While the MAC has yet to recover the glory days from recent memory when star players and up-and-coming coaches dominated the action, the product on the field is still compelling. Tonight is a big match-up between Ohio and Temple, who are locked in a three-way tie for first place in the East at 5-1 with surprise team of the conference--Miami of Ohio. Temple has the toughest road to hoe in that they host Ohio tonight and then play at Miami next Tuesday. Still they know that if they win out they are in, to probably face Northern Illinois in the title game as NIU has a 1.5 game lead over Toledo with two to play out West. That game would allow the Owls to avenge their only MAC conference loss this season as the Huskies scored the final 21 points of the game to beat Temple 31-17 back in October.
Thanks to a rout of Miami on October 23, Ohio also can claim the MAC East crown by winning out. The final game for the Bobcats is Thanksgiving Friday at Kent State, who is 3-2 at home on the season (only 4-6 overall). The Golden Flashes have outgained Ohio in each of the past three seasons, although only winning once, last year, in that span.
Miami needs some help while taking care of lowly Akron this weekend. The easiest situation for them is to have Temple win tonight and then beat the Owls next week. Either way the turnaround for Miami this season under coach Mike Hayward has been impressive after the Redhawks went 1-11 last year.
Meanwhile NIU just keeps humming along behind a rush attack that is tenth in the nation with a 261y average, leading the way for an offense that has produced at least 28 points in all six of their MAC wins. Senior running back Chad Spann has rushed for 1,070y and 15 TDs, while QB Chandler Harnish (pictured) has thrown for more than 1,600y and rushed for an additional 700y. Coach Jerry Kill may be the next MAC coaching star, although of course that will mean his moving on to the Big 10.
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