The Mid-American Conference (MAC) sponsors 23 sports (11 men's and 12 women's).

There are twelve schools with full membership: Five schools have affiliate membership status: The Reese and Jacoby trophies are awarded to the top men's and women's athletic departments in the Mid-American Conference.

Eastern Michigan won its fourth consecutive MAC Championship in 2008.

The All-MAC team consisted of Ryan Bloom (Buffalo), Josh Karanja (Eastern Michigan), Sammy Kiprotch (Central Michigan), Aiman Scullion (Kent State), Kevin Silver (Miami), Pat Sovacool (Miami) and Curtis Vollmar (Eastern Michigan).

[3] In the preseason poll voted by the MAC head coaches, Eastern Michigan was chosen to win the 2008 men's MAC Cross Country Championship.

[4] EMU had won the past three MAC Championships and had five All-MAC runners returning.