Remember how I said the Mid-American Conference could end up being a mess by the end of the weekend?

You know, Central Michigan had to beat Toledo, Northern Illinois had to beat Ball State, Bowling Green had to lose to Akron, Ohio U. had to beat Buffalo and Miami of Ohio just had to sit there and watch the fun while they smacked Temple around. You write about things like this, but you never think they're actually going to happen. Too many things have to go right.

Well, guess what? It all almost happened just as it had to. The MAC is now in a state of higgley-piggley heading into the final month of the season.

Central Michigan (5-3, 4-1 MAC West) did indeed beat division-leading Toledo (4-1, 6-2) 21-17, which means the pair are tied for the division lead, and CMU owns the tiebreaker. CMU QB Kent Smith tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the Chippewas' first win over the Rockets in 11 tries. Toledo's Nick Moore, who had a huge game catching nine passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, had the game-winner go off his fingertips in the back of the end zone on the game's last play.

Northern Illinois (4-4, 3-2) should be involved in this tie at the top of the West Division, but they absorbed an upset loss at the hands of Ball State (2-6, 2-3 West) 31-17. David Letterman's alma mater got a big head start in this, taking a 17-0 halftime lead on the Huskies. BSU QB Joey Lynch threw two touchdowns in the second quarter. NIU QB Phil Horvath was 21-of-31 for 163 yards. He was also sacked four times. All hope is not lost for the Huskies, though. They travel to Central Michigan this weekend, and they get Toledo on Nov. 16. So they can still play their way into the MAC Championship game.

In the East Division, as predicted, Bowling Green, without quarterback Omar Jacobs, fell to Akron 24-14. Jacobs, who was hurt last week in a game the Falcons (4-4, 3-2 East) lost 45-14, did not play. That put the offense in the hands of Anthony Turner, who was 22-of-30 for 173 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Akron (4-4, 3-2 East) saw Brett Biggs rushed for 159 yards and two scores, and QB Luke Getsy went 15-of-29 for 205 yards. Getsy put the Zips up for good in the third quarter with a 2-yard TD pass to Merce Poindexter.

The East Division fell into further chaos when Ohio (4-4, 3-2 East) defeated Buffalo (0-8, 0-4 East) 34-20. Kalvin McRae eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark again, gaining 224 yards and scoring twice for the Bobcats, who had to withstand a 20-point rally by the Bulls.

All of that, combined with Miami of Ohio's (5-3, 4-2 East) 41-14 pounding of Temple (0-9), forced a four-way tie in the East.

Elsewhere in the MAC, Western Michigan (5-3, 3-2 West) scored five different ways to defeat Kent State (1-7, 0-5 East) 44-14. The Broncos scored twice on rushes, twice on passes, an interception return, a fumble return and a safety. Along the way Western receiver Greg Jennings caught four passes for 37 yards including a score, his 37th career score and a new school record. He also rushed for 20 more yards, making him the school's all-time all-purpose leader at 4,690 yards.

All of these histrionics will certainly make the MAC more interesting in the final month. Two interesting games dot this weekend's schedule. Along with the aforementioned NIU-CMU game, Toledo is at Ohio.

My record: 4-2. Season total: 9-4

Bowl report (Predictions on who will go where)

GMAC Bowl (MAC or WAC at-large): Akron

Motor City Bowl (MAC winner or runner-up): Toledo

Note: Those are the MAC's only binding bowl ties. The league also sent schools to the Fort Worth Bowl, the Liberty Bowl and the Silicon Valley Bowl in 2004.

Bowl eligible: Toledo

Out of bowl consideration: Buffalo (0-8, three games remaining); Temple (0-9, not eligible for bowl consideration out of MAC); Kent State (1-7, three games remaining); Ball State (1-6, four games remaining).

Conference USA

Tulane had a 20-7 lead over Marshall at halftime, but saw it evaporate in the fourth quarter, as the Thundering Herd (4-4, 3-2 East) rallied for 13 points in the last 15 minutes for 27-26 victory. The Green Wave (2-5, 1-3 West) lost its fourth straight game, playing in its seventh straight different stadium, thanks to Hurricane Katrina. The game was at Land-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Marshall QB Bernie Morris had 73 yards of total offense in the final 18 minutes of the game. The Herd snapped an 85 minute, 54 second first-quarter scoreless streak. The Herd's Chubb Small returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown, and running back Ahman Bradshaw won the game with a 3-yard touchdown sweep, part of his 91 yards rushing.

In Houston, Texas-El Paso (6-3, 5-1 West) became the first C-USA team to be bowl eligible, but not before withstanding a scare from bottom-feeding Rice (0-7, 0-3 West) in the Miners' 38-31 win. Jordan Palmer became UTEP's all-time total offense leader, throwing for 387 yards and three touchdowns. Rice has lost a national-worst 13 straight games dating back to last season, but Rice drove in the final minute to try and tie the game before Miners defensive end Reggie Miles stuffed Rice running back John Wall at the UTEP 4 for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1. That sets up what should be the West Division title game this weekend, as UTEP hosts Tulsa (5-3, 4-1 West), which was off this week.

Central Florida (5-3, 4-1 East) took one step closer to bowl eligibility, and stayed in a tie for the East Division lead with a 30-20 win over East Carolina (3-5, 2-3 East). USF and Southern Miss are still tied for the divisional lead. UCF quarterback Steven Moffett tosses two scores in the fourth quarter to wide receiver Mike Walker to hold on for the victory. The win was UCF's first road win against C-USA competition. UCF was down by three with 9:12 left in the game before Moffett and Walker's hookups. The Pirates saw two fourth-quarter drives end in turnovers, as UCF's Ronnell Sandy recovered a fumble and Joe Burnett registering an interception.

Southern Miss (4-3, 3-1) tried to steal one from North Carolina State, but fell 21-17 in a non-conference game for both teams. The Golden Eagles led early, up 14-0, but State rallied.

Note: UAB is at Memphis on Tuesday.

My record: 3-1. Season Total: 7-3

Bowl report (Predictions on who will go where)

GMAC Bowl (C-USA No. 2): Southern Miss

Liberty Bowl (C-USA Champion): UTEP

Hawai'i Bowl (C-USA No. 3): Tulsa

New Orleans Bowl (C-USA at large): Memphis

Fort Worth Bowl (C-USA No. 4): UCF

Bowl eligible: UTEP.

Out of bowl consideration: Rice (0-7, four games remaining); SMU (2-6, three games remaining)

Mountain West Conference

No. 20 Texas Christian had to sweat out its sixth Mountain West victory, as the Horned Frogs (8-1, 6-0) squeaked by San Diego State (3-6, 2-4) 23-20. Cory Rodgers rushed for a 6-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, which gave the Horned Frogs a 10-point lead. San Diego State rallied back to within three points before TCU's David Roach picked off an Aztec pass in the end zone late in the game. TCU's Rober Merrill rushed for a season-high 170 yards and two touchdowns. The loss was San Diego State's 19th straight loss to a ranked team.

Brigham Young and Air Force engaged in a normal MWC scorefest, with BYU (4-4, 3-2) winning 62-41. There were seven touchdowns scored in the fourth quarter, as Curtis Brown led BYU with a career-high 219 yards and four touchdowns. John Beck also threw for 383 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Air Force (3-6, 2-5) will have consecutive losing seasons for the first time under head coach Fisher DeBerry, under fire earlier this week for comments he made about black players' speed. The Falcons also fell out of bowl eligibility, and it's their fourth losing season in the last 22 years.

On Friday Night, New Mexico running back DonTrell Moore became just the sixth player in Division I history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in four straight seasons, but that wasn't enough for the Lobos (5-4, 3-3) as they fell to Colorado State (5-3, 4-1) 35-25.

Justin Hollard capped CSU's rally with a 15-yard touchdown pass to David Anderson in the fourth quarter. The Rams trailed 25-12 at halftime.

Moore finished with 117 yards rushing on 19 carries. But Moore's fumble at the CSU 41 set up the Rams' winning score. Turnovers hurt the Lobos in the second half, as three led to 17 Rams points. Moore now stands at 1,085 yards for the season and 4,760 yards for his career.

The other players with four seasons of 1,000 yards rushing or more are Tony Dorsett, Amos Lawrence, Ron Dayne, Denvis Manns and Cedric Benson.

Wins by TCU and Colorado State set up what is likely the MWC title game this Saturday in Fort Worth between the Horned Frogs and Rams.

My record: 2-1. Season record: 7-1.

Bowl report (Predictions on who will go where)

Las Vegas Bowl (conference champion): TCU

Emerald Bowl (second or third place): Colorado State

Poinsettia Bowl (MWC at large): New Mexico

Bowl eligible: TCU.

Out of bowl consideration: UNLV (2-6, three games remaining), San Diego State (3-6, three games remaining); Air Force Academy (3-6, two game remaining).

Western Athletic Conference

No. 22 Fresno State and Boise State both became bowl eligible with victories Saturday, and continued on their collision course toward the pivotal WAC matchup Nov. 10.

The Bulldogs (6-1, 4-0) got a career-high 229 yards rushing and three touchdowns as they beat Hawai'i 27-13. It was Fresno State's first victory in Honolulu since 1994. Hawaii's Davone Bess caught 14 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown.

Boise State (6-2, 4-0) won its 30th straight WAC contest, and its 29th straight game at home, by blasting Nevada (4-3, 3-1) 49-14. BSU's Legedu Naanee caught four passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns, while Antwaun Carter rushed for 49 yards and two scores on nine carries. BSU's defense picked off five passes and registered seven sacks. Marty Tadman had 11 tackles and two picks, while Colt Brooks had nine tackles and three sacks.

This doesn't eliminate the Wolf Pack from bowl contention. It still has Fresno State later this season, so they could play their way in that way.

Elsewhere, Louisiana Tech (4-3, 3-1) improved to 4-0 at home with a 31-14 win over San Jose State (1-7, 0-5). That keeps the Bulldogs in the hunt for bowl eligibility and possibly the WAC title. La. Tech's Matt Kubik threw for 329 yards and two scores.

Idaho (2-6, 2-3) saw D.J. Smith catch 11 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns as the Vandals escaped with a 38-37 double-overtime win over New Mexico State (0-8, 0-4). One of Smith's scores came in the second overtime, and then he caught the game-winning two-point conversion. Idaho quarterback Steven Wichman threw for 489 yards and four scores in the first overtime game in the WAC this year.

Utah State (2-5, 1-3) traveled to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face No. 5 Alabama, as they lost 35-3.

My record: 4-1. Season record: 8-1.

Bowl report (Predictions on who will go where)

Hawai'i Bowl (WAC at-large): Fresno State

MPC Computers (WAC at large): Boise State

Bowl eligible: Boise State, Fresno State

Out of bowl consideration: New Mexico State (0-8, four games remaining); San Jose State (1-7, three games remaining); Idaho (2-6, three games remaining).

Sun Belt Conference

Troy is done.

The Trojans have no realistic chance of reaching the New Orleans Bowl after losing to Louisiana-Lafayette (3-5, 2-2) 31-28 in overtime Saturday. Sean Comiskey's 40-yard field goal lifted the Ragin' Cajuns to the win. La.-La's defense then held Troy (3-5, 2-2) on defense, forcing the Trojans into a 37-yard field goal, which Greg Whibbs missed. La.-La.'s Tyrell Fenroy rushed for 156 yards and scored three of the team's four touchdowns. At one point the Ragin' Cajuns were up 20-0 in this game. Troy rallied to tie it with 22 seconds left in regulation, as Carl Meadows hit Smokey Hampton for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Troy has already lost to front-running Louisiana-Monroe (3-4, 3-0), which means Troy would need the Indians to lose three games, plus win their own remaining games, to make the New Orleans Bowl.

And, North Texas absorbed a 56-3 loss to LSU, a rescheduled game due to Hurricane Katrina. A Nick Bazaldua field goal was the Mean Green's (2-5, 2-1) only points. UNT lost for the fifth time in six games and is now 3-29 against the Southeastern Conference. But despite all that, the Mean Green is still in the conference title hunt. The only conference champion the Sun Belt has even known still has Louisiana-Monroe on its schedule, but must get through La.-La. and Florida Atlantic to get there first.

Also, Middle Tennessee's scheduled trip to Florida International was postponed after Hurricane Wilma damaged the Owls' home stadium on the east coast of Florida.

My record: 1-1. Season record: 4-1.

Bowl report (Predictions on who will go where)

New Orleans Bowl (Sun Belt Champion): Louisiana-Monroe

Bowl eligible: None

Out of bowl consideration: Louisiana-Lafayette (2-6, three games remaining); Florida Atlantic (1-7, three games remaining).