2011 MAC Championship Game

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NCAA football yearly game | game_name = MAC Championship Game | title_sponsor = Marathon | subheader = Conference Championship | image = | caption = | date_game_played = December 2 | year_game_played = 2011 | football_season = 2011 | stadium = Ford Field | city = Detroit, Michigan | visitor_school = Ohio University | visitor_name_short = Ohio | visitor_nickname = Bobcats | visitor_record = 9–3 | visitor_rank_AP = | visitor_rank_coaches = | visitor_rank_BCS = | visitor_coach = Frank Solich | visitor_1q = 10 | visitor_2q = 10 | visitor_3q = 0 | visitor_4q = 0 | home_school = Northern Illinois University | home_name_short = Northern Illinois | home_nickname = Huskies | home_record = 9–3 | home_rank_AP = | home_rank_coaches = | home_rank_BCS = | home_coach = Dave Doeren | home_1q = 0 | home_2q = 0 | home_3q = 7 | home_4q = 16 | MVP = WR Nathan Palmer (NIU) | odds = NIU by 3.5 | anthem = | referee = Ron Snodgrass | halftime = | attendance = 13,052 | us_network = ESPN2 | us_announcers = Joe Tessitore (play-by-play)<br />Rod Gilmore (analysis)<br />Eamon McAnaney (sideline) | ratings = | intl_network = | intl_announcers = }} {{2011 Mid-American Conference football standings}} The '''2011 MAC Championship Game''' was a college football game played at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2, 2011, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, USA, to determine the 2011 champion of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).<ref>{{cite web |title=Huskies Claim First MAC Football Title Since 1983 |url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2011/12/2/FB_139295.aspx |website=Get Some MACtion}}</ref> The game featured the Ohio Bobcats and the Northern Illinois Huskies. Sponsored by Marathon the game officially known as the "Marathon MAC Championship Game". Northern Illinois tied the record for their largest comeback in the school's history, coming back from down 20-0 to win 23-20 on the game's final play to win their second MAC championship of all time.<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 MAC Championship Game - NIU 23, Ohio 20 |url=https://niuhuskies.com/news/2011/12/3/2011_Marathon_MAC_Championship_Game_NIU_23_Ohio_20.aspx |website=NIUHuskies.com}}</ref>

==Teams== ===Ohio Bobcats=== {{main|2011 Ohio Bobcats football team}} Coming into the conference championship game, the Ohio Bobcats owned a 9-3 record, including a five-game win streak including conference wins over Kent State, Akron, Central Michigan, Bowling Green, and Miami (Ohio). The Bobcats also started the season with three straight wins, before losing three games in four weeks to Rutgers, Buffalo, and Ball State.

===Northern Illinois Huskies=== The Huskies came into the game having won seven straight contests beforehand, giving them a 9-3 record. NIU started the season with a thrilling win over Army before losing back-to-back games to Power-5 opponents Kansas and Wisconsin. The Huskies final loss of the season, and only conference loss came two weeks later against Central Michigan on October 1. The Huskies also had MAC Vern Smith League MVP Chandler Harnish quarterbacking their offense.

==Game summary== {{Americanfootballbox |titlestyle= {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Mid-American Conference|color=white}}; text-align:center; |state=autocollapse |bg=#fff |bg2=#eee |title=2011 Marathon MAC Championship Game |date=Friday, December 2, 2011 |time= 6:00 p.m. CST |road='''Ohio''' |R1=10|R2=10|R3=0|R4=0 |home=Northern Illinois |H1=0|H2=0|H3=7|H4=16 |stadium= Ford Field • Detroit, Michigan |attendance= |weather=n/a (''indoor stadium'') |referee=Rod Snodgrass |TV=ESPN2 |TVAnnouncers=Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst) and Eamon McAnaney (sideline) |reference= |scoring= ;First quarter *(10:33) Ohio - Matt Weller 30 yard field goal (''Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 01:34; '''OHIO 3-0''''') *(4:05) Ohio - Donte Foster 24 yard pass from Phil Bates, Matt Weller kick (''Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 3:57; '''OHIO 10-0''''') ;Second quarter *(11:03) Ohio - Matt Weller 21 yard field goal (''Drive: 14 plays, 69 yards, 06:11; '''OHIO 13-0''''') *(2:35) Ohio - Tyler Tettleton 18 yard rush, Matt Weller kick (''Drive: 9 plays, 87 yards, 03:50; '''OHIO 20-0''''') ;Third quarter *(6:19) NIU - Nathan Palmer 39 yard pass from Chandler Harnish, Matthew Sims kick (''Drive: 10 plays, 78 yards, 03:52, '''OHIO 20-7''''') ;Fourth quarter *(7:36) NIU - Martel Moore 32 yards from Chandler Harnish, kick no good (''Drive: 4 plays, 63 yards, 01:13, '''OHIO 20-13''''') *(2:52) NIU - Nathan Palmer 22 yards from Chandler Harnish, Matthew Sims kick (''Drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 01:44, '''Tied 20-20''''') *(0:00) NIU - Matthew Sims 33 yard field goal (''Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 01:18; '''NIU 23-20''''') }}

===Statistics=== {{AmFootballGameStatistics | Float = Left | Visitor = Ohio Bobcats | VisitorDisplay = OHIO | Home = Northern Illinois Huskies | HomeDisplay = NIU | VisFirsts = 21 | VisPlaysYds = 71-372 | VisRushing = 39-130 | VisPassYds = 258 | VisPassing = 19-32-3 | VisTOP = 20:22 | HomeFirsts = 19 | HomePlaysYds = 62–405 | HomeRushing = 36–155 | HomePassYds = 260 | HomePassing = 16–26–1 | HomeTOP = 15:50 }} {{AmFootballGameTopPlayers | Float = Right | Visitor = Ohio Bobcats | VisitorDisplay = Ohio | Home = Northern Illinois Huskies | HomeDisplay = NIU | VisPasser = Tyler Tettleton | VisPassStats = 18/31, 218, 3 INT | VisRusher = Donte Harden | VisRushStats = 19 carries, 73 yards | VisReceiver = LaVon Brazil | VisReceivingStats = 8 receptions, 124 yards | HomePasser = Chandler Harnish | HomePassStats = 16/26, 250 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT | HomeRusher = Jasmin Hopkins | HomeRushStats = 11 carries, 60 yards | HomeReceiver = Nathan Palmer | HomeReceivingStats = 4 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TD }} <ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/313362459| title = Ohio vs. Northern Illinois - Box Score - December 2, 2011 - ESPN}}</ref> {{Clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{2011 NCAA football conference championships}} {{MAC Championship Game navbox}} {{Northern Illinois Huskies football navbox}} {{Ohio Bobcats football navbox}}

Championship Game Category:MAC Championship Game Category:Northern Illinois Huskies football games Category:Ohio Bobcats football games Category:American football competitions in Detroit Category:December 2011 sports events in the United States MAC Championship Category:2011 in Detroit