THE RFC MYC: Mid-American Conference (FBS Group Of Five)

Mid-American Conference (FBS Group Of Five)

Overview: With Tim Albin out and Brian Smith in as head coach, the Ohio University Bobcats will face a tremendous challenge in defending their first Mid-American Conference championship since 1968.

Ohio, which finished the 2024 season at 11-3 overall and 7-1 in MAC action, will open the 2025 season facing three straight opponents from Power Four Conferences. After opening the season at Rutgers, the Bobcats will host West Virginia for their home opener before hitting the road again to face defending CFP national champion Ohio State in the third game of the season.

Other challengers to Ohio's throne this fall include Miami (Ohio) (9-5, 7-1), Buffalo (9-4, 6-2), and Bowling Green (7-6, 6-2). Also, changes to the MAC's membership include the arrival of Massachusetts in 2025 and the departure of Northern Illinois to the Mountain West Conference in 2026. 

2025 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access the schedules)


NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule isn't highlighted, that team did not submit its schedule for the 2025 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.

Final 2024 Mid-American Conference Football Standings

2025 Mid-American Conference Composite Schedule

Akron

Ball State

Bowling Green

Buffalo

Central Michigan

Eastern Michigan

Kent State

Northern Illinois

Miami (Ohio)

Ohio

Toledo

Western Michigan

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THE RFC MYC: Conference USA (FBS Group Of Five)

Conference USA (FBS Group Of Five)

Overview: The Jacksonville State University Gamecocks (9-5 overall and 7-1 in Conference USA in 2024) will look to defend their first-ever Conference USA crown, as Rich Rodriguez leaves to take the West Virginia job. Charles Kelly will step up to replace Rodriguez in hopes of leading Jax State to back-to-back titles.

Elsewhere in C-USA, the Sam Houston State University Bearkats hope to build on their 10-3 record from a year ago, playing their home games at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston this season, Western Kentucky hopes to rebound after losing back-to-back games to finish 8-6, while Liberty is in the same situation after an 8-4 finish. Kennesaw State also gets a new head coach in Jerry Mack, who replaces Brian Bohannon after struggling to a 2-10 mark in their inaugural FBS season.

Finally, Conference USA will get two new teams from the FCS level going into this fall, as the University of Delaware Blue Hens and the Missouri State University Bears join the fold after long stints in the CAA and MVFC, respectively. Neither team will be bowl-eligible this season.

2025 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access the schedules)

NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2025 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.


Final 2024 Conference USA Football Standings

Delaware*

FIU

Jacksonville State

Kennesaw State

Liberty

Louisiana Tech

Middle Tennessee State

Missouri State*

New Mexico State

Sam Houston State

UTEP

Western Kentucky

*-The program is transitioning from the FCS to the FBS level and is ineligible for postseason play.

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THE RFC MYC: 2025 Debut-American Athletic Conference

 Editor's Note: Welcome to the 2025 debut of the "RFC MYC", with the "MYC" initials standing for "Mark Your Calendars". The purpose of the previews at the Real Football Central blog is to present the schedules of every college football team outside of the so-called "Power Four" conferences (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and SEC), throughout the mid-to-late spring, as well as the summer of 2024. As to what the "Group of Five" conferences are, they currently consist of the following conferences:

American Athletic Conference (AAC)

Conference USA (C-USA)

Mid-American Conference (MAC)

Mountain West Conference (MWC)

Sun Belt Conference (SBC)

So, once again, what are we waiting for? Let's get started.

American Athletic Conference (FBS Group Of Five)

Overview: As they enter their second season in the American Athletic Conference, the Army Black Knights hope to win back-to-back championships. But the squad that finished the 2024 season at 12-2 overall, and unbeaten in AAC action at 8-0 will get plenty of challengers for the crown, with Memphis (11-2, 6-2), Tulane (9-5, 7-1), and Navy (10-3, 6-2), among others. Oh, and the Black Knights ended their storybook season with a convincing win over Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl, as well. The victory over the Bulldogs gave Army its first 12-win season in program history.

2025 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access the schedules)

NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule isn't highlighted, the team still needs to submit its schedule for the 2024 season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and more.

Final 2024 American Athletic Conference Football Standings

2025 American Athletic Conference Composite Schedule

Army

Charlotte

East Carolina

Florida Atlantic

Memphis

Navy 

North Texas

Rice

Temple

Tulane

Tulsa

UAB

USF

UTSA

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College Football 2024-2025: The Final Wrap-Up

Starting with the FCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 7, 2025, the #1 Montana State University Bobcats' quest to win their first national championship since 1984 fell by the wayside, as the North Dakota State University Bison pulled off the upset over the previously unbeaten Bobcats 35-32. It was NDSU's 10th national championship in the last 14 years. 

North Dakota State finished the 2024-2025 season at 14-2 overall with the win, while Montana State's season ended at 15-1. 

Read the recap of the game, from the NDSU perspective, by clicking here. 

For the Montana State point of view, please click here.

Also, here's a quick moment to recognize the other "national champions" below the FBS level:

Celebration Bowl: Jackson State

NCAA Division II: Ferris State

NCAA Division III: North Central

NAIA: Grand View

And now, the final overall prediction totals for the 2023-2024 college football season:

FBS Group Of Five Bowl Predictions Special: 6-6 (.500)

FCS Semifinal and Small College National Championship Games: 4-2 (.667)

FCS and NCAA Division III National Championship Games: 1-1 (.500)

Final Overall Record: 867-408 (.680)

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