It’s tough to stress how important tonight’s football game against Toledo is.

A win would solidify NIU’s first outright MAC West title in 21 years, a trip to the MAC championship game and a very good chance for NIU’s first bowl appearance since 1983.

No pressure, guys, it’s only one of the most important games in NIU history.

A win tonight is more important than 2003’s wins over Maryland, Alabama and Iowa State combined. Those wins didn’t give the Huskies much more than bragging rights.

They also didn’t help much in December, when a 10-2 NIU team stayed home to watch other, lower-ranking college football teams play over Winter Break.

A win tonight can break the curse, but it won’t be easy.

The bad news for Huskie fans is that the Rockets have had NIU’s number for the past decade. The Huskies haven’t mustered a win against Toledo since 1989.

When NIU last beat the Rockets, college students were sporting mullets while playing Super Mario Bros. and listening to Milli Vanilli.

Toledo has ruined NIU’s season many times before, most recently in 2002 and 2003 and will be more than willing to do it again.

For Toledo, the game won’t be just about ruining NIU’s season; it will be about saving its own.

Tonight’s game is essential for the Rockets if they hope to stay in the conference race. After a 23-16 loss to Miami-Ohio on ESPN2 last week, Toledo will be hungry to avenge its record.

If the Rockets lose to NIU, they will have two MAC losses this season, eliminating their chances of topping the Huskies for the title.

More good news for Huskies fans: NIU has won its last 11 games at home. Naming the surface Brigham Field before the start of the 2003 season must have been a good-luck charm.

However, guess who handed NIU its last home loss? Toledo.

Don’t think NIU players don’t know about their woes to Toledo. After an overtime win against Ball State, they could finally focus on the game everyone knew would decide the Huskies’ season.

Talk they did. Even NIU coach Joe Novak voiced his excitement about playing the Rockets with an undefeated conference record.

The MAC championship is so close that players, coaches and fans can taste it. The elusive title ring doesn’t look so far off.

In fact, by 10 p.m. today, NIU’s 10-game losing streak to Toledo and the Huskies’ heartbreaking seasons without a bowl or conference title may be nothing more than history – just a chapter in NIU’s tale of how the West was won.