2012 MAC Championship Game

2012 Marathon MAC Championship Game
Conference Championship
2012 MAC Championship Game logo
Northern Illinois Huskies Kent State Golden Flashes
(11–1) (11–1)
44 37
Head coach: 
Dave Doeren		 Head coach: 
Darrell Hazell
APCoachesBCS
191821
APCoachesBCS
181917
1234OT2OT Total
Northern Illinois 31410737 44
Kent State 10032130 37
DateNovember 30, 2012
Season2012
StadiumFord Field
LocationDetroit, Michigan
MVPJordan Lynch (QB, NIU)
FavoriteNorthern Illinois by 5
RefereeDon Willard
Attendance18,132
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2
AnnouncersCarter Blackburn (play-by-play)
Rod Gilmore (analysis)
Jemele Hill (sideline)
MAC Championship Game
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2012 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Kent State x   8 – 0     11 – 3  
Bowling Green   6 – 2     8 – 5  
Ohio   4 – 4     9 – 4  
Buffalo   3 – 5     4 – 8  
Miami (OH)   3 – 5     4 – 8  
UMass   1 – 7     1 – 11  
Akron   0 – 8     1 – 11  
West Division
No. 22 Northern Illinois x$   8 – 0     12 – 2  
Toledo   6 – 2     9 – 4  
Ball State   6 – 2     9 – 4  
Central Michigan   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Western Michigan   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Eastern Michigan   1 – 7     2 – 10  
Championship: Northern Illinois 44, Kent State 37
  • $ – Conference champion and BCS representative as top non-AQ school to meet automatic qualification criteria
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • UMass not eligible for conference title or bowl game as part of FBS transition
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2012 Marathon MAC Championship Game was an American football game held on November 30, 2012 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan between the West Division champion Northern Illinois Huskies and the East Division champion Kent State Golden Flashes to determine the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion.[1] This is the first time since 2003 that both teams entered the game ranked in the BCS standings, AP Poll, and Coaches' Poll.[2]

The pre-game buildup focused primarily on the two high-powered offenses, both of which were led by strong rushing attacks. The rushing attacks differed; Northern Illinois' was led by junior quarterback Jordan Lynch, who finished fourth in the nation in rushing, while Kent State's was led by a running back tandem consisting of Dri Archer and Trayion Durham. The opening line favored Northern Illinois by seven points.[3] After being tied at the end of regulation, the game went into two overtime periods and eventually concluded with Northern Illinois winning 44–37. The Huskies were subsequently invited to the 2013 Orange Bowl.[4]

  1. ^ Ridenour, Marla (November 17, 2012). "Kent State 31, Bowling Green 24: Dri Archer dazzles as Kent State wins MAC East title". Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  2. ^ Mitchell, Fred (November 30, 2012). "MAC championship: NIU takes MAC title in double overtime". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  3. ^ Feldman, Asher. "MAC Championship Game 2012: Game time, TV schedule, odds and more". SB Nation Detroit. Vox Media. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  4. ^ Milian, Jorge (December 31, 2012). "Northern Illinois' berth in the Orange Bowl a big step for the..." Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.