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  DOG TREATS  

• NIU returns to Huskie Stadium this week for the first of two back-to-back Tuesday night home MAC West #MACtion contests as the Huskies and Ball State Cardinals meet with the Bronze Stalk Trophy on the line. 
• The Huskies own a narrow 25-23-2 edge in the all-time series and have won the Bronze Stalk Trophy 11 times in the 15 years since the trophy was initiated; three of Ball State's series wins have come in the last four years. 
• NIU's Thomas Hammock and Ball State's Mike Neu are the only head coaches in the MAC currently leading the programs at their respective alma maters. 
• After throwing for a season high 298 yards on 20-of-35 passing last week at Central Michigan, quarterback Rocky Lombardi has thrown for 4,900 yards in his Huskie career to rank sixth all-time at NIU. 
• Over its last four games, the Huskies are outscoring their opponents, 74-23 in the second half.
• The NIU defense has not allowed a point in the fourth quarter in its last four games and has given up just one fourth quarter score in MAC play. 
• NIU ranks third nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (158.3/game, 12th in pass efficiency defense (110.55) and 23rd in total defense (325.6 yards/game).
• With a team-leading 50 tackles on the season, senior defensive end Ray Thomas ranks second among all FBS linemen in total tackles. No defensive lineman has ever led the Huskies in tackles for a season (since records were kept in 1971). 
• NIU's big play offense was in effect in the second half at Central Michigan with Antario Brown scoring on a 61-yard run en route to a 167-yard rushing game, his third 100-plus yard game of the season, while Trayvon Rudolph recorded a 72-yard touchdown for the Huskies' longest pass play of the season along with receptions of 46, 20 and 18 yards for a season-best 172-yard receiving game.
• 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 Ball State game will mark Baker's 517th 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 2023 Burlsworth Trophy nominee and team captain Jaden Dolphin (LB). as well as starters Nate Valcarcel (S), Devonte O'Malley (DT), Brock Lampe (FB) and Trayvon Rudolph (WR/KR).   

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  NIU 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: 608-526-51
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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CARDINALS' FACTS  
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Mike Neu (Ball State, 1994)
Record at Ball State/Years: 35-55/8
Career Record/Years: Same
2022 Record: 5-7
Conference Record/Finish: 3-5/T-4th-West
Location: Muncie, Ind.
Enrollment: 21,597
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

Ball State Schedule & Results

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  NIU-BSU SERIES  

Overall: NIU leads 25-23-2
In DeKalb: Series tied 12-12-2
In Muncie: NIU leads 13-11
In MAC Games: Series tied 19-19
First Meeting: 6-6 Tie (H), 10/4/41
Last Meeting: BSU 44-38 2OT (A), 10/1/22
 

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  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  

TV: BALL STATE AT NIU ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK

• Watch the Ball State-NIU game on CBS Sports Network. The Huskies make their second appearance on the network in 2023 and play on a national over-the-air network for the seventh time this season.  
• The Huskies are playing on CBSSN for the 19th time. NIU is 7-11 all-time in games broadcast on CBS Sports Network, including a loss to Tulsa earlier this year. 
• Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play) and Brock Vereen (analyst) will be on the call for CBSSN.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the Ball State 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 Chessick Center 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  

BRONZE STALK BATTLE: NIU and Ball State meet the 51st time and play for the Bronze Stalk Trophy for the 16th time Tuesday night at Huskie Stadium. The game is the first of back-to-back home Tuesday night #MACtion contests versus MAC West opponents for the Huskies.    

STALK TALK For the 16th 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 15 Bronze Stalk games, NIU is 11-4; BSU has  claimed the Trophy three times in the last four meetings, including last year.   

SERIES HISTORY: NIU leads the all-time series with Ball State 25-23-2, and the Huskies have won 11 of the last 14 games between the teams. However, Ball State's three wins have come in the last four meetings beginning in 2019. That win snapped NIU's 10-game winning streak – the longest streak in series history.  Each of the last five games in the series have been one possession affairs, including the 2022 double overtime game in Muncie. NIU has won 18 of the 23 games with Ball State since 1999, with the Cardinals winning 16 of 17 games between 1974-98. 
  
THE LAST TIME: A year ago, NIU fell to Ball State 44-38 in double overtime loss as the Cardinals overcame a 17-point halftime deficit with 31 second-half points to take the Bronze Stalk Trophy. Harrison Waylee rushed for 230 yards and three scores, including a 68-yard run that gave NIU a 10-point lead with 6:43 to play, but the Cardinals scored 10 points in the final four minutes to send the game to overtime. Both teams missed field goals in the first OT before BSU's Carson Steele scored his third touchdown in the second overtime and NIU was unable to match the score.

IN THE DOGS' HOUSE: NIU has won nearly 70 percent of its games played in Huskie Stadium since 2003 with a 78-36 (.684) record over the last 20 years, including a 2-2 mark in 2023. NIU's all-time record at Huskie Stadium is 186-120-2 for a .607 all-time winning percentage. During that stretch, the Huskies have had 15 winning records at home and five undefeated seasons (2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013).

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: Now in their 38th overall season as a member of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies are 167-121-2 all-time in league play. The Huskies are 132-76 (.635) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 76-31 (.710) 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.

MAC WEST MARK: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 81-53 (.604) versus teams from the MAC West, including a 44-22 mark in the division since 2010 for a 66.7 winning percentage. NIU is 1-2 versus MAC West foes to date in three one-score games.

AT HOME IN THE MAC: In 37 seasons of MAC play dating back to 1975, NIU is 92-52-1 (.638) all-time at home in league games, including a 70-32 (.686) mark in Huskie Stadium versus league opponents since rejoining the league in 1997.  In 55 MAC home games since 2009, the Huskies are 42-13. 

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	69	.608
Illinois State	94	63	.595
Northwestern	87	83	.512
Southern Illinois	73	83	.468
Eastern Illinois	61	92	.399
Illinois	65	101	.391
Western Illinois	52	103	.335

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 106 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.

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 517th 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.
 
WORTHY NOMINEE: Linebacker Jaden Dolphin is this year's Huskie nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is presented to the most outstanding FBS player who began his career as a walk-on. Dolphin, one of five players selected as a permanent team captain in 2023, ranks second on the team with 45 tackles and his 28 solo stop lead the team. The Des Plaines, Ill. (Maine West HS) product who was an IHSA All-State tight end AND defensive end, walked on to the NIU team in 2020 as a safety and has played in 39 games with 136 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five pass break-ups in his Huskie career. 

WALK IT ON: Dolphin is not the only former walk-on making an impact for the Huskies in 2023. The current NIU roster includes 21 players who started their NIU careers or currently are playing without a scholarship. The list includes Dolphin and fellow starters Devonte O'Malley (DT), Nate Valcarcel (S), Brock Lampe (FB), Trayvon Rudolph (WR/KR) and George Gumbs (DE) as well as the Huskies' starting specialist crew of Tom Foley (P), Isaac Hatfield (LS) and Kanon Woodill (PK).

STEPPING UP: Junior receiver Trayvon Rudolph caught a season-high eight passes for 172 yards at Central Michigan for his first 100-yard receiving game of the season, and his first since the Huskies' 2021 game versus Ball State. Rudolph, who missed the entire 2022 season after a preseason knee injury, has made 15 catches for 227 yards over the last two games to take over the team lead in receiving from sidelined teammate Kacper Rutkiewicz (injured at Akron). At CMU, Rudolph scored on a 72-yard wide receiver screen play for the Huskies' longest pass play of the season, and had catches of 46, 20 and 18 yards.  

ALL-PURPOSE: In addition to his team-leading 33 catches for 387 yards, Rudolph ranks second on the team with 624 all-purpose yards. The junior has averaged 25.1 yards on seven kickoff returns and has 61 rushing yards on 13 carries. Rudolph has made at least three catches in each of the last six games. In 29 career games, the junior has 3,043 all-purpose yards, including 1,511 receiving and 1,344 on kickoff returns, for an average of 104.9 per game.

TACKLE LEADER: Defensive end Ray Thomas leads the Huskies in tackles with 50 on the season to rank second nationally among all defensive linemen and he has made at least four tackles in every game this year. 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, becoming the first Huskie defensive lineman to make at least 11 tackles in a game since 2013 (Ken Bishop, 11 vs. Toledo). 

LEAD DOG: Antario Brown recorded his third 150-yard rushing game of the season and the sixth 100-yard game of his career with 167 yards on 22 carries, including a 61-yard touchdown run to jump start NIU's offense in the third quarter, at Central Michigan. Brown has rushed for 843 yards on 137 carries with seven touchdowns on the season to lead NIU. Entering the weekend games, Brown ranked 13th nationally and second in the MAC in rushing yards, 21st (2nd MAC) in yards per carry with 6.15 and 26th (3rd MAC) in rushing yards per game with 93.7.   

ROCKY'S DAY: Huskie quarterback Rocky Lombardi threw for season highs of 298 yards and three touchdowns at Central Michigan with all three TD passes - of 72, 22 and 6 yards - during NIU's second half comeback. Lombardi, who is in his third season at NIU after transferring from Michigan State, ranks second in the MAC in passing yards and fourth in passing efficiency. CMU's fourth quarter interception as the Huskies were driving for a potential game-winning score was the first by a MAC opponent versus NIU this season and the first thrown by Lombardi in 142 attempts.

NO PASSING ZONE: Central Michigan threw for just 116 yards on nine-of-16 passing, the eighth NIU opponent to pass for less than 170 yards in a game this season. The Huskies are giving up just 158.3 passing yards per game to rank third in the FBS in fewest passing yards allowed and 13th in the country in team passing efficiency defense with a 110.55 mark. The 158.3 passing yards allowed total is the lowest by a Huskie defense since the 1983 defense gave up 155.9 passing yards per game.   

STRONG FINISH: With an offensive outburst in the second half, NIU finished the Central Michigan game with 506 total yards for its second 500-yard game of the season.  The Huskies' 298 passing yards were a season high while its 208 rushing yards were the second-best total of the season. The Huskies gained 347 yards in the second half alone, 142 rushing and 205 passing, with 28 second-half points to help make up for a 24-3 halftime deficit.

HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS: Over the last four games, the Huskies have turned the tables on their opponents in the second half. The NIU defense has put the clamps on Akron, Ohio, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan in the second half as those teams have only reached the Huskie 20-yard line seven times in 25 possessions. Meanwhile, the Huskie offense has outscored those opponents 74-23 in the second half and have held a 231.75-123.25 edge in average total offense yards (927 total yards to 493).

TURNOVER TALK: After intercepting six passes in its three previous games, with five of the six coming in the fourth quarter, NIU did not force a turnover at Central Michigan while committing three. This season, NIU is 0-2 when it loses the turnover battle (vs. SIU, CMU), 3-0 when it wins the turnover battle (vs. Akron, Ohio, EMU) and 1-3 when the turnovers are even (W over Boston College, L vs. Nebraska, Tulsa, Toledo).  

PICKED: NIU's nine interceptions on the season are the most by a Huskie defense since 2017. Safety Nate Valcarcel leads the Huskies with three INTs, while cornerback JaVaughn Byrd and safety Cyrus McGarrell have each picked off two passes. The last time NIU had three or more players with multiple interceptions was 2017. The Huskies' season-high three INTs versus Ohio (by Valcarcel, McGarrell and Byrd) came on three consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter. It was the first time in 70 games that the Huskies intercepted three or more passes. 

COMFORT ZONE: The Huskie offense has found its comfort zone since beginning Mid-American Conference play. Compared to its four non-conference games, NIU has doubled its scoring average, nearly doubled its rushing average and has gained 137.0 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 20 TDs on the board over the last five games. In MAC games only, the Huskies rank first in the league in points per game and in total offense and are second in both rushing and passing offense. The numbers: 
 

	Last 4 Games	First 4 Games
Points/Game	32.4	15.8
Rush Yards/Game	204.0	105.5
Pass Yards/Game	218.4	180.0
Total Yards/Game	422.4	285.5
Touchdowns	20	8

GOING LONG: In MAC play, NIU has recorded 25 plays of 25 yards or longer after adding four - on two runs and two passes - for a pair of TDs at Central Michigan. The Huskies have 10 rushing, 10 passing and five returns of 25-plus yards by 11 different players in MAC games. Rocky Lombardi has hit five different receivers with at least one 25-yard pass; safety Nate Valcarcel has both a long fumble (50 yards) and interception (33) return, while Trayvon Rudolph's five long plays include three catches, two at CMU, a 36-yard rush and a 48-yard kickoff return. NIU has scored 10 touchdowns on long plays over the last five games and has 12 on the year. (See box page 4)

IMPACT RECEIVER: 2023 newcomer Grayson Barnes has had a knack for the long play over NIU's last four games, totaling nine catches for 208 yards versus MAC opponents. for an average of 23.1 yards per catch with touchdown catches of 34 yards at Akron, 58 yards versus Ohio and 22 yards at Central Michigan. His three catches against Eastern Michigan included a spectacular 26-yard grab on third and 14 to extend NIU's go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. 

SWISS ARMY KNIFE: Junior fullback Brock Lampe has been one of the most versatile players in the Huskie offense in 2023 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.

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 nine games, leads NIU in sacks (3.5) and ranks second in tackles for loss (5.0).  

CLOSE CALLS: With a six-point loss at Central Michigan, six of NIU's nine games in 2023 have been decided by one score or less. In 53 games under Thomas Hammock since 2019, 32 games, including 22 Mid-American Conference contests have been one score affairs. Included in those 32 games are three overtime games. 

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 41.4 yards per punt, he has eight punts of 50 yards or longer and 13 of his 38 punts have forced opponents to start inside their 20-yard line.   

KANON THE KICKER: Since taking over placekicking duties in game four versus Tulsa, sophomore Kanon Woodill has made 8-of-11 field goals, including 5-of-5 in the Huskies' last two home games while dealing with the winds of Huskie Stadium. Woodill, a walk-on who is a member of the NIU ROTC program, 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 was 2-for-2 on field goals versus Eastern Michigan with both tying the game. 

GAME EXPERIENCE: Overall, the 2023 Huskies are an experienced group with 21 players on the roster who have seen action in at least 30 games during their NIU careers, and another 12 who have played in at least 20 games. There are 11 Huskies who have started 20 or more games. Offensive tackle Nolan Potter (52 games/39 starts) and James Ester (45 games/38 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 nine games, 20 players have made at least 10 tackles and 13 have accrued 20 or more stops. Versus Akron, 31 different Huskie players were credited with tackles.

YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS: While NIU's 2023 roster is filled with experience, a handful of youngsters have played their way into contributing roles. At receiver, redshirt freshman Jalen Johnson has made 15 catches while playing in seven games, including a touchdown at Toledo, while fellow redshirt freshman receiver Dane Pardridge scored his first touchdown on a six-yard reception at Central Michigan. Pardridge, who has five catches, took over punt return duties with the injury to Kacper Rutkiewicz. On the offensive line, Evan Malcore has seen extensive playing time, including three starts, at left tackle. On defense, redshirt cornerbacks Jacob Finley and Amariyun Knighten are the only freshmen to see time. The duo has combined for 33 tackles, 23 by Finley, who has eight starts.

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

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 (11-9-17) in a 63-17 win. The Huskies last gained more than 571 yards in 2021 with 663 yards at Kent State in a loss. NIU's 380 rushing yards versus the Zips were the most by a Huskie team in 109 games, since a 433-yard day 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 as he earned MAC West Offensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. His 280 yards rank tied for second most in a game by a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) player this season and were the most by a Huskie in 10 years (Jordan Lynch, 321 yards vs. Western Michigan, 11-26-13). 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 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 vresus Cincinnati (11-18-89) with 281 yards on 16 carries with five touchdowns in a 56-3 NIU win. 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  Robinson versus Fresno State (10-6-90).  

SAFETY DANCE: Former walk-on Nate Valcarcel recorded a turnover in four consecutive games with 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.    

NOT PLAYING FAVORITES: Huskie QBs have had no shortage of targets in 2023 as 14 different players have caught passes, 10 have made at least five catches and seven players are averaging 10 or more yards in receiving per game. In addition, seven 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 158 completions.

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: The NIU defense has limited five of its nine opponents to two touchdowns or less. Eastern Michigan and Ohio were held to one touchdown and two field goals, while Akron, Tulsa and SIU each reached the end zone twice ... 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) .... 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.