The MAC won five bowls for the first time ever. Toledo won an unforgettable historic game. More highlights from the 2024 MAC postseason.
The 2024 college football season is officially in the books.
Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 on Monday night to conclude the longest postseason in college football history. Conference championships commenced on Dec. 6 and Bowl Season saw an early Dec. 14 start this year, and the postseason lasted until Jan. 20 thanks to the advent of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
The Mid-American Conference participated in seven bowl games this year and made history. For the first time ever, the conference triumphed in five bowl games, ending the postseason with a remarkable 5-2 record — only trailing the AAC (6-2) for the best mark of any league. While the conference fell one victory short of its first Bowl Challenge Cup since 2022, it was certainly a memorable postseason for the MAC and its five victors.
Now, we reflect on the highlights of the 2024 MAC bowl season, picking superlatives and an All-Hustle Belt Bowl Team to officially put a bow on the best time of year for college football fans:
Ten-word summaries
- IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: South Alabama 30, Western Michigan 23
Western Michigan returns to postseason, but Jaguars capture close win.
- StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Ohio 30, Jacksonville State 27
Ohio sweetens MAC title as Navarro dominates with four touchdowns.
- Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Northern Illinois 28, Fresno State 20 (2OT)
Missed field goals force overtime. Huskies’ trickery spurs fry bath.
- GameAbove Sports Bowl: Toledo 48, Pitt 46
Toledo comes up clutch in historic, unforgettable sextuple overtime finish.
- 68 Ventures Bowl: Arkansas State 38, Bowling Green 31
Fannin sets several records, but Falcons can’t stop Corey Rucker.
- Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl: Miami (OH) 43, Colorado State 17
Kevin Davis earns Snoop’s respect in versatile domination in Tucson.
- Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo 26, Liberty 7
Red Murdock defensive clinic stifles Flames for season’s ninth win.
Best game: GameAbove Sports Bowl — Toledo 48, Pitt 46 (6OT)
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
This wasn’t just the game of MAC Bowl Season. It was the game of all of Bowl Season. In fact, it was a deserving candidate for game of the season.
The 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl served as the climax to possibly the most insane three-game stretch of bowls in college football history. Northern Illinois kicked off the stretch by outlasting Fresno State in a 28-20 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl that went two overtimes on Dec. 23. Then on Christmas Eve, South Florida edged San Jose State 43-41 in a Hawaii Bowl thriller that rewrote the record books, becoming the first bowl in college football history to reach five overtimes.
That record stood for roughly 42 hours.
On Dec. 26, Toledo and Pitt dragged the 2024 GameAbove Sports bowl to a new record of six overtimes. The matchup in Detroit was nothing but absolute chaos from the start. After the opening possession, Toledo led 6-2 due to a blocked extra point returned the other way. The Rockets later cashed in on a pair of lengthy pick-six returns by Braden Awls and Darius Alexander, and Dylan Cunanan sunk a 51-yard field goal with 1:45 left to knot the score at 30 apiece.
Both teams cashed in immediate touchdowns in the first overtime period. After Toledo notched a field goal on the first possession of second overtime, Pitt stunningly opted for the tie from the 1-yard line with a chip shot field goal, elongating the game into a glorified 2-point shootout. Then the 2-point shootout arrived and Toledo never flinched. The Rockets went a perfect 4-for-4 on such attempts, as Tucker Gleason found four different targets in the end zone for scores.
However, Pitt countered with successful attempts as well in third, fourth, and fifth overtime. Yet Toledo’s sideline prematurely stormed the field twice during fourth overtime to celebrate a victory, but one of its stops was negated by a late flag and the other was overturned by the replay booth. The Rockets finally concluded the historic bowl game as Jackson Barrow charged at Pitt quarterback Julian Dugger, forcing a short incompletion in sixth overtime.
Toledo finally earned a field storm celebration after withstanding the longest bowl game of all-time — a game that now stands in the annals of history, the hearts of the Toledo faithful, and the minds of all college football fans that witnessed a truly breathtaking spectacle.
Offensive player of Bowl Season:
This award is too difficult to deliver to one player, so three deserving recipients share the honor of the MAC’s best offensive player in Bowl Season.
Parker Navarro, QB, Ohio
Photo by Dustin Markland/Getty Images
Parker Navarro became a household name to all college football fans during a spectacular MAC Championship Game where he accounted for four total touchdowns with his dual-threat abilities. Ohio’s starting quarterback continued to revel in the spotlight two weeks later as he faced Conference USA champion Jacksonville State in the Cure Bowl. The senior, yet first-year starter delivered the Bobcats’ sixth consecutive bowl win while operating as the epitome of a dual-threat quarterback. Through the air, he posted 254 yards and a touchdown. As a runner, he added 111 yards and a hat trick of touchdowns. Navarro was named MVP in his four-touchdown effort, leading Ohio to its first 11-win season in program history.
Junior Vandeross III, WR, Toledo
Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
Junior Vandeross was the star of Toledo’s historic six-overtime victory over Pitt in Detroit. Vandeross won MVP honors of the Rockets’ 48-46 victory, posting an absurd stat line which featured 12 receptions for 194 yards and one touchdown. The All-MAC wide receiver provided Toledo a 13-12 advantage in the second quarter by taking a screen 67 yards to the house. His playmaking ability continued throughout the game, picking up 27 yards on a contested 4th and 6 catch to set up Toledo’s tying field goal. The never-ending game never extends past regulation without Vandeross’ heroics, and upon reaching overtime, the receiver sustained his impact. He caught the fourth and final two-point attempt for Toledo in sixth overtime, providing the Rockets a 48-46 lead which wound up as the final score of an unforgettable showdown.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images
Harold Fannin Jr. was a walking record-breaker all year long. The Bowling Green tight end earned the Vern Smith Leadership Award for MAC MVP — becoming the first-ever tight end to win a conference’s MVP — and he wound up leading the entire FBS in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555), becoming the first tight end to simultaneously rank atop the nation in both categories. In the 68 Ventures Bowl, Fannin broke several key records. He surpassed former Rice tight end James Casey for most tight end receptions in a season and surpassed former Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro for most tight end receiving yards in a season. Yet, he went one step further and tied the FBS all-time single-game receptions record for a tight end, snagging 17 catches for 213 yards and a touchdown against Arkansas State. While Bowling Green wound up in a losing effort, Fannin was named MVP for the record-breaking performance.
Defensive player of Bowl Season: Red Murdock, OLB, Buffalo
Kim Montuoro
One defensive performance stood above the rest in the MAC’s 2024 Bowl Season. The Bahamas Bowl stood as the final MAC game of the year with a Jan. 3 kickoff date, and Buffalo outside linebacker Red Murdock ended the season in spectacular fashion.
Murdock, playing alongside senior All-American inside linebacker Shaun Dolac, got his own shine in Nassau. The redshirt sophomore posted a career-high 13 tackles and forced a trio of turnovers as an omnipresent force in Buffalo’s 26-7 defensive-driven win over Liberty. Murdock forced two fumbles on Liberty quarterback Ryan Burger — ending two of the Flames’ chances in Buffalo territory. Then the outside linebacker put the finishing touches on an MVP performance with a 31-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter. Murdock also logged 2.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup in one of the most loaded stat lines for any defender all season. Thanks to a pair of forced fumbles outside United States soil, the Bahamas Bowl MVP ended up as the FBS leader in the category with seven in the 2024 season.
Special teams player of Bowl Season: Kevin Davis, KR, Miami (OH)
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
Yes, his offensive performance certainly factors into this honor, but Miami running back Kevin Davis absolutely deserves props for his standout performance in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl. Davis stepped up as the unlikely hero to cap a 5-year RedHawk career where he typically operated as the second, third, or fourth option out of the backfield. But Dec. 28 was a day that will forever reign supreme in Davis’ football career. The running back produced a new career-high 148 yards on nine carries, scoring two touchdowns on Colorado State. He added two receptions for 16 yards, and his impact extended to special teams. In the late third quarter, he sprinted down the sideline for an 81-yard kick return to conclude his MVP performance with 245 all-purpose yards. Davis received high praise from Snoop Dogg himself during the trophy presentation and even was honored with a chain from the famous rapper.
Play of Bowl Season: Grayson Barnes’ one-handed Famous Idaho Potato Bowl snag
Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images
Northern Illinois emerged triumphant in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, outlasting Fresno State 28-20 in a double-overtime thriller. But perhaps the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl ends up in a Bulldog victory if not for a spectacular, jaw-dropping grab from tight end Grayson Barnes in the third quarter.
NIU quarterback Josh Holst served as the starter in place of Ethan Hampton, who entered the transfer portal earlier in December. Trailing 13-3 with a 3rd and 13 on the Fresno State 26-yard line, Holst lobbed the ball down the seam to Barnes who was sandwiched between his man and a high safety. All signs pointed to an interception until Barnes leaped and outstretched his right arm to its limit. The football perfectly stuck to his right glove, and he smoothly avoided both defenders en route to a 26-yard touchdown.
It was a much-needed third and long conversion for Northern Illinois, and Barnes’ one-handed catch ensured the Huskies overcame that third down, and eventually, the deficit with plenty of style points.
WHAT. A. CATCH. @gbarnes5252 | @NIU_Football | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/iaNdtlUf4i
— MACtion (@MACSports) December 23, 2024
All-Hustle Belt Bowl Team
Here are our selections for the most outstanding MAC players this bowl season, according to position or position group: