MAC teams must play three games to be eligible for league title

Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher confirmed on Thursday that teams must play a minimum of three of six scheduled contests to be eligible for this year's conference championship game. 

The MAC became the first FBS conference to postpone football and other fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic on Aug. 8 but reversed that decision last month and announced the creation of a six-game, conference-only football season that begins next Wednesday (Nov. 4). 

As Heather Dinich wrote for ESPN, Steinbrecher did say the league could potentially reschedule any postponed/canceled games despite the conference not adding bye weeks to the schedule ahead of the Dec. 18 title game that will be held at Ford Field, home of the NFL's Detroit Lions. Winning percentages will be used for divisional tiebreakers, followed by head-to-head wins. 

"There is certainly great anticipation, but I think you take each day one at a time," Steinbrecher said about the upcoming campaign. "You wake up and you see what the reports are within the states, within the communities, within your athletic programs and institutions. You don't get any further than one day, and the next day you're on to it. You temper that anticipation with, you don't know what the future holds. You hope we have the opportunity to compete. We'll take it a day at a time."

Steinbrecher added that family members are permitted to attend games where allowed by local health and safety guidelines. Previously, the conference announced that public attendance and tailgating for contests were prohibited.