At the Mid-American Conference Media Day at Ford Field, Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said MAC teams can play with any team in the nation.
Central Michigan football has an opportunity to prove him right in the nonconference schedule this season.
Three of the Chippewas' four nonconference games are against Power Five teams — Kentucky, Kansas and Michigan State.
Although the Chippewas play one conference game against Northern Illinois before playing Michigan State, a sturdy nonconference schedule can prepare a team for conference matchups on the latter half of the season.
Week 1: Kentucky, Southeastern Conference
2017 record: 7-6, 4-4 SEC
In Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops' sixth season as the head coach of the program, he welcomes 18 starters on a team who won seven games and was edged (24-23) in the Music City Bowl by Northwestern.