MAC Announces New Divisional Alignment For Football – Temple Remains In The East

RELEASE FROM TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

CLEVELAND (1/4/12) – The Mid-American Conference announced a new divisional alignment today for football, beginning with the 2012 season. Massachusetts joins the conference to bring the number of football schools to 14 members.  UMass will compete in the East Division, while Bowling Green will move to the West Division.

The divisional alignment was a unanimous vote by the MAC Council of Presidents, as recommended by the Council of Directors of Athletics.  This alignment is for football only.

MAC East Division:  Akron, Buffalo, Kent State, Massachusetts, Miami, Ohio, Temple.

MAC West Division:  Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan.

“Ever since our announcement of the addition of UMass in football last spring, divisional alignment has been a topic of conversation among our Presidents and Directors of Athletics,” said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner.  “We considered a number of different paradigms and ultimately we focused on the core principles of geography, travel, and rivalries.  We now have a true rotational cycle for football and a scheduling model that will extend for future years.”

The 2012 season will mark the first time since 2006 that the MAC will have balanced divisional schedules.  Each member will continue to play an eight-game conference schedule.  However, each member will now play six divisional games and two non-divisional crossover games.

Temple (2007) and Massaschusetts (2012) compete in football only.

Entering its first season of FBS play, Massachusetts begins conference play in 2012 but won’t be eligible for the conference football championship or a bowl game until the 2013 football season.

The 2012 Temple University football schedule features six home games as part of the Owls’ sixth season of Mid-American Conference play.

The Owls, under second-year head coach Steve Addazio, will open the season with Villanova in the fourth annual Mayor’s Cup at Lincoln Financial Field on Sept. 1. Temple entertains Maryland on Sept. 8 before travelling to Penn State on Sept. 22.  The Owls last non-conference game is Nov. 17 at Army.

In MAC play, Temple will host Akron, Eastern Michigan, Massachusetts, and Ohio at Lincoln Financial Field.  The Owls will travel to Buffalo, Kent State, Miami [OH], and Western Michigan.

The Mid-American Conference will announce the 2012 regular-season schedule (dates) by the first week of March.