I know that nationally-ranked football teams are usually from powerhouse colleges in far more superior conferences than the lowly MAC.

Oh, wait, what? MAC East-leading Ohio is now ranked in the top 25 in the nation? Yes, you read right. The 7-0 Bobcats are the most recent addition to the Associated Press Top 25 with 104 overall points.

Where was NIU in terms of receiving votes to be ranked, one might ask? NIU received no votes at all from the Associated Press voters, but did receive a whopping two votes in a recent USA Today Poll.

On the other end of the spectrum, of the other teams receiving votes to be ranked in the top 25, Northwestern received 77.

While I understand many of these rankings are based on record and the strength of your opponents, I’m a bit surprised that NIU received zero votes from Associated Press. If the opening game against Iowa had turned out differently, I think there would be no reason for NIU not to be in Ohio’s spot.

There are a few factors working against the Huskies, however. Their schedule is not as strong as it could be, as they do not face Ohio or Kent State, two of the best teams in the MAC. Ohio has not faced a strong group from the MAC so far, either. The Bobcats have defeated cellar dwellers Akron, Buffalo and Massachusetts.

Personally, I feel that with NIU’s remaining schedule, aside from Toledo, there is really no reason for it to lose. I understand anything is possible, but the combined record of its next three opponents is 4-16. After Toledo, which is currently 6-1, the Huskies face another winless team in Eastern Michigan.

The topic of being a top 25 is something head coach Dave Doeren has spoken on with a bit of guarded optimism.

“I think it shows respect across the country if you’re getting votes like that,” Doeren said in a press conference. “It means that people that could normally slot a lower Big Ten or ACC or SEC team choose you over them. That would mean a lot for our program to have that kind of respect. We’ll worry about it if we can get to that point. I’d really like to be in Detroit having that conversation. We’ve got to win out to get there.”

Doeren is correct in all his assessments, especially the part about winning out. The way I see it, there’s a very high likelihood that scenario will play out if NIU continues to play football the way it has.