Although the West Division is all but locked up by Northern Illinois, any disciple of the Mid-American Conference knows there’s still plenty of MACtion left for the last week of the regular season.
‘We want ’Bama’
…or at least a shot at a Bowl Championship Series game.
For the fourth consecutive year, Northern Illinois (11-0, 7-0 MAC) has clinched the MAC West, after beating Toledo 35-17 this past Wednesday. The latest bowl rankings placed the Huskies in the No. 14 spot, which is one spot higher than
their ranking last week. If the season ended today, Northern Illinois would be in a BCS game, because it jumped Fresno State — the only other non-automatic qualifier in the poll.
“Obviously with what went on, we have no control,” said coach Rod Carey, regarding the rankings. “I don’t pay attention to it. You guys (the media) can talk about something.”
Northern Illinois wraps up its regular season with Senior Day on Tuesday night at home against Western Michigan (1-10, 1-6 MAC). This group of seniors has never lost a game at home.
The Huskies will then play the MAC East Champions on Dec. 6 in the MAC Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit. They have won the past two conference championships, defeating Ohio 23-20 in 2011 and Kent State 44-37 in two overtimes last year.
Black Friday Bowl
It doesn’t have the same hype as this weekend’s Iron Bowl between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Auburn, but the matchup between Buffalo (8-3, 6-1 MAC) and Bowling Green (8-3, 6-1 MAC) on Friday will be a battle to claim the top spot in the East Division and a trip to the MAC Championship.
Each team will enter Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, with the same record and very similar statistics.
“It certainly is one of the most exciting times,” Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn said. “This is what MACtion is all about. It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s an opportunity to make history.”
Quinn also said Bowling Green is a solid football team in all phases of the game, and it’s no surprise that the teams are competing for a spot in Detroit.
For the Falcons, coach Dave Clawson told the media during the regular season’s final coaches teleconference that his team has a difficult task ahead.
“(Buffalo is) a complete football team,” Clawson said. “They can outscore you and shut you down. When you begin a season, you have a goal to win the division and get to Detroit. Once you get into this position, you want to execute.”
The game is set for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff and will air on ESPNU.
“It’s going to take everything we’ve got,” Quinn said. “It comes down to 60 minutes for a lifetime of memories.”
gh181212@ohiou.edu
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