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Marathon MAC Football Championship
Conference Football Championship
File:2012 MAC Championship.jpg
2012 MAC Championship Game logo
Sport College football
Conference Mid-American Conference
Current stadium Ford Field
Current location Detroit, Michigan
Played 1997–present
Last contest 2012 MAC Championship Game
Current champion Northern Illinois Huskies
Most championships Marshall Thundering Herd (5)
TV partner(s) ESPN2
Official website MAC-Sports.com football
Sponsors
Marathon Petroleum (2003-present)
Host stadiums
Joan C. Edwards Stadium (1997–2000, 2002)
Glass Bowl (2001)
Doyt Perry Stadium (2003)
Ford Field (2004–present)
Host locations
Huntington, West Virginia (1997–2000, 2002)
Toledo, Ohio (2001)
Bowling Green, Ohio (2003)
Detroit, Michigan (2004–present)

The Marathon MAC Football Championship is a football game between the winners of the East and West divisions of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to determine the conference champion. The game has been played since 1997, when the conference was first divided into divisions and since 2003 has been sponsored by Marathon Oil. The winner of the game is guaranteed a berth in a bowl game which the MAC has contractual obligations to field a team. Since 2004, the championship game is played at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Previously the game was held at campus sites.

In 2000 and 2007, due to an unbalanced conference schedule, the team with best division record within each division was awarded that division's championship game berth. In other years, the teams with the best overall conference records received a berth.

Results by year[]

Rankings reflect last AP poll prior to game being played. Winner in bold.

From 1997 through 2003, the championship game was played at campus sites (listed in italics).
Year East Score West Score
1997 Marshall 34 Toledo 14
1998 Marshall 23 Toledo 17
1999 #11 Marshall 34 Western Michigan 30
2000 Marshall 19 Western Michigan 14
2001 #20 Marshall 36 Toledo 41
2002 Marshall 49 Toledo 45
2003 #13 Miami 49 #20 Bowling Green 27
Since 2004, the game has been played at Ford Field in Detroit.
Year East Score West Score
2004 Miami 27 Toledo 35
2005 Akron 31 Northern Illinois 30
2006 Ohio 10 Central Michigan 31
2007 Miami 10 Central Michigan 35
2008 Buffalo 42 #12 Ball State 24
2009 Ohio 10 Central Michigan 20
2010 Miami 26 #24 Northern Illinois 21
2011 Ohio 20 Northern Illinois 23
2012 #18 Kent State 37 #19 Northern Illinois 44**
  • * - represents number of overtime periods

Results by team[]

Appearances School W L Pct Years appeared Years won
6 Marshall 5 1 .833 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002
5 Toledo 2 3 .400 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 2001, 2004
4 Miami 2 2 .500 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010 2003, 2010
4 Northern Illinois 2 2 .500 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012 2011, 2012
3 Central Michigan 3 0 1.000 2006, 2007, 2009 2006, 2007, 2009
3 Ohio 0 3 .000 2006, 2009, 2011
2 Western Michigan 0 2 .000 1999, 2000
1 Akron 1 0 1.000 2005 2005
1 Buffalo 1 0 1.000 2008 2008
1 Kent State 0 1 .000 2012
1 Ball State 0 1 .000 2008
1 Bowling Green 0 1 .000 2003
0 Central Florida 0 0
0 Eastern Michigan 0 0
0 Temple 0 0

Current conference members in bold

Photo gallery[]

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