For the MAC to get a second bid this season, there are a couple of possible formulas. The simplest is for a ranked Buffalo to keep motoring along, stay ranked, or close to it, and then drop the conference title game. However, there is another path, and it pretty much starts and ends with this Saturday.
Currently, there are 4 teams in the MAC with impressive records. Central Michigan doesn’t play Saturday. Buffalo plays Southern Illinois, a team they should beat. If they don’t, they get to play #25 Syracuse next, so they basically get a mulligan. It’s not must win Saturday, it’s could win Saturday.