MAC Football Championship

MAC Football Championship (1997- )

RunningSports show

The MAC Football Championship is a football game between the winners of the East and West divisions of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to determine the conference champion. The game has been played and aired on one of ESPN TV's family of networks since 5 December 1997, when the conference was first divided into divisions and since 2003 has been sponsored by Marathon Oil. The winner of the game is guaranteed a berth in a bowl game which the MAC has contractual obligations to field a team. Since 2004, the championship game has been played at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Previously the game was held at campus sites. In 2000, 2001, and 2007, due to an unbalanced conference schedule, the team with best division record within each division was awarded that division's championship game berth. In other years, the teams with the best overall conference records received a berth.

Networks
Scheduleevery Saturday at 12:00 (180 min)

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
2025-12-062025 MAC Football Championship Game: Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. Western Michigan BroncosDec 6, 2025
2024-12-072024 MAC Football Championship Game: Miami RedHawks vs. Ohio BobcatsDec 7, 2024
2023-12-022023 MAC Football Championship Game: Miami (OH) Redhawks vs. Toledo RocketsDec 2, 2023
2022-12-032022 MAC Football Championship Game: Toledo vs. OhioDec 3, 2022
2021-12-042021 MAC Football Championship Game: Kent State vs. Northern IllinoisDec 4, 2021
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did the MAC Football Championship premiere?

The MAC Football Championship first premiered on December 6, 1997.

Which teams played in the game and who won?

The game was between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the Toledo Rockets, with Marshall winning 34-14.

What was the location of the game?

The game was played at Marshall Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia.

Who was the MVP of the game?

Chad Pennington, the quarterback for Marshall, was named the MVP of the 1997 MAC Football Championship game.

How many people attended the game?

The attendance for the 1997 MAC Football Championship game was 23,102.

Who was the head coach for Marshall at the time?

The head coach for Marshall during the 1997 MAC Football Championship was Bob Pruett.

What was the regular season record for both teams?

Both Marshall and Toledo had a 9-2 record during the regular season leading up to the 1997 MAC Football Championship game.

Did both teams receive a bowl game invitation?

Yes, both Marshall and Toledo received bowl game invitations following the 1997 MAC Football Championship game.

Which bowl game did Marshall go to?

Marshall was invited to the Motor City Bowl in Detroit, Michigan.

Which bowl game did Toledo go to?

Toledo was invited to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Who led the team in rushing for Marshall during the 1997 MAC Football Championship game?

Doug Chapman led the Thundering Herd in rushing, with 114 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown.

Which player led the team in receiving for Toledo?

Chris Holmes led the Rockets in receiving, with 6 receptions for 120 yards.

Did both teams have any players drafted to the NFL after the 1997 season?

Yes, both Marshall and Toledo had players drafted to the NFL after the 1997 season.

Cast

View all cast

Characters

View all characters

Also known as

  • Marathon MAC Football Championship (United States)
  • MACCG (United States)
  • MAC Football Championship Game (United States)
  • Mid-American Conference Championship Game (United States)
  • Mid-American Conference Championship (United States)

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
Tracker
Running

Tracker

Tracker features lone-wolf survivalist Colter Shaw, who roams the country as a "reward seeker," using his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement to solve all manner of mysteries while contending with his own fractured family.

Fallout
Running

Fallout

Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have nots in a world in which there's almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, a peaceful denizen from a cozy fallout shelter is forced to return to the surface and is shocked to discover the wasteland waiting for her.

FROM
Running

FROM

FROM unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down. In season two, hidden truths about the nature and terrifying origins of the town begin to emerge, even as life for its residents is plunged into chaos by the arrival of mysterious newcomers.

Brilliant Minds
Running

Brilliant Minds

Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, Brilliant Minds follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier - the human mind - while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage
Running

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage follows Georgie and Mandy as they raise their young family in Texas while navigating the challenges of adulthood, parenting and marriage.