The MAC was one of four FBS conferences that shut down play to begin the 2020 season due to concerns over COVID-19. After monitoring the progress of other conferences, the MAC decided to play a conference-only schedule beginning November 4. Over the next six weeks, the conference played as many games as possible to crown divisional champions. All six West division teams completed six games. In the East, only Akron was able to get to six games as COVID protocols wreaked havoc with schedules.
Buffalo emerged from the East in impressive fashion. The Bulls went 5-0 in the regular season, averaging nearly 52 points a game and winning their games by an average margin of over 30 points a game. Runner-up Kent State finished 3-1, their only loss to Buffalo. Miami (OH) and Ohio were only able to get in three games, each finishing 2-1.
Ball State dropped their opening game to Miami (OH) and then proceeded to win out, finishing 5-1 to win the West division over Western Michigan and Toledo (both finishing 4-2). The Cardinals were masters of close games winning 4 one score games to position themselves against Buffalo in the MAC Championship.
Despite being nearly 13 point underdogs, Ball State was able to put the clamps on the Buffalo offense and score the upset 38-28 to win the MAC Championship.
Due to pandemic, 19 bowl games were cancelled. These cancellations, coupled with the MAC’s abbreviated schedule resulted in only two teams participating in bowls. They made the most of it as both Buffalo and Ball State won their bowl games. Ball State, once again a hefty underdog, defeated previously undefeated San Jose State to capture their first bowl victory and cap a 7-1 campaign. Buffalo rebounded from the MAC Championship loss to best Marshall 17-10 in the Camellia Bowl.
2020 Mid American Conference Final Standings
| Division/Team | Conference | All Games | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | W | L | Pct | Points | Against | W | L | Pct | Points | Against |
 Buffalo | 5 | 0 | 1.000 | 259 | 105 | 6 | 1 | 0.857 | 304 | 153 |
 Kent State | 3 | 1 | 0.750 | 199 | 152 | 3 | 1 | 0.750 | 199 | 152 |
 Miami (OH) | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 86 | 80 | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 86 | 80 |
 Ohio | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 103 | 50 | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 103 | 50 |
 Akron | 1 | 5 | 0.167 | 103 | 248 | 1 | 5 | 0.167 | 103 | 248 |
 Bowling Green | 0 | 5 | 0.000 | 57 | 225 | 0 | 5 | 0.000 | 57 | 225 |
| West | W | L | Pct | Points | Against | W | L | Pct | Points | Against |
 Ball State | 5 | 1 | 0.833 | 202 | 165 | 7 | 1 | 0.875 | 274 | 206 |
 Western Michigan | 4 | 2 | 0.667 | 250 | 205 | 4 | 2 | 0.667 | 250 | 205 |
 Toledo | 4 | 2 | 0.667 | 210 | 146 | 4 | 2 | 0.667 | 210 | 146 |
 Central Michigan | 3 | 3 | 0.500 | 188 | 181 | 3 | 3 | 0.500 | 188 | 181 |
 Eastern Michigan | 2 | 4 | 0.333 | 199 | 216 | 2 | 4 | 0.333 | 199 | 216 |
 Northern Illinois | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 149 | 232 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 149 | 232 |
2020 Mid American Conference Season Awards
| Player | Team | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Jaret Patterson | Buffalo | Vern Smith Leadership (MVP) |
| Jaret Patterson | Buffalo | Offensive Player of the Year |
| Brandon Martin | Ball State | Defensive Player of the Year (Tie) |
| Troy Hairston | Central Michigan | Defensive Player of the Year (Tie) |
| D’Wayne Eskridge | Western Michigan | Special Teams Player of the Year |
| Lew Nichols III | Central Michigan | Freshman of the Year |
| Lance Leipold | Buffalo | Coach of the Year |
2020 Mid American Conference Team Statistical Leaders
| Statistic | Team | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Team Scoring Offense and Defense | ||
| Points Scored Per Game-Total | Kent State | 49.8 |
| Average Game Margin-Total | Buffalo | 21.6 |
| Points Scored Per Game-Conf | Buffalo | 51.8 |
| Average Game Margin – Conf | Buffalo | 30.8 |
| Passing Offense | ||
| Pass Attempts Per Game | Northern Illinois | 36.8 |
| Pass Completions Per Game | Toledo | 23.8 |
| Completion Percentage | Kent State | 71.4% |
| Passing Yards Per Game | Toledo | 325.8 |
| Passing TDs Per Game | Kent State | 3.5 |
| Rushing Offense | ||
| Rushing Attempts Per Game | Kent State | 50 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | Buffalo | 287.1 |
| Average Yards Per Carry | Buffalo | 6.7 |
| Rushing TDs Per Game | Buffalo | 4.6 |
| Total Offense | ||
| Plays Per Game | Kent State | 81.5 |
| Total Yards Per Game | Kent State | 606.5 |
| Average Yards Per Play | Kent State | 7.4 |
| Penalties | ||
| Penalties Per Game (Fewest) | Akron | 4.0 |
| Penalty Yards Per Game (Fewest) | Akron | 31.7 |
| Offense Turnovers | ||
| Fumbles Per Game (Fewest) | Buffalo, Miami (OH) | 0.3 |
| Interceptions Per Game (Fewest) | Ohio | 0.0 |
| Total Turnovers Per Game (Fewest) | Ohio, Miami (OH) | 0.7 |
| Team Scoring Defense | ||
| Points Allowed Per Game-Total | Ohio | 16.7 |
| Points Allowed Per Game-Conf | Ohio | 16.7 |
| Passing Defense | ||
| Completions Allowed Per Game | Kent State | 11.8 |
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game | Kent State | 162 |
| Passing Completion % Per Game | Kent State | 51.6% |
| Passing TDs Allowed Per Game | Kent State | 0.5 |
| Rushing Defense | ||
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game | Miami (OH) | 125.3 |
| Rushing Yards Per Carry Allowed | Central Michigan | 3.1 |
| Rushing TDs Allowed Per Game | Ohio | 1.0 |
| Total Defense | ||
| Yards Allowed Per Game | Buffalo | 360.4 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Play | Buffalo | 5.2 |
| Turnovers | ||
| Interceptions Per Game (Most) | Ohio | 1.7 |
| Fumbles Recovered Per Game (Most) | Eastern Michigan | 1.5 |
| Total turnovers Forced Per Game | Central Michigan | 2.5 |
2020 Mid American Conference Individual Statistical Leaders
| Statistic | Player | Team | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing | |||
| Completions | Drew Plitt | Ball State | 164 |
| Completion % | Dustin Crum | Kent State | 73.5% |
| Passing Yards | Drew Plitt | Ball State | 2,164 |
| Passing Yards Per Att | Kaleb Eleby | Western Michigan | 11.2 |
| Passing TDs | Kaleb Eleby | Western Michigan | 18 |
| Passer Efficiency | Kaleb Eleby | Western Michigan | 194.8 |
| Rushing | |||
| Rushing Attempts | Jaret Patterson | Buffalo | 141 |
| Rushing Yardage | Jaret Patterson | Buffalo | 1,072 |
| Rush Yards Per Att | Xavier Williams | Kent State | 8.0 |
| Rushing TDs | Jaret Patterson | Buffalo | 19 |
| Receiving | |||
| Receptions | Tyrice Richie | Northern Illinois | 53 |
| Receiving Yards | D’Wayne Eskridge | Western Michigan | 768 |
| Yards Per Reception | Jaylen Hall | Western Michigan | 26.9 |
| Receiving TDs | D’Wayne Eskridge, Yo’Heinz Tyler | Western Michigan, Ball State | 8 |
| Total Offense | |||
| Yards From Scrimmage | Jaret Patterson | Buffalo | 1,072 |
| Total Yards | Drew Plitt | Ball State | 2,213 |
| Total Yards Per Play | Kaleb Eleby | Western Michigan | 9.3 |
| Touchdowns | Jaret Patterson | Buffalo | 19 |
| TDs Responsible For | Kaleb Eleby | Western Michigan | 22 |
| Kicking | |||
| Extra Points Made | Alex McNulty | Buffalo | 42 |
| Field Goals Made | Chad Ryland | Eastern Michigan | 11 |
| Field Goal Pct | Marshall Meeder | Central Michigan | 100.0% |
| Avg. Punt Yards | Jake Juilen | Eastern Michigan | 44.3 |
| Defense | |||
| Solo Tackles | Bradon Martin, Bubba Arslanian | Ball State, Akron | 46 |
| Total Tackles | Bradon Martin | Ball State | 90 |
| Tackles for Loss | Troy Hairston | Central Michigan | 13 |
| Sacks | Troy Hairston | Central Michigan | 5.5 |
| Interceptions | Willie Reid | Central Michigan | 3 |
| Passes Defended | Jordan Gandy, Kadofi Wright, Samuel Womack | Northern Illinois, Buffalo, Toledo | 7 |
| Fumbles Forced | Anthony Ekpe, George Wolo, Troy Brown | Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan | 2 |