2018 MAC Championship Game

The 2018 MAC Championship Game was an NCAA Division I college football conference championship game for the Mid-American Conference (MAC), that was played on November 30, 2018.[2] It was the 22nd Mid-American Conference Championship, and was played at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Sponsored by the Marathon Petroleum Corporation, the game was officially known as the Marathon MAC Championship Game. Northern Illinois scored the game's final 20 points to erase a 19-point second-half deficit and defeat Buffalo, 30–29.[3]

2018 Marathon MAC Championship Game
22nd MAC Championship Game
1234 Total
Northern Illinois 010713 30
Buffalo 71570 29
DateNovember 30, 2018
Season2018
StadiumFord Field
LocationDetroit, Michigan
MVPOffense: Marcus Childers (QB, NIU)
Defense: Sutton Smith (LB, NIU)
FavoriteBuffalo by 3
RefereeTim O'Dey[1]
Attendance10,255[1]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2
AnnouncersClay Matvick (Play-By-Play)
Dan Orlovsky (Analyst)
Paul Carcaterra (Sidelines)
MAC Championship Game
 < 2017  2019
2018 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Buffalo x   7 1     10 4  
Miami (OH)   6 2     6 6  
Ohio   6 2     9 4  
Akron   2 6     4 8  
Bowling Green   2 6     3 9  
Kent State   1 7     2 10  
West Division
Northern Illinois x$   6 2     8 6  
Western Michigan   5 3     7 6  
Eastern Michigan   5 3     7 6  
Toledo   5 3     7 6  
Ball State   3 5     4 8  
Central Michigan   0 8     1 11  
Championship: Northern Illinois 30, Buffalo 29
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions

Teams

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Northern Illinois Huskies

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Northern Illinois went undefeated 6-0 in conference play, until the Huskies lost to Miami on November 14. The Huskies were able to clinch the West Division, after the last remaining contender, Western Michigan, lost their third conference game also that weekend, eliminating the Broncos from contention. Northern Illinois makes their first appearance in the title game since 2015.

Buffalo Bulls

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Buffalo was able to clinch the East Division after defeating the Falcons of Bowling Green at the end of the season, compelling a conference record of 7-1. The Bulls make their first appearance in the game since 2008.

Buffalo vs. Northern Illinois series history

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The match up was the 13th meeting against the Bulls and the Huskies. They last played each other last season in Amherst, New York. Northern Illinois defeated Buffalo in a close win of 14-13. After the 2016 match up, Northern Illinois lead the series, 11-1. Buffalo has not won against the Huskies since 1968. The championship game was the first time in history that the two schools played in post season.

Game summary

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Scoring summary

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Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP NIU BUFF
1 6:38 13 94 5:39 BUFF Kevin Marks 3-yard touchdown run, Alex McNulty kick good 0 7
2 14:55 11 94 5:00 BUFF Anthony Johnson 13-yard touchdown reception from Tyree Jackson, Alex McNulty kick failed 0 13
2 9:51 12 75 5:04 NIU Spencer Tears 13-yard touchdown reception from Marcus Childers, Andrew Gantz kick good 7 13
2 5:41 9 75 4:10 BUFF Anthony Johnson 26-yard touchdown reception from Tyree Jackson, 2-point pass failed 7 19
2 1:42 12 53 3:59 NIU 39-yard field goal by Andrew Gantz 10 19
2 0:03 8 70 1:34 BUFF 24-yard field goal by Adam Mitcheson 10 22
3 11:25 8 75 3:35 BUFF Jaret Patterson 9-yard touchdown run, Adam Mitcheson kick good 10 29
3 0:17 5 34 1:41 NIU D.J. Brown 28-yard touchdown reception from Marcus Childers, Andrew Gantz kick good 17 29
4 12:51 4 63 1:17 NIU Spencer Tears 32-yard touchdown reception from Marcus Childers, Andrew Gantz kick good 24 29
4 1:09 8 70 2:11 NIU D.J. Brown 35-yard touchdown reception from Marcus Childers, 2-point pass failed 30 29
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 30 29

Statistics

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1 2 3 4 Total
Huskies 0 10 7 13 30
Bulls 7 15 7 0 29
Statistics NIU BUFF
First downs 23 26
Plays–yards 67–409 77–394
Rushes–yards 34–109 42–142
Passing yards 300 252
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–33–1 18–35–0
Time of possession 24:55 35:05
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Illinois Passing Marcus Childers 21/33, 300 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Marcus Childers 15 car, 58 yds
Receiving Spencer Tears 6 rec, 73 yds, 2 TD
Buffalo Passing Tyree Jackson 18/35, 252 yds, 2 TD
Rushing Kevin Marks 17 car, 72 yds, 1 TD
Receiving Anthony Johnson 7 rec, 124 yds, 2 TD

[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship" (PDF). getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "MAC Announces Updated 2018 Football Schedule". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. May 31, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  3. ^ Lenzi, Rachel (December 1, 2018). "UB loses heartbreaker to Northern Illinois in MAC title game". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.