Three straight whippings to start the season haven’t demoralized the University of Massachusetts football team.

Indeed, first-year head coach Charley Molnar said his troops are upbeat and eager to play their first-ever Mid-American Conference game Saturday afternoon at Miami.

“Our guys are in a great place,” Molnar said Monday during the weekly MAC coaches call. “We’re getting bettter, and they see the improvement that we make. I think our players are anxious every day to come out to practice. Very rarely have I been on a team where the guys really just like to practice.

“Now that we’re into the conference, it’s a fresh start if you are 0-3 like us or if you’re 3-0. The conference is what it’s all about, and I know our guys are focused on doing the very best they can and making the best impression they can in the MAC.”

The Minutemen have experienced plenty of turbulence in their first year of Football Bowl Subdivision play, getting outscored 145-19 by Connecticut, Indiana and Michigan.

UMass has played without projected starting quarterback Kellen Pagel (post-concussion symptoms) all season and is going with freshman Mike Wegzyn (41-of-77, 348 yards, 0 TDs, 1 interception) under center.

Lost to injuries during the Michigan game last Saturday were wide receiver Dalvin Battle (knee) and defensive tackle Galen Clemons (head). Molnar said Battle is likely done for the year and Clemons is doubtful for this weekend.

Overall, Molnar said UMass is making strides.

“We’re throwing the ball a little bit better,” he said. “We’re getting the ball out of our hands and making better decisions. We ran the ball more effectively (against Michigan). We’ve not put the ball on the ground one time after three games.”

Miami coach Don Treadwell likes the Minutemen’s size and physicality.

“They’re as big as anybody we’ve played, and we’ve had a couple pretty darn large opponents,” Treadwell said. “We certainly don’t believe their record is any indication of their ability.”

Eagle search: Eastern Michigan is 0-3 and coming off a 54-16 loss to Purdue. The Eagles have already lost to a Football Championship Subdivision team (Illinois State) and dropped their MAC opener (to Ball State). And Game 4 is a trip to Michigan State.

Among Eastern’s issues is the fact that it ranks last in the FBS in rushing defense, giving up 312.3 yards per game.

“I don’t think anybody is hanging their head around here,” EMU coach Ron English said. “I think we’re better. Now can we get better fast enough to become a factor in the league race?”

On the Ball: Ball State drove 44 yards in the last 49 seconds and got a 42-yard field goal from Steven Schott as time expired to topple Indiana 41-39. It was the Cardinals’ third straight win over the Hoosiers.

“Execution of the two-minute drill seems to be one of the best things we’ve done since we’ve gotten here,” second-year BSU coach Pete Lembo said. “I believe we’re in double digits in terms of two-minute drives that have resulted in a field goal or a touchdown for us, whether they be at the end of the half or the end of the game.”

The pro tees: Akron picked up the first win of the Terry Bowden era by hammering FCS opponent Morgan State 66-6.

“When you play down a division, you have a chance to play people that aren’t as talented as yourself,” Bowden said. “We were kind of playing from the forward tees. We’ve got to go back on the pro tees now and see what kind of game we’ve got.”

The Zips travel to Tennessee on Saturday.

Finding a spot: Terrance Owens has won the starting quarterback job over Austin Dantin at Toledo, but Dantin isn’t just holding a clipboard.

“He was on our punt team and unselfishly did it and kind of really changed the game in how we tried to scheme the punt for the week,” said UT coach Matt Campbell, calling Dantin “the unsung hero” in the 27-15 triumph over Bowling Green.

A tough job: Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit said it’s tough being a defensive back these days.

“I don’t know how you do it,” Cubit said. “These pass interference rules with how they’re calling stuff … guys are running free. It’s just difficult.”

Honor roll: The MAC announced its weekly award winners Monday.

In the East Division, the honorees were Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton (offense), Bowling Green tackle Chris Jones (defense) and OU kicker Matt Weller (special teams). The West Division selections were Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch (offense), Toledo defensive back Cheatham Norrils (defense) and Ball State’s Schott (special teams).