The dream is not dead yet: The NIU football team can still capture that elusive MAC West Division title.

Two things must happen for that to become reality. One, the Huskies must defeat host Eastern Michigan on Nov. 20. Two, Toledo needs to fall to visiting Bowling Green on Nov. 23.

If those events happen, NIU would play in the MAC championship game on Dec. 2 at Ford Field in Detroit.

“We have to beat Eastern Michigan and then we have to become big Bowling Green fans,” said NIU Coach Joe Novak. “I’m not used to doing that.”

The Huskies have not won the MAC since 1983, when Novak was defensive coordinator for Head Coach Bill Mallory. That was also the last season NIU went to a bowl game.

This situation is similar to the one NIU faced in 2002. After losing to Toledo in its final game, NIU’s MAC record stood at 7-1. In order to take the MAC West, the Huskies needed Bowling Green to defeat host Toledo.

The similarities don’t end there. Bowling Green jumped out to an early 17-7 lead, just like the Huskies did Tuesday in their loss to Toledo. And just like it did Tuesday against NIU, Toledo’s defense came to the forefront and it defeated Bowling Green 42-24.

Only the MAC champion is guaranteed a bowl game, said Gary Richter, MAC assistant commissioner for media relations. The MAC has connections with the Motor City Bowl in Detroit and the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Richter said the GMAC Bowl traditionally gets first pick from the MAC because it is held before the Motor City Bowl.

In the MAC East, Miami-Ohio, Akron and Marshall are all 5-1. Marshall holds the tie-breaker over Miami-Ohio, while Akron holds the tie-breaker over Marshall. Akron hosts Miami-Ohio on Nov. 20.

Bowl games other than the Motor City and GMAC could become a possibility if a conference does not have enough bowl-eligible teams (six wins qualifies). NIU would then need to receive an at-large bid to one of those bowls. NIU, however, was the only 10-win team last season that did not receive a bowl game.