2012 Mid-American Conference football season

The 2012 Mid-American Conference football season is the 67th season for the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The University of Massachusetts joins the conference to create a 13-team, two-division league. Last season at the Marathon MAC Championship game, Northern Illinois defeated Ohio 23–20 for the championship.

Pre-season Coaches changes
Terry Bowden was hired as Akron 27th head coach before the season started. Chuck Amato was named the associate head coach and defensive coordinator.

2012 MAC Specialty Award Winners
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: QB Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois Coach of the Year: Darrell Hazell, Kent State Offensive Player of the Year: QB Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois Defensive Player of the Year: DT Chris Jones, Bowling Green Special Teams Player of the Year: KR Dri Archer, Kent State Freshman of the Year: WR Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan

All Conference Teams
2012 All-MAC First Team Offense Quarterback – Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois Center – Zac Kerin, Toledo Offensive Linemen – Brian Winters, Kent State Offensive Lineman – Eric Fisher, Central Michigan Offensive Lineman – Dann O'Neill, Western Michigan Offensive Linemen – Austin Holtz, Ball State Tight End – Zane Fakes, Ball State Wide Receiver – Martel Moore, Northern Illinois Wide Receiver – Bernard Reedy, Toledo Wide Receiver – Willie Snead IV, Ball State Wide Receiver – Jamill Smith, Ball State Running Back – Dri Archer, Kent State Running Back – David Fluellen, Toledo Placekicker – Steven Schott, Ball State

2012 All-MAC First Team Defense Outside Linebacker – Khalil Mack, Buffalo Outside Linebacker –Gabe Martin, Bowling Green Inside Linebacker – Dan Molls, Toledo Inside Linebacker – Perry McIntyre, UMass Down Lineman – Chris Jones, Bowling Green Down Lineman – Roosevelt Nix, Kent State Down Lineman – Sean Progar, Northern Illinois Down Lineman – Alan Baxter, Northern Illinois Defensive Back – Jimmy Ward, Northern Illinois Defensive Back – Dayonne Nunley, Miami Defensive Back – BooBoo Gates, Bowling Green Defensive Back – Jermaine Robinson, Toledo Punter – Jay Karutz, Eastern Michigan

2012 All-MAC First Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Dri Archer, Kent State Punt Return Specialist –Bernard Reedy, Toledo

2012 All-MAC Second Team Offense Quarterback – Keith Wenning, Ball State Center – Skyler Allen, Ohio Offensive Lineman – Eric Herman, Ohio Offensive Lineman – Josh Kline, Kent State Offensive Lineman – Tyler Loos, Northern Illinois Offensive Lineman – Jordan Roussos, Bowling Green Tight End – Garrett Hoskins, Eastern Michigan Wide Receiver – Nick Harwell, Miami Wide Receiver – Alex Neutz, Buffalo Wide Receiver – Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan Wide Receiver – Titus Davis, Central Michigan Running Back – Beau Blankenship, Ohio Running Back – Zurlon Tipton, Central Michigan Placekicker – Matt Weller, Ohio

2012 All-MAC Second Team Defense Outside Linebacker – Tyrone Clark, Northern Illinois Outside Linebacker – Justin Cudworth, Eastern Michigan Inside Linebacker – Travis Freeman, Ball State Inside Linebacker – Luke Batton, Kent State Down Lineman – Jonathan Newsome, Ball State Down Lineman – Freddie Bishop, Western Michigan Down Lineman – Steven Means, Buffalo Down Lineman – Andy Mulumba, Eastern Michigan Defensive Back – Jahleel Addae, Central Michigan Defensive Back – Luke Wollet, Kent State Defensive Back – Darren Thellen, UMass Defensive Back – Justin Currie, Western Michigan Punter – Brian Schmiedebusch, Bowling Green

2012 All-MAC Second Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Bernard Reedy, Toledo Punt Return Specialist – Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan

2012 All-MAC Third Team Offense Quarterback – Zac Dysert, Miami Center – Kevin Galeher, Western Michigan Offensive Lineman – Greg Mancz, Toledo Offensive Lineman – Dominic Flewellyn, Bowling Green Offensive Lineman – Jordan Hansel, Ball State Offensive Lineman – Cam Lowry, Ball State Tight End – Alex Bayer, Bowling Green Wide Receiver – Marquelo Suel, Akron Wide Receiver – Andy Cruse, Miami Wide Receiver – Cody Wilson, Central Michigan Wide Receiver – Alonzo Russell, Toledo Running Back – Jahwan Edwards, Ball State Running Back – Trayion Durham, Kent State Placekicker – Jeremiah Detmer, Toledo

2012 All-MAC Third Team Defense Outside Linebacker – C.J. Malauulu, Kent State Outside Linebacker – Alphonso Lewis, Ohio Inside Linebacker – Dwayne Woods, Bowling Green Inside Linebacker – Desmond Bozeman, Western Michigan Down Lineman – Nate Ollie, Ball State Down Lineman – Jake Dooley, Kent State Down Lineman – Neal Huynh, Ohio Down Lineman – Ted Ouellet, Bowling Green Defensive Back – Cam Truss, Bowling Green Defensive Back – Eric Patterson, Ball State Defensive Back – Cheatham Norrils, Toledo Defensive Back – Johnnie Simon, Western Michigan Punter – Colter Johnson, UMass

2012 All-MAC Third Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Jamill Smith, Ball State Punt Return Specialist – Jamill Smith, Ball State

Bowl games
The MAC placed seven teams in bowl games in 2012. This was the highest number of MAC bowl teams in the conference's history. For the first time, the MAC placed a team in a BCS Bowl with Northern Illinois playing in the Orange Bowl.

NOTE: All times are local