Every year, MAC football schools get their chance to show Bowl Championship Series schools what they’re made of.

But each year, the outcome repeats itself — BCS schools win, MAC schools lose.

In 2005, the MAC went 1-16 against BCS schools with Ohio squeaking in one win against Pittsburgh — 16-10 in overtime.

And 2006 has been more of the same. The MAC has played 13 games against the BCS this year. Their record: 1-12.

Record aside, however, the 2006 season is a little different.

The average score for a MAC/BCS game this year has been 35-12. That may seem like a big margin of victory, but it’s a vast improvement over 2005.

Last year, MAC schools averaged 12 points per game against BCS schools, with the big boys averaging 40 points per game. That’s an eleven-point turnaround.

How did it change over a period of one year?

NIU coach Joe Novak says the MAC is getting tougher.

“The thing that I’ve seen in our conference in the last two years is some of the teams that have been struggling for a few years are starting to come up,” Novak said. “Ball State’s play has improved. Indiana was fortunate to beat them. Central Michigan played good [against Michigan]. I think there’s so much parity in our league right now that any given Saturday you could lose.”

The 2003 season marked the best season for the MAC against the BCS. Five BCS schools fell, with NIU defeating three of them: Maryland, Alabama and Iowa State.

With ten weeks remaining in the 2006 season, the MAC still has 16 games against BCS schools. Buffalo has the most remaining, with games against Auburn, Boston College and Wisconsin, while the Huskies get another chance at a BCS school when they travel to Iowa in October.

Lacy Searcy is a Sports Reporter for the Northern Star.