DETROIT — Like the rest of the college football world, the times are changing in the Mid-American Conference.

Representatives from each of the conference’s football teams gathered at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, June 24, for the 2025 MAC Football Kickoff media day. Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, the commissioner of the MAC, addressed the gathering of coaches, players, athletic directors and media to dwell on some of the changes that have swept the conference recently.

The biggest change has been the addition of UMass this offseason. UMass was once a football-only affiliate member of the conference from 2012-15, but has been an FBS Independent since 2016. The Minutemen were officially welcomed back to the MAC on July 1.

“One of the top institutions in the country, ranked 26th among public institutions, and with an athletics program steeped in tradition, I expect Sam the Minuteman to quickly develop rivalries within the conference,” Steinbrecher said.

As conference realignment giveth, it also taketh away. Northern Illinois is preparing for its final season as a member of the MAC, as the Huskies will join the Mountain West as a football-only member in 2026. Steinbrecher reflected on some of NIU’s best moments in the MAC — some more recent than others.

“Through two tenures, NIU has added to the reputation of the conference and had its share of memorable moments,” Steinbrecher said. “One only needs to think back to 2012 when NIU won the MAC football championship game in double overtime and went on to play in the Orange Bowl. That same season, NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.

“And of course, last season, NIU went into South Bend and defeated fifth-ranked Notre Dame, a team that advanced to the CFP National Championship game.”

Another significant change this year is the MAC’s lineup of head coaches. Six of the conference’s 13 head coaches are new in 2025 — Ball State‘s Mike Uremovich, Bowling Green’s Eddie George, Central Michigan’s Matt Drinkall, Kent State’s Mark Carney, UMass’ Joe Harasymiak and Ohio’s Brian Smith. Steinbrecher took a moment to welcome each of the six new coaches, as well as Akron’s new athletic director Andrew Goodrich.

The commissioner also announced a partnership with Chi Alpha Sigma, which will make the MAC the second Division-I conference to enroll all of its teams in the National College Athlete Honor Society. Five MAC schools had previous membership in Chi Alpha Sigma, but now, every MAC team will have the opportunity to induct student-athletes of junior standing or higher who maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA.

“Chi Alpha Sigma provides exceptional student-athletes with a fraternal association that aligns educational and athletic success for a lifetime,” Steinbrecher said. “MAC student-athletes are scholars, athletes and engaged citizens.”

How will House settlement affect MAC football?

Steinbrecher addressed the House vs. NCAA settlement and whether or not the new revenue sharing guidelines are good for college sports. He invoked the lyrics of Pink Floyd’s 1979 album “The Wall” to address the settlement.

“I am comfortably numb,” Steinbrecher said. “The settlement is neither good nor bad. It is simply a framework for providing an evolving set of guidelines and guardrails to guide us on the emerging economic opportunities for student-athletes. Currently, the rules around NIL and additional benefits are still being developed, as are the mechanisms to oversee those rules.”

According to Steinbrecher, the MAC’s athletic directors each met with Bryan Seeley, the CEO of the College Sports Commission, before the media day. Seeley updated the ADs on the progress of the commission so far as the body looks to establish more oversight over NIL dealings than has existed in the years since NIL was permitted.

Steinbrecher also called for Congress to act further on NIL legislation. The commissioner has made four trips to Washington, D.C. in the past year, where he met with U.S. Representatives to discuss some of the key issues in college athletics and higher education.

“Congressional assistance is necessary if we are to establish a unifying NIL standard and have legal protections to develop and enforce eligibility rules that promote academic success,” Steinbrecher said. “We are seeking to balance multiple goals, economic opportunities for student-athletes and successful educational outcomes. This is what makes college sports different from professional sports.”

MAC involvement in College Football Playoff expansion

Steinbrecher addressed the ongoing debate around potential expansion of the College Football Playoff. Steinbrecher rotates with the SEC and ACC commissioners as the chair of the CFP Management Committee, which gives the MAC a big role in these discussions. He called for more collaboration between the autonomous (Power 4) and the non-autonomous (Group of 5) conferences as they look to finalize a decision.

“It is becoming more and more clear that the way for our path for success is less fragmentation, more collaboration among all of us,” Steinbrecher said. “Certainly, among the 10 FBS (conferences), and certainly among the five or six non-autonomous FBS. We’re all going to win if we compete on the field, but collaborate in the boardroom.”

In an ever-evolving college football landscape, the MAC seems to be in good shape. Even with a team leaving the conference, they are one step ahead on filling their spot. The conference is also clearly committed to the educations of its student-athletes and their financial well-being in an era with higher economic opportunities.

Some college football experts will tell you that the Group of 5 conferences are in trouble and that smaller schools are in danger of falling behind in athletics. Steinbrecher doesn’t see the MAC that way at all.

“We are continually told budgets are not big enough, players are not fast enough, that we can’t compete,” Steinbrecher said. “Yet, year after year, with that chip on our shoulder and a deserved reputation for being efficient and effective with the resources, we persevere and succeed.

“It’s our pirate mentality, and I look forward to watching our teams fly the flag.”

Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@muncie.gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.