PASSPORT STAMPED (BOWL-ELIGIBLE TEAMS): C-USA (2): UAB (6-1) North Texas (6-2); MAC (2): Buffalo (7-1), Western Michigan (6-2). AT CUSTOMS (ONE VICTORY SHY): C-USA (3): FIU (5-2), Louisiana Tech (5-2), Marshall (5-2).

WEEK 9 PREVIEW: MACtion, the series of midweek contests in the Mid-American Conference, begin this week with a pair of games on Thursday as Ball State visits Ohio, as the 2017 Bahamas Bowl champ Bobcats look to keep pace in the East Division, and West Division co-leader Western Michigan hosts Toledo. There are just three games Saturday, with only one league contest, as Central Michigan visits Akron. A pair of non-conference games are on tap with Army at Eastern Michigan and West Division co-leader Northern Illinois visits BYU.

In Conference USA, the slate begins Friday night as Louisiana Tech, needing one victory for bowl eligibility, visits Florida Atlantic. Saturday, fi ve league games are on the schedule, with East leader FIU, one victory shy of bowl eligibility, going to WKU, and West leader UAB, which became bowl eligible this past Saturday, visiting UTEP. Southern Miss plays a cross-division game at Charlotte, Middle Tennessee, trailing in the East race by a game, faces division rival Old Dominion, and Rice goes to in-state rival North Texas.

IN THE POLLS: UAB (6-1 overall, 4-0 C-USA) is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and the Amway Coaches Poll. Buffalo (7-1, 4-0 MAC) is receiving votes in the Amway Coaches Poll.

CONFERENCE USA NOTES: West Division leader UAB rallied from a 21-10 halftime defi cit to beat division rival North Texas 29-21 behind three TD runs by sophomore RB Spencer Brown. East Division leader FIU beat Rice 36-17 behind two TD passes by redshirt junior James Morgan. Marshall’s defense forced fi ve turnovers in a 31-7 victory over Florida Atlantic.

MAC NOTES: West Division leader Buffalo rallied from a 10-point defi cit to beat Toledo 31-17 behind freshman RB Jaret Patterson, who rushed for two TDs in the fourth quarter. Western Michigan pulled even with Northern Illinois in the West Division race with a 35-10 victory over Central Michigan.

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