Wolfe to Play Vs Zips

[Captain Kangaroo]

By TIMOTHY WOLFMEYER

Northwest Herald

After Mid-American Conference teams were outscored, 175-9 :blink: , against schools from Bowl Championship Series conferences last week – and because the conference has a 1-18 record against such teams this season – one question has to be asked.

Is the TV exposure gained by playing these teams – Michigan, Virginia Tech, Auburn, etc. – worth the humiliation?

"I think we all have to be a little more sensible about what we're trying to do," said Ball State coach Brady Hoke, whose team lost to Auburn, 63-3, on Saturday. "There is something to be said about exposing your program to the nation, but playing three BCS teams a year? That takes its toll."

Only Toledo (3-0), the lone MAC program to not face a BCS team this season, has a legitimate chance at a major bowl. Every other team came out of non-conference play with at least one loss – most, like Northern Illinois (1-2), have more.

"It's tough to come out of non-conference play with any confidence," Ohio coach Frank Solich said. "We need to be a little realistic about what we're attempting to accomplish in these games. You want to create exposure, but winning will also do that. It's tough to win when you're coming in as 20- or 30-point underdogs each week."

Solich might be right about one thing. Winning might be the only way for a mid-major team to achieve true national attention.

Those schools making a jump in the past few years, such as Utah, Boise State and Fresno State, have done so by going undefeated, not by losing to BCS schools.

Impressive company: While no one is ready to include Phil Horvath in the elite list of college quarterbacks quite yet, the NIU junior has – at least statistic-wise – equalled their accomplishments thus far.

Horvath, who has completed 52-of-78 passes for 701 yards and five touchdowns this season, currently ranks 19th nationally in quarterback rating (155.62), ahead of Texas' Vince Young, Michigan's Chad Henne and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn.

"Phil's been doing a great job of getting the ball to the right guy this season," NIU coach Joe Novak said. "He's playing within himself, not trying to do too much. I'm real pleased with what he's been able to do so far."

Horvath has guided the Huskies' offense to 513.7 yards a game this season, which ranks behind only Texas Tech (719.5), USC (633.5), Arizona State (633.3), Michigan State (566.0), Missouri (562.0), Bowling Green (559.5) and Minnesota (555.0).

Extra points: Novak said running back Garrett Wolfe, who left the Tennessee Tech game with a shoulder injury, will be ready for Akron. "[Garrett] could have played in the second half [last Saturday], but we were trying to be smart about it," Novak said. "We'll watch him closely. His shoulder just slips in and out a little bit." ... Wolfe had been leading the nation in rushing before a 61-yard performance against the Golden Eagles dropped him to fourth. ... Bowling Green faces Boise State on Wednesday, beginning three consecutive weeks of mid-week MAC games televised on ESPN2. The network will air NIU's game with Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 5.