2020 MAC Championship Game

The 2020 MAC Championship Game was a college football game played on Friday, December 18, 2020, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, to determine the 2020 champion of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).[2] The game was contested by the Buffalo Bulls, East Division champions, and the Ball State Cardinals, West Division champions. Sponsored by mortgage lending company Quicken Loans through their Rocket Mortgage brand, the game was officially known as the Rocket Morgage MAC Championship Game. Ball State defeated Buffalo, 38–28 to claim their first MAC championship since 1996.[3]

2020 Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship Game
Conference Championship
Ball State Cardinals Buffalo Bulls
(5–1) (5–0)
38 28
Head coach: 
Mike Neu		 Head coach: 
Lance Leipold
AP
23
1234 Total
Ball State 72830 38
Buffalo 14770 28
DateDecember 18, 2020
Season2020
StadiumFord Field
LocationDetroit, Michigan
MVPOffense: Drew Plitt (QB, Ball State)
Defense: Jimmy Daw (LB, Ball State)
FavoriteBuffalo by 13
RefereeTom Stapleton
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersClay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Katie George (sideline)
2020 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 25 Buffalo xy  5 –0     6 –1  
Kent State  3 –1     3 –1  
Ohio  2 –1     2 –1  
Miami (OH)  2 –1     2 –1  
Akron  1 –5     1 –5  
Bowling Green  0 –5     0 –5  
West Division
No. 23 Ball State xy$  5 –1     7 –1  
Western Michigan  4 –2     4 –2  
Toledo  4 –2     4 –2  
Central Michigan  3 –3     3 –3  
Eastern Michigan  2 –4     2 –4  
Northern Illinois  0 –6     0 –6  
Championship: Ball State 38, Buffalo 28
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, the Mid-American suspended the season on August 8, but later decided to begin play on November 4.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll.

Teams

Ball State
Main article: 2020 Ball State Cardinals football team

Ball State entered the championship game as West Division champions, having compiled a 5–1 record, all in conference games. After losing their first game of the season to Miami (OH), the Cardinals won five consecutive games leading up to the conference championship game. Ball State's only prior appearance in the MAC Championship Game had been a loss to Buffalo in the 2008 edition.

Buffalo
Main article: 2020 Buffalo Bulls football team

Buffalo entered the championship game as East Division champions, having compiled a 5–0 record, all in conference games. The Bulls scored at least 42 points in each of their five games, winning each game by at least 19 points. Buffalo's two prior appearances in the MAC Championship Game had been a win over Ball State in 2008 and a loss to Northern Illinois in the 2018 edition.

Game summary
2020 Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship Game
1 2 34Total
Ball State 7 28 3038
Buffalo 14 7 7028

at Ford Field • Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: Friday, December 18, 2020
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST (6:30 p.m. CST)
  • Game weather: n/a (indoor stadium)
  • Referee: Tom Stapleton
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Katie George (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (11:59) UB – Jaret Patterson 3 yard rush, Alex McNulty kick (Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 3:01; Buffalo 7–0)
  • (7:47) BALL – Yo'Heinz Tyler 10 yard pass from Drew Plitt, Jack Knight kick (Drive: 11 yards, 75 yards, 4:12; Tied 7–7)
  • (3:41) UB – Trevor Wilson 24 yard pass from Kyle Vantrease, Alex McNulty kick (Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 4:06; Buffalo 14–7)
Second quarter
  • (8:49) BALL – Drew Plitt 1 yard rush, Jacob Lewis kick (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 3:03; Tied 14–14)
  • (7:31) UB – Kyle Vantrease 1 yard rush, Alex McNulty kick (Drive: 3 plays, 76 yards, 1:18; Buffalo 21–14)
  • (5:55) BALL – Justin Hall 9 yard pass from Drew Plitt, Jacob Lewis kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:36; Tied 21–21)
  • (1:30) BALL – Jalen McGaughy 56 yard pass from Drew Plitt, Jacob Lewis kick (Drive: 6 plays, 83 yards, 2:42; Ball State 28–21)
  • (0:48) BALL – Christian Albright 34 yard fumble return, Jacob Lewis kick (Ball State 35–21)
Third quarter
  • (9:10) BALL – Jacob Lewis 21 yard field goal (Drive: 16 plays, 76 yards, 5:50; Ball State 38–21)
  • (1:16) UB – Kevin Marks Jr. 67 yard rush, Alex McNulty kick (Drive: 2 plays, 78 yards, 0:25; Ball State 38–28)
Fourth quarter
No scoring plays

Statistics
StatisticsBALLUB
First downs2223
Plays–yards79–42971–499
Rushes–yards47–16629–134
Passing yards263365
Passing: Comp–Att–Int20–32–129–42–1
Time of possession32:3927:21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ball StatePassingDrew Plitt20/32, 263 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingTye Evans18 carries, 94 yards
ReceivingYo'Heinz Tyler6 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD
BuffaloPassingKyle Vantrease29/42, 365 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingKevin Marks Jr.9 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingAntonio Nunn13 carries, 182 yards

See also
  • List of Mid-American Conference football champions

References
  1. Wells, Adam (September 25, 2020). "MAC Approves 6-Game College Football Schedule Beginning November 4". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  2. "2020 Rocket Mortgage MAC Football Championship - Mid-American Conference". getsomemaction.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  3. Lenzi, Rachel (December 18, 2020). "UB football loses to Ball State in MAC championship game, 38-28". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
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