For Northern Illinois and Bowling Green, this is a rubber match of sorts.
The Mid-American Conference Championship Game on Friday night will have a familiar feel, with the Huskies and Falcons squaring off for the third straight season. Bowling Green won 47-27 in 2013, and last year NIU took the title in a 51-17 rout. This is the sixth consecutive appearance by Northern Illinois in the MAC title game.
This was supposed to be the year Northern Illinois fell short. Toledo was the preseason favorite in the West, and the Rockets spent time in the Top 25, but when the teams faced each other in early November, NIU came away with a 32-27 road victory.
Toledo still had a chance to wrap up a spot in the title game, but the Rockets lost at home last week to Western Michigan, creating a four-way tie for first place in the division. The tiebreaker went to NIU (8-4).
"It's one of those things where your fate isn't in your hands and it's always rough," NIU coach Rod Carey said. "I will tell you this: This team's earned the right to be there, with everything that we've gone through."
Bowling Green (9-3) lost only once in MAC play this year, at home against Toledo.
Odom replaces Pinkel
Missouri promoted defensive coordinator Barry Odom to replace the retiring Gary Pinkel as head coach.
The school said in a release Thursday that Odom agreed in principle to a five-year deal that needs approval by the school's board of curators next week.
