Tuesday, May 28, 2024

THE RFC MYC: Mountain West Conference (FBS Group Of Five)

Mountain West Conference (FBS Group Of Five)


Overview: In another season filled with parity from top to bottom, the Mountain West Conference produced a champion that finished on top of its' league despite a late-season coaching change. 

Following the firing of then-head coach Andy Avalos in November, the Boise State University Broncos responded positively under interim head coach Spencer Danielson, winning their final two regular-season games, as well as an upset win over UNLV (9-5 overall in 2023) in the MWC championship game on December 2. 

Despite a season-ending loss to UCLA in the L.A. Bowl on December 16 to finish the 2023 season at 8-6 overall, Boise State named Danielson the permanent head coach heading into the 2024 season. 

The Broncos were one of three teams in the Mountain West to finish in a three-way tie for first place in conference play at the end of the regular season at 6-2, with San Jose State (7-6 in 2023) and UNLV being the others.

The MWC sent seven teams to postseason play last season, going 3-4 overall in bowl games. Fresno State (New Mexico Bowl), Air Force (Armed Forces), and Wyoming (Arizona) won their bowl games, while Boise State (LA Bowl), Utah State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl), San Jose State (Hawaii), and UNLV (Guaranteed Rate) all lost their postseason contests.

The 2024 season will some changes to the Mountain West Conference football landscape, as Oregon State and Washington State will join the 12 current full-time members in a two-year scheduling alliance, due to the collapse of the Pacific 12 Conference. The alliance is expected to continue until the end of the 2025 season.

Don't be surprised if another surprise team ends up on top in the MWC again this fall.




2024 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to find the schedules)

NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is unavailable, the team still needs to submit its schedule for the 2024 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.








Washington State*

*-Members of the Pac-2/Mountain West Conference scheduling alliance.


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Saturday, May 25, 2024

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

Mid-American Conference (FBS Group Of Five)


Overview: The 2023 regular season in the Mid-American Conference was dominated by two teams: the University of Toledo Rockets and the Miami University Redhawks.  

After losing a 30-28 heartbreaker at Illinois to open their season on September 2, Toledo reeled off 11 straight wins, including an unbeaten 8-0 mark in MAC action, to win the East Division title. But  Miami (Ohio) stopped the Rockets' quest to claim the overall championship, as the Redhawks pulled off the 23-14 upset win in the title game at Ford Field on December 2. Both teams finished the 2023 season at 11-3 overall after Miami and Toledo lost close games in the Cure and Arizona Bowls, respectively. 

As for the bowl season, the MAC struggled considerably, as the six squads that advanced to bowl games combined for a disappointing 2-4 overall record. Ohio (Myrtle Beach Bowl) and Northern Illinois (Camellia Bowl) were the only two teams to win their bowl games. On the other hand, Appalachian State (Cure Bowl), Eastern Michigan (68 Ventures Bowl), Bowling Green (Quick Lane Bowl), and Toledo (Arizona Bowl) all lost their postseason contests.

Changes will come to the MAC's overall football format in 2024, as the league chose to eliminate its East and West Divisions, with the top two teams in the final regular season standings advancing to the MAC championship game on December 7. Additionally, the conference will add a new member to its' mix next fall, as the University of Massachusetts Minutemen will join the league for all sports starting in 2025.

But for now, expect the unexpected for the MAC this upcoming season.


2024 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 2024 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 2023 Mid-American Conference Football Standings

2024 Mid-American Conference Composite Schedule

Akron




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Wednesday, May 22, 2024

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

Conference USA (FBS Group Of Five)


Overview: After an amazing 2023 season where they won every single game by double digits, including the conference championship game, the Liberty Flames will enter the 2024 season looking to defend the Conference USA championship that they won in finishing unbeaten at 8-0 in their inaugural league campaign.

However, the Oregon Ducks snuffed out the Flames dream season in the Fiesta Bowl, cruising to a convincing 45-6 win on January 1, 2024. Liberty finished its' 2023 campaign at 13-1 overall. All 13 of the Flames' wins came by at least 10 or more points.

Looking ahead to 2024, expect Liberty to be the team to beat, as the Flames hope to win back-to-back Conference USA crowns this fall. But there'll be plenty of challengers looking to knock Liberty off of the C-USA throne, with New Mexico State (10-5, 7-1 in 2023), Jacksonville State (9-4, 6-2) and longtime league member Western Kentucky (8-5, 3-3) being among the contenders. 

Speaking of JSU, the Gamecocks managed to earn a bowl invitation despite technically not being bowl-eligible in their first FBS season. They wasted no time in taking full advantage of that opportunity, knocking off Louisiana 34-31 in the New Orleans Bowl on December 16.

Finally, Conference USA will add three more members to its ranks from the FCS level, starting with Kennesaw State in 2024, followed by Delaware and Missouri State in 2025. Those moves will give C-USA 12 members by then.


2024 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, it means that the team has not submitted 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 much more.


Final 2023 Conference USA Football Standings








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

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
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Monday, May 20, 2024

THE RFC MYC: 2024 Debut-American Athletic Conference

Editor's Note: Welcome to the 2024 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: Another change to the membership of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) will come in 2024, with the 2023 champion SMU Mustangs moving on to the ACC this fall. 

After pulling off the upset over the 2022 champion Tulane Green Wave 26-14 in the 2023 AAC title game on December 2, SMU's run as a Group Of Five Conference program ended with a 23-14 loss to Boston College in the Fenway Bowl on December 28. The Mustangs ended their season at 11-3 overall following the loss to BC.

With SMU moving on the "power conference" ranks as a newcomer to the ACC, Army will replace the Mustangs as the AAC's 14th football-playing member this season. The Black Knights will join their fellow longtime service academy rivals in the Navy Midshipmen, with both teams playing against each other in their traditional season-ending contest on December 14, at Commander's Field in Landover, Maryland.

With SMU now out of the picture, expect Tulane (11-3 overall in 2023) and UTSA (9-4 in 2023), to be among the contenders for the AAC crown in 2024. Both the Green Wave and Mustangs finished AAC action undefeated at 8-0 prior to their conference title game clash on December 2, with SMU bowing out of the league on a winning note with that aforementioned 12-point upset win.

Still, don't be surprised if Memphis (10-3, 7-1 in 2023) makes a serious run for the title, and then some. 

2024 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 2023 American Athletic Conference Football Standings

2024 American Athletic Conference Composite Schedule





UTSA

Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
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