 MAC teams have compiled a 3-1 record heading into Sunday's Northern Illinois vs Arkansas State matchup at the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
• The MAC is currently 3-1 in bowl games after Toledo defeated Air Force, 42-41, in the Military Bowl (Dec. 28). Also, Temple defeated Wyoming, 37-15, in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 17) and Ohio came from behind to defeat Utah State, 24-23, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Dec. 17). Western Michigan fell, 37-32, to Purdue in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Dec. 27).
• This marks the first time in conference history that the MAC has won three bowl games in a single season. The previous best was two wins, which happened on five occasions -- 2001 (2-0); 2003 (2-0); 2004 (2-3); 2010 (2-2) and 2011 (currently 2-0).
• Dating back to the MAC’s final bowl game during the 2009 season (Jan. 6, 2010) and Central Michigan’s 44-41 overtime win over Troy in the GMAC Bowl, the MAC has won six of the last nine bowl games (2-2 in 2010; and currently 3-1 in 2011).
• This year’s participation ties the MAC record for bowl invitations in a single season. The MAC received five bowl invitations for the fourth time in conference history (2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011). In 2004, the MAC went 2-3; in 2008 the MAC had a 0-5 record; and in 2009 the MAC went 1-4 in bowl games. The MAC has received five bowl invitations in three of the last four seasons.
• The MAC has three primary bowl agreements with the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Detroit), GoDaddy.com Bowl (Mobile, Ala.) and Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Ida.).
The MAC also has four secondary agreements in 2011: Gildan New Mexico Bowl; Beef O’Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl; Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl and the BBVA Compass Bowl.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE 2011 BOWL SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Dec. 17: Gildan New Mexico Bowl -- Albuquerque, N.M.
Temple 37 (9-4, 5-3 MAC) vs. Wyoming 15 (8-5, 5-2, Mountain West)
Temple wins first bowl game since 1979 with 37-15. QB Chris Coyer threw for 169 yards and one score and RB Bernard Pierce added 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Dec. 17: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl -- Boise, Ida.
Ohio 24 (10-4, 6-2 MAC) vs. Utah State 23 (7-6, 5-2, WAC)
Ohio won its first bowl game in school history with the 24-23 dramatic win over Utah State. QB Tyler Tettleton scambled for a one-yard touchdown run with 13 seconds left in regulation for the come-from-behind victory.
Dec. 27: Little Caesars Pizza Bowl -- Detroit, Mich.
Western Michigan 32 (7-6, 5-3 MAC) vs. Purdue 37 (7-6, 4-4, Big Ten)
Western Michigan’s Jordan White recorded 13 receptions for 265 yards and one score, while Alex Carder threw for 439 yards and three touchdowns, in a 37-32 loss to Purdue.
Dec. 28: Military Bowl Washington, D.C.
Toledo 42 (9-4, 7-1 MAC) vs. Air Force 41 (7-6, 3-4, Mountain West)
Toledo receiver Bernard Reedy added three touchdown receptions and the Rockets defense stopped Air Force on a two-point attempt with 52 seconds left in regulation for a 42-41 thrilling victory.
Jan. 8: GoDaddy.com Bowl -- Mobile, Ala. 9:00 pm ET (ESPN)
Northern Illinois (10-3, 7-1 MAC) vs. Arkansas State (10-2, 8-0, Sun Belt)
Northern Illinois will be making its fourth consecutive bowl appearance (2010 uDrove Humanitarian Bowl; 2010 International Bowl; 2008 Independence Bowl).
More GoDaddy.com Bowl
Northern Illinois (10-3, 7-1 MAC) vs. Arkansas State (10-2, 8-0 Sun Belt)
Sunday, January 8, 2012 • 9:00 pm ET • Mobile, Ala. • Ladd-Peebles Stadium (40,600)
ESPN • Announcers: Rob Stone (play-by-play), Danny Kanell (analyst), Cara Capuano (sideline reporter)
Northern Illinois University
Head Coach: Dave Doeren
Career: 10-3 (1st year)
at Northern Illinois: 10-3 (1st year)
Offense Leaders:
Rush: QB Chandler Harnish (185 att., 1,382 yds., 11 TDs)
Pass: QB Chandler Harnish (348 att., 219 comp., 2,942 yards, 26 TDs)
Rec.: WR Nathan Palmer (46 rec., 683 yds., 7 TDs)
Defense Leaders:
Tackles: LB Pat Schiller (108 tackles, 10.0 tfl, 2.0 sacks)
Sacks: DE Sean Progar (52 tackles, 11.0 tfl, 5.5 sacks)
Int.: DB Rashaan Melvin (70 tackles, 1.0 tfl, 2 INT)
Northern Illinois Quick Notes:
* Four In A Row: Northern Illinois will conclude its season at a bowl game for the fourth consecutive season, the longest streak in Huskie history. In its last bowl outing, Northern Illinois defeated Fresno State, 40-17, in Boise, Idaho in last year’s uDrove Humanitarian Bowl. The Huskies played South Florida in the 2010 International Bowl in Toronto, Canada on January 2, 2010 at the end of the 2009 season. Northern Illinois began its current bowl streak at the 2008 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
* Success Story: Northern Illinois is one of the most consistently successful programs among non-automatic qualifying Bowl Championship Subdivision (BCS) teams. Northern Illinois is one of only seven teams from “non-AQ” BCS leagues to win six or more games in each of the last four seasons (since 2008). The others with that distinction are Air Force, TCU, BYU, Southern Miss, Hawaii and Boise State. The Huskies have won at least six games 11 times in the past 12 years dating back to 2000.
* MAC Champions: Northern Illinois defeated Ohio, 23-20, in the 2011 Marathon MAC Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit to earn its first MAC Championship in 28 years. The Huskies’ title is the second MAC football crown in school history. Northern Illinois came back from a 20-0 deficit to win the game on a last-second field goal by kicker Mathew Sims.
* On The Edge: Following its win in the Marathon MAC Championship game, Northern Illinois was ranked 26th in the final regular season USA Today Coaches’ Poll with 14 votes and earned a season-best seven points in the Associated Press poll to rank 30th. Last year, Northern Illinois achieved season high rankings of 24th (AP) and 23rd (USA Today) in week 14 (Nov. 28). Following its Humanitarian Bowl win, the Huskies were ranked 29th and 26th, respectively.
* Eight Straight: Northern Illinois enters the GoDaddy.com Bowl game riding an eight-game winning streak. A year ago, Northern Illinois had a nine-game winning streak snapped in the MAC title game. The 2002 and 2003 Huskies each won at least seven consecutive games during their 8-4 and 10-2 campaigns, respectively. Northern Illinois current win streak began Oct. 8 at home versus Kent State and has continued with MAC victories over Western Michigan, Buffalo, Toledo, Bowling Green, Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Ohio.
* Doeren’s Debut Season: Dave Doeren has led Northern Illinois to a 10-3 record to become the winningest first-year head coach in school history. Doeren is completing his first season as a head coach after 16 seasons as a collegiate assistant. The 21st head football coach in school history, and the 10th since Northern Illinois became a major college program in 1969, Doeren came to Northern Illinois after five seasons at Wisconsin (2006-10), where he was linebackers coach and defensive coordinator.
Courtesy of Mid-American Conference
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