Northern Illinois-Toledo Preview Capsule
Northern Illinois (5-3, 3-1 MAC West) at No. 20 Toledo (7-0, 4-0) 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Line: Toledo by 7
Series Record: Toledo leads, 29-13
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Northern Illinois' stranglehold on the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies have represented the West Division in the MAC Championship each of the last five seasons, winning three times. Title game losses account for two of their five conference losses since 2010. In his fourth season, Toledo coach Matt Campbell has a 22-6 record in MAC games. Three of those losses have come to Northern Illinois and the Huskies have won five straight in the series.
KEY MATCHUP
Two of the nation's top 25 rushing offenses (and the best two in the MAC) go head-to-head. Northern Illinois has a workhorse in the conference's leading rusher, tailback Joel Bouagnon, but quarterback Drew Hare is also good for 10 runs per game. Toledo's two-headed attack of Terry Swanson and Kareem Hunt average a combined 185.5 yards per game. Whichever defense can limit the run game gains a big advantage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Toledo: Quarterback Phillip Ely threw three interceptions in the first half against UMass last Saturday before rallying the Rockets to 38 straight points in a 51-35 comeback victory. He must limit turnovers against Northern Illinois. Senior defensive tackle Orion Jones ranks third in the MAC in sacks and fourth in tackles for losses.
Northern Illinois: Sophomore cornerback Shawun Lurry leads the nation with seven interceptions, including two in a near-upset of No. 1 ranked Ohio State. He's second in the MAC with 11 pass break-ups. Hare threw for 267 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Eastern Michigan last weekend.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Tuesday night game is one of 16 midweek MAC games to be televised by ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and CBS Sports Network. Northern Illinois is one of four teams that will be featured four times on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night. Toledo will play three consecutive Tuesday night games. ... Toledo and Air Force are the only two teams that have not allowed a sack this season. Toledo has thrown 253 passes, compared with 76 for Air Force. ... Since losing three straight games for the first time since 2009, Northern Illinois has scored 40 or more points while winning its last three games. ... Toledo has lost eight MAC games in the past six seasons, five to Northern Illinois.