2024 MAC Football Championship Game

{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game

| game_name = MAC Football Championship Game

| title_sponsor =

| subheader = Conference championship

| image =

| pixels =

| caption =

| date_game_played = December 7

| year_game_played = 2024

| football_season = 2024

| stadium = Ford Field

| city = Detroit, Michigan

| home_school = Miami University

| home_name_short = Miami

| home_nickname = RedHawks

| home_record = 8–4

| home_rank_AP =

| home_rank_coaches =

| home_rank_CFP =

| home_coach = Chuck Martin

| home_1q = 3

| home_2q = 0

| home_3q = 0

| home_4q = 0

| visitor_school = Ohio University

| visitor_name_short = Ohio

| visitor_nickname = Bobcats

| visitor_record = 9–3

| visitor_rank_AP =

| visitor_rank_coaches =

| visitor_rank_CFP =

| visitor_coach = Tim Albin

| visitor_1q = 7

| visitor_2q = 14

| visitor_3q = 10

| visitor_4q = 7

| MVP =

| odds =

| anthem =

| referee = Andrew Speciale{{Cite web |url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2024/12/officiating-crews-for-the-2024-college-football-conference-championship-games/ |title=Officiating crews for the 2024 college football conference championship games |first1=Ben |last1=Austro |website=FootballZebras.com |date=December 6, 2024 |access-date=December 7, 2024}}

| halftime =

| attendance = 15,478

| us_network = ESPN

| us_announcers = Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)

| ratings =

| intl_network =

| intl_announcers =

| different_previous = 2023

}}

The 2024 MAC Football Championship Game is a college football conference championship game played on December 7, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was the 28th edition of the MAC Football Championship Game and determined the champion of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) for the 2024 season. The game began at 12:00 p.m. EST and air on ESPN.{{cite web |url=https://getsomemaction.com/tournaments/?id=246&path=football|website=MAC|title=2024 MAC Football Championship |access-date=October 16, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401673467/|website=ESPN|title=2024 MAC Football Championship |access-date=October 16, 2024}}

For the first time, the participants were not played by division winners.{{cite web |url=https://www.wtol.com/article/sports/college/mac-announces-schedule-changes-for-football/512-85bef239-fb51-4435-9aee-4cd568a250c0|website=WTOL 11|title=MAC eliminating divisions in football beginning next season |access-date=October 16, 2024|date=November 30, 2023|first=Troy|last=Gingerich}} Following the 2023 season the MAC eliminated divisions and the game will now feature the teams with the best conference records.{{cite web |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2023/11/30/mac-football-to-replace-divisions-in-2024-with-new-pods-scheduling/71757762007/|website=Detroit Free Press|title=MAC to replace divisions with new system for 2024 |access-date=October 16, 2024|date=November 30, 2023|first=Jared|last=Ramsey}} A new tiebreaker system was established to compare teams with the same conference record.{{cite web |date=September 18, 2024 |title=MAC Announces New Football Tiebreaker Procedures |url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/9/18/mac-announces-new-football-tiebreaker-policies.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202022450/https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/9/18/mac-announces-new-football-tiebreaker-policies.aspx |archive-date=December 2, 2024 |access-date=October 16, 2024 |website=MAC}} For the first time since 1968, Ohio won the MAC Championship, winning 38–3. Parker Navarro won Offensive Player of the Game with 235 passing yards with 2 touchdowns and 73 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Bradley Weaver was Defensive Player of the Game. Gianni Spetic hit a 53-yard field goal and won Special Teams Player of the Game.{{cite web |date=October 8, 2024 |title=Ohio Wins First MAC Football Championship Game |url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/12/7/ohio-wins-first-mac-football-championship.aspx |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=MAC}}{{cite web |date=October 8, 2024 |title=Ohio (10-3) vsMiami (OH) (8-5) |url=https://getsomemaction.com/documents/2024/12/7//OHIO38_MIA3.pdf |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=MAC}}

Venue

The 2024 MAC title game will be held at Ford Field for the 21st consecutive season.{{cite web|title=MAC signs three-year extension to keep football title game at Ford Field|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2022/07/26/mac-signs-three-year-extension-keep-football-title-game-ford-field/10153608002/|access-date=May 31, 2023|date=July 26, 2022|publisher=Detroit News|first=Tony|last=Paul}}{{cite web|title=MAC signs three-year extension to keep football title game at Ford Field|url=https://fbschedules.com/mac-championship-game-to-remain-in-detroit-through-2025-season/#google_vignette|access-date=December 5, 2023|date=November 30, 2023|publisher=FBS Schedules|first=Kyle|last=Kelly}} The venue, located in downtown Detroit at 2000 Brush St., is the home of the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) and has a seating capacity for football of 65,000.{{cite web|title=About Ford Field|url=https://www.fordfield.com/stadium-info/about-ford-field|access-date=August 8, 2022|publisher=Ford Field}}

Teams

For the first time in its history, the game featured the teams with the best conference records without regard to divisions.{{cite web |title=MAC announces new football schedule model, eliminates divisions|url=https://fbschedules.com/mac-announces-new-football-schedule-model-eliminates-divisions/#google_vignette |website=FBSchedules.com |access-date=November 26, 2024|first=Kevin|last=Kelley}} Ohio and Miami previously met as part of their Battle of the Bricks in-state rivalry in their 100th meeting on October 19, with Miami winning 30–20.{{cite web|url= https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/playbyplay/NCAAF_20241019_OHIO@MIAOH/| title=Ohio Bobcats 20, Miami (OH) Redhawks 30- Plays| date= October 19, 2024|access-date= October 20, 2024|website=CBS Sports}} Both teams enter the game without having lost since the first meeting{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/ohio-bobcats-team-schedule| title=OHIO BOBCATS - Schedule|access-date=November 30, 2024|website=Fox Sports}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/miami-(oh)-redhawks-team-schedule| title=MIAMI REDHAWKS - Schedule|access-date=November 30, 2024|website=Fox Sports}} This will be the first time the schools have played twice in the same season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hustlebelt.com/2024/11/29/24309014/2024-mac-championship-is-set-miami-oh-redhawks-vs-ohio-bobcats-battle-of-bricks-detroit-ford-field|title=2024 MAC Championship is set: Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Ohio Bobcats|website=Hustle Belt|access-date=November 30, 2024|date=November 29, 2024|first=Steve|last=Helwick}} Entering the championship game, Miami leads the rivalry series 56–42–2.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/miami-oh/vs/ohio|title=Winsipedia - Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Ohio Bobcats football series history|website=Winsipedia}} Ohio has won 13 of the last 18 but Miami has won the last two.{{cite web|url= https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/opponent-history/ohio-university/116| title=Football History vs Ohio University from Oct 17, 1908 - Oct 19, 2024

|access-date=November 30, 2024|website=Miami University Athletics}} In addition to the win earlier in the 2024 season, their win over Ohio during the 2023 season handed the Bobcats their second conference loss and vaulted the RedHawks to the 2023 MAC Football Championship Game where they defeated Toledo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401532432|title=Miami (OH) 30, Ohio 16 - Box Score|website=ESPN|access-date=November 2, 2023|date=October 28, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Miami (Ohio) beats No. 23 Toledo 23-14 to win MAC championship|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/miami-ohio-beats-no-23-toledo-23-14-to-win-mac-championship/|access-date=December 2, 2023|publisher=CBS Sports|date=December 2, 2023}}

=Ohio=

Ohio clinched a berth by beating Ball State on November 29, 2024.{{cite web|title=MAC Championship Game Scenarios: Four-Way Tie Between Bowling Green, Miami, Ohio, and Buffalo Still to Be Determined|url=https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mac-championship-game-scenarios-during-week-14/|access-date=November 27, 2024|date=November 26, 2024|website=College Football Network}}{{cite web|title=Ball State 21, Ohio 42|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401644777/ball-state-ohio|access-date=November 29, 2024|publisher=ESPN|date=November 29, 2024}} Ohio is looking for their first MAC Championship since 1968; Ohio is playing in their sixth MAC Championship Game (2006, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2022).

Ohio entered the season coming off back-to-back to win seasons and a fifth straight bowl win.{{Cite web|url=https://wtop.com/ncaa-football/2023/12/reserves-hunt-navarro-lead-ohio-to-41-21-victory-over-georgia-southern-in-myrtle-beach-bowl/|title=Reserves Hunt, Navarro lead Ohio to 41-21 victory over Georgia Southern in Myrtle Beach Bowl|website=WTOP.com|publisher=AP|access-date=December 17, 2023|date=December 18, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.athensnews.com/news/sports/ohio-university-football-game-times-announced/article_906d530c-2cc1-11ef-8b2e-7f964364ff1b.html|title=Ohio University football game times announced|publisher=Athens News|access-date=July 19, 2024|date=July 17, 2024}} They suffered huge transfer losses in the offseason and entered the year ranked 133 out of 134 FBS teams in returning production as determined by the SP+ rankings.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/insider/story/_/id/39436455/college-football-2024-returning-production-rankings-134-teams|title=College football 2024 returning production rankings: 134 teams|first=Bill|last=Connelly|website=espn.com|publisher=ESPN|date=February 5, 2024|language=en}} Ohio opened the season 2–2. In non-conference play they lost to power conference opponents Syracuse and Kentucky with wins over South Alabama and Morgan State.{{Cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/sports/football/stats/2024/syracuse/boxscore/8747|title = Ohio (0-1 , 0-0) -VS- Syracuse (1-0 , 0-0)|website = Ohio University Athletics|date=August 31, 2024|access-date=September 1, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/sports/football/stats/2024/south-alabama/boxscore/8748|title = South Alabama (0-2 , 0-0) -VS- Ohio (1-1 , 0-0)|website = Ohio University Athletics|date=September 7, 2024|access-date=September 9, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/sports/football/stats/2024/morgan-state/boxscore/8749|title = Morgan St. (1-2 , 0-0) -VS- Ohio (2-1 , 0-0)|website = Ohio University Athletics|date=September 14, 2024|access-date=September 15, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/sports/football/stats/2024/kentucky/boxscore/8750|title = Ohio (2-2 , 0-0) -VS- Kentucky (2-2 , 0-2)|website = Ohio University Athletics|date=September 21, 2024|access-date=September 22, 2024}} They opened conference play with wins over Akron and Central Michigan before losing to Miami.{{Cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/sports/football/stats/2024/akron/boxscore/8753|title = Akron (1-4 , 0-1) -VS- Ohio (3-2 , 1-0)|website = Ohio University Athletics|date=September 28, 2024|access-date=September 29, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/sports/football/stats/2024/central-michigan/boxscore/8757|title = Ohio (4-2 , 2-0) -VS- Central Michigan (3-3 , 1-1)|website = Ohio University Athletics|date=October 12, 2024|access-date=October 13, 2024}} Following that, they ended the regular season having won five straight.{{cite web |title=2024 Ohio Football Schedule |url=https://fbschedules.com/2024-ohio-football-schedule/ |website=FBSchedules.com |access-date=January 29, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/195/season/2024|title = Ohio Bobcats Schedule 2024|website = ESPN}}{{cite web|url= https://www.hustlebelt.com/2024/11/21/24302149/ohio-bobcats-toledo-rockets-mac-football-game-recap-stats-box-score-november-20-2024 | title= 2024 MAC Football Week 13 Game Recap: Ohio Bobcats 24, Toledo Rockets 7| date= November 21, 2024|access-date= November 21, 2024|publisher=SBNation|website=hustlebelt.com|first=Keith|last= Gregorski }}

Ohio's nine-win season was accomplished with a run-oriented offense led by dual threat quarterback Paker Navarro who won MAC offensive player of the week the last three weeks of the regular season and four times overall.{{cite web|url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/11/25/mac-announces-week-13-football-players-of-the-week.aspx|title=MAC Announces Week 13 Football Players of the Week|date=November 25, 2024|accessdate=November 25, 2024|website=getsomemaction.com|publisher=Mid-American Conference}} The rushing attack was led by Anthony Tyus who entered the game second in the MAC with 960 yards rushing. Coleman Owen was one of only two thousand-yard receivers in the conference.>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/stats/_/group/15|title = MAC College Football Stat Leaders 2024|website = ESPN}} Ohio's 394 yards per game of total offense led the MAC and their 305 yards allowed on defense was second in the conference.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/stats/_/view/team/group/15|title = MAC College Football Stat Leaders 2024|website = ESPN}}

=Miami (OH)=

Miami clinched a berth by beating Bowling Green on November 29, 2024.{{cite web|title=College Football Conference Championship Scenarios: Chaos in the Big 12, Clarity in the SEC|url=https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/college-football-conference-championship-scenarios-chaos-in-the-big-12-clarity-in-the-sec|access-date=November 26, 2024|website=Action Network}}{{cite web|title=Gabbert throws for 3 TDs to send Miami (Ohio) to MAC title game with 28-12 win over Bowling Green|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401644691|access-date=November 29, 2024|publisher=ESPN|date=November 29, 2024}} Miami is playing in their seventh MAC Championship Game (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2019, 2023), having previously won it four times, including in 2023; a win by Miami would make them the first repeat MAC Championship Game winner since Northern Illinois won the 2011 and 2012 games.

Miami entered the season as the defending MAC champion and preseason favorite.{{cite web|title=Miami (Ohio) beats No. 23 Toledo 23-14 to win MAC championship|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/miami-ohio-beats-no-23-toledo-23-14-to-win-mac-championship/|access-date=December 2, 2023|work=CBS Sports|date=December 2, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Mid-American Conference football media day: Miami picked by coaches to win MAC title|access-date=October 14, 2024|publisher=Akron Beacon Journal|website=beaconjournal.com|date=July 19, 2024|first=Michael|last=Beaven|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2024/07/19/mid-american-conference-college-football-preseason-coaches-poll-2024-akron-kent-state-toledo-miami/74465701007/}} Miami started slowly as they opened the season with three consecutive non-conference losses to power conference opponents Northwestern, Cincinnati and Notre Dame.{{cite web|title=Miami (OH) RedHawks Schedule 2024|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/193/season/2024|access-date=October 14, 2024|publisher=ESPN|website=espn.com}} They then defeated Massachusetts and opened MAC play with a loss to Toledo.{{cite web|title=2024 Football Schedule|url=https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/schedule/2024|access-date=October 14, 2024|publisher=Miami University Athletics|website=miamiredhawks.com}} After starting 1–4, they entered the game on a seven game winning streak.{{cite web|title=Miami Shuts Down BGSU 28-12 to Earn Trip to Detroit|url=https://miamiredhawks.com/news/2024/11/29/football-miami-shuts-down-bgsu-28-12-to-earn-trip-to-detroit.aspx|access-date=December 1, 2024|website=Miami Athletics}}

Miami was quarterbacked by sixth year starter and first-team all-MAC quarterback Brett Gabbert.{{Cite web |title=Brett Gabbert College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/brett-gabbert-1.html |access-date=December 4, 2024 |website=Sports-Reference.com}}{{cite web |url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/12/4/mac-announces-2024-postseason-football-awards-all-conference-teams.aspx|title=MAC Announces 2024 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams|language=en|date=December 5, 2024|accessdate=December 5, 2024}} Their offense featured the MAC's only thousand-yard rusher in Keyon Mozee.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/group-five/mac/mac-football-championship-set-between-miami-redhawks-and-ohio-bobcats| title= MAC Football Championship Set Between Miami RedHawks and Ohio Bobcats| date= November 29, 2024|access-date= November 29, 2024|website=Sports Illustrated|first=Kevin|last=Barral}} Their defense led the MAC with 17.3 points allowed per game was led by returning 2023 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Matt Salopek.{{cite web |url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2023/11/29/mac-announces-2023-postseason-football-awards-all-conference-teams.aspx|title=MAC Announces 2023 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams|website=Mid-American Conference|language=en}}

Game summary

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle= {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Mid-American Conference|color=white}}; text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|bg=#fff

|bg2=#eee

{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Ohio Bobcats}};text-align:center

|title=Ohio Bobcats (9–3) vs Miami RedHawks (8–4)

|date=Saturday December 7, 2024

|time=12:00 p.m.

|road=Bobcats

|R1=7|R2=14|R3=10|R4=7

|home=RedHawks

|H1=3|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0

|stadium=Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

|attendance=15,478

|weather=Indoor

|referee=Andrew Speciale

|TV=ESPN

|TVAnnouncers=Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline){{cite web|url=https://506sports.com/ncaaf.php?yr=2024&wk=15|title=College Football TV Schedule: Week 15, 2024|access-date=December 2, 2024|website=506sports.com}}{{cite web|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/college-football/|title=ESPN College Football Commentator Assignments|access-date=August 26, 2024|website=espnpressroom.com|publisher=ESPN}}

|reference=Pregame line:Miami -2.5, O/U 43.5 • [https://dxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net/sidearm.nextgen.sites/ohiobobcats.com/stats/football/2024/pdf/20241207022208-v.%20Miami.pdf boxscore]

|scoring=

;First quarter

(8:53) M-OH – Dom Dzioban 29 yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 6:07; Miami 3–0)
(3:16) OHIO – Parker Navarro 4 yard rush, Gianni Spetic kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:37; Ohio 7–3)

;Second quarter

(5:29) OHIO – Parker Navarro 1 yard rush, Gianni Spetic kick (Drive: 18 plays, 82 yards, 10:14; Ohio 14–3)
(0:52) OHIO – Mason Williams 21 yard pass from Parker Navarro, Gianni Spetic kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:27; Ohio 21–3)

;Third quarter

(12:39) OHIO – Coleman Owen 25 yard pass from Parker Navarro, Gianni Spetic kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:21; Ohio 28–3)
(3:35) OHIO – Gianni Spetic 53 yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 31 yards, 6:40; Ohio 31–3)

;Fourth quarter