Record: 75-88, .460 W-L% (11th of 12) (Schedule and Results)
SRS: -5.85 (11th of 12) ▪ SOS: -4.57 (11th of 12)
Division Champions: Buffalo (East) and Ball State (West)
Conference Champion: Buffalo (Won Championship Game 42-24)
Ranked in Preseason AP Poll: 0
Ranked in Final AP Poll: 0
| Overall | Conference | Pts/G | SRS | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | W | L | Pct | W | L | Pct | Own | Opp | SRS | SOS | Notes |
| Buffalo | 8 | 6 | .571 | 5 | 3 | .625 | 30.3 | 28.2 | -0.41 | -2.70 | |
| Bowling Green State | 6 | 6 | .500 | 4 | 4 | .500 | 27.7 | 23.2 | -2.00 | -5.25 | |
| Temple | 5 | 7 | .417 | 4 | 4 | .500 | 23.4 | 23.1 | -3.38 | -4.05 | |
| Akron | 5 | 7 | .417 | 3 | 5 | .375 | 30.0 | 31.3 | -6.87 | -4.95 | |
| Kent State | 4 | 8 | .333 | 3 | 5 | .375 | 25.7 | 31.7 | -11.10 | -5.02 | |
| Ohio | 4 | 8 | .333 | 3 | 5 | .375 | 24.1 | 27.3 | -8.80 | -4.64 | |
| Miami (OH) | 2 | 10 | .167 | 1 | 7 | .125 | 18.4 | 32.7 | -17.24 | -3.91 | |
| West | W | L | Pct | W | L | Pct | Own | Opp | SRS | SOS | Notes |
| Ball State | 12 | 2 | .857 | 8 | 0 | 1.000 | 34.9 | 20.5 | 6.26 | -7.03 | |
| Western Michigan | 9 | 4 | .692 | 6 | 2 | .750 | 28.6 | 24.9 | -0.87 | -4.49 | |
| Central Michigan | 8 | 5 | .615 | 6 | 2 | .750 | 29.5 | 30.2 | -2.75 | -4.44 | |
| Northern Illinois | 6 | 7 | .462 | 5 | 3 | .625 | 24.2 | 18.0 | -2.73 | -5.43 | |
| Eastern Michigan | 3 | 9 | .250 | 2 | 6 | .250 | 25.8 | 35.6 | -13.89 | -3.73 | |
| Toledo | 3 | 9 | .250 | 2 | 6 | .250 | 22.4 | 31.4 | -12.22 | -3.81 | |
| School | Pre | 9/2 | 9/7 | 9/14 | 9/21 | 9/28 | 10/5 | 10/12 | 10/19 | 10/26 | 11/2 | 11/9 | 11/16 | 11/23 | 11/30 | 12/7 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | 25 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 23 |
| Date | Bowl | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-01-06 | GMAC Bowl | Tulsa | 45 | Ball State | 13 | GMAC Bowl (Mobile, AL) |
| 2009-01-03 | International Bowl | Connecticut | 38 | Buffalo | 20 | International Bowl (Toronto, Canada) |
| 2008-12-30 | Texas Bowl | Rice | 38 | Western Michigan | 14 | Texas Bowl (Houston, TX) |
| 2008-12-28 | Independence Bowl | Louisiana Tech | 17 | Northern Illinois | 10 | Independence Bowl (Shreveport, LA) |
| 2008-12-26 | Motor City Bowl | Florida Atlantic | 24 | Central Michigan | 21 | Motor City Bowl (Detroit, MI) |
| MAC Defensive Player of the Year: | Larry English (Northern Illinois) |
| MAC Offensive Player of the Year: | Nate Davis (Ball State) |
| MAC Coach of the Year: | Brady Hoke (Ball State) |