When Turner Gill was going 28-2 as the starting quarterback at Nebraska in the early 1980s, he was known for his sleight of hand in the option attack.

But it wasn’t until he became the head coach at lowly Buffalo that he was truly acknowledged as a magician.

Three seasons after taking over a team coming off a one-win season, Gill is one of the hottest names in the coaching fraternity. A year ago he led the Bulls to an 8-6 record and their first Mid-American Conference championship.

Over the past two years, Buffalo has won 13 games — one more than in its first eight seasons combined in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

“I’m excited,” Gill said after his squad was picked to win the East in 2009. “We just need to build on what we’ve learned. We still can get better.”

A former Canadian Football League quarterback and a promising player in the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians organizations, Gill also took the Bulls to the International Bowl. Then he spurned several feelers from bigger, brand-name schools to sign a contract extension through the 2013 season.

Now Buffalo is the choice to win the East again. Asked if he needed to alter what got the Bulls to the title game, Gill answered with typical clarity: “Why change? ... Our guys expect to win now. Once you’ve done it, you can see what it takes to keep winning.”

Buffalo did suffer a blow to its title hopes when running back James Starks, the school’s all-time rushing leader, suffered a shoulder injury.

“Injuries are, and will always be, a huge part of football, but this one is particularly painful because of what James has meant to this program and community,” Gill said. “However, this is an incredible opportunity for a group of very talented running backs that we have to step up and help us achieve our goals this season.”

A capsule look at the MAC teams in predicted order of finish:

West Division

CENTRAL MICHIGAN — Key players: QB Dan LeFevour, WR Antonio Brown, WR Bryan Anderson, LB Nick Bellore, DB Bobby Seay, DE Frank Zombo, DB Josh Gordy, LB Matt Berning, DL Sean Murnane. Returning starters: 6 offense, 10 defense.

Notes: Has MAC’s longest streak of winning seasons (4), but opens at Arizona and then at Michigan State; preseason media pick to win title game; Anderson’s 226 catches leaves him 80 behind Marshall’s Josh Davis conference record; LeFevour needs 383 yards of total offense to break MAC mark of 12,084 by Marshall’s Byron Leftwich.

WESTERN MICHIGAN — Key players: QB Tim Hiller, RB Brandon West, OG Nick Clemens, OT Anthony Parker, WR Juan Nunez, OG Phillip Swanson, LB Austin Pritchard, DE Justin Braska. Returning starters: 7 offense, 4 defense.

Notes: Hiller has 76 career TD passes and needs 25 to pass Marshall’s Chad Pennington (100) as the all-time MAC leader.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS — Key players: QB Chandler Harnish, C Eddie Adamski, S David Bryant, LB Cory Hanson, S Mike Sabol, OT Trevor Olson, OT Jason Onyebaugu. Returning starters: 7 offense, 4 defense.

Notes: Harnish’s 1,528 passing yards in 2008 is No. 8 among MAC freshmen.

TOLEDO — Key players: LB Archie Donald, S Barry Church, WR Stephen Williams, QB Aaron Opelt, RB DaJuane Collins, RB Morgan Williams, OL Kevin Kowalski, OL John Morookian, S Lester Richmond. Returning starters: 9 offense, 9 defense.

Notes: Williams’ 1,010 rushing yards was ninth-best ever by a MAC frosh; new coach Tim Beckman, defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, takes over for Tom Amstutz.

BALL STATE — Key players: RB MiQuale Lewis, WR Briggs Orsbon, TE Madaris Grant, DE Robert Eddins, FS Alex Knipp, SS Sean Baker, LB Davyd Jones, DE Brandon Crawford. Returning starters: 4 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: Reached highest ranking ever — No. 12 in AP poll — on Nov. 30; has won a conference-best 14 consecutive regular-season games; Lewis had 22 rushing TDs last year, the second-highest total ever by a MAC player; Stan Parrish promoted from offensive coordinator to replace Brady Hoke, who moved to San Diego State.

EASTERN MICHIGAN — Key players: QB Andy Schmitt, WR Jacory Stone, LB Jermaine Jenkins, LB Andre Hatchett, DE Brad Ohrman, C Eric Davis, LG Andy Fretz, RB Terrence Blevins. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense.

Notes: New coach Ron English, a former defensive coordinator at Michigan and Louisville, takes over for Jeff Genyk, who was 16-42 in six seasons.

East Division

BUFFALO — Key players: WR Naaman Roosevelt, OL Peter Bittner, WR Brett Hamlin, RB James Starks, OL Andrew West, LB Raphael Akobundu, DB Domonic Cook, DB Mike Newton, LB Scott Pettigrew, DB Davonte Shannon, LB Justin Winters. Returning starters: 6 offense, 9 defense.

Notes: Starks has been named to the Doak Walker (nation’s top running back) watch list.

TEMPLE — Key players: QB Vaughn Charlton, OL Wayne Tribue, WR Jason Harper, DL Brian Sanford, NT Andre Neblett, LB Amara Kamara, LB Alex Joseph, LB Elijah Joseph, S Dominique Harris, S Jaiquawn Jarrett. Returning starters: 8 offense, 8 defense.

Notes: Redshirt junior Vaughn Charlton, with seven career starts, takes over for the departed Adam DiMichele at QB.

AKRON — Key players: RG Zach Anderson, C Elliot Bates, WR Deryn Bowser, QB Chris Jacquemain, WR Andre Jones, RT Corey Woods, LG Mike Ward, FS Jalil Carter, ROV Wayne Cobham, CB Miguel Grajam, DE Almondo Sewell, LB Mike Thomas. Returning starters: 9 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Opens new InfoCision Stadium (30,000 capacity), which makes debut Sept. 12 when the Zips host Morgan State.

OHIO — Key players: WR LaVon Brazill, QB Boo Jackson, WR Taylor Price, OL David White, S Steve Jackson, LB Noah Keller, DE Curtis Meyers, LB Lee Renfro, CB Thad Turner. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: Seniors Boo Jackson and Theo Scott will fight for the starting QB spot.

BOWLING GREEN — Key players: QB Tyler Sheehan, OL Shane Steffy, OL Brady Minture, OL Ben Bojicic, WR Freddie Barnes, LB Jerrett Sanderson, S P.J. Mahone, S Jahmal Brown. Returning starters: 7 offense, 3 defense.

Notes: New coach Dave Clawson, who replaces the fired Gregg Brandon, was offensive coordinator at Tennessee last year.

KENT STATE — Key players: OL Chris Anzevino, OL Michael Fay, RB Eugene Jarvis, OL Pat Reedy, OL Mike Roder, DL Sam Frist, SS Dan Hartman, DL Kevin Hogan, DL Aaron Hull. Returning starters: 8 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: Senior Anthony Magazu and sophomore Giorgio Morgan will battle for the starting QB job.

MIAMI (OHIO) — Key players: QB Daniel Raudabaugh, WR Dustin Woods, WR Chris Givens, OL Brandon Brooks, WR Jamal Rogers, DL Jordan Stevens, LB Caleb Bostic. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Mike Haywood, offensive coordinator at Notre Dame last season, takes over as head coach for Shane Montgomery (17-31 in four seasons).