HUSKIE BITES

• NIU plays at home for the first time in 34 days this Saturday when NIU opens defense of its Mid-American Conference title versus Ball State. It is Family Weekend and Band Day on the Huskie campus.  
• The 2019 match-up between the Huskies and Cardinals marks the 12th time the teams have played for the Bronze Stalk Trophy, created as a tribute to the rural areas surrounding both schools' hometowns. After falling in the initial Battle for the Bronze Stalk in 2008, NIU has claimed the trophy in each of the last 10 seasons.  
• NIU senior wide receiver Spencer Tears recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season, and the third by a Huskie, with 100 yards on just three catches at Vanderbilt. Tears is averaging 20.1 yards per catch on 12 grabs this year and is one of three Huskie receivers averaging more than 16 yards per reception.         
• Behind transfer quarterback Ross Bowers (Cal), who won the job over incumbent Marcus Childers during preseason camp, NIU has passed for 1,090 yards on 86-of-145 passing through its first four games. Last year, NIU did not reach 1,090 passing yards until its ninth game of the season. 
• Thomas Hammock was named head coach at his alma mater in January 2019 after five seasons as the Baltimore Ravens' running backs coach. Hammock recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons as a player, and is the only two-time first-team Academic All-American in NIU football history. He coached at Wisconsin and Minnesota prior to going to the NFL.  
• The Huskies lead the all-time series with Ball State, 24-20-2, although the series is tied, 11-11-2 in games played in DeKalb. 
• Twenty-one newcomers, including 11 true freshmen and three transfers, have seen action in at least one of NIU's first four games. 
• NIU set a school record with three blocked placekicks versus Nebraska, including two field goals and a PAT. Cornerback Jalen McKie recorded two blocks (FG, PAT) and is ranked tied for first in the FBS in blocked kicks.  
• NIU has won four of the last eight MAC Championships and has made 10 bowl appearances in the last 11 years, a record matched only by Boise State among non-autonomous teams. NIU has played in seven of the last nine MAC title games, with a 30-29 win over Buffalo last year. 

---

HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
Head Coach: Thomas Hammock (NIU '02)
Record at NIU/Years: 1-2/First
Career Record/Years: 1-2/First
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
2018 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 8-6/6-2/1st
All-Time Record: 588-495-51
Last Bowl Game: 2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 13
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 8, 2018
MAC Championships, Last: 5, 2018
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 52/24
Starters Returning: 16 (7 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialists)
Starters Lost: 10 (5 offense, 4 defense, 1 specialist)

NIU FACTS
Location: DeKalb, Illinois
Founded: 1895
Enrollment: 17,169
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
President: Dr. Lisa Freeman
Assoc. VP/Athletic Director: Sean T. Frazier
    Alma Mater, Year: Alabama '92
Tickets: 815-753-PACK (7225) or NIUHuskies.com
 

---

BALL STATE FACTS
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Mike Neu (Ball State, 1994) 
Record at BSU/Years: 12-29/Four
Career Record/Years: 66-74/10
Location: Muncie, Ind.
Enrollment: 21,884
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Cardinal and White
Stadium: Scheumann Stadium    
    Surface/Capacity: Field Turf /22,500
President: Geoffrey Mearns
Athletic Director: Beth Goetz
Athletics Website: ballstatesports.com
Twitter: @ballstatefb
Ticket Information: 765-285-1474

Ball State Schedule & Results
Ball State Game Notes - NIU (PDF)
 

---

NIU-BALL STATE SERIES
Overall: NIU leads 24-20-2
In Muncie: NIU leads 13-9
In DeKalb: Tied 11-11-2
In MAC Games: NIU leads 18-16
Streak: NIU, 10
First Meeting: Oct. 4, 1941; BSU 6, NIU 6 (H)
Last Meeting: Oct. 6, 2018 NIU 24, BSU 16 (A)
 

---

FOLLOW THE HUSKIES

TV: NIU-BALL STATE ON ESPN3

• The NIU-Ball State game will air on ESPN3 live online and on mobile devices via the ESPN App. Games on ESPN3 are available through the ESPN App and WatchESPN.com with pay television credentials.
• Get the direct link to watch on GameDay Central and on the football schedule page at NIUHuskies.com.
• The announce crew for the NIU-Ball State game is Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Forrest Conoly (color analyst).

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Network broadcast for the Ball State game begins at 2 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 Radio AM 1330 (Rockford).
• 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 40th season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo joins him for the 34th consecutive season, while Andy Garcia is in his seventh season on the NIU sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show every Monday this season at Noon at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Highway).
• Listen live with the TuneIn app. Hear the show Monday at 7 p.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb, 8 p.m. Monday on 560 AM The Answer in Chicago and Tuesday at 7 p.m. on SportsFan Radio 1330 AM in Rockford.
• Host Bill Baker welcomes NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock, Huskie players and special guests, including NIU head coaches. 

NIU WEEKLY RADIO SHOW

• Andy Garcia and NIU Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier host the 30-minute show with interviews with coach Thomas Hammock, other NIU coaches and guests. 
• Airs Friday at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer, Saturday at 8:30 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).

NIUTUBE (HUSKIE ALL-ACCESS)

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features and Huskie Olympic sports live game video.
• 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.

---

NEWS & NOTES

THIS WEEK'S GAME

SERIES HISTORY: NIU leads the all-time series with Ball State 24-20-2, and the Huskies have won the last 10 meetings – the longest winning streak in the series history – after a 24-16 win in Muncie last year. The last time the Huskie lost to the Cardinals was a 45-14 setback at Scheumann Stadium on Nov. 5, 2008 in the inaugural Bronze Stalk Game. 

TROPHY GAME: For the 12th consecutive year, NIU and Ball State will play for "The Bronze Stalk," a traveling trophy designed specifically for this rivalry in honor of the farming community locales of both institutions. DeKalb artist Renee Bemis designed the trophy, which depicts a cornstalk. In 11 Bronze Stalk games, NIU is 10-1 and the Huskies have won The Bronze Stalk in each of the last 10 seasons.

WHEN LAST WE MET: NIU retained the Bronze Stalk trophy for the 10th consecutive year after posting a 24-16 victory over Ball State in Muncie. Marcus Jones rushed for 130 yards on 12 carries and the NIU defense held Ball State's potent offense to three field goals through three quarters of play. The Cardinals outgained the Huskies, 391-370, however, NIU rushed for a game-best 227 yards. Tre Harbison scored two rushing touchdowns.

SUCCESSFUL STRING: During NIU's 10-game winning over Ball State, NIU is averaging 42.1 points per game, while limiting the Cardinals to 24.8. Three of NIU's top scoring performances in MAC games have come against the Cardinals, a 63-point effort in 2017 and 59 point totals in 2010 and 2015. The Huskies are averaging 493.2 yards of total offense, while Ball State amasses an average of 387.8 yards per game against the Huskies since 2009. NIU's 710 yards gained in NIU's 41-38 win in 2011 ranks second in Huskie history.

HUSKIE HOOSIERS: Four members of the NIU football team hail from the Hoosier State. Safety Mykelti Williams is from Indianapolis, while offensive lineman Brayden Patton calls Elletsville home. Freshman Camari Harris and redshirt freshman J.D. Harris are natives of Fort Wayne and Columbus, respectively.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: With a 24-10 victory over Illinois State in the season opener, NIU improved to 69-22 at home since 2003. NIU has raised its all-time record at Huskie Stadium to 176-105-2 for a .625 winning percentage. During that stretch, the Huskies have had 14 winning and five undefeated seasons in DeKalb (2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013). 

CONFERENCE CALL

LEAGUE LID LIFTERS: The Huskies are 17-17 in conference opening games all-time, winning four of their last five MAC lid lifters, including the last three. NIU defeated Central Michigan, 24-16, in its initial league contest last year. The last time the Huskies lost a conference opener was in 2015, a 29-19 setback at Central Michigan (Oct. 3).

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: With a 6-2 record in league play last season, NIU is 152-101-2 all-time in MAC play and 116-56 (.674) in league action since 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 61-11 against MAC foes and has recorded three undefeated campaigns and two one-loss seasons, winning six-straight division championships and seven overall during that stretch. The Huskies are in their 34th season as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 2019-20, including an initial stint in the league from 1975-85.

NIU VS. MAC WEST: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 72-39 versus teams from the MAC West, including a 36-9 mark in the division since 2010. The Huskies were 4-1 against divisional foes last season, losing to Western Michigan, 28-21, in the regular season finale.

LEADER OF THE MAC: With a .685 winning percentage since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program in the MAC this decade. The Huskies have made seven trips to the conference championship game in the last nine years, winning the league crown four times. Add eight bowl games to the list and the Huskies have played 127 games since 2010, seven more than their nearest competitor, Toledo, which has played 120. NIU currently owns an 11-game winning streak over Eastern Michigan and Buffalo and a 10-game streak over Ball State.

Mid-American Conference Team Records  Since 2010
 

Team	W-L	Pct.
NIU	87-40	.685
Toledo	82-38	.683
Ohio	75-47	.615
Western Michigan	63-56	.529
Bowling Green	56-66	.445
Central Michigan	50-68	.424
Ball State	48-66	.421
Buffalo	47-68	.409
Kent State	39-74	.345
Eastern Michigan	37-77	.325
Akron	37-79	.319

RECAPPING LAST GAME

BACK IN THE ZONE:  Huskie tight end Mitchell Brinkman caught his first touchdown pass of the season on a 38-yard reception from Ross Bowers in the third quarter. It was the third TD catch of his career and first since Nov. 15, 2017, when he scored the game-winning touchdown on a 26-yard reception against Western Michigan.

TEARS OF JOY:  Spencer Tears eclipsed the century mark in receiving yards for the second time this season and the third time in his career when he tallied 100 yards on three catches, including a 44 yarder at Vanderbilt. He recorded a career-high 112 yards receiving at Utah in week two. Tears is the first Huskie since Kenny Golladay to have multiple 100-yard receiving games in a season. The current Detroit Lions wide receiver tallied four 1,000-yard games in 2016.

TAKE TWO:  Tight end Mitchell Brinkman converted NIU's first two-point conversion since Oct. 13, 2018 when he was on the receiving end of a Ross Bowers pass in the fourth quarter at Vanderbilt. The last Huskie to convert a two-point conversion was current Houston Texan Max Scharping when the left tackle scored on a lateral versus Ohio last season.

HUSKIE HUNDRED:  The Huskies posted their first 100-yard rushing game of 2019 when NIU amassed 108 yards on 31 carries at Vanderbilt. Jordan Nettles led the way with 64 yards on 10 carries, while Tre Harbison added 62 yards on 13 carries.

TURNOVER A NEW LEAF:  In the game at Vanderbilt, he NIU offense recorded its first turnover-free game since the 7-6 victory over BYU (Oct. 27) last year, a span of nine games. The Huskies had a pass picked off in each of the first three games and lost a fumble at Nebraska. The Huskies have a turnover margin of -0.25, which ranks seventh in the league and 84th in the country.

SACK LUNCH:  NIU's defense recorded a season-high two sacks at Vanderbilt when senior Marcus Kelly and freshman Cam Mattox each recorded their first career sacks. The Huskies have three sacks on the season and rank 10th in the league with 0.75 sacks a game.

HAMMOCK HOMECOMING

NUMBER ONE:  New NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock earned his first career win in his debut as a head coach, leading the Huskies to a 24-10 victory over Illinois State at Huskie Stadium on August 31st. He is the first head coach to win his debut since current N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren in 2011 (over Army).

HAIL ALMA MATER:  In addition to being the school's first African-American head coach, Thomas Hammock is the first NIU graduate to lead his alma mater's football team as an FBS program, and the first overall since Howard Fletcher led the Huskies from 1956-68. Fletcher ranks second on NIU's all-time wins list with a .606 winning percentage after posting a 74-68-1 record in 13 seasons. 

YOUTH IS SERVED:  At 38 years old, Thomas Hammock is the eighth youngest head coach in FBS in 2019. He is a little over two months younger than Akron's Tom Arth, while Kent State's Sean Lewis is the youngest at 33 years of age.

FOR THE DEFENSE

ADJUSTING ON THE FLY: After allowing 14 points and 111 yards of total offense in the first six minutes of the game, the Huskie defense held Vanderbilt to 10 points and 262 yards the rest of the way. The Commodores were held to less than 60 yards of total offense in both the second and fourth quarters.

THE FIRM: Nicknamed "Law Firm" or simply "Firm," senior linebacker Antonio Jones-Davis, surpassed the 200-tackle plateau for his career after making six stops at Vanderbilt. Jones-Davis amassed a career-high 130 tackles last season and tallied six double-digit tackle efforts en route to All-MAC honors. He recorded a career-best 16 stops against Central Michigan (Sept. 15) and at Ball State (Oct. 6). His 12 solo stops against the Cardinals were the most by a Huskie linebacker since linebacker Boomer Mays made 12 against Western Michigan on Nov. 18, 2015.

COLE CUSTOMER:  In his third career start, linebacker Jordan Cole made a career-high nine tackles at Nebraska, including two-and-a-half tackles for loss. The Huskie sophomore added three tackles, including a tackle for loss at Vanderbilt, and ranks third on the team in tackles with 19 stops. His three-and-a-half TFLs are tied for the team lead. Cole will sit out the first half of the Ball State game after being flagged for targeting in the third quarter at Vanderbilt.

SAFETY FIRST:  The Huskie defense recorded its first safety in 100 games when Jordan Cole tackled Nebraska running back Maurice Washington in the endzone on a swing pass in the second quarter. The last Huskie safety was recorded Nov. 25, 2011 by defensive end Sean Progar who tackled the Eastern Michigan ballcarrier in the endzone.

STARTING NOD: Senior safety Adam Buirge, who has played 39 games for the Huskies, made his first career start at Nebraska. He tallied one tackle in the contest and has 44 during his career.

HUSKIE HARDWARE: Sophomore Jalen McKie earned his second career MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors following his game-clinching interception return for a touchdown against Illinois State. The Gurnee, Ill. native also tallied four stops in the contest. His pick six against Illinois State was the second of his career, with his first coming at Akron (Nov. 1) last year. He and Mykelti Williams are tied among current NIU players with three career INTs. McKie also leads NIU in pass breakups this season with three and made a career high seven tackles at Vanderbilt.

ON THE OFFENSIVE

TAKE A PASS: The NIU offense has more than doubled last year's passing yards after the first four games. The Huskies have thrown for 1,090 yards on 86-of-145 passing this year. Through the first four games last year, NIU threw for 540 yards on 65-of-120 passing. NIU quarterback Ross Bowers, who ranks 30th in the nation with 264.0 passing yards per game has amassed 1,056 yards passing this season, which ranks 45th in the country.

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME: NIU ranks second in the league and 24th in the nation in time of possession with a 32:53 TOP per game average. The Huskies offense has held the time of possession advantage in all four games this season. NIU possessed the ball for a season-high 37:58 at Nebraska, the longest time of possession for NIU since the 2014 MAC Championship Game. The Huskies held the ball for 37:59 in a 51-17 victory over Bowling Green to give NIU its fourth conference title in school history. 

WELCOME BACK: Tight end Daniel Crawford, who missed the entire 2018 season recovering from a knee injury suffered in the spring, led the Huskies in receiving at Nebraska with 71 yards on five receptions, both career highs. He added three receptions for 36 yards to his season total of 231 yards at Vanderbilt. In the season opener versus Illinois State, he returned to action for the first time since 2017 and recorded three receptions for 75 yards. Crawford, who entered the season with seven career receptions for 65 yards, has a team-high 14 receptions this season. 

ON THE BRINK: Tight end Mitchell Brinkman, who played in four games last year while redshirting, has surpassed his career high in receptions with 12 for 137 yards in four games this year. His previous career best in receptions and yards was last season when he tallied 79 yards on six catches in four games. The Council Bluffs, Iowa native caught a career-high four passes for 51 yards versus Illinois State and had a 38-yard touchdown catch and a two-point conversion at Vanderbilt. 

TIGHT WORK: NIU's tight ends have accounted for 36.9 percent of the Huskies' receiving yards this season with 402 yards on 28 receptions. Daniel Crawford leads the way with 231 yards on 14 receptions, while Mitchell Brinkman has 12 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. Max Thower and Corey Lersch have one catch each for eight and 26 yards, respectively. Crawford is 244 yards away from the school record for receiving yards by a tight end (475 by Reggie Sims in 1984).
  
MATCHING LAST YEAR: Through the first four games of this season, four NIU tight ends have combined to catch 28 passes for 402 yards. Last year, the Huskies' three tight ends accounted for 23 catches, 241 yards and four touchdowns. 

MILLENIAL: A year ago, junior Tre Harbison became the Huskies first 1,000-yard rusher since Joel Bouagnon in 2015 as the North Carolina native tallied 1,034 yards last year on 206 carries. After tallying 62 yards on 13 carries at Vanderbilt, Harbison's career total of 1,548 yards ranks 29th at NIU all-time. He needs 24 yards to pass Justin Anderson for 28th.

IN SEARCH OF 1,000: Senior tailback Marcus Jones is eight yards away from reaching the 1,000-yard mark with 992 rushing yards on 192 career attempts. He will be the 42nd Huskie to reach that milestone and he would join teammates Tre Harbison (1,548) and Marcus Childers (1,010) as active players with 1,000 career yards rushing at NIU.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Ross Bowers turned in the best debut by a Huskie quarterback since Chandler Harnish when he threw for 299 yards on 20-of-33 passing and two touchdowns against Illinois State in the Huskies' last home game. Harnish amassed 321 yards passing and two touchdowns while completing 17-of-29 attempts at Minnesota on Aug. 30, 2008 in his first career start at NIU. In between the two, six different quarterbacks started games for NIU, with five getting wins.

TACKLING THE BOOKS: NIU offensive lineman Jordan Steckler is a semifinalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy. Considered the academic Heisman, the William V. Campbell Trophy annually recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation and is selected from across every division of college football. Steckler, a three-time Academic All-MAC honoree, is a management major with an emphasis on leadership and carries a 3.62 GPA. Current Houston Texans offensive lineman Max Scharping was a finalist for the award last year.

HUSKIE HEADLINERS

TEARS FOR 1,000: Spencer Tears climbed to 24th on NIU's all-time list for receiving yards following his 100-yard performance at Vanderbilt. The Chicago native has 1,194 yards on 96 receptions in 40 games played in his Huskie career and is the Huskies' first 1,000-yard receiver since Kenny Golladay. Tears is 31 yards away from passing Rich Bader (1960-62) for 22nd on the list.

HUSKIE HUNDRED:  Spencer Tears' 100-yard receiving game at Vanderbilt is the third for the Huskies this season. Tyrice Richie went over the 100-yard mark in receiving with three catches for 102 yards against Illinois State, and Tears amassed a career-high 112 yards on five receptions at Utah. It's the first time since 2017 the Huskies have had three 100-yard receiving games in a season. That year, NIU tallied four 100-yard receiving games.

FOR COMPARISON'S SAKE:  NIU is averaging 2.8 more points a game this season compared to the first four games of 2018, which also included a week two match up against Utah, and 121.1 more yards per game of total offense. The Huskies are averaging 137.5 more yards through the air, but 16.2 yards less on the ground.

MEET THE NEW GUYS:  NIU welcomed three grad transfers to the program in 2019 and all three have played significant snaps already. Quarterback Ross Bowers, who started 13 games for Cal in 2017 and 2018 and threw for 3,039 yards as a sophomore in 2017, has completed 82-of-138 passes for 1,056 yards and four TDs in four starts. Offensive tackle Andrew Starr, a three-year starter at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, has started two games at left tackle. Marshé Terry, who played in 31 games with 13 starts at UConn, recovered a muffed punt versus Illinois State and a fumble at Nebraska while making 13 tackles on the year.

DEGREES IN HAND: Nine players on the NIU roster are college graduates. Five have earned their degrees from NIU, while three came to DeKalb as graduate transfers. 

Ross Bowers    QB    American Studies    Cal
Adam Buirge    S    Leadership and Management    NIU
Daniel Crawford    TE    Enterprise Software    NIU
Trayshon Foster    S    Organizational & Corporate Comm.    NIU
Marcus Jones    TB    General Studies    NIU
Antonio Jones-Davis    LB    Communications    NIU
Andrew Starr    OL    English    Sacred Heart
Marshé Terry    S    Communications    Connecticut
Quintin Wynne    DE    Biological Sciences    NIU

SPECIAL FORCES

JUST FOR KICKS: Redshirt freshman John Richardson is five-for-six on field goal attempts this season with four of the six attempts coming from 36 yards and beyond. He is two-for-two on field goals of 45 yards or longer with a career-high 46-yarder at Utah (Sept. 7). 

KICKING THE STREAK ALIVE: John Richardson extended NIU's streak of consecutive PATs to 128 when he connected on a point-after-touchdown in the second half of the Huskies' contest at Vanderbilt. He hit three PATs in NIU's win over Illinois State in the season opener. The streak began Sept. 6, 2016 when Christian Hagan hit his last three extra points in the season opener at Wyoming. It's the sixth longest streak in the nation, behind fifth-place Wisconsin, with 149 and current NCAA leader Auburn (287).

BLOCK PARTY:  NIU is tied for the national lead in blocked kicks after tying the school record for blocked kicks and setting a new record for blocked placekicks in a game with three at Nebraska on Sept. 14. In that game, Antonio Jones-Davis and Jalen McKie each blocked a field goal and McKie added a blocked extra point attempt. The last time the Huskies blocked three kicks in a game was Dec. 19, 2006 when NIU blocked two TCU punts and an extra point in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl.

TWICE AS NICE:  Huskie cornerback Jalen McKie recorded a pair of blocks in NIU's setback at Nebraska, blocking an extra point attempt and field goal. It was the first blocked PAT by a Huskie since Ben LeRoy's block at Akron (Nov. 1) last season. NIU's last blocked field goal prior to Saturday was by Jack Heflin against Utah (Sept. 8) last year. McKie is the first Huskie to block two kicks in the same season since Ben Compton, who blocked a PAT at Buffalo (Nov. 11) and a field goal against Ohio (Nov. 24) in 2015.

SOME STRETCH:  NIU's special teams surrendered its first blocked punt since Oct. 26, 2017, a span of 21 games, when Nebraska's Isaiah Stalbird blocked Matt Ference's punt attempt in the second quarter.

HUSKIE HALL CALL: NIU football greats Larry English and Jerry Pettibone will be inducted in the NIU Hall of Fame on Friday, October 25 as part of NIU's 113th Homecoming celebration. English, a two-time Vern Smith Leadership Award (MAC MVP) winner, is NIU's all-time leader in sacks with 31.5 and tackles for loss with 63. A three-time first team All-MAC honoree, he became NIU's highest NFL Draft choice when he was selected 16th overall by the San Diego Chargers in 2009. Pettibone, who coached the Huskies from 1985-90, is tied for fifth in Huskie football history with 33 wins, including a 9-2 record during the 1989 campaign.  He led NIU to its first victory over a Big Ten foe as the Huskies defeated Wisconsin, 19-17.

MAC PRESEASON POLLS: The defending MAC Champion Huskies were picked to finish third in the MAC West Division in 2019 by both the MAC Media and MAC Coaches. NIU has won the MAC title four times in the last eight years and have participated in the conference championship game seven times in the last nine seasons. The Huskies begin defense of their MAC title next week when the Huskies play host to Ball State.