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MAC Championship Game 2018: 3 takeaways from NIU’s comeback win

By Zach Bigalke

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 30: Jauan Wesley #9 of the Northern Illinois Huskies makes a first half catch in front of Tatum Slack #9 of the Buffalo Bulls during the MAC Championship at Ford Field on November 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 30: Jauan Wesley #9 of the Northern Illinois Huskies makes a first half catch in front of Tatum Slack #9 of the Buffalo Bulls during the MAC Championship at Ford Field on November 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Buffalo was unable to win their first MAC championship since 2008, as NIU generated a comeback victory. What did we learn about the Bulls and Huskies?

It was a wild finish in Detroit, as Buffalo came into the contest as a 10-2 favorite against 7-5 Northern Illinois. The Huskies fell in their regular-season finale against Western Michigan, while the Bulls came to Ford Field with longshot dreams of a New Year’s Six appearance.

Up 22-10 at halftime, Buffalo scored on the opening drive of the third quarter to extend their lead to 19 points. It looked like they had the game in the bag, as they had controlled the clock and dominated on both sides of the ball.

Then Northern Illinois started finding their stride, scoring 20 unanswered points to turn the game around on neutral ground at Ford Field and steal the upset in a 30-29 finish. It was a wild finish redolent of MAC championship games from the past.

All the smart money pointed toward Lance Leipold’s team prevailing in their trip to Michigan to face off against the Huskies at the home of the Detroit Lions. But that’s why the games are played on the field instead of on paper. What did we learn about the MAC champion Huskies and about vanquished favorite Buffalo on Friday night? Here are three takeaways from NIU’s upset of the Bulls at Ford Field.

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