It's the college athletics version of the gentlemen's agreement. And everyone seems to do it these days.

It's simple really. Not too complicated: I, big college powerhouse, pay you, college also-ran, a cash prize, that equals a good chunk of your operating budget, to come to our stadium where our fans can laugh at your pathetic attempt to play football, and we can walk away with a rather hefty margin of victory and more points in the Associated Press and USA TODAY football polls.

Who wouldn't accept that deal? Certainly not Akron, who played at Nebraska and at LSU this season for hefty paydays. Certainly not Central Michigan who was the butt of a lot of fans' jokes at the hands of Florida in The Swamp Sept. 6, but definitely earned back their travel expenses. Certainly not Ohio State or comparable schools who have visions of a national title and can't afford a hiccup in September, so suddenly schools like Missouri and Bowling Green appear on the schedule.

And certainly not Ohio, which is turning from a novice in the big picture of college football to a player and a money maker, playing Northwestern last year, Ohio State in 1999 and potentially the Gators in 2002. Add in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa State and North Carolina State along the way, and the athletics department's till is overflowing into the millions.

Perfect Fit?

Five years ago, when the ink was dry on most of the contracts for this year's games, the Mid-American Conference appeared to be a safe bet for a win for an opposing team. It's a conference with no market larger than Toledo and competition that borders on Division I-AA but with the bonus to major teams of being credited with a Division I-A win that enhances bowl opportunities.

Much obliged with this chance to increase revenue, MAC schools accept this implied agreement, but now with one catch Ñ they're not just taking the money and running.

If you're not blinded by LSU 56, Akron 0, or Florida 82, Central Michigan 6, here are some cases in point: Miami (that's Ohio) 24, No. 14 Virginia Tech 17, in Blacksburg, Va., last Saturday; Toledo 36, Purdue 22 (Purdue beat Notre Dame the next week); Ohio's domination of then-No. 20 Kansas State in yards (430-191) despite falling 23-20, and Marshall's near defeat of West Virginia 42-31 in Morgantown, W.Va.

Granted these blips on the college football ticker didn't shake the foundation off of Mount Lincoln or Mount Columbus, but it definitely should have people talking, if not taking an eraser to the "W" a coach or fan might have marked next to Ohio, Toledo or Miami in August.

Year of M(oss)AC

And what a year to make teams beware of that low-budget MAC opponent. Truthfully, the MAC has been on the rise in recent years, but this year it has a center piece Ñ Randy Moss, Heisman candidate Randy Moss or simply www.randymoss.com.

Moss and his Herd's entrance into the conference has not only brought Marshall into the national spotlight but is dragging the MAC along for the ride. For every Randy Moss clip ABC or ESPN shows, a MAC reference is made. And with the conference season in full effect, MAC schools who haven't seen a second of video time will suddenly be riding Moss' spotlight.

And the AP poll is proof the media is starting to take notice.

Who would have thought, OHIO minus STATE, would see ink in a column titled Top 25 football poll? That is a poll that didn't rank all 112 I-A schools and had Ohio 110 ahead of Arkansas State and Boise State.

But there are the Bobcats with one measly yet meaningful vote, along with the other three MAC heavyweights this week Ñ Toledo 27, Miami 17 and Marshall 5.

Sure, it's nothing to hang your hat on, but its a start and potentially THE start to something better for a conference some still consider the I-A's equivalent of the I-AA's Pioneer League. Even if that something is making John Cooper wipe the cupcake frosting from his face when the Bobcats visit The Shoe in 1999.