HUSKIE BITES

• NIU opens its 33rd season as a member of the Mid-American Conference by playing host to its oldest FBS opponent, the Central Michigan Chippewas.
• Since their first meeting in 1939, NIU and CMU have played 53 times, with the Chippewas holding a 29-23-1 edge in the all-time series.  
• Central Michigan has won the last four meetings between the teams, the only MAC team that can make such a claim. NIU's last victory over CMU came in 2013 with its last home win in the series in 2012. 
• NIU is playing its 116th season overall, its 50th as a Football Bowl Subdivision program and its 53rd season in Huskie Stadium. 
• Following this week's MAC opener, NIU continues the toughest non-conference schedule in the country with a trip to Florida State (Sept. 22). The Huskies, one of the only schools in the country to play three autonomous conference teams, also plays at BYU on Oct. 27.      
• NIU's 2017 Consensus All-American Sutton Smith registered 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks versus Iowa and Utah. Smith was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week after totaling 4.5 TFLs and two sacks last week, along with eight tackles. 
• Smith and his fellow NIU defensive ends - junior Quintin Wynne, sophomore Matt Lorbeck and freshman Michael Kennedy - have accounted for 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks on the season.  
• Senior left tackle Max Scharping makes his 42nd consecutive start Saturday versus CMU. Scharping, a nominee for the NFF William Campbell Trophy is in his final semester of graduate school.  
• After blocking six kicks a year ago (four punts, two field goals), the Huskies have a blocked punt and a blocked field goal already in 2018.
• NIU is one of just three teams from a "Group of 5" conference to play in nine bowl games in the last 10 seasons. 

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HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
2017 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 8-5/6-2/T2nd West
Head Coach: Rod Carey
Record at NIU/Years: 44-26/Sixth
Career Record/Years: 44-26/Sixth
Alma Mater/Year: Indiana/1993
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
All-Time Record: 579-490-51
Last Bowl Game: 2017 Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 12
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 7, 2015
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 54/28
Starters Returning: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Starters Lost: 9 (3 offense, 5 defense, 1 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
Nickname: Huskies
Stadium: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
    Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf /23,595
Acting President: Dr. Lisa Freeman
Assoc. VP/Athletic Director: Sean T. Frazier
    Alma Mater, Year: Alabama '92
Tickets: 815-753-PACK (7225) or NIUHuskies.com
 

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CHIPPEWAS FACTS
2017 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 8-5/ 6-2/ T2nd West 
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): John Bonamego (Central Michigan/1987) 
Record at CMU /Years: 21-20/Four
Career Record/Years: 21-20/Four
Location: Mount Pleasant,Mich.
Enrollment: 26,968
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Stadium: Kelly/ Shorts Stadium    
    Surface/Capacity: AstroTurf /30,255
President: Dr. George E. Ross
Athletic Director: Michael Alford
Athletics Website: CMUChippewas.com
Twitter: @CMU_Football
Ticket Information: (888) 347-3872 

2018 CMU Schedule & Results
 

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NIU-CMU SERIES
Overall: CMU leads 29-23-1
In DeKalb: NIU leads 14-11-1
In Mount Pleasant: CMU leads 18-9
In MAC Games: CMU leads, 17-15
Streak: CMU, 4
First Meeting: Sept. 30, 1939; CMU 6, NIU 0 (A)
Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2017; CMU 31, NIU 24 (A)
 

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FOLLOW THE HUSKIES

TV: NIU-CMU ON ESPN+

• The NIU-CMU will be available on ESPN+, ESPN's new direct to consumer video platform, accessible via the ESPN App available on both iOS and Android devices, desktop and TV-connected devices (e.g. Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV).
• ESPN+ is available at a cost of $4.99/month or $49.99/year with a seven-day free trial available. 
• Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Al Groh (color analyst) will be on the call for ESPN+ Saturday.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network broadcast for the CMU game begins at 2 p.m. CT, 30 minutes prior to kickoff. 
• The game will be carried on NIU network affiliates WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb), AM 560 The Answer (Chicago).  Note that Sports Fan Radio AM 1330 (Rockford) will NOT carry the CMU game.
• Hear the broadcast online via NIUTube (subscription), and on mobile devices via TuneIn. Download the app for free and find the NIU Huskies channel. 
• Bill Baker is in his 39th season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo joins him for the 33rd season, while Andy Garcia is in his sixth season on the NIU sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show every Monday at Noon this season at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy). 
• Listen live with the TuneIn app; hear the show on Mondays at 7 p.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb, 8 p.m. Mondays on 560 AM The Answer in Chicago and Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on SportsFan Radio 1330 AM in Rockford.
• The weekly show features host Bill Baker, NIU Head Coach Rod Carey, Huskie players and special guests. 

NIU WEEKLY RADIO SHOW

• The 30-minute show features interviews with football coach Rod Carey, other NIU head coaches and guests. 
• Airs Friday at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer, Saturday at 9 a.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb and on Sports Fan Radio 1330 in Rockford at 6:30 a.m. Also available on-demand on NIUTube (subscription).
• Andy Garcia and NIU Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier host.

NIUTUBE (HUSKIE ALL-ACCESS)

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

GETTING SOCIAL

• Twitter: @NIUAthletics, @NIUScores, @NIU_Football 
• Facebook: NIU Huskies, NIU Football
• Instagram: niuhuskies, niufootball
• YouTube: NIU Athletics
• See NIU Athletics' social media hub online for all the team and staff accounts.

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NEWS & NOTES

THIS WEEK'S GAME

MOST FREQUENT FOE: The Huskies have played Central Michigan 53 times since 1939, more than any other current NCAA FBS team. The Chippewas lead the all-time series 29-23-1. In 32 games as MAC opponents, CMU owns a 17-15 advantage over NIU. The Huskies are 14-11-1 versus Central Michigan and are 7-3 against the Chippewas since 1998 in games played in DeKalb. 

THE LAST TIME WE MET: Central Michigan rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to defeat NIU, 31-24, in the 2018 regular season finale at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The Chippewas scored 24 unanswered points in the second half en route to the victory. NIU tied the game 24-24 on a 12-yard touchdown run by Tre Harbison with 3:03 left in the game. However, CMU quarterback Shane Morris hit Corey Willis with 1:32 left to play to give the Chippewas the seven-point lead and their fourth-straight win in the series. 

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: NIU is 146-99-2 all-time in MAC play and 110-54 (.671) in league action since 1997, when NIU rejoined the league. Since 2010, NIU is 54-9 and has recorded three undefeated campaigns and two one-loss seasons in league play, winning six-straight division championships during that stretch. The Huskies are in their 33rd season as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 2018-19, including an initial stint in the league from 1975-85.

MACTION OPENERS: NIU is 15-17 in MAC openers all-time, including a 9-6 mark in such contests at Huskie Stadium.  The Huskies have won five of their last six MAC lid lifters, including a 24-3 victory over Kent State (Oct. 8) last season. The last time NIU lost a conference opener at home was 2007 when the Huskies fell to Eastern Michigan, 21-19 (Sept. 15). 

NIU-CMU MAC LID LIFTER HISTORY: The Huskies have faced Central Michigan in four previous MAC openers, one at home, and are 1-3 in those games. The last time NIU played the Chippewas in a conference opener was Oct. 3, 2015 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, a 29-19 CMU victory. NIU defeated Central Michigan, 55-24, on Sept. 29, 2012 the last time these two teams met in a MAC opener at Huskie Stadium.

EARLY TASTE OF MACTION: The week three match up with Central Michigan is the earliest MAC opener for NIU since a week two game at Western Michigan, Sept. 6, 2008. The last time NIU opened conference play in week three was Sept. 15, 2007 when the Huskies faced Eastern Michigan at Huskie Stadium.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: With a 65-21 record at home since 2003, NIU has raised its all-time record at Huskie Stadium to 173-104-2 for a .620 winning percentage. During that stretch, the Huskies have had 13 winning seasons at home and three undefeated seasons in DeKalb (2003, 2010 and 2013). 


RECAPPING

SACK LUNCH: The Huskie defense recorded seven sacks by five different players in the game versus Utah. Defensive ends Sutton Smith and Matt Lorbeck led the way with two each, while Quintin Wynne, Weston Kramer and Michael Kennedy each tallied a sack. They are the most sacks in a game since last season when the Huskies amassed seven in a 63-17 win over Ball State (Nov. 9).

WESLEY RISING: Wide receiver Jauan Wesley established a career high in receptions when he tallied eight catches for 73 yards against Utah. His previous career best was four, set in the 2018 season opener at Iowa. His career high in receiving yards is 109 set last year against Duke in the Quick Lane Bowl. He leads the Huskies and ranks 10th in the MAC with 116 yards receiving. His six receptions a game leads the team and ranks fifth in the league.

BLOCK PARTY: A week after blocking its first punt of the year when Jauan Wesley got his hands on Iowa punter Colten Rastetter's initial punt of the game, the Huskie special teams blocked their first field goal of the season when Jack Heflin blocked Utah kicker Matt Gay's first field goal attempt of the game. It was the first field goal block for the Huskies since last season when NIU blocked an Eastern Michigan (Oct. 26) field goal. Last season, NIU blocked two field goals and four punts in 2017.

BREAKTHROUGH: Tight end Ty Harmston, playing in his 23rd game at NIU tallied his first career reception in the home opener against Utah. The senior from nearby Stockton, Ill. finished the night with three catches for 21 yards.


CAREY KERNELS

HUSKIE HEAD MAN RANKINGS: NIU head coach Rod Carey currently ranks fourth on NIU's all-time coaching list for wins with 44, he needs 20 to pass the next Huskie head man on the list, Joe Novak (1996-2007). George "Chick" Evans (1929-54) is NIU's all-time leader with 132 wins.

MOVING UP IN THE MAC: With 44 wins on his ledger; NIU head coach Rod Carey is four wins away from cracking the Mid-American Conference's Top 20 list for overall wins as Terry Hoeppner (Miami, 1999-2004) and Frank Lauterbur (Toledo, 1963-70) are tied at 20 with 48 career wins. Carey's winning percentage of .629 currently ranks 14th and he needs to get to .658 to move into the top 10.


HUSKIE HEADLINERS

SCHEDULING CHALLENGES: In addition to facing one of the toughest non-conference slates in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the Huskies will play seven bowl teams from last season. Iowa (Aug. 31), Utah (Sept. 8), Central Michigan (Sept. 15), Florida State (Sept. 22), Ohio (Oct. 13), Akron (Nov. 1), Toledo (Nov. 7) and Miami (Nov. 14) all made the postseason last year.

NIU vs. THE POWER FIVE: NIU fell to 15-71 versus teams that were in an autonomous conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC & Pac-12) at the time the Huskies played them following its 17-6 loss to Utah last week. Of those 15 wins, seven have come in the last nine years, beginning. Prior to 2009, NIU had just eight wins in a 34-year stretch as an FBS team. The Huskies will face three teams from an autonomous five conference this year and have played a team from one of those five conferences in 35 of the last 36 years. NIU did not play a team from an autonomous five conference in 2016.

MEET THE "NEW" GUYS: The NIU coaching staff features a trio of newcomers in defensive line coach Walter Stewart, safeties coach Tyler Yelk and running backs coach Jake Landry, who previously served as a graduate assistant at NIU. Dan Sabock adds full-time duties as the Huskies special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Knowles was promoted to defensive coordinator. 

SCHOOL TIES: NIU coordinators Mike Uremovich (offense) and Jeff Knowles (defense) went to high school together at Providence Catholic in New Lennox, Ill. The pair were members of the 1994 state championship team and graduated in 1995. This is the third coaching stop the two have made together. Knowles was an assistant on Uremovich's staff at St. Francis (Ill.) from 2008-11 before joining the N.C. State staff in 2014 where Uremovich was the offensive line coach.


DOGGED DEFENSE

AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE: After his performance vs. Utah, Sutton Smith ranks in the top five nationally in sacks and sacks per game in a career among active players. The junior ranks fourth in total sacks with 18 and fifth in sacks per game with 0.67 in 15 career games played. 

LEAGUE HONORS: Following his team-high eight tackle, two sack and 4.5 tackles for loss performance against Utah, Smith was named the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week. It was the fourth such honor for Smith in his career, having earned it three times in 2017. 

SUTTON ON THE SACK: Smith tallied his fourth multi-sack game with two sacks against Utah. He leads the MAC and ranks third in the nation in sacks per game with 1.5. Smith, who led the nation in quarterback sacks last season with 14, recorded his first of the season with a second-quarter sack of Iowa's Nate Stanley. 

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Smith is moving up in the top 10 on NIU's all-time list for quarterback sacks and tackles for loss in a career. The Huskie junior has 18 career sacks, to rank seventh, while his 37 career tackles for loss, rank ninth. Huskie great Larry English leads both categories with 31.5 sacks and 63 tackles for loss. Smith needs one more sack to move into sixth and two tackles for loss to move into eighth. 

YOUTH & EXPERIENCE: Of the 11 defenders who started at Iowa, only one, cornerback Albert Smalls, had made more than 20 starts and amassed more than 100 tackles. Smalls, who started his 26th career game as a Huskie Saturday, also has the most games played on the NIU defense with 44. Defensive tackle Marcus Kelly, defensive end Matt Lorbeck and linebacker Antonio Jones-Davis each made their first career starts for NIU at Iowa, while Wston Kramer was a first time starter versus Utah.

NO SMALLS FEAT: NIU senior cornerback Albert Smalls recorded the Huskies' first interception of the season with a first quarter pickoff of Iowa's Nate Stanley. It was his first interception since Nov. 18, 2015 (vs. Western Michigan) and the fourth of his career.  Smalls missed most of the 2016 season with an injury and did not have an interception last year.

SECONDARY TO NONE: Three of the five seniors playing on the Huskie defense reside in the NIU secondary in cornerbacks Albert Smalls, Jalen Embry and Tifonte Hunt. Both Smalls and Embry are starters, while Hunt is NIU's nickleback. Smalls tallied a first quarter interception, Embry made four tackles, while Hunt recorded three tackles, all solo stops at Iowa. The only other seniors on the defensive two-deep are Devin Webster and Drequan Brown.

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH PUGH: After missing the final nine games of the 2017 season, Kyle Pugh returned to start at middle linebacker for NIU at Iowa. The Huskie redshirt junior, who made 17 tackles and an interception versus Boston College in last year's season opener, led the team in tackles with nine stops, six solo and followed that up with six stops versus Utah.


ON THE OFFENSE
  
SURPASSING LAST SEASON: With 12 receptions this season to lead the Huskies, Jauan Wesley has already surpassed his 2017 and NIU career totals entering the year. Wesley tallied 10 receptions for 250 yards in 2017, his first season at NIU. He is halfway to that total already.

YOUTH IS SERVED: Entering 2018, only two players on the two-deep, senior wide receivers D.J. Brown and Jauan Wesley had recorded at least one catch for NIU. With four receptions against Utah, Brown has 60 catches, while Wesley's career-high eight receptions vs. Utah gives him 18 catches as a Huskie. Three newcomers, redshirt freshmen Cole Tucker and Rodney Hall and freshman Leon Payne each tallied their first career receptions against Iowa.

ROLE REVERSAL: Wide receiver D.J. Brown completed his first career pass when he connected with Marcus Childers on NIU's first drive of the game at Iowa. It was the second career reception for Childers, who had a 10-yard catch from wide receiver Christian Blake at Toledo (Nov. 2) last year. The Huskie signal caller has two career receptions for 15 yards.

WORKING ON THE LINE: The Huskies return every player who started a game on its offensive line a year ago, led by Academic All-American tackle Max Scharping who has started a team-leading 41 consecutive games, every game of his NIU career. Scharping is a two-time All-MAC selection. NIU's returning offensive linemen have combined to make 119 starts over the last four seasons with seniors Scharping (41) and Luke Shively (26) and junior Jordan Steckler (26) leading the way. 

DéJáuan VU: In addition to tallying his second career punt block in the season opener at Iowa, Wesley tallied his third career touchdown reception when quarterback Marcus Childers found him in the end zone in the fourth quarter. It was the second time in his career Wesley has recorded a blocked punt and a touchdown reception in the same game. He had a 70-yard TD reception against Ball State last year. 

RUNNING TO WINS: Last season, NIU went 5-0 when running for more than 200 yards in a game and went 3-5 when they did not make the 200 mark. The Huskies have also won nine of their last 10 games when hitting that number.


SPECIAL FORCES

JUST FOR KICKS: Graduate transfer Andrew Gantz connected on his first field goal as a Huskie when he hit a 49-yarder in the first quarter against Utah. It was NIU's longest field goal since Christian Hagan's 52-yard at Toledo in 2015. Gantz, who came to NIU after spending four years as a Cincinnati Bearcat, also made a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to account for all of NIU's scoring in the game. He made 39-of-50 field goals during his 29-game career at Cincinnati, including a career long 51-yarder and was twice named All-American Athletic Conference.

PINNING THEM DEEP: Sophomore punter Matt Ference averaged 46.0 yards on eight punts and pinned Utah inside the 20 yard-line four times to out-duel Ray Guy award winner Matt Wisnowsky of Utah. Ference ranks fifth nationally in punting average. It was his highest punting average in a game since NIU's win at Nebraska (Sept. 16) last season when he averaged 46.4 yards on eight punts.


ALL ABOUT THE TEAM

ALL-AMERICAN ATTENTION: In addition to being named to numerous preseason watch lists, NIU left tackle Max Scharping and defensive end Sutton Smith have also garnered preseason All-American honors. Last season, Smith became NIU's first consensus All-American since LeShon Johnson in 1993.

Sutton Smith - USA Today (2nd Team), Athlon (2nd Team), The Athletic (2nd Team), The Sporting News (2nd Team), Phil Steele (4th Team)
Max Scharping - USA Today (2nd Team), Athlon (4th Team)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Twenty Huskies have made their debuts for NIU this season including, wide receivers Rodney Hall, Fotis Kokosioulis, Leon Payne, Dennis Robinson, and Cole Tucker; linebackers Jordan Cole, Cortez Hogans, Rayshwan Gay, Vinny Labus, Kewan Parker and Danny Walker; defensive ends Jawon Denton and Mike Kennedy; tailbacks Jaden Huff and Jordan Nettles; kicker Andrew Gantz, cornerbacks Devin Haney and Jalen McKie, safety Dillon Thomas and offensive lineman Christopher Perez. Payne, Tucker and Perez earned their first career starts at NIU as well.

SUNSHINE STATERS: The 2018 Huskie roster includes seven players from the state of Florida. Freshman Kewan Parker joined six returning Florida Huskies – redshirt senior Albert Smalls, redshirt juniors Antonio Davis-Jones and Trequan Smith, junior Lance Deveaux and redshirt freshmen Jalen McKie and Dennis Robinson.  The eight – all from the southeast coast of the state – represent eight different Florida high schools. The Huskies travel to the "Sunshine State" Sept. 22 to take on Florida State.
 

Name	Class	Pos.	Hometown (High School)
Lance Deveaux, Jr.	So.	LB	Pompano Beach (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Antonio Jones-Davis	So.-R	LB	Vero Beach (Vero Beach)
Jalen McKie	Fr.	CB	Ft. Lauderdale (Waukegan, Ill.)
Kewan Parker	Fr.	LB	Miami, Fla. (Carol City)
Dennis Robinson	Fr.	WR	Hollywood (South Broward)
Albert Smalls	Jr.-R	CB	Miramar (Monsignor Pace)
Trequan Smith	So.-R	S	Boynton Beach (Boynton Beach)

DEGREES IN HAND: Seven players on the NIU roster are college graduates. Five have earned their degrees from NIU, while two came to DeKalb as graduate transfers. 
Andrew Gantz    K    Sport Administration    Cincinnati
Ryan Graham    QB    Leadership and Management    NIU
Ty Harmston    TE    Biology    NIU
Max Scharping    LT    Kinesiology    NIU
Luke Shively    C    Chemistry-Biochemistry    NIU
Albert Smalls    CB    Kinesiology    NIU
Jaden Huff    LB    Finance     St. Cloud State

HONORING A LEGEND: Over the summer, NIU and Miami (Ohio) announced that the teams will now play for The Mallory Cup, in honor of the late Bill Mallory, who coached both teams to MAC Championships during a hall of fame career and passed away over the summer. Mallory is the only man to lead two league programs to MAC titles. The first Mallory Cup game will be November 14, 2018 at Huskie Stadium.      

POLLING THE MAC: NIU was picked to finish first in the MAC West Division in 2018 by both the MAC media and MAC Coaches. The Huskies edged out Toledo by one point in the Coaches Poll and by eight in the Media Poll. Ohio was picked to win the East in both polls. This is the first time in the five years the MAC has had a Media and Coaches Poll that the Huskies were picked to win the West in both polls. The coaches picked the Huskies as the top team in the division for the third time overall.