TOLEDO - Toledo (7-2, 4-1 MAC) is in a familiar  position in the month of November—battling for a berth in the MAC Championship Game. Now the Rockets must face a familiar nemesis, Northern Illinois, which has stood in the way of the Rockets' goal numerous times over the past several years.

          Toledo travels to an unfamiliar location—Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago, home of the White Sox—to face the Huskies on Wednesday, Nov. 9 (7:00 p.m. CT/ESPN2). The Rockets lead the all-time series with NIU, 29-14, but have lost six straight games in the matchup, most of them decisive defeats that prevented UT from earning a trip to the MAC title game in Detroit.

         With one conference loss, Toledo trails division leader Western Michigan by one game so a victory over Northern Illinois is critical to the Rockets' title hopes. UT is looking to use its high-powered, balanced offense and stingy defense to stop the Huskies. Leading rusher Kareem Hunt ran for 136 yards and one TD in the Rockets' last game, a 48-17 victory at Akron. Junior quarterback Logan Woodside, who leads the nation with 34 touchdown passes, threw for 327 yards and three scores vs. the Zips.

    Northern Illinois (3-6, 3-2 MAC) got off to a slow start this year but has won two straight games, most recently a 45-20 drubbing of Bowling Green on Nov. 1. NIU's two MAC losses were an overtime defeat to Central Michigan and a 45-30 setback at Western Michigan. The Huskies are second in the MAC in rushing, and are led the trio of running backs Joel Bouagnon (644 yards) and Jordan Huff (466), as well as quarterback Anthony Maddie (558). Bouagnon had five TDs against Bowling Green.

Rocket Round-Up
• Toledo leads the series with NIU, 29-14, but the Huskies have had the upper hand recently, winning the last six contests. NIU pulled out a 32-27 decision in Toledo last season.
• Since 2010, Toledo has lost only 11 MAC games (42-11), six to Northern Illinois, five against the rest of the league.
• The win over Akron on Nov. 2 improves Toledo's record to 19-2 against MAC East Division opponents since 2010.
• Logan Woodside is the national co-leader along with Washington's Jake Browning with 34 touchdown passes. He holds the UT single-season record, breaking the mark of 29 set by Bruce Gradkowski in 2003 and 2005.
• UT is bowl-eligible for the seventh-straight season.
• Despite a loss to Ohio on Oct. 27, Toledo still controls its own destiny and can go to the MAC Championship Game by winning its remaining games.
• Senior RB Kareem Hunt gained136 yards vs. Akron, giving him 4,396 career yards and surpassing Wasean Tait (4,338) for second all-time at UT.
• Senior TE Michael Roberts recorded his 10th touchdown reception of the season vs. Akron, setting the UT single-season school record for tight ends.
• Toledo is averaging 553.0 yards of total offense and 345.4 in passing, both top marks in the MAC.

Toledo vs. Northern Illinois

• TEAM RECORDS:
    Toledo (7-2, 4-1 MAC)
    Northern Illinois (3-6, 3-2 MAC)

• SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads, 29-14. The Huskies won at Toledo last year, 32-27, their sixth straight win in the series.

• THE COACHES:
    Jason Candle, 8-2 (1st full year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-0 vs. NIU.
    Rod Carey, 34-18 (4th year) at NIU, same overall overall. 3-0 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPN2/ESPN3.
    Play by Play: Jason Benetti
    Analyst: Kelly Stouffer
  Sideline: Paul Carcaterra

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 6:30 p.m.
    Play by Play: Brent Balbinot
    Analyst: Austin Dantin
    Sidelines: Jim Heller

• WEB-AUDIO: Free live audio streaming of the UT Rocket Radio Network broadcast on UTRockets.com.

• UT COACH'S SHOW: Coach Jason Candle and host Brent Balbinot talk Rocket Football every Monday from 6-7 p.m. at Frickers in Maumee. Carried live on WSPD-AM1370 and online on UTRockets.com.

• TWITTER:
    @UTPaulHelgren: Daily updates on UT Football.
    @ToledoFB: Live updates on Game Day.
    @ToledoRockets: Updates for all Rocket sports.