Big midweek MAC matchup carries BCS implications

As college football’s current postseason format enters its final months, today’s game between No. 21 Northern Illinois and Ball State stands as one of a dying breed: matchups of two non- major conference contenders with sights set on busting into the Bowl Championship Series.

This will change after this season, when the Football Bowl Subdivision trades in the BCS for the four- team College Football Playoff — one that features an even steeper climb to major- bowl participation. Come 2014, games like today’s Mid- American Conference matchup ( 8 p. m. ET, ESPN2) will hold less influence on the major postseason matchups.

In 2013, for example, Northern Illinois has one opponent for a BCS bid: No. 14 Fresno State, also 9- 0. To reach a BCS bowl, one of the two teams — NIU or Fresno State — must finish in the top 16 of the final BCS standings and rank higher than the winner of an automatic- qualifying league, likely Central Florida of the American Athletic Conference.

The stakes will be raised in 2014, when the AAC loses its automatic bid. If that format were in effect this season, it wouldn’t just be Northern Illinois and Fresno State jostling for one spot; it would be Northern Illinois, Fresno State, Central Florida, Louisville and Houston, creating even more competition for a single seat at the postseason table.

This increases the magnitude of tonight’s matchup of the two best teams in the MAC, which joins the Southeastern Conference as the only FBS leagues with two teams with nine or more wins. With a victory, Northern Illinois conceivably could move ahead of Fresno State in the BCS standings, taking another step toward securing its second BCS appearance in two years.

“I don’t know if you ever want to let any opportunities pass,” Northern Illinois coach Rod Carey said. “I get a kick out of that, because there’s no guarantees going forward and there’s no guarantees going now, so don’t wait to be great. Every opportunity you have, you’ve got to make the most of it.”

DAVID BUTLER II, USA TODAY SPORTS Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch, right, has passed for 1,871 yards and rushed for 1,150 while accounting for 32 touchdowns.