According to the Mid-American Conference preseason media football poll, Ball State is expected to finish last in 2017.

The poll was released on July 26 at the annual MAC Football Media Day and is determined by the league's media members. Ball State finished with 30 points, lowest in the league.

Ball State earned 44 points in the 2016 preseason poll and was projected to finish fifth in the West. Last season, Ball State finished last in the West Division with a 1-7 conference and 4-8 overall record.

Projected winners in 2017 include the Toledo Rockets (142 points) in the West Division and the Ohio Bobcats (131 points) in the East Division. Toledo was also projected to win the MAC Championship Game taking 21 of the 24 total votes.

Full preseason rankings below shown by: Team: (first place votes), points – 2016 record.

MAC West Division

Toledo: (22), 142 points – 9-4, 6-2 MAC

Western Michigan: (1), 107 points – 13-1, 8-0 MAC

Northern Illinois: (1), 89 points – 5-7, 5-3 MAC

Eastern Michigan: 74 points – 7-6, 4-4 MAC

Central Michigan: 62 points – 6-7, 3-5 MAC

Ball State: 30 points – 4-8, 1-7 MAC

MAC East Division

Ohio: (11), 131 points – 8-6, 6-2 MAC

Miami: (12), 129 points – 6-7, 6-2 MAC

Bowling Green: (1), 88 points – 4-8, 3-5 MAC

Akron: 79 points – 5-7, 3-5 MAC

Buffalo: 41 points – 2-10, 1-7 MAC

Kent State: 36 points – 3-9, 2-6 MAC

Share