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On a college football landscape muddled by realignment, the Mid-American Conference suddenly stands out as a picture of stability.

No, it won't be challenging the Southeastern Conference or Big Ten in terms of brand recognition any time soon, but the MAC's fans know exactly what to expect each season — competitive football in a league with plenty of parity and rivalries going back decades.

Of the conference's 13 teams, almost half have been in the league at least six decades.

The MAC will have a hard time topping the last 12 months, when Northern Illinois made it to the Orange Bowl and Central Michigan's Eric Fisher was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.