THE FACTS
Toledo Rockets (7-2, 4-1 MAC) vs. NIU Huskies (3-6, 3-2 MAC)
Chicago, Illinois | Guaranteed Rate Field | 27,764
Wednesday, November 9, 2016  | 7 p.m. (CT) | ESPN2
Radio: AM 560 WIND (Chicago)  |  WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb)  |  Sportsfan 1330 AM (Rockford)   |  TuneIn
 
HUSKIE BITES

• NIU and Toledo renew their #MACtion rivalry at a new site - Chicago's Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, in the first Huskie Chi-Town Showdown.
• Guaranteed Rate Field will host a college football game for the first time in the 25-year history of the stadium.
• The Huskie football program will play a "home" game in Chicago for the fourth time after previously playing Iowa (2007, 2012) and Wisconsin (2011) at Soldier Field.  NIU has nearly 120,000 living alumni in Chicagoland.
• NIU improved its record in November games to 23-1 since 2010 with last week's win and are 15-1 in midweek (Tuesday or Wednesday) #MACtion contests during that time.
• The Huskies have outscored Buffalo and Bowling Green 89-27 in the last two games with Anthony Maddie running for four scores versus the Bulls and Joel Bouagnon recording five rushing TDs in the BG game.
• Bougnon's five rushing touchdowns are the most by a Huskie since Garrett Wolfe scored five times on the ground versus Western Michigan on November 23, 2005. Bouagnon ran for 134 yards on 26 carries and caught a pair of passes for 31 yards in the game.
• After intercepting just two passes in the first six games of the season, the Huskie defense has intercepted eight passes in the last three games with six different players recording INTs. 
• Although NIU has defeated Toledo in each of the last six meetings, Toledo still holds a commanding 29-14 lead in the all-time series.
• Indiana ('93) graduate Rod Carey is in his fourth season as NIU head coach; he now ranks fourth all-time in wins as the Huskies' head coach with 34 behind only Chick Evans, Howard Fletcher and Joe Novak.

 

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HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
2015 Record/MAC Record/Finish... 8-6/6-2/T1st West
Head Coach......................................................... Rod Carey
Record at NIU/Years.......................................... 34-18/4th
Career Record/Years.......................................... 34-18/4th
Alma Mater/Year........................................... Indiana/1993
Basic Offense/Defense.................................. Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football................................................... 1899
All-Time Record................................................ 569-482-51
Consecutive Bowl Appearances....................................... 8
Last Bowl Game................ 2015 SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl
MAC Championship Appearances, Last........... 7, 2015
Letterwinners Returning/Lost................................... 51/16
Starters Returning.................. 16 (6 off., 6 def., 4 spec.)
Starters Lost..... 10 (5 offense, 5 defense, 0 specialist)
 
NIU FACTS
Location........................................................ DeKalb, Illinois
Founded........................................................................... 1895
Enrollment.................................................................... 19,015
Affiliation..................... NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
Conference...................... Mid-American (West Division)
Colors.................................................... Cardinal and Black
Stadium....................... Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
    Surface/Capacity............................... FieldTurf /23,595
President ......................................... Dr. Douglas D. Baker
Assoc. VP/Athletic Director..................... Sean T. Frazier
    Alma Mater, Year...................................... Alabama '92
Ticket Information......................... 815-753-PACK (7225)
 
NIU 2016 Schedule
 

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ROCKETS' FACTS
2015 Record............................................................................ 10-2
Mid-American Conference Record/Finish................... 7-1/MAC
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year).............................. Jason Candle
                                                                             (Mt. Union/2003)
Record at Toledo/Years..................................................... 7-2/1st
Career Record/Years.......................................................... 7-2/1st
Location..................................................................... Toledo, Ohio
Enrollment........................................................................... 18,849
Conference.................................... Mid-American, West Division
Colors...................................................... Midnight Blue and Gold
Stadium.......................................................................... Glass Bowl   
      Surface/Capacity......................................... FieldTurf /26,244
President............................................................. Dr. Sharon Gaber
Athletic Director........................................................ Mike O'Brien
Athletics Website.................................................... utrockets.com
Twitter........................................................................... @ToledoFB
Ticket Information................................................ 419-530-4653
 
Toledo 2016 Schedule
   
NIU-TOLEDO SERIES HISTORY
Overall.................................................................... UT leads 29-14
In Toledo.................................................................. UT leads 18-5
In DeKalb.................................................................. UT leads 11-9
In MAC Games...................................................... UT leads 19-11
Streak..................................................................................... NIU, 6
First Meeting .......................... Nov. 11, 1967; UT 35, NIU 0 (A)
Last Meeting............................ Nov. 3, 2015 NIU 32, UT 27 (H)
   
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
 
TV: HUSKIE CHI-TOWN SHOWDOWN ON ESPN2

• Watch NIU's game versus Toledo on ESPN2.
• Chicago White Sox television announcer Jason Benetti (play-by-play) joins Kelly Stouffer (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sidelines) to call the historic game.
• The game is also available to mobile users and online via the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
• WatchESPN requires an active subscription from an affiliated provider.
• Get the direct link to the game stream on GameDay Central at NIUHuskies.com.

 
RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Network broadcast for the Toledo game begins at 6:30 p.m. CT, 30 minutes before kickoff.
• The game will be carried on NIU network affiliates WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb), AM 560 The Answer (Chicago) and Sports Fan 1330 (Rockford).
• Hear the broadcast online via NIU All-Access (subscription), and on mobile devices via TuneIn. Download the app free and find the NIU Huskies channel.
• Bill Baker is in his 37th season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo joins him for the 31st season, while Andy Garcia is in his fourth season on the sidelines.

 
INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Airs LIVE Mondays (except Nov. 14) from 7-8 p.m. CT with host Bill Baker, football head coach Rod Carey, two Huskie student-athletes and other head coaches and administrators each week.
• The hour-long show can be heard on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb and SportsFan 1330 AM in Rockford.
• Listen online via NIUTube and on the TuneIn app.
• Fans are invited to attend the show at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy)

 
NIU WEEKLY RADIO SHOW

• Airs Friday at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer, Saturday at 8 a.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb and on Sports Fan 1330 in Rockford.
• Also hear it on NIUTube (subscription).
• Hosts are Andy Garcia and NIU Associate Vice-President/Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier.
• The 30-minute show features interviews with football head coach Rod Carey, as well as other NIU head coaches and administrators.

 
NIU ALL-ACCESS (NIUTUBE)

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features, Huskie Olympic sports and special events.
• Hear all NIU live radio broadcasts, including football and basketball games and NIU radio shows.
• Purchase a daily, monthly or annual subsciption.
• Go to NIUHuskies.com for rates and information.

GETTING SOCIAL

• Twitter: @NIUAthletics, @NIUScores, @NIU_Football
• Facebook: NIU Huskies, NIU Football
• Instagram: niuhuskies, niuhuskiefootball
• YouTube: niuhuskiesdotcom
• See NIU Athletics' social media hub online to see all of the Huskie team and coaching staff accounts.

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NIU NEWS & NOTES
 
SERIES HISTORY: Toledo holds a 29-14 advantage in the series between the two schools, however, NIU has won seven of the last eight meetings, including six straight. The six consecutive wins over the Rockets is NIU's longest winning streak in the series, while Toledo won 11 straight from 1990-92; 97-2004. This is the first neural site meeting between NIU and Toledo.
 
THE LAST TIME WE MET: After NIU quarterback Drew Hare left the game with a season-ending injury in the second quarter, redshirt freshman back-up quarterback Ryan Graham led the Huskies on two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to give NIU a 32-27 victory over then-No. 20 Toledo in the Glass Bowl. NIU's Kenny Golladay led all receivers with 128 yards on six receptions and an incredible touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.
 
SWEET HOME CHICAGO: The NIU football team returns to Chicago for the fourth time since 2007 as the Huskies face Toledo at Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. The NIU football team has played at historic Soldier Field three separate occasions. The Huskies faced Iowa at the lakefront site in 2007 and 2012 and Wisconsin in 2011.
 
RETURNING TO THE SOUTHSIDE: While the NIU football team is playing the first college football game in the White Sox stadium's 25-year history, it is the second time a Huskie sports team will compete in the stadium. The NIU baseball team faced Notre Dame at what was then called U.S. Cellular Field on April 16, 2008, falling to the Irish, 5-4.
 
CHICAGO HUSKIES: Wednesday night's game at Guaranteed Rate Field will be a homecoming of sorts for eight Huskies. Ladell Fleming (DE), Corey Thomas (DT), Mario Jones (DT), Anthony Thompson (QB), Kenny Golladay (WR), Tommy Mister (TB) Demitri Gary (WR) and A.J. Taylor (DL) hail from the city of Chicago. In addition to the eight Chicago natives on the team, 29 Huskies are from the Chicagoland area.
 
MIDWEEK MACTION: Since 2010, NIU has posted a 15-1 record in league games played on either Tuesday or Wednesday. The only team to defeat the Huskies during that time was Ohio (Nov. 24, 2015). Toledo is NIU's most frequent opponent in MACtion games as the Huskies and Rockets have faced off six times in primetime. The most memorable game in the series came Nov. 1, 2011 in the Glass Bowl when the two teams played a 63-60 contest that ended in the Huskies' favor.
 
NOVEMBERS TO REMEMBER: With its 45-20 victory over Bowling Green last week, NIU has posted a 23-1 record in the month of November since 2010, including a victory over Kent State in the 2012 MAC Championship Game. The only team to defeat the Huskies during that time is Ohio. The Bobcats posted a 26-21 victory over NIU last season at Huskie Stadium.
 
SHARP DRESSED MEN: The NIU football team will be wearing Chicago and White Sox-inspired uniforms in Wednesday's game. The Huskies will be wearing all black. The helmets will have the player's number and two white stripes running down the middle of the helmet, while the back will feature the Chicago skyline and the four stars from the city's flag running along the bottom. The jerseys are trimmed in grey with three grey pinstripes running down the shoulders. A baseball diamond patch similar to those found on the south sider's black uniforms, is also on the sleeves. However, instead of a white sock, a Huskie head is placed at the center.
 
SOMETHING SPECIAL: Wednesday night's uniform is the sixth specialty uniform adidas has provided NIU since the 2013 Orange Bowl. The Huskies are 4-1 in those uniforms and has won four straight. NIU defeated Ball State, 48-27, Nov. 13, 2013 wearing uniforms supporting Active Heroes. In the 2014 season opener against Presbyterian (Aug. 28), the Huskies wore jerseys celebrating DeKalb's annual Cornfest and defeated the Blue Hose, 55-3. Last year, NIU donned two special uniforms, wearing 1965 throwbacks in the 2015 season opener against UNLV (Sept. 5) and the "Filthy Quick" uniforms at Toledo (Nov. 3), both Huskie victories.
 
HUSKIES IN THE MAC: NIU is now 139-96-2 all-time in MAC play with a 103-51 (.669) record in league action since 1997, when NIU rejoined the league. Since 2010, NIU is 47-6 and has recorded three undefeated campaigns and two one-loss seasons in league play, and won six-straight division championships during that stretch. The Huskies are in their 31st season as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 2016-17, including an initial stint in the league from 1975-85.
 
FINISHING THE JOB: With its 45-20 victory over Bowling Green, NIU has won 45 straight games when carrying a lead into the fourth quarter. The Huskies took a 38-20 lead into the final quarter of play against the Falcons. The last NIU loss when leading after three quarters was an 18-17 setback to Iowa at Soldier Field on Sept. 1, 2012. The Huskies led the Hawkeyes, 17-9, after three quarters.
 
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: NIU head coach Rod Carey claimed sole possession of fourth place on NIU's all-time coaching wins list last week with 34th career victory. He now ranks behind Chick Evans (1929-54) with 132 wins, Howard Fletcher (1956-68) who has 74 victories and Joe Novak, who tallied 63 wins from 1996-2007. Carey is the fastest coach to reach 33 wins among the three coaches, tallying 34 victories in 53 games.
 
HOLD THE LINE: In the Bowling Green game, The NIU offensive line and tight ends extended its streak to three consecutive games without allowing a quarterback sack, as neither Anthony Maddie nor Ryan Graham were taken to the ground in 31 passing attempts. The last time NIU did not allow a sack in three straight games was in the 2014 season. The Huskie offensive line did not allow a sack in four straight games that season (Oct. 4-25). The offensive line and tight ends were named the offensive players of the week by the NIU coaching staff.
 
TOP NOTCH PROTECTION: NIU's offensive line ranks seventh in the nation and leads the MAC in fewest sacks allowed this season. The Huskies are allowing just seven sacks through nine games. NIU's front five are tied with Toledo for the league lead.
 
SCHARP IN THE CLASSROOM: NIU right tackle Max Scharping has been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 5 Team for 2016. Scharping, a sophomore who carries a 3.98 grade point average in Kinesiology has started every game of his two-year NIU career (23 total) and has developed into one of the Huskies' top players. He is now elegible for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
 
BOUAGNON GAINING GROUND: With 134 yards on 26 carries against Bowling Green, tailback Joel Bouagnon is within 58 yards of 11th place on NIU's all-time leading rushers list. The Huskie senior has amassed 2,670 yards on 548 attempts and is NIU's leading rusher in 2016 with 644 yards on 130 carries. Former Huskie quarterback Stacey Robinson (1989-90) is just ahead of Bouagnon with 2,727 career rushing yards on 544 carries. Bouagnon surpassed Thomas Hammock (1999-2002) for 12th place on NIU's career rushing yards list after rushing for 59 yards on 11 carries at Western Michigan.
 
HUSKIE HIGH FIVE: In addition to rushing for 134 yards against the Falcons, Bouagnon scored five touchdowns on the night. The Huskie senior scored on runs of 14, 1, 2, 15 and 6 yards. It's the most rushing touchdowns scored by a Huskie since Garrett Wolfe had five versus Western Michigan on Nov. 23, 2005.
 
SIXTH FOR SEVENTH: Bouagnon's five rushing touchdowns against Bowling Green give the Aurora Christian product six on the season and 29 for his career. Add his three career receiving TDs and the Huskie senior has 32 touchdowns for his career, good for seventh-place on NIU's career list for touchdowns scored. Bouagnon is one away from passing Mark Kellar (33) for sixth.
 
FIRST THINGS FIRST: NIU improved to 3-1 this season when scoring points in the first quarter following its 45-20 win over Bowling Green. The Huskies scored a season-best 14 first-quarter points in the victory over the Falcons. NIU led 7-3 after the first quarter in its setback at Wyoming, and was tied, 10-10, after the first period in the 31-24 victory at Ball State. The Huskies had a 10-0 lead after the first 15 minutes in its win over Buffalo. The Huskies are 0-5 in games when they are shut out in the opening stanza. NIU opponents are outscoring the Huskies, 76-41, in the first quarter this season.
 
SACK LUNCH: After tallying two sacks through the first four games of the season, the Huskie defense has amassed 14 sacks the last five games. The Huskie defense tallied three sacks against the Falcons. NIU amassed a season-high five quarterback sacks at Ball State, two each versus Western Michigan and Central Michigan, and Buffalo. The five sacks at Ball State were the most for the Huskies since 2014 when NIU recorded five in its 23-15 victory over Northwestern (Sept. 6).
 
QUITE A NIGHT FOR SMAHA: Austin Smaha recorded a career-high two sacks in NIU's victory over Bowling Green on Senior Night and is tied for the team lead with Ladell Fleming and Jamaal Payton. The Belvidere native now has four sacks for his career. In addition to his two sacks on the night, Smaha forced a pair of Falcon fumbles.
 
SENIOR SALUTE: NIU's 21 seniors, including 18 listed on the depth chart and 11 slated to start against Toledo, will be playing their final official "home" game Wednesday night. Senior quarterback Anthony Maddie lines up behind an offensive line that features seniors Levon Myers and Josh Ruka with reserve lineman Ron Brown. Tailback Joel Bouagnon and wide receivers Kenny Golladay, Clayton Glasper, and Aregeros Turner round out the NIU seniors on the offensive side of the ball. Defensive linemen Mario Jones, Corey Thomas, Ladell Fleming and Lincoln Howard, linebackers Jamaal Payton and Sean Folliard, and injured cornerback Anthony Brooks comprise the Huskie seniors on the defense. Punter Jake Ambrose, kicker Josh Orne and long snapper Bobby Ramlet provide experience on the special teams.  
 
BLOCK PARTY: NIU special teams blocked both a point after touchdown attempt and field goal try in the Huskies' 45-20 victory over Bowling Green. Defensive tackle William Lee blocked the Falcons' second PAT attempt of the game, while defensive end Josh Corcoran knocked down a 49-yard field goal in the second quarter. It was the first field goal block since last year when Ben Compton blocked an Ohio (Nov. 24) field try. The last PAT block was by Marlon Moore vs. Bowling Green in last year's MAC Championship game (Dec. 4).
 
LIFE BEGINS AT 40: A week after scoring a season-high 44 points against Buffalo, NIU topped that total with 45 points in its victory over Bowling Green. Bouagnon scored five TDs, while quarterback Anthony Maddie reached the end zone on a two-yard run in the second quarter. Christian Hagan connected on a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter.
 
GRAND LARCENY: Mycial Allen and Jackson Abresch each intercepted a pass in NIU's victory over Bowling Green. Since the beginning of conference play, the Huskies have intercepted nine passes, including a season-high four in its victory over Buffalo. Allen shares the team lead in interceptions with Mayomi Olootu, who made two picks against Buffalo, and safety Trequan Smith. Abresch's interception was the first of his career and occurred on a fake punt.
 
STEPPING UP AGAINST TOLEDO: Defensive tackle Corey Thomas and linebacker Sean Folliard have played very well in their careers against Toledo. In three games played against the Rockets, Folliard has amassed nine tackles, including one for loss, while breaking up two passes. Thomas has tallied 10 tackles against Toledo, including six last season. The Huskie senior also has a sack and three tackles for loss in two NIU-Toledo games.
 
POWER OF NIU'S "19" DUO: Double numbers are common on college football teams, but rarely do two players star with the same number. All-American cornerback Shawun Lurry and NIU's leading receiver, Kenny Golladay both wear No. 19. Other than playing on opposite sides of the ball, there is another "big" difference between the two. Golladay stands 6-4, 213, while Lurry has a 5-8 180-pound frame. Golladay leads the Huskies in receiving with 880 yards on 65 receptions. Lurry has 30 tackles, an interception and a team-leading seven pass break ups.
 
CATCHING ON: With his nine-catch, 59-yard game against Bowling Green, Kenny Golladay surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for his NIU career. The Huskie senior has amassed 2,009 yards receiving on 138 receptions in just 23 career games at NIU. That performance put him into seventh place in all-time receiving yards. He needs 154 yards to move into sixth place, surpassing P.J. Fleck (1999-2003). Golladay is the only two-year player with 2,000 yards or more. He needs five catches to move into ninth on the all-time receptions list at NIU and become just the second two-year player to make both lists. Golladay transferred to NIU in 2014 after two seasons at North Dakota.
 
GOLLADAY STREAKING: Golladay has recorded at least one reception in all 23 games of his Huskie career after making nine catches for 59 yards versus Bowling Green. He recorded a career-high 13 receptions at Ball State, the second 10-catch game of his career. Golladay had one catch for 15 yards against Bowling Green in the 2015 MAC Championship game to keep the streak alive. Robert Davis of Georgia State and Corey Davis of Western Michigan lead the nation with a 43-game reception streak.
 
LAW OF AVERAGES: After his nine-reception, 59-yard performance versus Bowling Green, Golladay is averaging 87.3 yards receiving per game for his Huskie career. His receiving yards per game average ranks just behind NIU's all-time leader, Dave Petzke, who averaged 89.0 yards a game during his two years as a Huskie. Golladay's 6.0 catches per game also ranks second to Petzke, who averaged 6.7 from 1977-78.
 
TOUGH SLATE: Heading into week 10, the combined record of NIU's nine opponents this season is 47-31, which includes six teams with winning records, one that is .500 and three with a losing record. Of those six teams with winning records, Western Michigan is undefeated at 9-0, and San Diego State has only one loss. Three others – Wyoming and Western Illinois stand at 6-2, while South Florida is 7-2.
 
POINT MADE: NIU's 20 second-quarter points against Buffalo are the most points scored by the Huskies in a quarter this season. The previous high of 17 was scored in the second quarter in a 45-30 setback at Western Michigan on Oct. 8. The 20 points are the most scored by NIU since the Huskies put up 21 in the second quarter against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 24, 2015.
 
KICKOFF RE-TURNER: Aregeros Turner took the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in NIU's 44-7 victory over Buffalo on Oct. 22. It was his third career kickoff return for a touchdown and first of the season. Last year, Turner had two kickoff returns for a touchdown, a 96-yarder against Boise State in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and an 86-yard kickoff return at Boston College.
 
WEEKLY HARDWARE: Aregeros Turner became the third Huskie to earn MAC West Player of the Week honors following his performance in NIU's victory over Buffalo. Turner, who had a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, was named MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week. He is the second Huskie to earn that honor this year as Christian Hagan earned the award following his performance at Western Michigan. Linebacker Sean Folliard was named MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week honors following a career-high 17 tackles at Ball State.
 
MAYO CLINIC: Junior Mayomi Olootu's two interceptions against Buffalo are the most by a Huskie in a game since fellow cornerback Shawun Lurry had two INTs at Ohio State last year. The Allen, Texas native's two interceptions tie him with redshirt freshman Trequan Smith, who also had an interception versus the Bulls, for the team lead. Olootu has three interceptions for his career.
 
NINE LIVES: A season-high nine different Huskies rushed the ball in NIU's 44-7 win over Buffalo, surpassing the previous high of seven set in three different games – San Diego State, Western Illinois and Ball State – in 2016. The nine rushers tallied 312 yards rushing and their 51 carries are a season high.
 
QUITE A RUSH: In addition to rushing for four touchdowns, quarterback Anthony Maddie gained 125 yards on 15 carries in the win over Buffalo. It was his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and of his career. He rushed for 111 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown at Western Michigan to post his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game. Maddie ran for a season-high 160 yards at Ball State and has rushed for 100 yards or more in three of his four career starts. 
 
TE SCORING TDs: NIU tight end Shane Wimann needs two more touchdown receptions to set the school's all-time record for touchdown receptions by a tight end in a season. Matt Dunker (1999-2002) holds the record with six in 2002. Wimann scored his fifth receiving touchdown of the season on a 26-yard toss from Anthony Maddie at Western Michigan. Wimann had a two-yard touchdown reception against Western Illinois. He also reached the end zone on fourth-quarter receptions of 14 and seven yards versus San Diego State. The Huskie junior scored his first touchdown of 2016 at Wyoming on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Drew Hare.
 
CHASING DUNKER: In addition to being second to Dunker in touchdown receptions in a season by a tight end, Wimann is tied with the former Huskie for the career lead. With one more touchdown reception, Shane Wimann will be NIU's all-time leader in touchdown receptions by a tight end. Wimann and Dunker each have nine career touchdown receptions.
 
TWO FOR THREE: Wide receiver Kenny Golladay and tight end Shane Wimann are the only two Huskies to have caught a touchdown pass from each of NIU's starting quarterbacks in 2016. The two Huskies each had a TD reception from Drew Hare at Wyoming in the season opener and from Ryan Graham in his start versus San Diego State. Golladay has two touchdown receptions from Anthony Maddie and Wimann caught his first scoring reception from the Huskie senior at Western Michigan.
 
WORKING OVERTIME: The Huskies are one of seven teams to have played in multiple overtime games this season and are the only team to play in two triple overtime affairs. NIU is 0-2 in those games, suffering a 40-34 setback at Wyoming in the season opener and falling to Central Michigan, 34-28, in Huskie Stadium. This is the first time since 2003 the Huskies have played in two overtime games in one season. NIU defeated then-No. 15 Maryland, 20-13, on Aug. 28 and edged out Ohio, 30-23 on Oct. 4 of that season. The two triple overtime games are the longest in NIU history. Below is a list of teams that have played in multiple overtimes this season.
 
Team                      Record       Overtime
Texas A&M            2-0              2OT, OT
California               1-1              2OT, OT
Tennessee              1-1              OT, 2OT
Tulsa                       1-1              2OT, OT
Wisconsin              1-1              OT, OT
NIU                         0-2              3OT, 3OT
UL-Lafayette          0-2              OT, 4OT
 
ALL-TIME IN OVERTIME: NIU's all-time record in overtime games stands at 5-4. The Huskies have posted wins over Wake Forest in 2002, Maryland and Ohio in 2003, Ball State in 2004 and Kent State in the 2012 MAC Championship Game. Two of the four Huskie losses in OT have come at the hands of Central Michigan, both at Huskie Stadium. The Chippewas escaped DeKalb with wins in 2008 and 2016. NIU opened the 2016 season with a triple overtime loss at Wyoming.
 
QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL: Anthony Maddie became the third Huskie quarterback to start a game this season when he stepped under center at Ball State and now has five starts on the year and in his career. Drew Hare started at Wyoming and at South Florida before going down with a career-ending injury in the third quarter of the game against the Bulls. Ryan Graham, who came in for Hare in the third quarter of the South Florida game, started against San Diego State and Western Illinois. The Huskies started three quarterbacks last season when Hare, Graham and Tommy Fiedler each started a game for NIU.
 
NIU's Starting Quarterbacks Since 2007 (Games Started)
2016       Drew Hare (2), Ryan Graham (2), Anthony Maddie (5)
2015       Drew Hare (9), Ryan Graham (4), Tommy Fiedler (1)
2014       Matt McIntosh (2), Drew Hare (12)
2013       Jordan Lynch (14)
2012       Jordan Lynch (14)
2011       Chandler Harnish (14)
2010       DeMarcus Grady (1), Chandler Harnish (13)
2009       Chandler Harnish (9), DeMarcus Grady (4)
2008       Chandler Harnish (9), Dan Nicholson (3), DeMarcus Grady (3)
2007       Dan Nicholson (9), Ryan Morris (3)
 
STARTING OVER: In five starts at quarterback this season for the Huskies, Anthony Maddie has thrown for 1,071 yards on 94-of-159 passing with seven touchdowns against five interceptions. He has rushed for 517 yards and seven touchdowns on 72 carries. Maddie's rushing yards as a starter account for 68.1 percent of his career total of 759, while his passing yards as a starter make up 74.3 percent of his career 1,440 yards.
 
FOUR FOR MADDIE: A week after throwing for a career-high three touchdown passes against Central Michigan, NIU quarterback Anthony Maddie rushed for a career-high four touchdowns in the win over Buffalo. Maddie ran for touchdowns of 15, 16, 3 and 23 yards.
 
MOVING ON UP: With a 22-yard touchdown reception against Buffalo, Kenny Golladay is tied for ninth on NIU's career chart for touchdown receptions. Justin McCareins (1997-2000) holds the school record with 29. Golladay is tied with Gary Stearns (1960-63) with 17 career touchdown catches.
 
YOUTH MOVEMENT: While the Huskies boast 18 seniors on its depth chart, nine on offense, six on defense and three specialists, the Huskies have 11 freshmen, including four true freshmen, at either a starting spot or back-up position. Redshirt freshman Trequan Smith started his first career game at safety against CMU, earning the team's defensive player of the week honors, while fellow redshirt freshman Jordan Steckler has started the last three games at right guard. True freshmen Daniel Isom (CB) and Mitchell Brinkman (TE) have started three and two games respectively.
 
DEBUTS: Nineteen Huskies have taken the field for the first time for NIU this season, including true freshmen Mitchell Brinkman, Lance Deveaux, Jr., Daniel Isom and Ben LeRoy. Junior college transfer Joe Sanders has made four starts at defensive end, while JC product Damarius Brinson, Jr. has seen action in all eight games for NIU at cornerback. In all, 14 other redshirt freshmen have seen their first collegiate action in 2016 as well.
 
FAST WHEN THEY WANT TO BE: NIU has effectively used the big play and the hurry-up offense to put points on the board at times this season. Of the Huskies' 40 scoring drives (not including the untimed overtime touchdowns versus Wyoming and Central Michigan), 15 have lasted two minutes or less. NIU has three drives of 32 seconds or less, and just three of more than 4:30 this year. In terms of plays, every Huskie scoring drive but one has been 10 plays or less with nine of five plays or fewer on the year.
 
QUICK STRIKE: NIU's offense has scored in two plays or less three times this season, most recently against Central Michigan. After an eight-yard pass to D.J. Brown, Aregeros Turner rushed for 53 yards for a Huskie touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Chippewas. The drive consumed 32 seconds. The Huskies' fastest scoring drive of the season in terms of time was a two-play, 61-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter against Western Illinois that took just 21 seconds. Anthony Maddie connected with Kenny Golladay on a 39-yard pass, before tailback Jordan Huff scored on a 23-yard touchdown run. NIU also had a two-play, 54-yard touchdown drive against San Diego State that consumed 31 seconds and was capped off by a 49-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Graham to Golladay.
 
DEGREES IN HAND: Five Huskies – Ladell Fleming, Clayton Glasper, Drew Hare, Lincoln Howard and Levon Myers – were among the 58 NIU student-athletes to walk across the stage at graduation and receive their degrees in May. Glasper and Howard earned their degrees in kinesiology, Fleming graduated with a degree in organizational & corporate communications, Hare and Myers majored in leadership and management and marketing, respectively. The five are all in postgraduate studies or grad school this fall.
 
MAKING THE GRADE: The NIU football program continues to be as successful in the classroom as it is on the field. The Huskie football program matched its multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 970, a school record, which it set last year.  The multi-year APR for each NCAA Division I team is based on the past four year's totals for eligibility and retention of each scholarship student-athlete. NIU's 970 ranks above the national average of 964 for Football Subdivision schools and is tied for second in the MAC.
 
ORANGE YOU GLAD YOU CAME TO NIU: The 22-man 2016 NIU senior class, the largest in Rod Carey's tenure as head coach of the Huskies, boasts 15 redshirt seniors. Of those 15 redshirt seniors, 11 made the trip to South Beach for NIU's appearance in the 2013 Orange Bowl. They are the last remaining Huskie class who had the Orange Bowl experience.