Western Michigan football had destiny in its own hands to begin the night. A win at Northern Illinois meant a Mid-American West Division championship and a trip to Ford Field.
That opportunity slipped away in a 17-14 heartbreaking loss at Northern Illinois on Tuesday night, with their only hope of getting to Detroit now having to come in the form of a Central Michigan loss versus Toledo on Friday.
In the first half, the Broncos could not get out of their own way as a catastrophe of errors led to getting shut out to a short handed Northern Illinois team, who was without star running back Tre Harbison due to entering the transfer portal and without quarterback Ross Bowers due to injury.