NIU football coach Joe Novak knew his team wasn’t one of the 10 best football programs in the country, but he thinks they’re one of the top 56.

The Huskies are without All-MAC players Nick Duffy, Dan Sheldon, Akil Grant and Travis Moore. Leonard Cooksey also missed last week’s game.

“We are a beat-up football team,” Novak said. “We’re missing four really good players. My point is if we get to a bowl game, we’d have all those guys back, besides Duffy. I think that’s a selling point.”

There are 28 bowl games, leaving spots open to 56 bowl-eligible teams. To be bowl eligible, a team must win six games. NIU has 10 wins.

The Huskies’ bowl future is up in the air, but there is speculation that Northwestern and NIU could be a potential bowl matchup in the Motor City Bowl, which takes the No. 7 seed and a MAC team. However, the Motor City Bowl has to take the MAC Championship winner if no one else picks it up. The speculation is because both are in the Chicago area, setting up a local rivalry.

“There aren’t many teams that would play in the mid-to-lower level bowls that are going to be better than Northern,” said Eastern Michigan coach Al Lavan after Saturday’s game.

Playing on Sunday?

The Huskies have a number of seniors who have a chance at playing in the NFL, Novak said.

Running back Michael Turner, safety Akil Grant, defensive end Vinson Reynolds, kicker Steve Azar, cornerback Randee Drew, wide receiver P.J. Fleck, center Todd Ghilani and linebacker Nick Duffy all are getting pro interest, Novak said.

With all the hype surrounding Turner, Novak said he was happy with the way his running back handled the pressure.

“Everyone has an ego, even Mike,” Novak said. “But he doesn’t wear it on his sleeve and that has helped this team out. I just look forward to watching him on Sundays.”

“Titan”ic effort

Former NIU wide receiver and punt returner Justin McCareins was able to show his talents at both of his positions Sunday.

The Tennessee receiver had four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 38-31 victory over the Atlanta Flacons.

McCareins also returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown.

He has 31 catches for 502 yards and five touchdowns on the season. He also averages 11.6 yards per punt return for the Titans.

Practice today?

With the Huskies’ chances of winning the MAC West and playing in the MAC Championship game gone, their season is over … for now.

This means NIU can’t hold team practices unless it receives a bowl invite.

The team will not know its fate on a bowl game for at least two weeks when the MAC champion is crowned.

“This team needs a week off,” Novak said.

The Burner in second

Turner is the No. 2 rusher in the nation, behind Kansas State’s Darren Sproles.

The 6-foot North Chicago native has 1,648 yards rushing this year with 14 touchdowns. Sproles has 1,713 yards.

Derrick Knight of Boston College and Michigan’s Chris Perry are third and fourth with 1,599 and 1,589 yards.

Sproles will play in the Big 12 Championship Game and most likely a bowl game. Knight and Perry probably will play another game in a bowl.

Turner led the nation coming into last weekend, but Sproles ran for 273 yards, a Kansas State record, in Saturday’s 24-14 win over Missouri.

Last season, Turner finished second behind Penn State’s Larry Johnson. Johnson was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round.

Players of the week

Turner and Azar were honored by the MAC on Monday as players of the week in the MAC West.

Turner ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s 38-24 win over EMU.

His touchdown runs were from 59, 31 and 3 yards.

Azar connected on three field goals and added three extra points. Azar has 73 career field goals, which is a MAC record, and has the NIU record for kick scoring points in a season with 104.

MAC West defensive player of the week went to Toledo linebacker Michael Broussard.

In the East, Kent State quarterback Josh Cribbs was honored as offensive player of the week. He had 372 yards of total offense, including 161 rushing. His 80-yard touchdown run was the longest run in the MAC this season.

Cribbs also has the longest pass play in the MAC this season – a 97-yard pass against Marshall.

Miami-Ohio’s Ryne Robinson was special teams player of the week. He broke the MAC single-season record for punt return yardage, 615 yards, and is 176 yards short of the NCAA record.

Oh so close

Despite holding the NIU single season record, Azar was one point from breaking the MAC single-season point-scoring record of 105 points by Bowling Green’s Brian Leaver in 1994.

Azar would’ve had a chance at tying the record in the fourth quarter, but the Huskies went for a two-point conversion after a Turner 3-yard touchdown run.

Azar was unaware of the record until he entered the post-game press conference.

“I didn’t know that at all,” Azar said. “I [didn’t] find this stuff out until I came in here and you guys filled me in. I really couldn’t have asked for a better season.”