Yes it is the biggest game. If we win:

1. MAC West Champion (not co-champion)
2. Play in the MAC championship game on ESPN against BG or Miami.
3. Play in a bowl game against a Big Ten, Big 12, C-USA team on ESPN. More people will be watching this game than the NIU-Michigan game earlier this year. A win here looks even better.

A win allows us to play two more games this year. What does two more games do for us?

1. More exposure from pro scouts for Herd, Wolfe, Van Acker, Free, Lueck (any others I am forgetting)
2. More national exposure on ESPN. The more people see NIU playing big games on ESPN, the better our reputation becomes among the casual college football fans.
3. More game experience for Nicholson, Britt and the others.

This seems like a no brainer to me.

I voted "Yes" but now that I recollect, the NIU @ BG game in 2003 was maybe the biggest game ever. We were 7-0 and ranked 10th in the opening BCS standings. The ESPN college gameday crew featured this game and we were THE story in college football up to that game with victories over BCS teams.

We were on our way to every D-1A college fooball fan's ultimate dream-- being undefeated at the end of the season and Nation Champioship. That had to be the biggest game.

Homer NIU Wrote:2. Play in the MAC championship game on ESPN against BG or Miami.

Sorry, not possible. Miami is eliminated from representing the east in the MACC.

Redwingtom Wrote:As an outsider, I say no. You have won a bowl game and a MAC title. This game does neither nor guarantees neither.

Your win over Alabama will be remembered longer than anything else.

Hate to break this to you but a win vs WMU wins the MAC West and gets us into a bowl.