college football MAC and Big 12

N Illinois 27, Toledo 24

DEKALB, ILL.

Cameron Stingily ran for a pair of second-half touchdowns to help Northern Illinois move into a first-place tie in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. Northern Illinois (8-2, 5-1) has won four consecutive division titles. Stingily’s first score, a 4-yard run, gave Northern Illinois a 20-10 lead with 9:18 left in the third quarter. Dwight Macon, a wide receiver who, due to injuries, became the fourth Toledo player this season to take snaps under center, scored on a 1-yard run nearly 3 minutes later. After Stingily’s second touchdown run with 6:33 to play, Macon scored on a 3-yard run to pull Toledo (6-5, 5-1) within 3, but Northern Illinois recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal it. Macon completed 8 of 11 passes for 140 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown to Corey Jones. Macon added 97 yards rushing.

TCU-Baylor

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

TCU coach Gary Patterson is well aware of the escalating debate centered on his No. 5 Horned Frogs and No. 6 Baylor. Which one gets in the new four-team playoff if both win the rest of their games?Based on the new College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night, TCU would. The Frogs were fourth after a two-spot jump, while Baylor was seventh after moving up five spots. “Right now, we’re just trying to get to 9-1,” Patterson said earlier Tuesday, before the new rankings. “I can plead a lot better case if I win the next three ballgames.”

Associated Press