With football’s regular season right around the corner, I’m ranking the Huskies’ best home games to attend this season.

The Huskies play host five times in 2014, welcoming MAC West division foes Central Michigan Chippewas and Toledo Rockets, MAC East opponents Kent State Golden Flashes and Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, and Football Championship Subdivision Presbyterian Blue Hose.

No. 5: Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (0-12, 0-8 MAC) — time TBA Oct. 18

There’s an old saying along the lines that games aren’t played on paper, they’re played on the field; however, this game doesn’t promise to be too competitive. The RedHawks are coming off a winless season and are in the process of beginning to rebuild their program under first-year head coach Chuck Martin. This game may be competitive for one quarter at best and could be along the lines of the Huskies’ last two games versus Massachusetts: 63-0 in 2012 and 63-19 in 2013.

No. 4: Kent State Golden Flashes (4-8, 3-5 MAC) — time TBA Oct. 4

The Huskies return home for the first time since opening the season against Presbyterian five-plus weeks earlier. After three road games in a row the Huskies have an open date before beginning conference play against the Golden Flashes. This Kent State team is far from the one the Huskies beat 44-37 in double overtime in the 2012 MAC Championship Game and is much more like last season’s four-win team. The Huskies own a seven-game winning streak against the Golden Flashes, averaging 34 points per game and allowing 16.3 points per game during that stretch. Look for a similar score as the Huskies should extend that streak to eight games.

No. 3: Presbyterian Blue Hose (3-8, 1-4 Big South) — 6 p.m. Aug. 28

For the first time since 2011 the Huskies open their season at Huskie Stadium. Even though the Huskies are beginning a new era of quarterback play, attempting to replace Jimmie Ward in the defensive secondary and starting an entirely new defensive line, the expectations are certainly there for them to make their fifth-straight MAC Championship Game appearance and seventh-consecutive bowl appearance. It will be interesting to see how the Huskies — in all phases of the game — come out and execute against a team they should beat up on, attempting to get the bad taste of last season’s ending out of their mouths, before embarking on a three-game road trip.

No. 2: Central Michigan Chippewas (6-6, 5-3 MAC) — 4 p.m. Oct. 11

NIU’s 108th Homecoming game promises to be nearly on the same level as last season’s Homecoming game, when the Huskies downed the Akron Zips 27-20 in a defensive slugfest. Similar to last season’s Zips, the Chippewas are on the rise — even if it’s only a slight rise — this season with nine offensive starters and seven defensive starters returning. The Chippewas should provide the Huskies with a challenge well into the third quarter, but unlike last season’s Homecoming game this one could very well be an offensive shootout.

No. 1: Toledo Rockets (7-5, 5-3 MAC) — 7 p.m. Nov. 11

Here it is. If you only go to one home game this season, this is the game to attend. Much like last season, the Huskies should be able to wrap up the MAC West Division title with a win over Toledo. Even with the dreaded cold of the impending DeKalb winter, this is a can’t-miss game as the winner will more than likely represent the MAC West in the MAC Championship Game. The Huskies have won their last four games against the Rockets, losing last to Toledo by one point, 20-19, in 2009. A fifth-consecutive victory over Toledo should send NIU to its fifth-straight MAC Championship Game appearance.