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  DOG TREATS  

• NIU travels to Mount Pleasant, Michigan for a Halloween night match-up versus MAC West foe Central Michigan in the first of three #MACtion Tuesday night games. 
• The Huskies have played Central Michigan more than any other FBS opponent as the 2023 game is the 58th between the teams. NIU's 2021 win at CMU was its first at Kelly/Shorts Stadium since 2013. 
• NIU is looking to extend its three-game October MAC winning streak after wins over Akron, Ohio and Eastern Michigan earlier this month.   
• During the current winning streak, the Huskies are outscoring their opponents, 46-10 in the second half with seven second-half interceptions by the NIU defense.
• NIU ranks seventh nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (163.6/game, 17th in pass efficiency defense (108.58) and 16th in total defense (310.4 yards/game) after holding each of its last three opponents to less than 260 yards and 14 or less points.
• With a team-leading 46 tackles, senior defensive end Ray Thomas' 5.75 tackles per game rank third nationally among all FBS defensive lineman. No defensive lineman has ever led the Huskies in tackles for a season (since records were kept in 1971). 
• Receiver Grayson Barnes is averaging 24.6 yards per catch over the Huskies' last four games with seven catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns.  
• NIU's nine interceptions on the season are the most in a single season by a Huskie defense since 2017. 
• Kicker Kanon Woodill and punter Tom Foley have claimed the last two MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Woodill made three second half field goals (on three attempts) versus Ohio, while Foley averaged 53.2 yards on four punts, including a 79-yard punt that was the longest by a Huskies since 1941.   
• The "Voice of the Huskies" - radio play-by-play broadcaster Bill Baker - will retire following the 2023 football season, his 44th behind the mic for NIU. The Central Michigan game will mark Baker's 516th NIU football broadcast. 
• Over the last 15 years - since 2008 - every freshman class has left NIU with at least one MAC Championship. The Huskies' five MAC Championship game victories are more than any other current league member and NIU has made a record nine appearances in the game.  
• Of the 85 scholarship players on NIU's 2023 roster, 21 came to NIU as walk-ons. The group includes starters Nate Valcarcel (S), Devonte O'Malley (DT), Jaden Dolphin (LB). Brock Lampe (FB) and Trayvon Rudolph (WR/KR).   

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  NIU FOOTBALL FACTS  

Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-2-5
First Year of Football: 1899
2022 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 3-9/2-6/6th
All-Time Record: 608-525-51
Last Bowl Game: 2021 Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 14
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 9, 2021
MAC Championships, Last: 6, 2021
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 49/27
Starters Returning: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialist)
Starters Lost: 11 (4 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
 

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  CHIPPEWAS' FACTS  

Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Jim McElwain (Eastern Washington/1984)
Record at Central Michigan/Years: 28-25/5
Career Record/Years: 72-54/11
2022 Record: 4-8
Conference Record/Finish: 3-5/T-4th-West
Location: Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Enrollment: 15,465
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Maroon and Gold 
Stadium: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Surface/Capacity: AstroTurf/30,255
President: Dr. Robert O. Davies
Athletic Director: Amy Folan
Athletics Website: cmuchippewas.com
Twitter: @CMUAthletics

CMU Schedule & Results
 

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  NIU-CMU SERIES  

Overall: CMU leads 32-25-1
In DeKalb: NIU leads 15-13-1
In Mount Pleasant: CMU leads 19-10
In MAC Games: CMU leads 20-17
Streak: CMU, 1
First Meeting: CMU 6, NIU 0 (A) - 9/30/39
Last Meeting: CMU 35, NIU 22 (H) - 11/2/22
 

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  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  

TV: NIU AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN on ESPNU

• Watch the NIU-Central Michigan game on ESPNU. The Huskies make their third appearance on the network in 2023 and play on a national over-the-air network for the sixth time this season.  
• The Huskies are playing on ESPNU for the 29th time and the 13th time in the last six seasons. NIU is 15-13 all-time in games broadcast on ESPNU. 
• Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst) will be on the call for ESPNU.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the CMU game begins 90 minutes before kickoff, at 4:30 p.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB with the Toyota Pre-Game Tailgate Show from the WDKB studio in DeKalb.
• Coverage on NIU network affiliate SportsFan AM 1330 and on The Varsity Network app begins 30 minutes before the game, at 5:30 pm (CT).
• Hear the broadcast on mobile devices via the free NIU Huskies mobile app or The Varsity Network app. 
• Bill Baker is in his 44th and final season (see note) as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo is alongside for the the 39th consecutive season, while Andy Garcia is in his 11th year on the sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show each Wednesday at 6 pm. 
• The show is held at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).
• Listen live on the NIU Huskies or The Varsity Network mobile app and hear the show live on 94-9 WDKB and on SportsFan AM 1330 in Rockford.
• Host Andy Garcia welcomes NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock each week, along with Huskie players and special guests. 

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE

• Host Andy Garcia talks NIU football, basketball and more with the Huskie head coaches and administrators, including a weekly spotlight on Huskie Football. Get all the latest news and updates in this fast-paced 30 minute show.
• Also, hear from Huskie legend Bill Baker in each episode with a special "Looking Back with Bill Baker" segment.  
• Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics YouTube Channel on Thursdays. 

NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, special features, game highlights, NIU Weekly and more.
• Subscribe for FREE and click the bell to be notified every time NIU posts a new video.
• Search "NIU Athletics" on YouTube or go to YouTube.com/NIUAthleticsOfficial. 
• Archived videos and highlights, replays of some of the greatest games in school history and special features are also available 24/7 on YouTube.  

NIU HUSKIES MOBILE APP

• Download the free NIU Huskies mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
• Link to the NIU radio broadcasts, live stats, complete team rosters, digital game programs and more.
• Connect to the NIU social media channels and sign up for notifications on any Huskie team.

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  NOTING NIU  

MIDWEEK MACTION: Midweek #MACtion gets an October head start in 2023 when NIU travels to Mount Pleasant, Michigan for a Halloween night meeting with the Central Michigan Chippewas. The game is the first of three consecutive Tuesday night  contests for the Huskies.    

THREE IN A ROW: NIU won its third consecutive game on October 21st with a 20-13 victory over Eastern Michigan in Huskie Stadium. NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi scored from one yard out to close out a 15-play, 80-yard drive that took 6:47 off the clock and left EMU just 1:11 and no timeouts to attempt to tie the game. The NIU defense, which held the Eagles to just 41 yards and two first downs in the final quarter, recorded its second interception of the game to secure the win.   

MOST FREQUENT FOE: The Huskies have played Central Michigan 58 times since 1939, more than any other current NCAA FBS team. The Chippewas lead the all-time series 32-25-1 and are 20-17 versus NIU in 37 games as MAC opponents, including a 35-22 win in DeKalb last year. Two years ago, NIU claimed just its second win in its last eight trips to Mount Pleasant, and its first win at Kelly/Shorts Stadium since 2013. CMU has won 19 of the 29 series games played at home.  

THE LAST TIME: Central Michigan took a 21-0 halftime lead while limiting NIU to 95 yards of total offense, before the Huskies came back with 22 second-half points. The Huskies cut the lead to 28-22 early in the fourth quarter on Izayah Green-May's 57-yard fumble return score, but recovered a Huskie fumble in the end zone, providing CMU with a 13-point margin as they earned a 35-22 win at Huskie Stadium. The NIU defense forced four turnovers on the night and Harrison Waylee ran for 136 yards on 20 carries to lead NIU.  

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: Now in their 38th overall season as a member of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies are 167-120-2 all-time in league play. The Huskies are 132-75 (.638) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 76-30 (.717) against the MAC with three undefeated campaigns, two one-loss seasons, seven division championships, including a run of six-straight (2010-15). NIU originally competed in the MAC from 1975-85.

NIU ON THE MAC ROAD: The Huskies are 26-14 in conference road games since 2013 and 90-100-1 all-time in league games away from Huskie Stadium for a 47 percent win percentage. NIU is 1-1 in its MAC road games to date.

MAC WEST MARK: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 81-52 (.609) versus teams from the MAC West, including a 44-21 mark in the division since 2010 for a 67.7 winning percentage. NIU is 1-1 versus MAC West foes to date with a two-point loss at Toledo and last week's 20-13 win over Eastern Michigan.

LAND OF LINCOLN LEADERS: Since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program among Illinois' seven Division I football programs. The Huskies are 1-1 versus in-state FBS programs with a 2014 win over Northwestern and a 2010 loss at Illinois, and are 4-1 versus in-state FCS opponents over the last 12 seasons, including wins over Illinois State (2019) and Eastern Illinois (2022) under Thomas Hammock. 

Illinois' Division I Schools Since 2010

Team	W	L	Pct.
NIU	107	68	.611
Illinois State	93	63	.596
Northwestern	86	82	.512
Southern Illinois	72	82	.467
Eastern Illinois	60	92	.395
Illinois	64	101	.388
Western Illinois	52	101	.340

HUSKIE LEGEND: The 2023 season marks the 44th and final year behind the mic for the "Voice of the Huskies," legendary play-by-play man Bill Baker. Baker will call his 516th NIU football game this week, and has missed just one game since making his NIU debut when the Huskies faced Long Beach State in Anaheim, Calif. on Sept. 5, 1980. He also has called more than 1,200 NIU basketball games – including several years when he called both men's and women's games. Baker, who ranks tied for sixth in longevity for FBS play-by-play voices, was honored during halftime of the Huskies' 2023 home opener versus Southern Illinois on Sept. 9 and a special tribute video can be seen on the NIU Athletics Official YouTube Channel.
 
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: NIU senior defensive tackle James Ester was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation award which annually recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation and is selected from across all divisions of college football. A two-time All-MAC selection and three-year team captain with 101 career tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss, Ester earned his bachelor's degree in communications last May with a 3.333 GPA and is currently pursuing his master's in sports management.

PICKED: Devonte O'Malley and Cyrus McGarrell intercepted Eastern Michigan quarterback Austin Smith in the fourth quarter last game, giving NIU nine interceptions on the season, the most in a single season by a Huskie defense since 2017. McGarrell's INT was his second of the season, and second in as many games, becoming the third NIU defender with multiple interceptions on the year. Safety Nate Valcarcel leads the Huskies with three INTs, while JaVaughn Byrd has picked off two passes. The last time NIU had three or more players with multiple interceptions was 2017. 

SECOND HALF SHUT DOWN: During NIU's current three-game winning streak, the Huskie defense has put the clamps on its opponent in the second half. NIU held Akron, Ohio and Eastern Michigan out of the red zone 15 times in 18 possessions. The Huskies outscored those three opponents 46-10 in the second half and held a 580-318 advantage in total yards of offense 

TURNOVER TALK: NIU has not committed a turnover during its three-game winning streak while forcing six - all interceptions. Five of NIU's six interceptions over the last three games have come in the fourth quarter, including all three of its picks in the Ohio game and both INTs versus Eastern Michigan.  

DEE-TERMINED: NIU continues to put together one of its best defensive seasons in recent history. The Huskies have held each of its last three opponents to less than 260 yards of total offense and Eastern Michigan became the fifth team - along with SIU (217 yards) and Tulsa (281) - to total 285 yards or less. The last NIU team to hold at least four opponents to less than 300 yards was the 2017 Huskies. Only one opponent (Toledo) has gained fmore than 200 yards passing against the Huskies this season. NIU ranks seventh nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (163.6/game) and 17th in pass efficiency defense (108.58). 

LOW SCORING: The NIU defense has limited five opponents, and each of its last three foes, to two touchdowns or less. Both Eastern Michigan and Ohio were held to one touchdown and two field goals, while Akron, Tulsa and SIU each reached the end zone twice. The Huskies are currently ranked 16th nationally in total defense. 

SETTING NEW STANDARDS: NIU's current defensive numbers are not just the best of Coach Thomas Hammock's tenure (since 2019). The Huskies are holding opponents to a 21.3 scoring average, the lowest since 2010 when NIU foes were held to 20.4 points per game on the season. NIU's eight opponents to date are averaging 310.4 yards of total offense and 163.6 passing yards per game, the fewest since the 2008 defense allowed averages of just 298.5 total yards and 161.1 passing yards per game.  

COMFORT ZONE: The Huskie offense has found its comfort zone since beginning Mid-American Conference. Over the last three games, NIU has doubled its scoring average, nearly doubled its rushing average and has gained 116.0 more total yards per game. After scoring eight touchdowns through the first four games of 2023, four in the season opening win at Boston College, NIU has put 16 TDs on the board versus Toledo, Akron, Ohio and Eastern Michigan. In MAC games only, the Huskies rank first in the league in points per game and are second in rushing offense and total offense.  For comparison: 
 

	Last 4 Games	First 4 Games
Points/Game	32.8	15.8
Rush Yards/Game	203.0	105.5
Pass Yards/Game	198.5	180.0
Total Yards/Game	401.5	285.5
Touchdowns	16	8

IMPACT RECEIVER: 2023 newcomer Grayson Barnes has had a knack for the long play over NIU's last four games, totaling seven catches for 172 yards versus MAC opponents. He is averaging 24.6 yards per catch during that time with touchdown catches of 34 yards at Akron and 58 yards versus Ohio. His three catches in the Eastern Michigan game included a spectacular grab on NIU's go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. On third and 14 from the NIU 38, he snagged a Lombardi pass for 26 yards in the middle of the field to set the Huskies up Eagles' 36-yard line with 1:30 to play. 

GOING LONG: Over the last four games, NIU has recorded 21 plays of 25 yards or longer after getting just five long plays during non-conference play. The Huskies have eight rushing, eight passing and five returns of 25-plus yards versus MAC opponents. Ten different players have accounted for those plays. Gavin Williams and Grayson Barnes added to the total versus Eastern Michigan with a 34-yard rush and a 26-yard catch, respectively. Rocky Lombardi has hit five different receivers for at least a 25-yard pick-up; Nate Valcarcel has both a long fumble (50 yards) and interception (33) return, while Trayvon Rudolph's three long plays include a rush (36), a reception (42) and a kickoff return (48). NIU has scored eight touchdowns on long plays over the last three games and has 10 on the year. (See box page 4)

BOOMING: Huskie punter Tom Foley averaged a career high 53.2 yards on four punts versus Eastern Michigan, highlighted by a wind-aided 79-yard blast, the longest punt in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season, the third-longest punt in school history and the longest since 1941. The NIU junior earned MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He also had a 50.0 yard average on four punts at Toledo when he was named to the "Ray's 8" weekly honor roll by the Ray Guy Award. Foley's season average is up to 42.0 yards per punt, he has eight punts of 50 yards or longer and 13 of his 36 punts have forced opponents to start inside their 20-yard line.   

KANON THE KICKER: Since taking over placekicking duties in the fourth game of the season versus Tulsa, sophomore Kanon Woodill has made 7-of-8 field goals, including 5-of-5 in the Huskies' last two games while dealing with the winds of Huskie Stadium. Woodill, a walk-on who is a member of the NIU ROTC program and makes it a point to try to meet ROTC members at opposing stadia, hit all three of his field goal attempts versus Ohio - all in the second half - to earn MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors. His threes turned a 14-13 NIU lead into a 23-13 margin. He made a pair of field goals in as many attempts versus Eastern Michigan with both tying the game. 

TURNOVER TIME: NIU safety Nate Valcarcel saw his streak of four straight games with a turnover halted at Eastern Michigan. The former walk-on had recorded three interceptions and a fumble recovery between the Tulsa and Ohio games. He made his first career interception in the first quarter at Tulsa, had a 50-yard fumble recovery and return for a touchdown at Toledo, recorded his second INT in the second half at Akron. and picked off another pass versus the Bobcats. His three interceptions on the season are the most by a Huskie since Juwuan Johnson picked off five passes in 2017.    

PICK THREE: Cyrus McGarrell, Nate Valcarcel and JaVaughn Byrd picked off Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke on three consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter of the October 14 game, preserving the Huskies' lead. NIU had not intercepted three or more passes in a game in 70 games, since October 21, 2017 versus Bowling Green. Rourke had thrown just two interceptions on the season prior to that quarter. 

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: Defense wasn't the only side of the ball to excel at Ohio, facing the No. 4 ranked defense in the FBS, the Huskies became the first team to score a touchdown on the Bobcats in the first quarter and in the third quarter, scored more points than any previous opponent and totaled 130 rushing, 172 passing and 302 total yards. Entering the game, OU opponents were averaging 11.8 points, 73.7 rushing and 235.7 total yards per game.  

DOMINATING SECOND HALF D: The Huskies won the Ohio game with a dominant defensive performance in the second half, including three fourth-quarter interceptions that thwarted any hopes of a Bobcat comeback. Ohio scored 13 points, gained 12 first downs and totaled 188 yards of offense in the opening half with 81 rushing and 107 passing yards. After halftime, the Bobcats made three first downs, did not score and gained just 66 yards on 22 plays, including 14 yards on six rushing plays.

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: The Huskie offense had a breakout game with 55 points, 571 yards of total offense and 380 rushing yards at Akron on October 10. NIU's 55 points were the most scored by a Thomas Hammock led Huskie team, and the most since NIU scored 63 points versus Ball State on Nov. 9, 2017 in a 63-17 win. The Huskies last gained more than 571 yards in 2021 when they totaled 663 yards at Kent State in a loss. NIU's 380 rushing yards were the most by a Huskie team in 109 games, since rushing for 433 yards versus Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 18, 2014, a 51-41 NIU win.  

TO THE HOUSE: Antario Brown's career high 280 rushing yards at Akron came on just 13 carries, including touchdown runs of 66, 58, 46 and 50 yards. He earned MAC West Offensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. His 280 yards were tied for the most by a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) player in a game this season. His total rushing yards were the most by a Huskie in 10 years, since Jordan Lynch ran for 321 yards versus Western Michigan on Nov. 26, 2013.  Brown recorded the most rushing yards for a NIU running back since Garrett Wolfe set the school record with 353 yards versus Ball State on Sept. 30, 2006. He became just the sixth player in NIU history to run for 280 or more yards in a single game, joining Garrett Wolfe, LeShon Johnson, Michael Turner and quarterback Stacey Robinson.

RECORD BREAKER: With an average of 21.5 yards on 13 carries (280 yards) at Akron, Antario Brown broke the 34-year-old NIU record for the highest yards per rush in a single game (minimum 10 carries). The previous record of 17.6 yards per carry was set by quarterback Stacey Robinson, who gained 281 yards on 16 carries with five touchdowns in a 56-3 NIU win over Cincinnati on Nov. 18, 1989. Brown's 160-yard second quarter ranks as the second-most yards gained in a quarter by a Huskie, trailing only a 173-yard quarter (2nd) by Stacey Robinson versus Fresno State on Oct. 6, 1990.  

SWISS ARMY KNIFE: Junior fullback Brock Lampe has been one of the most versatile players in the Huskie offense in 2023, effective as a lead blocker, ball carrier and receiver. At Akron, he cleared the way on nearly all of Antario Brown's long touchdown runs. The junior has 12 rushes for 50 yards on the season with eight of his carries coming on third and short and all resulting in a first down or a touchdown, including a season-long 11-yard run versus Ohio. Three of his five catches have gone for 12 yards or more, with a season-long 26-yard reception at Toledo.

RUDOLPH'S RETURN: With a season-best seven catches in the Eastern Michigan game, Trayvon Rudolph took over the team lead from sidelined teammate Kacper Rutkiewicz with 25 catches on the year. Rudolph, who missed the entire 2022 season after a preseason knee injury, has accounted for 410 all-purpose yards, which ranks second on the team. In addition to his 212 receiving yards, the junior has averaged 27.4 yards on five kickoff returns and has 61 rushing yards on 13 carries. Rudolph has made at least three catches in each of the last five games. In 28 career games, the junior has 90 receptions for 1,336 yards and 2,829 all-purpose yards, an average of 101 per game.

TACKLE LEADER: Defensive end Ray Thomas leads the Huskies in tackles with 46 on the season and has more tackles than any defensive lineman in the MAC. His 5.75 tackles per game rank third nationally among all FBS defensive linemen. Since NIU began keeping tackle totals in 1971, no defensive lineman has led the Huskies in tackles on the season. Thomas made a career high 11 tackles versus Tulsa, including seven solo stops and four assists. The last Huskie defensive lineman to make at least 11 tackles in a game was Ken Bishop, a 2013 first team All-MAC selection who had 11 versus Toledo (11-20-13). 

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION: After two seasons playing a hybrid tight end/wide receiver position, redshirt sophomore and former walk-on George Gumbs made the transition to defensive end following 2023 spring practices. He moved into the starting line-up at Akron and through eight games, he leads NIU in sacks (3.5) and is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (5.0). He recorded sacks in the SIU (1.5), Nebraska and Akron games and made a season and career high six tackles versus Tulsa. 

GRADS: NIU's 2023 roster includes 16 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees  either at NIU or from another institution. The complete list with school and major.

Pos.    Name    School (Earned Degree)    Major
CB Gabe Amegatcher (Nebraska-Kearney) Major: General Studies; Minors: Construction Management, Mathematics
LB Keshon Artis (Virginia Tech) Major: Business Information Technology
TE Chris Carter (Howard) Major: Strategic, Legal & Management Communications
DT James Ester (NIU) Major: Communication, Media Studies
RB Kendrell Flowers (South Carolina State) Major: Family & Consumer Sciences
P Tom Foley (NIU) Degrees: B.S. in Accountancy; M.S. Finance
LB DaRon Gilbert (Lafayette) Major: Economics; Minor: Anthropology & Sociology
LB Tyler Jackson (Lamar) Majors: Industrial Engineering and Business
QB C.J. Jordan (Idaho) Major: Psychology; Minor: Communication
OL J.J. Lippe (NIU) Major: Leadership & Management
QB Rocky Lombardi (Michigan State) Major: History
WR Davis Patterson (Notre Dame College) Major: Strategic Communications & Public Relations
OT Nolan Potter (NIU) Major: Organizational & Corporate Communications
WR Kacper Rutkiewicz (NIU) Major: General Emphasis
DT Demond Taylor Jr. (NIU) Major: Communication, Media Studies
TE Tristen Tewes (NIU) Major: Environmental Studies

WALK IT ON: NIU has a long tradition of awarding scholarships to walk-ons who have gone on to make a significant impact on the team and 2023 is no exception. The current NIU roster includes 21 players who started their NIU careers without a scholarship. Eight of those are playing significant roles on the 2023 team, including starters Devonte O'Malley (DT), Jaden Dolphin (LB), Nate Valcarcel (S), Brock Lampe (FB) and Trayvon Rudolph (WR/KR) as well as DE George Gumbs, who leads NIU in sacks, tight end Tristen Tewes and safety Muhammad Jammeh.

NOT PLAYING FAVORITES: Huskie QBs have had no shortage of targets in 2023 as 14 different players have caught passes, nine have made at least five catches and seven players are averaging 10 or more yards in receiving per game. Six players are averaging more than 10 yards per catch. Seven wide receivers, five running backs and two tight ends have been on the receiving end of NIU's 138 completions.

GAME EXPERIENCE: The 2023 Huskies are an experienced group with 19 players on the roster who have seen action in at least 30 games during their NIU careers, and another 13 who have played in at least 20 games. There are 11 Huskies who have started 20 or more games. Offensive tackle Nolan Potter (51 games/38 starts) and James Ester (44 games/37 starts) top the list of both games played and starts on either side of the ball and there are seven players in all who have 40 or more games played.

GROUP EFFORT: The NIU defense has relied on its depth in 2023 with 24 different players seeing significant snaps, including 10 defensive linemen, four linebackers, six safeties and four cornerbacks. Thirteen different Huskies have collected tackles for loss, eight have been in on a sack and another 12 have pass break-ups. Through eight games, 19 players have made at least 10 tackles and 11 have accrued 20 or more stops. Versus Akron, 31 different Huskie players were credited with tackles.

LONGEST DRIVE: Trayvon Rudolph's six-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter versus Tulsa came on the 20th play of a drive that began 11 minutes and three seconds earlier. The drive was the longest recorded by a FBS team this year in both number of plays and in time. Quarterback Ethan Hampton led the 75-yard drive, that included 15 rushing and five passing plays. The Huskies converted on third down three times and on fourth down twice, including on the touchdown pass.  

FILLING THE BONEYARD: With its 27-24 overtime win over Boston College in the 2023 season opener, NIU earned its 18th "Boneyard Win," defined as wins over prominent opponents and teams from leagues now designated as "Power 5." The Boneyard tradition began in 1983 and NIU has collected 10 Boneyard Wins in the last 15 years, including in back-to-back games versus ACC opponents and in 2017 at Nebraska. All-time, the Huskies have Boneyard Wins over teams from the ACC (4), SEC (1), Big 12 (5) and Big Ten (7), as well as over independent BYU. 

LEADERS OF THE PACK: Five players were named 2023 permanent team captains. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi, offensive tackle Nolan Potter, safety C.J. Brown, linebacker Jaden Dolphin and defensive tackle James Ester were chosen in voting by the Huskie team. Lombardi and Ester were named captains for the third consecutive season, while Potter is in his second year in the role. They will be joined by a different teammate selected each game.

WATCH-LISTED: Five Huskies were named to preseason watch lists in 2023. Running back Antario Brown earned a spot on the Doak Walker Award Watch List for the second consecutive year. Wide receiver/return man Trayvon Rudolph was on the Paul Hornung Award list, while defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley and offensive tackle Nolan Potter were named to the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy lists, respectively. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi earned a spot on the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. 

DOGS IN OT: NIU's season opening win at Boston College in overtime marked the Huskies' 10th OT win, improving its all-time overtime record to 10-5. The Huskies have now won five of their last six overtime games after its four-game winning streak in OT was snapped at Ball State last year. NIU is 4-3 in overtime games on the road and is 1-0 in neutral site OT games. The Huskies have won three of four overtime games versus non-conference opponents and are 7-4 when MAC games go to extra periods.  

THIS & THAT: With a seven-yard receiving and a two-yard rushing touchdown at Boston College, running back Antario Brown became the first NIU back to score touchdowns both receiving and rushing in the same game since Jordan Huff versus Ball State in 2017 (Nov. 9) .... Huskie kicker Kanon Woodill is a member of the ROTC program at NIU who has been collecting patches from cadets he has taken time to meet at the Huskies' road games ... Justin Lynch, who rushed for 84 yards on eight carries versus Tulsa, including runs of 30 and 29 yards, will sit out the rest of the 2023 season while redshirting. The decision to redshirt Lynch, who moved to running back following spring practices, was made prior to the season ... Devin Lafayette forced fumbles versus both Tulsa and Toledo, becoming the first player in six seasons to force a fumble in back-to-back games ... NIU's 17 pass completions versus Nebraska went to a school (FBS) record 13 different receivers ... Trayvon Rudolph set up a pair of NIU TDs at Akron with a 42-yard reception to the Zips' three-yard line, and a 48-yard kickoff return, followed by a 36-yard rush to the Akron two. Gavin Williams cashed in both touchdowns. 

NEXT: The Huskies return home for a pair of Tuesday night #MACtion games in Huskie Stadium. NIU will take on Ball State in the Battle for the Bronze Stalk on Tuesday, November 7 at either 6 or 6:30 pm on either ESPN2, ESPNU or CBS Sports Network.