DETROIT -- For the past four games, it could easily be said Western Michigan University's football team had been playing, basically, a championship game each week.

Miami has been in the same situation, but only for the past two weeks.

A wild Mid-American Conference football season will come to an end on Saturday when the Broncos (8-4 overall, 7-1 MAC) play the RedHawks (7-5, 6-2) at Detroit's Ford Field in the MAC Championship game, starting at noon. This is the first time since 2016 WMU has been to the title game while this is the third straight year Miami has made it to the final.

The game prior to the winning streak was a 26-17 loss to Miami where the RedHawks rallied in the fourth quarter for the victory.

''I asked them as their head coach how can I help you get better, to help you prepare for those moments in games to finish in the fourth quarter,'' WMU third-year head coach Lance Taylor said. ''From here on out, we were in a one-game season.

''The Miami game helped us to go just 1-0. Nothing else mattered. I truly hope and think that has helped us prepare this week. We haven't talked about winning a championship, but really to focus on us, our opponent and our preparation so they can stay in the rhythm they have stayed in the past four weeks.''

It helps to have the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, redshirt sophomore quarterback Broc Lowry, running the offense, and that means running as he leads the team in rushing with 875 yards. And it helps having the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, redshirt senior Nadame Tucker anchoring one of the league's best defenses. And it helps to have the MAC Coach of the Year, Lance Taylor, setting the tone for the team.

''This year was really about the process,'' Taylor said. ''To go 1-0 each day and each week.

''Our team has done a great job of focusing on today, being present and not worrying about Detroit. It's really tough for young kids to understand that. This team is locked in, understands the mentality it takes to win and that you have to focus on the process and not the outcome.''

The streak started against Central Michigan, a game WMU won 24-21 after trailing 14-7 at halftime. Then there was a 17-13 win over Ohio University where WMU trailed 7-3 at halftime before scoring 14 points in the second half. Then there was a 35-19 win over Northern Illinois where the Broncos only led by one, 14-13, at halftime. WMU clinched the MAC regular season title with a 31-21 win over Eastern Michigan where, down 7-0 after the first quarter, Western Michigan scored 31 straight points in the second and third quarters while holding the Eagles scoreless.

In the four games, WMU rushed for 1,026 yards, an average of 256.5 yards per game, an average which would have been sixth nationally carried throughout the season.

''We looked at it as if we were 0-0, taking it one game at a time, knowing if we do lose, we can go from first to fifth in the MAC,'' senior defensive back Tate Hallock said. ''Every snap, every play was a new life.''

Lowry is the first quarterback to lead WMU in rushing since Paul Jorgensen in 1973. In the four-game winning streak, Lowry averaged 91.5 yards per game.

''What we do to spring him loose to have great success helps our team win,'' first-team All-MAC offensive lineman Raheem Anderson said. ''You put everything on the line when blocking, me and the others on the offensive line, and have built up a sense of pride.''

 Tucker leads the MAC and is tied for second nationally in tackles for loss with 14 solo and eight assists. His 119 yards for loss is second nationally.

In his third season at WMU, Taylor has helped the team be bowl eligible for the second straight season as well as make the title game.

Miami has had its up and downs, too. Just like WMU, the RedHawks lost their first three games before winning five straight before losing to Ohio, 24-20, and Toledo, 24-3.

"We got on that roll before losing a gut-wrenching game to Ohio, then we don't coach or play well against Toledo and now we have two games left,'' Miami head coach Chuck Martin said. ''We're down to our third string quarterback who wasn't even taking practice reps until week 10.''

Redshirt freshman QB Thomas Gutkowski has done the job in those two games. He threw for 185 yards and a touchdown in a 37-20 win over Buffalo and 226 yards and three touchdowns in the 45-24 win over Ball State.

And now it's down to WMU vs. Miami for the MAC Championship.

''I'm really proud of the team, coaches and staff,'' Taylor said. ''We've taken the next step to reach Detroit.''