DETROIT — Northern Illinois has gone back-to-back.

For the second consecutive year and third time in school history, the No. 19 Huskies are Mid-American Conference champions after beating No. 18 Kent State, 44-37, in double overtime of Friday’s MAC Championship Game at Ford Field.

With the win, NIU (12-1), who’s ranked No. 21 in the BCS standings, gave itself a shot at a BCS bowl berth. Should the Huskies finish in the top 16 in the BCS standings and ahead of a conference champion from one of the six automatic-qualifying leagues, NIU will be headed to a BCS bowl. The Huskies should finish ahead of the Big East champion.