Mid-American Conference

Mid-American Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA at the Division I level, comprising 12 member schools, including University of Akron, Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, University at Buffalo, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Kent State University, Miami University, Northern Illinois University, Ohio University, Toledo University, and Western Michigan University. The conference was established in 1946, with the goal of promoting athletic competition and cooperation among its member institutions, such as University of Cincinnati, which was a founding member, and Marshall University, which joined in 1954. The conference has undergone several changes over the years, including the addition of new members, such as University of Toledo in 1950, and the departure of others, like University of Cincinnati in 2005, which joined the Big East Conference. The conference is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and its member schools are located in the Midwestern United States, including states such as Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.

● History

The Mid-American Conference was founded in 1946 by five schools, including University of Cincinnati, Ohio University, University of Toledo, Kent State University, and Western Reserve University, with the goal of creating a competitive athletic conference in the Midwestern United States. Over the years, the conference has undergone several expansions, including the addition of Bowling Green State University in 1952, Miami University in 1948, and Northern Illinois University in 1975. The conference has also experienced several departures, including the loss of University of Cincinnati in 2005, which joined the Big East Conference, and Marshall University in 2005, which joined Conference USA. The conference has been led by several notable commissioners, including James A. Rhodes, who served from 1946 to 1964, and Kenyon L. Olson, who served from 1964 to 1971. The conference has also been affiliated with several notable athletic directors, including Gene Smith of Ohio State University and Warde Manuel of University of Michigan.

● Member Schools

The Mid-American Conference currently consists of 12 member schools, including University of Akron, Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, University at Buffalo, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Kent State University, Miami University, Northern Illinois University, Ohio University, Toledo University, and Western Michigan University. These schools are located in the Midwestern United States, including states such as Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. The conference also has several affiliate members, including University of Evansville, which competes in men's soccer, and Missouri State University, which competes in men's swimming and diving. The conference has a strong rivalry with other athletic conferences, including the Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, and Atlantic 10 Conference. The conference also has partnerships with several notable athletic organizations, including the National Football Foundation and the College Football Playoff.

● Conference Championships

The Mid-American Conference sponsors several conference championships, including football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball. The conference football championship is played at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, and has been won by several notable teams, including University of Toledo and Northern Illinois University. The conference basketball tournament is played at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, and has been won by several notable teams, including University of Akron and Kent State University. The conference also sponsors championships in several other sports, including track and field, cross country, and golf. The conference has produced several notable athletes, including Ben Roethlisberger of Miami University, Dan LeFevour of Central Michigan University, and LaVall Jordan of Butler University.

● Sports Sponsored

The Mid-American Conference sponsors 23 sports, including football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, and track and field. The conference also sponsors several emerging sports, including women's lacrosse and men's ice hockey. The conference has a strong reputation for producing talented athletes, including Kurt Coleman of Ohio State University, Eric Fisher of Central Michigan University, and Joel Bitonio of University of Nevada. The conference also has partnerships with several notable athletic organizations, including the NCAA, College Football Playoff, and NFL. The conference has also produced several notable coaches, including Urban Meyer of Ohio State University, Mark Dantonio of Michigan State University, and P.J. Fleck of University of Minnesota.

● Facilities

The Mid-American Conference member schools have several notable facilities, including InfoCision Stadium at University of Akron, Scheumann Stadium at Ball State University, and Doyt Perry Stadium at Bowling Green State University. The conference also has several affiliate facilities, including Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, which hosts the conference football championship, and Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, which hosts the conference basketball tournament. The conference member schools have invested heavily in their athletic facilities, including University of Toledo, which has renovated its Glass Bowl stadium, and Northern Illinois University, which has built a new Huskie Stadium. The conference has also partnered with several notable facility management companies, including SMG and AEG Facilities. The conference has a strong commitment to providing its student-athletes with top-notch facilities, including University of Michigan's Michigan Stadium and Ohio State University's Ohio Stadium.