Eastern Michigan at Ohio Breakdown: Week 8, Oct. 24, 2026

The story

Ohio has won four straight and is 3-0 in MAC play, while Eastern Michigan comes to Peden Stadium on Oct. 24 at 3-1 in the conference after losing 34-14 to Toledo on Oct. 17. The first-place stakes are real, but the fantasy picture is narrower. Eastern Michigan offers the clearer roles, built around a tight end whose usage has taken off. Ohio's backfield and quarterback situation both come with split work.

The angle

Neither offense's scoring points to an extreme game, so usage and matchups carry the decisions. Eastern Michigan is tougher on the run than the pass. Its run defense is below average, but it rates as the 17th-worst pass defense in FBS, which makes Ohio's passing game the softer path. Ohio's defense is below average against every position, which keeps the door open for Eastern Michigan's top pass catchers.

Start 'em

Joshua Long has become the center of Eastern Michigan's passing game. He has 7 catches a game over his last three games, up from 3.4 a game before that, and he has taken 31 percent of the team's catches in that stretch after 16 percent earlier. The production has followed: he has averaged 18.8 points over his last three games against 10.8 this season, with a season high of 21.4. Ohio is a below-average defense against tight ends, so nothing in this matchup should slow that volume. He is a safe floor, because a role this large rarely disappears in a soft spot.

Harold Mack (Eastern Michigan) has been a steady producer as a regular target, averaging 12.5 points this season and 12 over his last three games. He has played in seven of Eastern Michigan's eight games, and his season high of 20.2 shows the ceiling is there. Ohio is a below-average defense against wide receivers, and with Long drawing attention underneath, Mack should find room. Watch Eastern Michigan quarterback Noah Kim's status, since the passing game runs through him. Mack is a start, as his consistent output meets a favorable matchup.

Risky plays

Nick Poulos (Ohio) brings the most dual-threat upside in this game. He has averaged 8.3 carries and 37 rushing yards a game over his last three games, on top of 113 passing yards a game, and he posted a season high of 23.6. Eastern Michigan is the 16th-worst defense against quarterbacks in FBS, which is about as inviting as it gets. What holds him back is his availability. He is back after missing two games while listed out, has played in four of Ohio's seven games, and has had a real role in three of the five games he was available for. He is risky, since a great matchup cannot fully offset an uncertain workload.

Sit 'em

Amareon Blue's share fell to 19 percent of Eastern Michigan's carries over his last three games, down from 36 percent earlier in the season. He has averaged 5.6 points over that span. Ohio's below-average defense against running backs gives him some upside, but the work has moved elsewhere in this backfield. Fade him, since a shrinking slice of the carries leaves too little to stand on.

Value

Eastern Michigan running back Joey Mattord's role has grown. He has 10 carries a game over his last three games, up from 5.4 a game before that, and he has averaged 12 points in that stretch against 7.4 this season. Ohio is below average against running backs. At $6.3M he is projected for about 8, and his recent usage gives him a clear path past that number.

Injuries and timeshares

Eastern Michigan's Noah Kim, Nick Devereaux, Armaad Sharp and Santonyo Isaac are all questionable. If Kim sits, Brogan McCaughey would take over at quarterback, and he has thrown for 18 passing yards a game over his last three games. Eastern Michigan's backfield is a timeshare: Mattord has 31 percent of the carries over the last three games and Braydon Bennett 26 percent.

Ohio's Riley Neer and Khamani Debrow are questionable. If Neer sits, Preston Bowman stands to gain, and he has 18 percent of the team's catches over his last three games. Ohio's backfield is also split, with Duncan Brune taking 35 percent of the carries over the last three games and Victor Rosa 21 percent. In the passing game, Jake Furtney has 21 percent of the catches over that span to Neer's 32 percent.

TL;DR

Lock in Long, start Mack, grab Mattord as the value, treat Poulos as a risky upside swing, and skip Blue.