International college football games are increasing exponentially, with multiple early-season contests now scheduled outside American borders. Our own @omarrashonborja.bsky.social asks the question: why not the MAC? www.bythebelt.com/mac-football...

¡Bienvenidos a Bayamón, seguidores de MACtion! The Mid-American Conference gets a new bowl game under their belt, as they'll play an eligible at-large opponent in the Puerto Rico Bowl at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel this December: www.bythebelt.com/mid-american...

Is it?

we’re not doing a full AP Poll’s worth of bubble teams someone has to have some shame at some point

If anybody wants to point a finger at the "greed" that is pushing the NCAA Tournament to expand, point it towards the P4 commissioners who have scared the rest of NCAA membership into thinking they'll leave without even more championship access/units. Don't blame like, the MAAC or Big Sky

Kent State, NIU, Miami and Toledo have all punched their tickets to Avon thanks to their performances last week. But there's still a lot to play for on the diamond, with two remaining tourney spots and the regular season title all still unclaimed: www.bythebelt.com/mac-baseball...

Mark Carney wasn't on the head coaching radar in 2023 when he was hired on at Kent State as a tight ends coach under Kenni Burns. Now set to lead KSU as their new head coach after an unbelievable turn of events, the ever-humble Carney reflects on his journey: www.bythebelt.com/kent-state-g...

Mark Carney wasn't on the head coaching radar in 2023 when he was hired on at Kent State as a tight ends coach under Kenni Burns. Now set to lead KSU as their new head coach after an unbelievable turn of events, the ever-humble Carney reflects on his journey: www.bythebelt.com/kent-state-g...

Kent State football fans, you're gonna have a lot to look forward to on Monday morning.

The Canadian Football League held their dual drafts this week, with three former MAC players getting selected-- including first-team all-MAC and second-team All-American punter Keegan Andrews: www.bythebelt.com/pierre-kemen...

INBOX: Josh Cribbs has been hired as a special teams analyst by the Kent State Golden Flashes. Cribbs, a former Flash QB, had a decade-long career as a kick returner and receiver in the NFL, and left KSU with several all-time offensive records.

The NCAA will reportedly expand both the men's and women's basketball tournaments from 64 teams to 76 as soon as 2027. The topic came to a head in March, as Miami and other mid-majors drew ire for their strength-of-schedule compared to bubble teams left out: www.bythebelt.com/reports-ncaa...

Kent State and Miami are holding on tight to their lead atop the MAC Baseball standings, but nothing is assured yet, with four teams below them within three games. Check out everything that happened on the diamond in this week's #MACBats Digest: www.bythebelt.com/mac-baseball...

Sacramento State is finally on the MAC UDFA board, as our own Jack Dann reports HB Rodney Hammond Jr. has accepted a rookie mini-camp invite with the Denver Broncos. Check out our updated tracker here: www.bythebelt.com/2026-nfl-dra...

Still recovering from a busy weekend of NFL Draft coverage, but we wanted to put out a quick message. Saturday and Sunday were our two top-traffic days since our launch last month. Going indie hasn't been easy, but your support of what we do here at By The Belt has made it all worth it. Thank you!

Sacramento State's first spring game as a MAC member took place on Saturday night, with head coach Alonzo Carter and his Hornets embracing the grind in front of the fans. Our observations from a busy session: www.bythebelt.com/sacramento-s...

Seven players who transferred out from MAC programs found themselves selected in the 2026 #NFLDraft, including a pair of former all-MAC D-linemen, two high-profile tight ends and one of the highest-scoring HBs in Combine history: www.bythebelt.com/former-mac-p...

Per our own Jack Dann: Former Sacramento State HB Elijah Tau-Tolliver has signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a UDFA. Tau-Tolliver had 41 appearances (14 starts) as a Hornet before transferring to Michigan State in 2025.

A UDFA signing of note, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2: Eastern Michigan OL Dodji Dahoue has signed with the New York Giants. He will part of the International Player Pathway program and not count against the 90-man roster. Dahoue is still recovering from a knee injury which ended his '25 campaign.

As we wind down for tonight and get ready to make updates tomorrow, here's a reminder to check out our current UDFA tracker! As of now, we have 21 confirmed signings.

A six-time all-MAC performer will get a chance to show his versatility at the next level, as Toledo WR/KR Trayvon Rudolph accepts a rookie mini-camp invitation with the Indianapolis Colts: #ForTheShoe www.bythebelt.com/toledo-wr-tr...

Central Michigan's Jordan Kwiatkowski finds his way into the NFL after earning first-team all-MAC honors in his senior season, accepting a rookie mini-camp invite with the New England Patriots: #NEPatriots www.bythebelt.com/central-mich...

Sieh Bangura, one of the most productive players to ever don the Green and White for Ohio, gets a training camp invitation with the Tennessee Titans: #TitanUp www.bythebelt.com/ohio-hb-sieh...

Dontae McMillan, EMU's leading rusher in 2025, joins the #RavensFlock as a UDFA with the Baltimore Ravens after a second-team all-MAC campaign which saw him average 5.7 yards per carry: www.bythebelt.com/eastern-mich...

The well-traveled Chip Trayanum found a home with Toledo in 2025, accumulating over 1,000+ yards from scrimmage en route to a first-team all-MAC season. Now, he'll #TakeFlight to the Big Apple, signing as a UDFA with the New York Jets: www.bythebelt.com/toledo-hb-ch...

EMU RB Dontae McMillan joins the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted signee. McMillan was a Second Team All-MAC running back in 2025 with 1,014 rushing yards on 177 carries and 4 TD on the ground, and 33 catches for 375 yards and 3 receiving TD.

The 2026 edition of our annual Mid-American Conference UDFA tracker is now LIVE! See where your favorite former #MACtion stars have landed at the professional level in real time: www.bythebelt.com/2026-nfl-dra...

The MAC's Defensive Player of the Year has found a professional home. Western Michigan EDGE Nadame Tucker is set to #BoltUp with the Los Angeles Chargers as a UDFA after an electric 2025 campaign with the Broncos: www.bythebelt.com/western-mich...

#WhoDat Nation, meet your new EDGE rusher Michael Heldman. The uber-athletic and productive prospect from Central Michigan has signed as a UDFA with the New Orleans Saints, per Bo Marchionte: www.bythebelt.com/central-mich...

#BoltUp, Toledo fans! Former Rocket Avery Smith is set to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers, per Tom Pelissero. www.bythebelt.com/toledo-db-av...

Former Toledo CB Avery Smith is signing with the Chargers, per source.

With the 257th-- and final-- pick in the 2026 #NFLDraft, the Denver Broncos select... Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo! Murdock will now get to claim the title of Mr. Irrelevant for the rest of his days.

With the 236th pick in the 2026 #NFLDraft, the Seattle Seahawks select Andre Fuller, DB, Toledo! #GoHawks (📸: Toledo Athletics)

With the 227th pick in the 2026 #NFLDraft, the Carolina Panthers select Jackson Kuwatch, LB, Miami! #KeepPounding

Starting to run low of guys I still have left

Former Toledo SAF Emmanuel McNeil-Warren won't have to move far for the next step of his football journey, getting selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 58th overall pick in the 2026 #NFLDraft: #DawgPound www.bythebelt.com/toledo-fs-em...

NEWS: Toledo will introduce Illinois' chief commercial officer Tom Moreland as the university's new athletic director. Previously worked with Purdue and Iowa (his alma mater.)

Some ground rules for our #NFLDraft coverage this weekend: * This year's NIU prospects WILL be covered. (No, NIU does not have a page on our site.) * This year's Sacramento State prospects WILL be covered despite not being a member until July. (We did the same w/ UMass in '24.)

Rodney Hammond Jr. burst onto the FCS scene with a violent, kinetic running style that made Sac State's go-go offense, well, go. With the NFL Draft starting up tomorrow, our own Jack Dann makes the case for Hammond to become the latest Hornet to get picked: www.bythebelt.com/sacramento-s...

Rodney Hammond Jr. burst onto the FCS scene with a violent, kinetic running style that made Sac State's go-go offense, well, go. With the NFL Draft starting up tomorrow, our own Jack Dann makes the case for Hammond to become the latest Hornet to get picked: www.bythebelt.com/sacramento-s...

NIU's lineup should be allowed to beat this guy with hammers

Hello Belters... we approach you with a question regarding our website layout! Is a darker background or brighter background better for you as a reader? Here's what it looks like on both browser and mobile:

Fresh off back-to-back national titles in hockey, the NCHC has already released their 2026-27 conference schedule, which sees the addition of new member St. Thomas [MN]. See who Miami and Western Michigan are set to take on next season: www.bythebelt.com/nchc-release...

A bit of news out of the CMU spring game: DL Joey VanWetzinga is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles suffered Monday. Second season-ender of the spring for CMU, which also lost WR Tommy McIntosh to a torn ACL.

We have officially surpassed Western Michigan’s redesign budget. We are now in the neighborhood of THREE logos

Did we make a graphic of all G6 Water Skiing Programs? Yes. Presenting Alan Jackson's Water Skiing Jeans Trophy for the Charitibundi Bowl! Which school will win Alan Jackson's Water Skiing Jeans and learn a lot about donating and a little bout love? @edsbs.bsky.social www.edsbscharitybowl.com

INBOX: Former Toledo Blade football reporter and current NIL Wire contributor Kyle Rowland has been hired by the University of Toledo as assistant athletic director of communications. Rowland will be in charge of media relations, communications and brand strategy for all 17 varsity sports.

MAC baseball was at its zaniest this week, with UMass walking off BGSU twice in a series sweep, while NIU, Miami and Kent State held firm atop the league. Check out this week's series standouts and our previews for next week's actions in our latest #MACBats Digest: www.bythebelt.com/mac-baseball...

Happy Sunday, everyone... We're taking questions from now until Tuesday afternoon for a special #NFLDraft edition of our #BeltBag Q&A segment! Ask away below:

Here's a reminder with the NFL Draft approaching that you can sign up to our website using the link below and get our selection/signing write-ups, our MAC UDFA tracker and more directly into your inbox! www.bythebelt.com#/portal/signup