2005 MAC Championship Game

The 2005 MAC Championship Game was played on December 1, 2005 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The game featured the Akron Zips, winners of the Mid-American Conference East Division, and the Northern Illinois Huskies, winners of the West Division.

2005 Marathon MAC Championship Game
Conference Championship
1234 Total
Akron 100021 31
Northern Illinois 010146 30
DateDecember 1, 2005
Season2005
StadiumFord Field
LocationDetroit, Michigan
MVPQB Luke Getsy (Akron)
FavoriteNorthern Illinois by 13
RefereeBill Alge
Attendance12,051
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersMike Tirico, Kirk Herbstreit, Erin Andrews
2005 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Akron xy$  5 3   7 6  
Miami (OH) x  5 3   7 4  
Bowling Green x  5 3   6 5  
Ohio  3 5   4 7  
Buffalo  1 7   1 10  
Kent State  0 8   1 10  
West Division
Northern Illinois xy  6 2   7 5  
Toledo x  6 2   9 3  
Western Michigan  5 3   7 4  
Central Michigan  5 3   6 5  
Ball State  4 4   4 7  
Eastern Michigan  3 5   4 7  
Championship: Akron 31, NIU 30
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions

Down 14 points the fourth quarter, the Zips manufactured a comeback. Northern Illinois led by 6 points with 17 seconds remaining in regulation when Luke Getsy connected with Domenik Hixon on a 36-yard touchdown pass. This and the subsequent successful extra point attempt would prove to be the game winning plays. Their victory earned the Akron football program its first MAC championship and bowl game berth.

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