Bowling Green clinched the East Division early after their 30–20 victory over division-rival Kent State on November 12.
Northern Illinois used the entirety of the conference schedule to clinch the West Division on the season's final day with a 31–21 come-from-behind win over Western Michigan on November 28.
In 2003, the Falcons, then ranked #20, lost to 13th-ranked Miami, 49-27, at Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green (at that time, championship games were played at on-campus sites).
They won the 2013 game in Detroit over then-ranked #14 Northern Illinois, 47-27, ending the Huskies' unbeaten season and their hopes for a BCS berth in the Fiesta Bowl.
The 2011 contest saw the Huskies trailing Ohio, 20-0 at halftime, only to mount a furious comeback, capped by Mathew Sims' field goal as time expired for a 23-20 win.