N. Illinois tops Toledo, clinches MAC West division

• Northern Illinois won its 10th straight game and its 21st consecutive home game
• The Huskies beat Toledo 31-24 to claim a spot in the Mid-American championship game
• Ball State outscored Ohio 21-3 in the fourth quarter en route to a 52-27 win

DE KALB, Ill. (AP) — Jordan Lynch threw for 407 yards and three touchdowns Wednesday night and Northern Illinois defeated Toledo 31-24 to claim a spot in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

Lynch also ran for 162 yards for the Huskies (10-1, 7-0), who extended the longest home winning streak in Division I to 21 games. The defending MAC champions won their 10th straight game and wrapped up the West Division title to advance to the conference championship Nov. 30 in Detroit.

Toledo (8-3, 5-2) led 14-7 at halftime, but 18 seconds into the third quarter Lynch hooked up with Martel Moore for a 74-yard touchdown pass, their second scoring connection of the game. NIU went ahead 21-14 on Lynch's 6-yard TD pass to Ashford Perez.

The Rockets trailed 31-14 but got within seven points after Jeremiah Detmer's 34-yard field goal with 5:57 left. The Huskies picked up three first downs and ran out the clock.

Moore had 153 yards receiving for NIU. Terrance Owens threw for 265 yards and ran for a score for Toledo.

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Edwards, Banks help Ball State run past Ohio

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Jahwan Edwards ran for 169 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, Zane Fakes had a 13-yard touchdown catch with 8:14 to play to give Ball State a three-score lead and the Cardinals beat Ohio 52-27 on Wednesday night.

Horactio Banks added 135 yards rushing and a score on 14 carries for the Cardinals (8-3, 5-2 Mid-American), and Fakes finished with seven catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns, the most important in the fourth quarter to give Ball State a 45-27 lead. Ohio (8-3, 4-3) has lost three of its last four games after opening 7-0.

Beau Blankenship led Ohio, running for 161 yards and three TDs on 21 carries.