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
Northern Illinois Huskies Buffalo Bulls (7–5) (10–2) 30 29 Head coach:  Rod Carey Head coach:  Lance Leipold
1 2 3 4 Total Northern Illinois 0 10 7 13 30 Buffalo 7 15 7 0 29
Date	November 30, 2018
Season	2018
Stadium	Ford Field
Location	Detroit, Michigan
MVP	Offense: Marcus Childers (QB, NIU) Defense: Sutton Smith (LB, NIU)
Favorite	Buffalo by 3
Referee	Tim O'Dey[1]
Attendance	10,255[1]
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN2
Announcers	Clay Matvick (Play-By-Play) Dan Orlovsky (Analyst) Paul Carcaterra (Sidelines)
MAC Championship Game  < 2017  2019 >

2018 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	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

Northern Illinois Huskies

Main article: 2018 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

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

Main article: 2018 Buffalo Bulls football team

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

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

Scoring summary

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

	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]