Posted by: Chris Vannini on November 13, 2012

If not for a one-point loss against Iowa in the opener, Northern Illinois could be in contention to be a BCS-buster.

Still, winning a second straight MAC championship would mean a lot for a program whose previous conference title came in 1983. It would also be two championships in as many years for Dave Doeren.

Doeren's quick success at NIU has his name popping up for potential job openings. While on SiriusXM College Sports Nation, Doeren admitted he would entertain interest, but said his focus isn't there, yet.

"If it does, it does. I've lived by (the idea that) if you do a great job where you are and opportunities come your way, and it may not be the right one," he said. "I think that's really important. I have a great job, my family is happy, I like the kids I coach, and they take care of me here. I'm not leaving here for something that I don't think is better than what I have.

"I really have enjoyed the process at NIU and they gave me my first chance to be a head coach. So I'm going to do everything I can to make this the best school that I can make it. If something comes along that I know if better for me and my family, I'm going to have to listen to it. But we're not there yet."

The Huskies have rattled off nine straight wins since that opener, and the success hasn't surpsied Doeren, who saw the foundation in that loss.

"I knew we had a really good team," he said. I knew (quarterback Jordan Lynch) was special. Once we got we got the chemistry with the defensive front, once our guys watched the film of the Iowa game and saw how physical we played against a Big Ten D-line, I think everybody got really, really excited about what we could do from there."

Below is NIU's celebration after their most recent win over UMass.

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Chris Vannini is the lead writer for CoachingSearch.com and has covered Michigan State sports for The State News, The Oakland Press and MLive.com. He writes a weekly column for the Detroit Free Press on behalf of SB Nation. Vannini lives in Big Ten country, so his foot speed is far from SEC caliber, but his pulse on coaches is hard to match. Be sure to follow @CoachingBuzz on twitter and send your feedback to chris@coachingsearch.com