DaytonDailyNews.com

DETROIT — Shortly after Central Michigan University's 35-10 victory over the Miami RedHawks, it was announced that the Chippewas would play in the Motor City Bowl, to be played at Ford Field on Dec. 26 against a Big Ten opponent.

Two other bowl bids were accepted by MAC teams on Saturday.

Bowling Green (8-4) will play in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 6 against an opponent from Conference USA.

Ball State (7-5) will play Rutgers in the International Bowl in Toronto on Jan. 5.

The MAC has the second-best bowl winning percentage among Football Bowl Subdivision conferences since 1999 with a record of 11-8 (.579).

Kokal not at Ford Field

Miami senior quarterback Mike Kokal was unable to play or even attend the championship game.

Kokal injured his knee at Kent State on Oct. 6 and hadn't played since. He underwent surgery Thursday at the Cleveland Clinic and was not scheduled to be released until sometime Saturday.

Junior wide receiver Jared Elliott, who last season was in a three-way competition with Kokal and Daniel Raudabaugh for the starting quarterback job, was designated as Raudabaugh's replacement if needed.

Kokal made a total of five starts this season. He completed 55-of-99 passes for 615 yards, one touchdown and seven interceptions.

Thanks but no thanks

CMU presented Miami's offense with a gift early in the second quarter, and the RedHawks were unable to turn it into points.

With the Chippewas leading 7-0 and Miami holding the ball at the CMU 29, tailback Austin Sykes was stopped short on a fourth-and-1 run. But the Chippewas were penalized 5 yards for an inadvertent face-mask foul, and the RedHawks got a first down at the 24.

Miami, however, lost 3 yards on the next three plays, then Nathan Parseghian missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt.

Back to bad habits

After Miami had scored the first points in its two previous games, the RedHawks went back to their old ways Saturday, falling behind in the first quarter for the ninth time in 13 games this season.

Central Michigan drew first blood with 1:28 remaining in the opening quarter when redshirt freshman Kito Poblah caught a 3-yard soft lob pass from quarterback Dan LeFevour.

The half ended with the Chippewas leading 7-0, marking the first time this year that CMU had shut out an opponent in the first quarter or the first half.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.