The Mid American Conference will start its football season Wednesday evening with all twelve schools playing in six league games.
It has been an unusual off season to say the least leading to many questions about how teams will respond when they get in a game.
"Normally they are handed to you in unbelievable shape," WMU head coach Tim Lester said. "In August when G2 (WMU strength coach Grant Geib) hands them over to us they are in phenomenal shape, so the combination of getting them into shape and getting ready to play has been unique."
The Broncos open at Akron at 6 p.m..
Central Michigan will begin the year by hosting Ohio University.
The Chippewas won the MAC West in 2019 which was head coach Jim McElwain's first in Mt. Pleasant.
"Now kind of the understanding of the expectations," CMU head McElwain said. "I think that is something that has been for the guys that have been through it now for the year kind of just how we go about our daily business. I really like where our team is especially from kind of a mental standpoint and really an expectation standpoint."
Both schools will have new quarterbacks this fall.
While CMU waits for the NCAA to rule on the reinstatement of David Moore, it will go with freshman Daniel Richardson.
Western hands the keys of the offense to sophomore Kaleb Eleby.
"I think when you bring a team back that has as much talent as ours does I think a lot of it is going to come down to you got a young quarterback," Lester said. "We have to do a good job of managing him. Miami did it last year, they won with a freshman quarterback, it can be done if you surround him with a good defense, if you surround him with a good running game and talent."
There are just six games on the schedule this fall for MAC football teams.
"I kind of told our guys there are no preseason games," McElwain said. "The way this lays out, you are at it from the get-go and you don't really get any do-overs."