The Northern Illinois University football team looked woeful in the Boca Raton Bowl last week. UAB (University of Alabama Birmingham) won, 37-13, The defeat was Northern Illinois’ third in the team’s final four games.
On the upside, Northern Illinois reigns as Mid-American Conference champion, thanks to a 30-29 comeback victory over Buffalo in the championship game. The NIU regular-season victory at Brigham Young University was memorable.
If there is a Northern Illinois dark side, it is bowl futility. The Huskies have lost six consecutive bowl games and have been outscored 232-81. If Northern Illinois is looking for good company, Notre Dame lost nine straight bowl games, 1995-2007.
Mid American Conference’s Western Michigan, led by head coach Tim Lester, a Wheaton Warrenville South graduate, achieved a dubious distinction in defeat. BYU quarterback Zach Wilson was 18 for 18 in passing. For good measure, Wilson’s backup completed his only pass late in the game. Six MAC teams played in bowl games and finished with a 1-5 record.
Nine Big Ten Conference teams will play in bowl games, including Northwestern University’s game against Utah at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31.