**Editor's note: The BG News did not get confirmation on how the tiebreaker among four teams work, and we give guarantee any of these scenarios will happen**
Click here to see the MAC tiebreaking system.
Coming into last night's Ohio-Buffalo game, chances for BG to win the Mid-American Conference East Division were slim anyway, but an OU win all but shuts the Falcons out of contention. Here are the contenders and their current MAC records.
Temple: 5-0 MAC (Can finish 8-0 in the MAC)
Ohio: 5-1 MAC (Can finish 7-1 in the MAC)
Kent State: 4-2 MAC (Can finish 6-2 in the MAC)
BG: 3-2 MAC (Can finish 6-2 in the MAC)
For anyone who has tried to figure this tiebreaker stuff out before, you know how complicated it is. I have put in more than an hour's time so I hope I have sorted this out completely and accurately. If I have, I found one way for the Falcons to win the MAC East title, but the odds of it happening would be astronomical if someone figured them out. BG is also down to the "win and go home" stage, as they can't win the East if the lose another game.
The only way for the Falcons to be considered for the MAC East is for them to finish at 6-2. Because Ohio (5-1 currently) and Temple (5-0) play the final week of the season, it is not possible for the Falcons to finish with sole possession of first place in the MAC East. Below are the four scenarios in which BG finishes 6-2 and is tied atop the MAC East when the season is over.
Click continued to see some possible scenarios, including on that gives BG the MAC East title.
Click here to see the MAC tiebreaking system.
Coming into last night's Ohio-Buffalo game, chances for BG to win the Mid-American Conference East Division were slim anyway, but an OU win all but shuts the Falcons out of contention. Here are the contenders and their current MAC records.
Temple: 5-0 MAC (Can finish 8-0 in the MAC)
Ohio: 5-1 MAC (Can finish 7-1 in the MAC)
Kent State: 4-2 MAC (Can finish 6-2 in the MAC)
BG: 3-2 MAC (Can finish 6-2 in the MAC)
For anyone who has tried to figure this tiebreaker stuff out before, you know how complicated it is. I have put in more than an hour's time so I hope I have sorted this out completely and accurately. If I have, I found one way for the Falcons to win the MAC East title, but the odds of it happening would be astronomical if someone figured them out. BG is also down to the "win and go home" stage, as they can't win the East if the lose another game.
The only way for the Falcons to be considered for the MAC East is for them to finish at 6-2. Because Ohio (5-1 currently) and Temple (5-0) play the final week of the season, it is not possible for the Falcons to finish with sole possession of first place in the MAC East. Below are the four scenarios in which BG finishes 6-2 and is tied atop the MAC East when the season is over.
Click continued to see some possible scenarios, including on that gives BG the MAC East title.
Scenario 1
1) If Temple beats Akron, loses to Kent State and loses to Ohio, they will finish 6-2 in the MAC.
2) If Ohio loses to Northern Illinois but beats Temple, they will finish 6-2 in the MAC.
3) If Kent State beats Temple and Buffalo, they will finish 6-2 in the MAC.
4) If BG beats Miami, Akron and Toledo, they will finish 6-2 in the MAC.
The first tiebreaker for MAC divisions, as stated on the official MAC Web site, reads as follows:
In the event of a multiple-team (two or more teams) tie, the team with the best head-to-head record amongst the tied teams wins the tie-breaker
As I understand this, nothing would happen in this scenario since BG and Temple did not play this season. However, if that is not taken into account, Kent State would win the East because they would have a 2-1 record against the teams they are tied with.
However, I am fairly certain this would push to the second tiebreaker, which reads as follows:
Record of tied teams within the division [versus rank order, highest to lowest, of division teams]
If this were to happen, the Falcons would not be playing in the MAC Championship game because BG and Ohio would share the best intradivisional record of 4-1, but Ohio holds the tiebreaker because of their 44-37 win against BG earlier in the year.
Scenario 2
1) BG wins out, allowing them to finish at 6-2 in the MAC.
2) Ohio loses to Northern Illinois but beats Temple, allowing them to finish 6-2 in the MAC.
3) Kent State beats Temple and Buffalo, allowing them to finish 6-2 in the MAC.
4) Temple loses their remaining three games, finishing 5-3 in the MAC.
In this scenario, the second tiebreaker would again have to be used because all three teams would be 1-1 after using the first tiebreaker. In this scenario, the intradivisional records would be: BG 4-1, Ohio 4-1, Kent State 3-2. Because Ohio defeated BG earlier this season, they would be the MAC East champs.
Scenario 3
1) BG wins out, finishing at 6-2 in the MAC.
2) Temple beats Kent State but loses to Akron and Ohio, finishing at 6-2 in the MAC.
3) Ohio loses to Northern Ilinois but beats Temple, finishing at 6-2 in the MAC.
4) Kent State loses to Temple but beats Buffalo, finishing at 5-3 in the MAC.
This scenario plays out much like the first, giving Ohio the MAC East title.
Scenario 4
In this scenario, the Falcons will win the MAC East.
1) Temple loses to Akron and Kent State but beat Ohio, allowing them to finish at 6-2 in the MAC.
2) BG wins out, allowing them to finish at 6-2 in the MAC.
3) Ohio loses to Northern Illinois and Temple, giving them a 5-3 MAC record.
4) Kent State beats Temple but loses to Buffalo, giving them a 5-3 MAC record.
Because BG and Temple do not play this season, the second tiebreaker would be used. In this situation, BG's record against the MAC East would be 4-1 while Temple's would be 3-2, giving the Falcons the edge and the MAC East title.
1) If Temple beats Akron, loses to Kent State and loses to Ohio, they will finish 6-2 in the MAC.
2) If Ohio loses to Northern Illinois but beats Temple, they will finish 6-2 in the MAC.
3) If Kent State beats Temple and Buffalo, they will finish 6-2 in the MAC.
4) If BG beats Miami, Akron and Toledo, they will finish 6-2 in the MAC.
The first tiebreaker for MAC divisions, as stated on the official MAC Web site, reads as follows:
In the event of a multiple-team (two or more teams) tie, the team with the best head-to-head record amongst the tied teams wins the tie-breaker
As I understand this, nothing would happen in this scenario since BG and Temple did not play this season. However, if that is not taken into account, Kent State would win the East because they would have a 2-1 record against the teams they are tied with.
However, I am fairly certain this would push to the second tiebreaker, which reads as follows:
Record of tied teams within the division [versus rank order, highest to lowest, of division teams]
If this were to happen, the Falcons would not be playing in the MAC Championship game because BG and Ohio would share the best intradivisional record of 4-1, but Ohio holds the tiebreaker because of their 44-37 win against BG earlier in the year.
Scenario 2
1) BG wins out, allowing them to finish at 6-2 in the MAC.
2) Ohio loses to Northern Illinois but beats Temple, allowing them to finish 6-2 in the MAC.
3) Kent State beats Temple and Buffalo, allowing them to finish 6-2 in the MAC.
4) Temple loses their remaining three games, finishing 5-3 in the MAC.
In this scenario, the second tiebreaker would again have to be used because all three teams would be 1-1 after using the first tiebreaker. In this scenario, the intradivisional records would be: BG 4-1, Ohio 4-1, Kent State 3-2. Because Ohio defeated BG earlier this season, they would be the MAC East champs.
Scenario 3
1) BG wins out, finishing at 6-2 in the MAC.
2) Temple beats Kent State but loses to Akron and Ohio, finishing at 6-2 in the MAC.
3) Ohio loses to Northern Ilinois but beats Temple, finishing at 6-2 in the MAC.
4) Kent State loses to Temple but beats Buffalo, finishing at 5-3 in the MAC.
This scenario plays out much like the first, giving Ohio the MAC East title.
Scenario 4
In this scenario, the Falcons will win the MAC East.
1) Temple loses to Akron and Kent State but beat Ohio, allowing them to finish at 6-2 in the MAC.
2) BG wins out, allowing them to finish at 6-2 in the MAC.
3) Ohio loses to Northern Illinois and Temple, giving them a 5-3 MAC record.
4) Kent State beats Temple but loses to Buffalo, giving them a 5-3 MAC record.
Because BG and Temple do not play this season, the second tiebreaker would be used. In this situation, BG's record against the MAC East would be 4-1 while Temple's would be 3-2, giving the Falcons the edge and the MAC East title.
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