Temple, N. Illinois favorites in Mid-American Conference race

Expansion changed the landscape of college football this summer.

Yet the Mid-American Conference holds fast, nestled between the big-money programs in the Big Ten, Big East and Big 12.

Not even MAC commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher knows what's ahead.

"I can't begin to predict what the future holds," he said. "We're a stable conference. Would any movement create an opportunity for us? Time will tell."

The pecking order on the football field is also difficult to forecast.

Temple has emerged as a MAC power in just three years in the conference under coach Al Golden. Long a college football laughingstock, the Owls are now overwhelming favorites to win the Eastern Division.

In the Western Division, Central Michigan has been the team to beat in recent years, but it's a transition year for the Chippewas. CMU is replacing head coach Butch Jones and record-setting quarterback Dan LeFevour.

EAST:

TEMPLE - Key players: RB Bernard Pierce, QB Chester Stewart, DB Jaiquawn Jarrett, DE Adrian Robinson, LB Elijah Joseph. Returning starters: 8 offense, 9 defense.

Notes: Pierce being promoted as serious Heisman Trophy candidate. He rushed for 1,361 yards and 16 TDs last year. ...

OHIO - Key players: QB Boo Jackson, WR/KR LaVon Brazill, DB Gerald Moore, LB Noah Keller.

Notes: Much depends on rebound of Jackson, who played just two games because of injury.

KENT STATE - Key players: RB Eugene Jarvis, QB Spencer Keith, WR Tyshon Goode, S Brian Lainhart, LB Cobrani Mixon. Returning starters: 8 offense, 8 defense.

Notes: Jarvis, with 3,426 rushing yards, needs 564 to break Astron Whatley's school record. ...

BOWLING GREEN - Key players: RB Willie Geter, WR Adrian Hodges, DE Angelo Magnone, DB Adrien Spencer. Returning starters: 4 offense, 4 defense.

Notes: Geter ran for 705 yards in '09. ... Falcons must replace QB Tyler Sheehan, who took nearly every snap the last three seasons, and WR Freddie Barnes who caught NCAA record 155 passes last year.

MIAMI (OHIO) - Key players: QB Zac Dysert, WR Armand Robinson, LT Brandon Brooks. Returning starters: 8 offense, 9 defense.

Notes: Opens season at Florida; also plays Colorado State, Missouri, Cincinnati. ...

BUFFALO - Key players: RBs Brandon Thermilus and Ike Nduka, DB Davonte Shannon, LBs Justin Winters and Scott Pettigrew. Returning starters: 6 offense. 8 defense.

Notes: Jeff Quinn, who helped devise spread offense for Cincinnati, takes over as head coach following Turner Gill's exit to Kansas.

AKRON - Key players: WR Jeremy LaFrance, QBs Patrick Nicely and Matt Rodgers, LB Brian Wagner. Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: Rob Ianello takes over as head coach after serving as assistant at Notre Dame.

WEST:

NORTHERN ILLINOIS - Key players: TB Chad Spann, QBs DeMarcus Grady and Chandler Harnish, S Tracy Wilson, LB Pat Schiller. Returning starters: 6 offense, 11 defense.

Notes: Defense tops in MAC, 30th in nation last fall Wilson had team-best 93 tackles.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN - Key players: QB Ryan Radcliff, RB Zurlon Tipton, LT Jeff Olsen, LB Nick Bellore. Returning starters: 7 offense, 5 defense.

Notes: Radcliff replaces LeFevour, who left with the FBS record of 150 TDs running and passing. ... New coach Dan Enos was top offensive assistant and recruiter at Michigan State, but hasn't been a head coach.

WESTERN MICHIGAN - Key Players: QB Alex Carder, LT Anthony Parker, S Jamail Berry, RB Aaron Winchester. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Carder, more of a runner, will have to take big step forward to replace Tim Hiller, who left program with every major passing record.

TOLEDO - Key players: RB Morgan Williams, WR Eric Page, C Kevin Kowalski, LB Archie Donald. Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Austin Dantin has edge at replacing four-year QB Aaron Opelt. Nonconference schedule includes Boise State, Arizona, Purdue.

BALL STATE - Key players: RB MiQuale Lewis, WR Briggs Orsbon, S Sean Baker, LB Davyd Jones. Returning starters: 10 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Lewis rushed for school-record 1,736 yards in '08

EASTERN MICHIGAN - Key Players: LT Bridger Buche, QB Alex Gillett, DE Devon Davis. Returning starters: 8 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: Went 0-12 in '09 and had fewer than 70 players on the roster during spring camp.