(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT – Ball State coach Mike Neu had plenty of motivational material at his disposal for the Mid-American Conference title game. “Our mindset was, it’s Ball State against the world. The game turned when Ball State scored three touchdowns in the final 5:55 of the first half to take a 35-21 lead. That year, the Bulls knocked off an undefeated and nationally ranked Ball State team for the championship. LONG TIME COMINGPlitt is a fifth-year senior, and this is the first time Ball State has had a winning record since he arrived.

24 Buffalo routed Akron 56-7 on Saturday as a tune-up for the Mid-American Conference championship. Patterson scored two touchdowns before halftime, bringing his season totals to 1,025 yards and 18 rushing TDs for the Bulls (5-0). Marks went over 100 yards and scored twice in the first half as Buffalo (5-0) built a 35-0 lead against Akron (1-5). Buffalo: The Bulls are 5-0 for the first time since 1980 when Buffalo was a Division III program. It will be a rematch of the 2008 title game that Buffalo won for its lone conference championship.