MACtion took multiple Big Ten teams to the wire in Week 1 Thursday

Rutgers University Football Head Coach, Greg Schiano congratulates, Ohio Bobcats quarterback Parker Navarro (13) on a good game, Thursday, August 28, 2025. (© Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Week Zero was a soft launch but one of the best weekend in sports officially got rolling on Thursday. Across five days on this holiday weekend, college football takes center stage. Cincinnati-Nebraska became a thriller in Kansas City in the only power conference vs. power conference game of the slate. We did not get any upsets elsewhere but we sure got close.

Jacksonville State had UCF on the ropes before Indiana transfer Tayven Jackson found Division II transfer DJ Black for a 33-yard touchdown on third-and-long with just over a minute left to avoid disaster in Scott Frost‘s second Orlando debut. The Knights were not the only power conference team to get a scare.

The MAC pushed the Big Ten to the limit on Thursday. The mid-major conference in Big Ten country finished 3-0 against the spread in Week 1’s opening night.

Rutgers 34, Ohio 31 | Scarlet Knights (-15.5)
Minnesota 23, Buffalo 10 | Golden Gophers (-17.5)
Wisconsin 17, Miami (Ohio) 0 | Badgers (-18.5)

Each game was a one-possession difference in the third quarter. Every MAC team had their chance to make a big play to swing the game late. Could this be a trend for the rest of the weekend?

Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Michigan State hosts Western Michigan on Friday night before Ball State goes to Purdue and Toledo goes to Kentucky on Saturday afternoon. We’ve seen the MAC turn into a live dog to start the season. The conference hasn’t even seen their preseason champion play.

Expectations are very high for Jason Candle‘s 10th team. There’s even some playoff buzz for the Rockets. But they have to beat Kentucky for that dream to become possible. Meanwhile, UK will be looking to prove that last year was a true one-off as Mark Stoops and his coaching staff attempt to get this SEC program back on track after adding 50 new players to the roster in the offseason.

The MAC made a positive impression on Thursday. Toledo was always a dangerous Week 1 opponent. If Kentucky does not play well on Saturday at Kroger Field, they could be in trouble despite being a 10-point favorite.

Scouting Report: Toledo Rockets