1998 MAC Championship Game

1998 MAC Championship Game
Conference Championship
Toledo Rockets Marshall Thundering Herd
(7–4) (10–1)
17 23
Head coach: 
Gary Pinkel		 Head coach: 
Bob Pruett
1234 Total
Toledo 70010 17
Marshall 60017 23
DateDecember 4, 1998
Season1998
StadiumMarshall Stadium
LocationHuntington, West Virginia
MVPQB Chad Pennington (Marshall)
FavoriteMarshall by 12
Attendance28,085
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2
MAC Championship Game
 < 1997  1999 > 
1998 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Marshall xy$   7 – 1     12 – 1  
Miami (OH) x   7 – 1     10 – 1  
Bowling Green   5 – 3     5 – 6  
Ohio   5 – 3     5 – 6  
Akron   3 – 6     4 – 7  
Kent State   0 – 8     0 – 11  
West Division
Toledo x   6 – 2     7 – 5  
Western Michigan   5 – 3     7 – 4  
Central Michigan   5 – 3     6 – 5  
Eastern Michigan   3 – 6     3 – 8  
Northern Illinois   2 – 6     2 – 9  
Ball State   1 – 7     1 – 10  
Championship: Marshall 23, Toledo 17
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

The 1998 MAC Championship Game was the second conference championship game of the Mid-American Conference, and was played on December 4, 1998, at Marshall Stadium, now known as Joan C. Edwards Stadium, in Huntington, West Virginia. The game featured a rematch of the 1997 game, between the East Division's Marshall Thundering Herd, and the West Division's Toledo Rockets. Marshall was heavily favored to win the game.[1] Marshall defeated Toledo to claim their second consecutive conference title by a score of 23–17.[2][3] During the game, Marshall starting quarterback Chad Pennington was hurt, and was replaced by Byron Leftwich.[4]

  1. ^ Schmadtke, Alan (October 14, 1999). "Toledo At Marshall". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  2. ^ "1998 Mid-American Conference Schedule and Results". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  3. ^ "NCAA Football – Marshall vs. Toledo". USA Today. November 11, 2001. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  4. ^ Stephens, Tim. "Armed & Ready". Huntington Quarterly. Retrieved November 5, 2012.