Belt Loops: Clutch MAC Kickery Downs Colts

MAC-related links and meanderings for this gloomy Monday:

On a week when BGSU had nothing to do with helping out Miami in football this week, the NFL is a little different. Sometimes you have no choice. Miami legend Ben Roethlisberger didn't have a great day for the Pittsburgh Steelers but Bowling Green kicking product Shaun Suisham did connect with three field goals, including the game-winner at the end, to beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-20. Suisham also clanked one off the left goalpost but Big East officials still ruled it good. [Behind The Steel Curtain]

(Other MAC performers in the game, first for Pittsburgh: Antonio Brown (CMU) had four catches for 75 yards and 4 punt returns for 63 yards; Kent State's James Harrison had a sack-fumble which initiated a defensive touchdown. Indianapolis had former WMU basketball player Joe Reitz starting at left guard.)

• If you're into online voting causes, Ball State's Keith Wenning is up for the weekly Manning Award, given to — and I'm guessing here — an outstanding quarterback for the previous week. He's up against stiff competition, but hey, give him your support. You didn't think BSU would be 3-1 either. [Ball State Sports]

• Interesting proposal here from a displaced MAC school paper: a Marshall student reporter is thumbing his nose at Conference USA's proposal to "merge" with the Mountain West Conference. It's sounds more like a collaboration than a merger, but the travel seems daunting. His idea: how about a C-USA-MAC joint operation instead? [The Parthenon]

• Akron football scored 36 points against VMI, so soccer had no way to top that. But Darren Mattocks tried his darndest, netting a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Tulsa. Twelve more of him and they had a righteous chance. [Go Zips]