Terry Bowden was hired as Akron 27th head coach before the season started.

[1] Chuck Amato was named the associate head coach and defensive coordinator.

[2] Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: QB Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois Coach of the Year: Darrell Hazell, Kent State Offensive Player of the Year: QB Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois Defensive Player of the Year: DT Chris Jones, Bowling Green Special Teams Player of the Year: KR Dri Archer, Kent State Freshman of the Year: WR Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan 2012 All-MAC First Team Offense Quarterback – Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois Center – Zac Kerin, Toledo Offensive Linemen – Brian Winters, Kent State Offensive Lineman – Eric Fisher, Central Michigan Offensive Lineman – Dann O'Neill, Western Michigan Offensive Linemen – Austin Holtz, Ball State Tight End – Zane Fakes, Ball State Wide Receiver – Martel Moore, Northern Illinois Wide Receiver – Bernard Reedy, Toledo Wide Receiver – Willie Snead IV, Ball State Wide Receiver – Jamill Smith, Ball State Running Back – Dri Archer, Kent State Running Back – David Fluellen, Toledo Placekicker – Steven Schott, Ball State 2012 All-MAC First Team Defense Outside Linebacker – Khalil Mack, Buffalo Outside Linebacker –Gabe Martin, Bowling Green Inside Linebacker – Dan Molls, Toledo Inside Linebacker – Perry McIntyre, UMass Down Lineman – Chris Jones, Bowling Green Down Lineman – Roosevelt Nix, Kent State Down Lineman – Sean Progar-Jackson, Northern Illinois Down Lineman – Alan Baxter, Northern Illinois Defensive Back – Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois Defensive Back – Dayonne Nunley, Miami Defensive Back – BooBoo Gates, Bowling Green Defensive Back – Jermaine Robinson, Toledo Punter – Jay Karutz, Eastern Michigan 2012 All-MAC First Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Dri Archer, Kent State Punt Return Specialist –Bernard Reedy, Toledo 2012 All-MAC Second Team Offense Quarterback – Keith Wenning, Ball State Center – Skyler Allen, Ohio Offensive Lineman – Eric Herman, Ohio Offensive Lineman – Josh Kline, Kent State Offensive Lineman – Tyler Loos, Northern Illinois Offensive Lineman – Jordan Roussos, Bowling Green Tight End – Garrett Hoskins, Eastern Michigan Wide Receiver – Nick Harwell, Miami Wide Receiver – Alex Neutz, Buffalo Wide Receiver – Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan Wide Receiver – Titus Davis, Central Michigan Running Back – Beau Blankenship, Ohio Running Back – Zurlon Tipton, Central Michigan Placekicker – Matt Weller, Ohio 2012 All-MAC Second Team Defense Outside Linebacker – Tyrone Clark, Northern Illinois Outside Linebacker – Justin Cudworth, Eastern Michigan Inside Linebacker – Travis Freeman, Ball State Inside Linebacker – Luke Batton, Kent State Down Lineman – Jonathan Newsome, Ball State Down Lineman – Freddie Bishop, Western Michigan Down Lineman – Steven Means, Buffalo Down Lineman – Andy Mulumba, Eastern Michigan Defensive Back – Jahleel Addae, Central Michigan Defensive Back – Luke Wollet, Kent State Defensive Back – Darren Thellen, UMass Defensive Back – Justin Currie, Western Michigan Punter – Brian Schmiedebusch, Bowling Green 2012 All-MAC Second Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Bernard Reedy, Toledo Punt Return Specialist – Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan 2012 All-MAC Third Team Offense Quarterback – Zac Dysert, Miami Center – Kevin Galeher, Western Michigan Offensive Lineman – Greg Mancz, Toledo Offensive Lineman – Dominic Flewellyn, Bowling Green Offensive Lineman – Jordan Hansel, Ball State Offensive Lineman – Cam Lowry, Ball State Tight End – Alex Bayer, Bowling Green Wide Receiver – Marquelo Suel, Akron Wide Receiver – Andy Cruse, Miami Wide Receiver – Cody Wilson, Central Michigan Wide Receiver – Alonzo Russell, Toledo Running Back – Jahwan Edwards, Ball State Running Back – Trayion Durham, Kent State Placekicker – Jeremiah Detmer, Toledo 2012 All-MAC Third Team Defense Outside Linebacker – C.J.

Malauulu, Kent State Outside Linebacker – Alphonso Lewis, Ohio Inside Linebacker – Dwayne Woods, Bowling Green Inside Linebacker – Desmond Bozeman, Western Michigan Down Lineman – Nate Ollie, Ball State Down Lineman – Jake Dooley, Kent State Down Lineman – Neal Huynh, Ohio Down Lineman – Ted Ouellet, Bowling Green Defensive Back – Cam Truss, Bowling Green Defensive Back – Eric Patterson, Ball State Defensive Back – Cheatham Norrils, Toledo Defensive Back – Johnnie Simon, Western Michigan Punter – Colter Johnson, UMass 2012 All-MAC Third Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Jamill Smith, Ball State Punt Return Specialist – Jamill Smith, Ball State The MAC placed seven teams in bowl games in 2012.

This was the highest number of MAC bowl teams in the conference's history.