Finally, #MACtion is back! The Eastern Michigan University football team is gearing up for an exciting mid-week matchup against Ohio University on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium.
This game marks the first of two consecutive mid-week contests for the Eagles before they return to a traditional Saturday schedule to close out the regular season.
Eastern Michigan (5-4, 2-3 MAC) is looking to break a two-game losing streak after a narrow 29-28 defeat to the University of Toledo. The game ended when Eastern Michigan failed to convert a two-point attempt as time ran out. In contrast, Ohio (5-3, 3-1 MAC) will play at Kent State University on Nov. 9 before turning its attention to the Eagles.
Fans can catch the game live on ESPN2, ESPNU, or CBS Sports Network. Local radio coverage is provided by WEMU (89.1 FM) and The Varsity Network app, featuring commentators Tom Helmer, Rob Rubick, and Greg Steiner.
Under Head Coach Chris Creighton, the Eagles have recorded a solid 13-6 in #MACtion games since his arrival, winning five of their last six matchups. A victory against Ohio would make the Eagles bowl-eligible for the fourth straight year and the sixth time during Creighton's tenure.
Eastern Michigan has historically performed well in November, boasting a 17-12 record since 2016. The Eagles also rank fourth nationally in fourth-down conversion percentage defense, allowing opponents to succeed on just 23.5% of their attempts.
In their all-time series, Eastern Michigan trails Ohio with a record of 12-20-1, having last won in 2016. The most recent clash ended in a 34-26 loss for the Eagles, where Ohio's Kurtis Rourke threw three touchdown passes.
Coach Creighton highlighted Ohio's offensive capabilities this year, particularly with their quarterback, Parker Navarro, stating, "Their quarterback really runs the ball effectively, and then he's throwing like 66% completion percentage. And so they've really found a guy that can do it all, and the offense goes through him, so we think he's good, and it's been very effective."
Additionally, Creighton noted improvements in his team's defensive performance, saying, "We did a really good job this last week with stopping the run. Now they got some explosive runs, and the first play of the game, you know, was one of those. But, you know, that was one of our three plans to win and feel as though that our front, you know, our defensive line, and our linebackers played much better, and even, I'd say, much harder than we did the week before."
This acknowledgment of both the offensive threat from Ohio and the need for strong defensive play emphasizes the dual focus the Eagles will need to maintain in preparation for the upcoming game.
As the Eagles prepare for this pivotal matchup, they aim to leverage their successful history in mid-week games and continue their push for bowl eligibility against a tough Ohio team.
