Editors note: “The Ostrus Factor” will be a weekly football column written by Sean Ostruszka, the Northern Star football writer.

You’ve heard the saying, “On any given Sunday.”

It means on any given day any team can win no matter the opponent or circumstances.

Well, what’s true for Sundays has become a joke in the MAC.

As a conference, the MAC is as balanced as a McDonald’s diet.

While every team writes “Win the MAC” on its locker room walls, most are just wasting the ink.

Let’s be honest; only four teams have a shot: Bowling Green, NIU, Toledo and Miami-Ohio.

If this is a race, then it’s four thoroughbred stallions versus eight mules named Gluestick.

I’m sorry, but teams like Ball State and Buffalo don’t exactly instill a sense of fear in anyone.

So what does this mean for NIU?

Well, if NIU wants to finally end its never-ending streak of always coming up just short, they have to win two key games.

Yes, there are eight conference games for the Huskies. And yes, they have games against such teams as Akron and Western Michigan, but please. NIU beat both those teams by a combined 51 points last season.

So no, the road to the MAC Championship does not have eight games. It has only two.

Oct. 5

It’s a Wednesday night game against Miami. It’s on ESPN2 and those stands need to be packed with red and black. So if you were planning on using the “I have to study” excuse, don’t even try it.

The RedHawks are probably the least magnificent of the four stallions, but they can still compete. Despite still going through withdrawals in the wake of former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leaving for the NFL, Miami was picked by many to win the MAC.

Josh Betts is no Big Ben, but he’s no stiff either. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that he throws to Martin Nance. Who is Martin Nance? Well, he’s 6-foot-5. Who cares about anything else.

Nov. 16

Just once it would be nice to go through a season and not to have to play Toledo.

Unfortunately, the Rockets are in the MAC West, meaning NIU will play them every year.

And of course, they are right in position to screw everything up for NIU on national television – again.

Don’t you just love those guys?

Everybody knows the facts: NIU hasn’t beaten Toledo since 1988, the Huskies are TU coach Tom Amstutz’s personal whipping boys, etc.

Plus the Rockets still have quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, the same Gradkowski who lit NIU up like a Roman candle for the past two years.

But this is a new season, and if NIU can finally get Amstutz off its back then it can start making reservations in Detroit.

There you have it: two games, two wins and NIU will finally get a chance at the title.

So write down those dates and do whatever you want with the rest of the schedule.

And oh yeah, hope the Huskies don’t blow the easy ones.