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Brayden Patton
Scott Walstrom, NIU

NIU Travels to Toledo for Saturday Tilt versus Rockets

Kickoff Set for 11 a.m. (CT) on CBS Sports Network

October 5

 
Toledo game release header

  HUSKIE BITES  
  • NIU takes on Toledo in its first Mid-American Conference road game of 2021. The teams have not met on a Saturday during the regular season (not including last year's December game) since 2009. 
  • Saturday's game marks the 49th meeting between NIU and Toledo with the Rockets holding a 32-16 edge in the all-time series and an 18-6 lead in games played in Toledo, although four of NIU's wins have come in the last five games at the Glass Bowl. 
  • The Huskies' 3-2 record through five games is NIU's best start to a season in four years, since the 2017 Huskies won three of their first five games. NIU is looking for its first three-game winning streak since 2018. 
  • NIU is coming off a 27-20 home win over Eastern Michigan in its MAC opener. The Huskies ran the ball 55 times for 242 yards, including a 101-yard performance from freshman Antario Brown in the second half, while the NIU defense limited EMU to 38 yards on the ground thanks in part to five sacks.  
  • Converted defensive back Dillon Thomas leads NIU in sacks and was named the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week after making two drive-stopping sacks and tipping a pass that was intercepted by Jaden Dolphin and returned for a 59-yard touchdown versus Eastern Michigan.  
  • NIU has put its rushing offense in another gear in 2021. The last time NIU saw comparable numbers to its 1,105 rushing yards (221.0 per game) and 5.4 per carry average was 2016. 
  • MAC leading rusher Harrison Waylee reached another milestone Saturday when he became the 43rd player in school history to pass the 1,000-yard mark in career rushing yards. The MAC's leading rusher in 2021, Waylee has 1,030 yards in just 11 career games. 
  • With players retaining their eligibility from a year ago, NIU's 2021 roster features 85 players classified as "freshmen." That group includes 42 newcomers, 33 "COVID" (second year) freshmen and 10 redshirt freshmen. The Huskies' starting line-up includes seven COVID freshmen, six on defense. 
  • NIU head coach Thomas Hammock, a two-time first team CoSIDA Academic All-American who rushed for over 1,000 yards to lead the Huskies in both 2000 and 2001, is in his third season as head coach at his alma mater.     

  NIU FOOTBALL FACTS  
Head Coach: Thomas Hammock (NIU '02)
Record at NIU/Years: 8-15/1
Career Record/Years: Same
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
2020 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 0-6/0-6/6th
All-Time Record: 595-509-51
Last Bowl Game: 2018 Cheribundi Roca Raton Bowl (UAB 37, NIU 14)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 13
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 8, 2018
MAC Championships, Last: 5, 2018
Experience Returning/Lost: 46/16
Starters Returning: 22 (9 offense, 10 defense, 3 specialists)
Starters Lost: 5 (4 offense, 1 defense, 0 specialists)
 
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