohio Bobcats | The Bell | November 11, 1905 | November 15, 1997 |
FAQs on Mid-American Conference Football Rivalries
A. Yes, the Mid-American Conference is division 1 in college football.
A. Ball State has won 11 MAC Championships as of 2024.
A. Yes, Eastern Michigan has won the MAC Championships 10 times as of 2024.
A. Yes, Ohio University has won the MAC Championship 11-times as of 2024.
A. Eastern Michigan football is FBS.
