Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch (6) jumps onto teammate Jason Schepler after scoring a touchdown during the overtime period of the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game against Kent State, Friday, Nov. 30, 2012. Northern Illinois defeated Kent State 44-37 in two overtimes.

DETROIT — After two straight Mid-American Conference titles, Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren figures his team is worthy of a major reward.

The Huskies are hoping to play in a BCS bowl — and although their chances appear slim, Doeren wasted no time promoting his team’s credentials.

“You look at the top 16 teams in the BCS, and you aren’t going to find a team that plays as consistently as we do, wins every game they are supposed to win, and plays as well as we do in every phase of the game,” Doeren said.

“We got big plays on offense when we needed them tonight, we got big plays on defense, and our kicker made every kick we needed. I don’t know anyone else who brings all of that.”

Jordan Lynch ran for three touchdowns, including a 2-yarder in the second overtime, and Demetrius Stone’s interception in the end zone gave No. 19 Northern Illinois a 44-37 victory over No. 18 Kent State in a stirring MAC championship game Friday night.

Both teams were hoping a win would boost them into the top 16 of the BCS rankings and give them a berth in one of college football’s marquee bowls. Kent State was No. 17 in those standings coming in. The Huskies were No. 21 and need an unlikely jump.

Northern Illinois could pass Kent State and UCLA, which is 16th in the BCS rankings but lost the Pac-12 title game to Stanford on Friday night. Texas is 18th and plays at Kansas State on Saturday, while Boise State is 20th and plays at Nevada. But Michigan is 19th and doesn’t play at all this weekend.

The Huskies (12-1) dominated for much of the night, but the Golden Flashes (11-2) tied it at 34 in the final minute of regulation.

Kent State trailed 27-13 earlier in the fourth before scoring two touchdowns in a 15-second span.

It was 34-all at the end of regulation, and after the teams traded field goals in the first overtime, Northern Illinois needed only two plays to reach the end zone. A 23-yard run by Akeem Daniels set up Lynch’s final TD.

Kent State reached the 9, but on fourth down Spencer Keith had to scramble to his right and throw a desperation pass that was picked off by Stone in the end zone.