Now they're eager to finish the job.

The Bobcats led Northern Illinois 20-0 at halftime of last year's MAC title game but went on to lose 23-20. Ohio hasn't won a MAC title since 1968.

"We keep making strides," said Solich, the Bobcats' coach. "We feel really good because we're surrounded by good people. We didn't reach some goals we had last year and our guys know that."

Ohio returns one of the league's top quarterbacks in Tyler Tettleton. Ohio figures to be pushed by Miami of Ohio and Bowling Green in the MAC's East Division. Toledo and Northern Illinois still look like the class of the West. They played one of the most remarkable games in any conference last year when Northern Illinois outlasted the Rockets 63-60 in November.

Northern Illinois will have to defend its division title with a new starting quarterback after Chandler Harnish threw for 28 touchdowns as a senior last season.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/ap/ap/indiana/ohio-aiming-for-mac-title-after-near-miss-in-2011/nP9tg/