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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/usffan on 2024-07-03 14:30:37+00:00.
You can find the start of this series with links to all teams here
With today’s preview, we’re halfway done with the MAC without having even started with Conference USA. Eastern Michigan is coming off a bowl season in coach Chris Creighton’s 10th season, and they’re going to have to count on significant impact from a lot of newcomers if they’re going to repeat that. They only return 44% of their productivity from last season (117th nationally, though there are still 2 MAC teams with even less coming back), and both FPI (-13.4) and Sagarin (52.35) have them 3rd from the bottom in conference going into the season. But this is where the newcomers enter the picture. The Eagles have the highest 247 transfer portal ratings in the conference (26.81, which is 78th nationally), including presumptive starting QB Cole Snyder (Buffalo’s starter last season) and QB of the future Drew Viotto (local kid who redshirted for PJ Fleck last year) and a total of 9 players coming in from P4 programs (vs. losing only 5). High school recruiting wasn’t quite as stellar (156.11, 93rd nationally but middle of the MAC pack), so the Eagles will be counting on transfers to step in and step up. Here’s their 2024 schedule:
8/31 @ Massachusetts (W, coin toss)
9/7 @ Washington (L)
9/14 JACKSONVILLE STATE (L)
9/21 ** ST. FRANCIS (PA)** (W)
9/28 @ Kent State (W)
10/5 BYE
10/12 MIAMI (L)
10/19 CENTRAL MICHIGAN (L)
10/26 @ Akron (L, coin toss)
11/2 TOLEDO (L)
11/9 BYE
11/13 @ Ohio (L)
11/20 BUFFALO (L)
11/30 @ Western Michigan (L)
Outlook It’s always iffy when you’re counting on a lot of incoming players to step in and perform, so I concur with FPI and Sagarin that the Eagles take a step back this season. If they don’t win their opener over UMass, watch out below.