Miami Football Independent and MAC Conference Non-Opponents
Massachusetts is the only independent Miami that has never played. The Minutemen joined FBS in 2012. From 2012 through 2015 Massachusetts competed in the Mid-American Conference. Miami has not played MAC teams Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Ohio, or Western Michigan.
Miami opens the 2023 season versus Miami (Ohio). Ball State will play at Miami on September 24, 2024. Central Michigan will play at Miami on September 24, 2026. The majority of the MAC teams have been FBS programs for decades. Akron and Buffalo are the most recent FBS teams of the MAC programs Miami hasn’t played.
Buffalo joined the MAC and FBS in 1999. Akron moved up to FBS in 1987 and joined the MAC in 1992. Ohio is the only remaining original member of the MAC from 1946. Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan joined the MAC in 1947. Toledo joined the MAC in 1950, Kent State in 1951 and Bowling Green in 1952.
Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan joined the MAC in 1971, followed by Ball State in 1972. Northern Illinois was in the MAC originally from 1975 through 1986, returned in 1997 where they have remained since then. The MAC has expanded with UCF, Temple and UMass who have all left the conference since then.