CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Kent State athletic director Laing Kennedy wants the Mid-American Conference to ban Marshall and Central Florida from being eligible for conference championships next year.

''It would be inappropriate for them to represent the MAC in NCAA competition while flying a new conference banner,'' Kennedy said Friday. ''Furthermore, they should not be able to affect the conference standings by beating or losing to MAC schools.''

Marshall and UCF are leaving for Conference USA in 2005. UCF is a football-only member of the MAC.

''I just think it's great that he thinks we would be an institution that would be competing for championships,'' said Marshall athletic director Bob Marcum.

MAC commissioner Rick Chryst said there is no effort by the league to disqualify Marshall and UCF next year.