MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE Rare high rankings follow MAC teams in showcase game

It's the first time two ranked teams have met since 1973.
BOWLING GREEN (AP) -- Josh Harris wasn't sure if he'd ever have a game that mattered when he decided to come to Bowling Green.
Now the quarterback is in what may be the biggest game in decades in the Mid-American Conference, when No. 23 Bowling Green takes on 12th-ranked Northern Illinois today at 4.
"It's nice to see the big games come to us," said Harris, who has 10 passing touchdowns and seven rushing scores in seven games. "When you go to a school in the Mid-American Conference, you run that risk of not playing in big games."
It's the first time two MAC schools ranked in the Top 25 have met since 17th-ranked Miami (Ohio) played No. 19 Kent State in 1973.
There's much more at stake than taking the lead atop the MAC West and getting the inside track to the conference title game.
Major bowl possibility
Northern Illinois (7-0, 3-0) still has a shot at sneaking into a major bowl game, but it must finish the regular season undefeated. The Huskies are one of four unbeaten teams remaining in major college football.
Huskies coach Joe Novak is doing his best to not let that become a distraction. "Honestly, we don't think about that stuff," he said. "That is completely out of our control."
For Bowling Green, it's another shot at making a statement.
The Falcons (6-1, 3-0) handed Purdue its only loss of the season in the opener, but they came away disappointed after losing 17-10 at Ohio State in a game that wasn't decided until the final drive.
Harris threw three interceptions against the Buckeyes, calling it "disgusting."
"It does seem like we're getting a second chance," said Falcons defensive back Janssen Patton. "But it's only an opportunity if you take advantage of it."
Harris leads Falcons
Harris is the one player the Huskies must slow down. He directs an offense that averages 515 yards per game -- second best in the nation.
"He's like a big fullback running the football." Novak said. "He's almost 240 pounds, and the thing that I think he has improved so much on even from last year is his ability to throw it."
Harris has matured on the field too.
He said the loss at Ohio State taught him to value every possession.
"We wasted time," he said. "We took up too much time not doing anything with the ball."
Bowling Green has had trouble finishing off drives. That's something that must change, said first-year coach Gregg Brandon. He moved up from offensive coordinator after Urban Meyer moved on to Utah.
"I think, last year, we got spoiled," he said. "Whenever we got in the red zone, we scored a touchdown. This year, we're not scoring at that type of tempo."
Turner paces Huskies
The Huskies rely on big playmakers Michael Turner, the nation's second-leading runner with 132 yards per game, and P.J. Fleck, who averages eight catches a game.
"It's pretty much pick your poison," Patton said.
Bowling Green will look to keep Turner and Fleck off the field by controlling the ball on the ground with Harris and running back P.J. Pope, who has seven touchdowns this season.