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Brian Dempsey

Huskies Celebrate 117th Homecoming versus Toledo

NIU Looks to Extend Two-Game Win Streak Saturday

October 15


FB24 - Game Notes Header (Toledo)

  DOG TREATS  
  • NIU plays host to former MAC West - now fellow "pod" - foe Toledo Saturday in the Huskies' 117th Homecoming game.
  • In 13 games between NIU and Toledo beginning with the 63-60 classic in 2011, NIU has outscored the Rockets by a total of just eight points, 409-401. The Huskies have won eight of those 13 games, but Toledo has claimed three of the last four. 
  • The Huskies defeated Bowling Green, 17-7, last week in Ohio for their first MAC win of the season. The NIU defense collected six sacks and 10 tackles for loss while limiting the Falcons to 205 total yards and just 141 after their first two offensive plays.
  • The NIU defense is ranked first in the country in third down defense after Bowling Green converted just 1-of-13 third downs last week, the second Huskie opponent this year to be held to one conversion.  NC State was just 1-of-11 on third down, while the Huskies stopped UMass nine times on third down, including five of six times in the second half. For the season, opponents are converting just 20.5 percent of their third downs. 
  • NIU now has held 15 of its last 19 opponents over the last two seasons to 24 points or less, including all six of its 2024 foes with Bowling Green held to a season low seven points. 
  • Senior running back Gavin Williams has recorded back-to-back 100-yard rushing games with 102 yards on 29 carries last week after gaining a career high 125 yards on 19 runs versus UMass. He now leads NIU with 409 yards on the year.  
  • Defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard was named the MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after leading NIU with two sacks, three tackles for loss and seven tackles - six solo - at Bowling Green. 
  • NIU's Isaac Hatfield is one of two long snappers in the Football Bowl Subdivision to score this year after catching a two-point conversion pass from tight end Grayson Barnes last week. 
  • Receiver Andrew McElroy led NIU with five catches for 47 yards at Bowling Green and has 12 catches in the last four games to rank second on the team. 
  • Huskie greats Jordan Lynch and Jimmie Ward - who led NIU to a 24-4 record (16-0 in the MAC) in 2012 and 2013 while collecting All-America honors - are among the seven individuals being inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. Ward, a defensive back for the Houston Texans, will miss the festivities. 
  • Since the start of the 2016 season, NIU leads the FBS in one-score games played with 58. NIU is 28-30 in those games.

  2024 NIU SCHEDULE & RESULTS  

  ROCKET FOOTBALL FACTS  
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Jason Candle (Mount Union, 2003)
Record at Toledo/Years: 69-37/10
Career Record/Years: Same
2023 Record: 11-3
Conference Record/Finish: 8-0/1st-West
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Enrollment: 13,951
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Midnight Blue and Gold 
Stadium: Glass Bowl
Surface/Capacity: Field Turf/26,038
Interim President: Matt Schroeder
Athletic Director: Bryan B. Blair
Athletics Website: UTRockets.com
Twitter: @ToledoFB

Toledo Schedule & Results
 

  NIU-UT SERIES  
Overall: UT leads 34-17
In Toledo: UT leads 20-8
In DeKalb: UT leads 13-9
In Chicago: UT leads 1-0
In MAC Games: UT leads 23-14
Streak: UT, 2
First Meeting: Nov. 11, 1967; UT 35, NIU 0 (A)
Last Meeting: Sept. 30, 2023; UT 35, NIU 33 (A)
 

  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  
TV: NIU-TOLEDO ON ESPN+
  • The NIU-Toledo game will be streamed on ESPN+, accessible via the ESPN App available on both iOS and Android devices, desktop and TV-connected devices (e.g. Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV).
  • Subscriptions to ESPN+ are available on both a monthly and annual basis and can be used on up to five streaming devices simultaneously.
  • Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (color analyst) will be on the call for ESPN+ Saturday.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK
  • The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the Toledo game begins 30 minutes before kickoff, at 2 p.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB in DeKalb.
  • Hear the broadcast on mobile devices via the free NIU Huskies mobile app, on TuneIn, or stream online on 949wdkb.com. 
  • Longtime Huskie Sports Network sideline reporter Andy Garcia is making his NIU play-by-play debut in 2024 in his new role as "Voice of the Huskies" while analyst Mark Lindo is in his 40th consecutive season calling NIU football. Terry Bonadonna is in his first year as the sideline reporter.

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW
  • Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show every Wednesday throughout September and October at Noon at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).
  • Hear the show live on 94-9 WDKB, on the NIU Huskies app and on TuneIn, or stream on 949wdkb.com.
  • Host Andy Garcia interviews NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock each week, along with Huskie players and special guests. 

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE
  • New host Terry Bonadonna talks NIU football, basketball and more with the Huskie head coaches and administrators, including a weekly visit during football season from head coach Thomas Hammock. Get all the latest news and updates in this fast-paced show.
  • Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics Official 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.

  NOTING NIU  

HUSKIES COME HOME: NIU plays the fourth of its six home games Saturday when Toledo comes to Huskie Stadium for the 52nd all-time meeting as the teams play for the 28th consecutive season. Kickoff time for NIU's 117th Homecoming game is at 2:30 p.m. (CT). 

SERIES HISTORY: Toledo has won 34 of the 51 games played in the all-time series with NIU, and are 13-9 all-time versus the Huskies in DeKalb. NIU won five straight games over the Rockets in Huskie Stadium from 2008-2018 (not including the 2016 contest in Chicago), but the Rockets have now won two straight in DeKalb.  Toledo won 15 of the first 21 series games between 1967-89, then defeated NIU 11 times between 1990-2004. Since 2005, the Huskies are 11-6 against the Rockets, including a six-game winning streak from 2010-2015. NIU and Toledo have played every year since 1997.      

SLIM MARGIN: In 13 games played between NIU and Toledo since the classic 63-60 Huskie win in 2011 that spawned #MACtion, the point differential between the teams is exactly eight points. The Huskies, who have won eight of the last 13 games, have scored a total of 409 points in those games, while Toledo has totaled 401. There have been eight one-score games and five games decided by five points or less, including the 2023 contest, a 35-33 UT victory.     

HUSKIE HOMECOMING HISTORY: NIU caps off a full week of Homecoming activities Saturday with its 117th Homecoming game. The Huskies' annual celebration dates back to an alumni football game played Oct. 10, 1903. NIU's Homecoming is the oldest major college alumni gathering in the state and the Huskies have one of the longest celebrated Homecoming traditions in the country. The Huskies are 75-31-10 all time in their Homecoming football games and have won 22 of their last 25 games in front of the alums. NIU is 41-15-2 in Homecoming football games in Huskie Stadium, including a 23-13 win over Ohio last year.

HALL OF FAMERS: In addition to welcoming alumni back to campus for Homecoming, NIU is celebrating Hall of Fame Weekend with seven individuals inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in ceremonies Friday night on campus. The 2024 class includes two of the Huskies' all-time gridiron greats in two-time All-American and Heisman finalist Jordan Lynch, and 2013 All-American defensive back, NFL first round draft choice and current Houston Texan Jimmie Ward. 

LAST WEEK: With the NIU defense pitching a shutout after Bowling Green scored a touchdown on its first drive, the Huskies - behind back-up quarterback Josh Holst - put up 11 points in the fourth quarter to earn a 17-7 road win last Saturday. Holst ran for a 22-yard score and Kanon Woodill made three field goals to account for the Huskie scoring, while Gavin Williams ran for 102 yards on 29 carries. NIU defensive linemen sacked Bowling Green quarterbacks six times, led by Skyler Gill-Howard's two sacks, and the Huskies won the turnover battle, 2-0.   

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: In 38 seasons as a member of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies are 166-119-2 all-time. The Huskies own a winning percentage of .638 (136-77) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 79-33 (.705) against the MAC with three undefeated campaigns, two one-loss seasons and eight division championships, including a run of six-straight (2010-15). NIU originally competed in the MAC from 1975-85.

HOME SWEET HOME: NIU has won nearly 70 percent of its games played in Huskie Stadium since 2003 with an 83-38 (.686) record at home in 21-plus seasons. During that stretch, the Huskies have had 15 winning records at home and five undefeated seasons in DeKalb (2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013). NIU's all-time record at Huskie Stadium is 185-118-2 for a .610 all-time winning percentage.

AT HOME IN THE MAC: In 38 seasons of MAC play dating back to 1975, NIU is 89-54-1 (.621) all-time at home in league games, including a 71-34 (.676) mark in Huskie Stadium versus league opponents since rejoining the league in 1997.  In 55 MAC home games since 2009, the Huskies are 43-17 (.717). 

GAME CAPTAINS: NIU is naming its captains on a game-by-game basis in 2024. Captains for the Bowling Green game are defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard, offensive lineman J.J. Lippe, fullback Brock Lampe, defensive end Pierce Oppong and wide receiver Andrew McElroy.

CLOSE CALLS: Three of NIU's six games this season have been decided by one score or less with a two point win at Notre Dame, a three-point loss in overtime to Buffalo and the seven-point decision at NC State. Eight of NIU's 13 games a year ago, including the Camellia Bowl win, were within that margin, a trend at NIU that predates Thomas Hammock's tenure as head coach. Since the start of the 2016 season, NIU leads the FBS in one-score games played, ahead of Texas (54) and Eastern Michigan (53).  

One-Score Record Since 2015
1.     NIU    58 (28-30)
2.     Texas    54 (24-30)
3.     Eastern Michigan    53 (27-26)
4.     North Carolina    50 (21-29) 
T5.     Iowa State    49 (19-30)
T5.     Nebraska    49 (14-35)
7.     Oklahoma State    48 (31-17)
T8.     Tulsa    47 (21-26)
T8.     Kansas State    47 (23-24)
10.     Navy    46 (23-23)

In 63 games under Thomas Hammock since 2019, 37 games, including 24 MAC contests have been decided by one score. Included in those 37 games are four overtime games. 

SENIOR-LADEN: After fielding one of the youngest teams in the country in 2021, NIU's 2024 roster includes 32 seniors, which ranks tied for sixth-most nationally (see chart). Even more rare is the fact that of those 32 seniors, 20 have played their entire careers at NIU, a number that ranks third in the nation behind only Stanford and Navy.

Seniors Who Have Played Entire Career at Same School (min. 15)
    Stanford - 23
    Navy - 23
    NIU - 20
    Bowling Green - 17
    Iowa - 17
    Oklahoma State - 16
    Eastern Michigan - 15

CLASS BREAKDOWN: While the senior class is one of the largest in college football, NIU's current 121-person 2024 roster also includes 46 players - 39 true freshmen - who are in their first year as Huskies. The breakdown of players by year with the program:
Year 6 - 4
Year 5 - 12
Year 4 - 17
Year 3 - 17
Year 2 - 27
Year 1 - 46

CONSISTENCY: With Gavin Williams replacing Antario Brown at running back and Demond Taylor Jr. getting his first start of the year at defensive tackle versus Bowling Green, 15 players have started all six of NIU's games this season, including nine on defense and six on offense. Offensively, the entire offensive line and quarterback Ethan Hampton have started every game with 11 different tight ends, wide receivers and running backs earning at least one start. Defensively, NIU's five defensive backs, two linebackers and two defensive ends have started every game with the only changes at defensive tackle; Devonte O'Malley and Cade Haberman have each made five starts.  

IN OT: NIU is 10-6 in overtime games following the Huskies' 23-20 OT loss to Buffalo on September 21. NIU has now played an overtime game in four consecutive seasons. Prior to the Buffalo game, the Huskies had won five of their last six overtime contests. The game was NIU's first overtime game at home since 2017 and its first home overtime loss since Oct. 15, 2016 in a three OT affair versus Central Michigan.  

ON THE OFFENSE

BACK-TO-BACK: NIU senior running back Gavin Williams posted his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game last week at Bowling Green with 102 yards on a career high 29 carries, one week after rushing for 125 yards on 19 carries versus UMass. Williams, a redshirt senior who is in his second season at NIU, has taken over the team lead in rushing with 409 yards on 89 carries, six carries and 79 yards away from his 2023 totals.

NEXT MAN UP: Redshirt freshman Josh Holst stepped in for Ethan Hampton in the second quarter of the Huskies' game at Bowling Green last week after the NIU starter went out of the game due to injury. Holst, who had played one series the previous week versus UMass and saw action in the season opener versus Western Illinois, completed 10-of-14 passes for 89 yards and ran eight times for 47 yards, leading NIU to three scoring drives and recording the lone Huskie touchdown of the game on a 22-yard run. A walk-on from Marengo, Illinois, Holst was in a three-way battle for the starting job entering fall camp after impressing while leading the NIU "compete" team last year and during a strong spring.  

IN A RUSH: The Huskies finished the UMass game with 367 yards on 54 carries, averaged 6.8 yards per rush and threw just two passes after the 9:15 mark of the second quarter. It was the most rushing yards for NIU since the 2023 Akron game (35-380) and the seventh time NIU has run for 300 or more yards under head coach Thomas Hammock. Three Huskies - running backs Gavin Williams (125) and Jaylen Poe (98) and quarterback Ethan Hampton (64) - gained at least 60 yards, the first time that has happened since Nov. 23, 2021. 

GOOD ON THIRD: NIU is converting 48.4 percent of its third downs this year to lead the MAC and rank 23rd nationally. After converting on 9-of-11 third downs versus UMass, the Huskies started the game at Bowling Green by converting just one of its first nine third downs to start the game. However, the Huskies went 5-of-8 on third down in the second half, including 4-of-5 on its two scoring drives with completions of 8, 16 and 23 yards on those drives.  

MOVING ON UP: Antario Brown moved into the Huskies' all-time Top 10 for rushing yards during the UMass game, and now has 2,924 for his NIU career. With 77 yards, he will become the ninth 3,000-yard rusher in school history. The senior ranks eighth among active FBS backs in career rushing yards. Brown has 24 career rushing touchdowns and needs two rushing TDs to move past Thomas Hammock into 10th place on the NIU career list.

WORKHORSE: Senior running back Antario Brown recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of 2024 - and the ninth of his NIU career - with 114 yards on 28 carries to lead the Huskie offense at NC State. Brown accounted for all but six of the Huskies' net 120 rushing yards in the game and added an 11-yard reception. His 28 carries were a career high.

CHEESEHEADS: NIU's five 2024 starting offensive linemen - seniors J.J. Lippe (Milwaukee), Logan Zschernitz (Spencer), Evan Buss (Kimberly) and John Champe (Brookfield) plus redshirt sophomore Evan Malcore (Sun Prairie) - all hail from Wisconsin, carrying on a long tradition of Huskie linemen from the badger state. The tradition includes names like Manitowoc native Doug Free (2003-06), a 10-year pro for the Dallas Cowboys (2007-16) and Green Bay product and current NFL OL Max Scharping (2014-18). Overall, eight of the 10 offensive linemen on the Huskie two-deep are Wisconsinites.

THEY'VE BEEN AROUND: NIU's five starting offensive linemen have a combined 202 games of experience (all as Huskies) with 144 starts. The group includes a pair of sixth-year Huskies in J.J. Lippe and Logan Zschernitz, fifth-year players John Champe and Evan Buss and the "youngster" Evan Malcore, in his third season at NIU. Champe leads all NIU offensive players in games played with 51, while Lippe's 40 career starts are first on the team. NIU leads the MAC in fewest sacks allowed with seven given up in the Huskies' six games.  The offensive line is coached by the newest member of the coaching staff, Luke Meadows, who is in his first season at NIU.

Player - Games Played/Games Started
John Champe - 51/34
J.J. Lippe - 45/40
Logan Zschernitz - 45/39
Evan Buss - 42/18
Evan Malcore - 19/13
Total - 202/144

STEPPING UP: Receivers Cam Thompson and Andrew McElroy have become valuable assets to the NIU offense in 2024. Thompson, a redshirt sophomore who transferred to NIU prior to the 2023 season, and made a pair of catches for 10 yards in limited action a year ago, is third on the team with 12 receptions, while his two touchdown catches lead NIU. McElroy is new to the roster this year after transferring from St. Thomas. He has made 12 of his 14 catches in the last four games for 141 yards and led NIU with five grabs for 47 yards at Bowling Green. His season-long 42-yard catch to the NC State six yard line set up the Huskies' second touchdown late in the second quarter.  

STARTING STRONG: After winning the starting quarterback job during fall camp, redshirt junior Ethan Hampton opened the season with a near perfect passing day versus Western Illinois to earn MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Hampton completed 18-of-20 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns, setting a single game school record for single game passing efficiency rating (310.3) and becoming just the seventh NIU QB to throw five or more touchdown passes in a game. He followed that performance by engineering NIU's historic victory over Notre Dame with 198 passing and 21 rushing yards, a passing TD and no interceptions to earn a spot on the Davey O'Brien Great 8 list. 

YARDS AND YARDS: NIU's 706 yards of total offense versus Western Illinois were the third-most in a single game in school history, and the most since a 710-yard outburst against Ball State on Nov. 15, 2011 in a 41-38 Huskie win. 

SPECIAL INTEREST

UNCOMMON: NIU pulled off an uncommon feat on Saturday at Bowling Green when long snapper Isaac Hatfield scored the first points of his career by catching a pass from tight end Grayson Barnes on a two-point conversion attempt, giving the Huskies a 14-7 lead to start the fourth quarter. Hatfield joins Hunter Higham of Hawai'i, who caught a two-point conversion pass versus Northern Iowa on September 21, as the only FBS long snappers to score this season. 

THEY COME IN THREES: NIU kicker Kanon Woodill kicked three field goals - of 46, 21 and 27 yards - to account for nine of the Huskies' 17 points in the win over Bowling Green. The Army ROTC cadet now has made three field goals in a game twice this season and four times in his career. At Notre Dame, Woodill made threes from 42 and 21 yards to give NIU a 13-7 halftime lead, then calmly booted the game-winning 35-yard kick with 31 seconds to play in the 16-14 win. Woodill's other three field goal games were last year versus Ohio and in 2021 at Central Michigan, when he also kicked the game-winner in the final minute.

BIG RETURN: Redshirt freshman Jaylen Poe recorded the longest kickoff return by a Huskie since 2021 with an 89-yard return to the four-yard line versus UMass to earn a spot on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll this week. The play - the 17th longest kickoff return in school history - set up the Huskies' game-sealing score and was the longest for NIU in three seasons, since Trayvon Rudolph scored on a 100-yard kickoff return versus Bowling Green on October 16, 2021.  

UPPING THE AVERAGE: Prior to Poe's 89-yard return, NIU had a grand total of two kickoff return yards on the year to rank 132nd - dead last - in the FBS. Those came on a critical play by Gavin Williams on the opening kickoff at Notre Dame when he covered the ball that didn't make it to the end zone. Following Poe's return, the Huskies now rank first in the country in kickoff returns with an average of 45.50 yards per return.  

LONG DISTANCE: NIU kicker Kanon Woodill's 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter at NC State was the longest of the Huskie senior's career as he became the ninth player in school history to make a field goal of 50 yards or longer. Previously, Woodill's longest field goal was a 49-yard shot at Toledo in 2023. He is now 9-of-13 on three-pointers this year and 23-of-33 for his career. 

ON THE BLOCK: NIU defensive tackle Cade Haberman earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after making two of the biggest plays of the Notre Dame game on special teams. Haberman blocked field goals at the end of each half, including the 62-yard potential game-winner as time expired. He is the first Huskie to block two kicks in a game since Jalen McKie blocked a field goal attempt and a PAT at Nebraska in 2019. 

DETAILING THE DEFENSE

ELITE D: The Huskies' season defensive stats and national rankings have established NIU as an elite defense in 2024, boasting a No. 5 national ranking in total defense. NIU currently leads the MAC and is ranked in the Top 30 defenses in the FBS in six defensive categories, and is FIRST nationally in opponents' third down conversion percentage. Three of the NIU's five opponents have rushed for less than 100 yards; no team has gained more than 123 yards on the ground and the Huskies have given up just TEN touchdowns on defense through six games.  
 
Category Avg,/No. National Rank MAC Rank
Total Defense 253.7 5 1
Rushing Defense 96.3 18 2
3rd Down Conv. Defense  .205 1 1
Passing Yards Allowed 157.3 9 1
Scoring Defense 17.2 20 1
First Downs Defense 88 9 1
Pass Efficiency Defense 117.17 29 1

THIRD AND NO: NIU is holding opponents to a nation-leading 20.5 percent conversion rate on third downs. Bowling Green was 1-of-13 on third down last Saturday, the second time this season a NIU opponent was held to one conversion. On Sept. 28, NC State went just 1-of-11 versus NIU.  Only one team - UMass - has converted more than three times on third down against the Huskies this season. 

STINGY: NIU has held 15 of its last 19 opponents - and every team in 2024 -  to 24 points or less, including a season-low seven by Bowling Green with Notre Dame held to 14. In 11 of those 15 games, NIU foes scored 20 points or fewer. Over the last nine games, only Kent State scored more than 24 points on NIU in a 37-27 Huskie win in the 2023 regular season finale.

RUSHING TRENDS: NIU opponents have been held to 150 or less yards on the ground 14 times in the last 19 games and the Huskies are 11-3 in those games, including an 8-0 mark when opponents rush for 101-150 yards. NIU is 0-5 when giving up more than 151 yards on the ground. Buffalo and NC State became the second and third teams in the last two seasons to defeat NIU while rushing for less than 150 yards as they totaled 77 and 63 yards on the ground, respectively.

SACK PARTY: The Huskies recorded a season high six sacks Saturday at Bowling Green with all six by NIU defensive linemen, led by Skyler Gill-Howard's career best two. Roy Williams' sack and caused fumble was recovered by Jalonnie Williams for a Huskie turnover. Jalonnie Williams added a sack of his own, his first of the year, with Cade Haberman and Devonte O'Malley each contributing a sack as well. The last time the Huskies had at least six sacks in a game was on Nov. 9, 2022 versus Western Michigan in a 24-21 NIU win.

IMPACT PLAYER: Former walk-on Skyler Gill-Howard, who transferred to NIU from Upper Iowa prior to the 2022 season, had a pair of sacks, three tackles for loss and led the Huskies with seven tackles, six solo Saturday at Bowling Green. He was named the MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. His sack on third and goal from the NIU 2 in the third quarter forced BG to try a field goal that was missed. His TFL on third down forced the Falcons to punt from its end zone.  

SHUT DOWN: After Bowling Green gained 64 yards on its first two plays from scrimmage last week, the Falcons managed just 141 yards on 54 plays the remainder of the game for an average of 2.6 yards per play. 

COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL: The Huskie offense's ability to hold onto the ball - NIU is sixth in the country in time of possession at 33:55 minutes per game - has led to less time on the field for the defense. NIU is tied with Oregon State for third in the country for fewest plays on defense per game with an average of 56.7. Kentucky leads the FBS with 49.5 plays per game with Missouri second at 54.8.   

FORCE IN THE MIDDLE: Senior defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley, who was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following the Notre Dame game, has 17.5 career quarterback sacks to rank eighth at NIU all-time. At Notre Dame, he recorded two sacks for minus 22 yards, three tackles for loss, four solo stops and a forced fumble, becoming the first Huskie to win the Nagurski weekly award since eventual NFL first round draft choice Larry English in 2007. 

SACK SPECIALIST: A third down pass rushing specialist who had a pair of sacks in 13 games last year, junior Nevaeh Sanders leads the Huskies in sacks with 4.5 in 2024. After collecting three sacks and a forced fumble versus Buffalo, becoming the first Huskie since 2018 (Sutton Smith vs. Western Michigan) to record three sacks in a game, Sanders added 1.5 sacks versus UMass.

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: NC State gained just 63 rushing yards on 27 carries, the fewest rushing yards by a Huskie opponent since Western Michigan managed just 24 yards on Nov. 14, 2023. NC State was 1-of-11 on third downs and punted eight times in the game. The last NIU opponent to gain fewer yards than NCSU's 171 was Akron, which totaled 145 yards on Oct. 26, 2019 in a 49-0 NIU win. 

BACK-TO-BACK: NIU held both Buffalo and NC State to less than 200 yards of total offense, the first time in 20 seasons a Huskie team held back-to-back opponents to less than 200 yards. NC State gained just 171 yards, one week after Buffalo totaled only 184 yards. In 2005, the Huskies gave up 174 yards to Eastern Michigan on Oct. 15 and followed that up by holding Kent State to 195 yards on Oct. 22.

OF NOTE

ADDED TO THE BONEYARD: With its 16-14 victory over Notre Dame on September 7, NIU added its 19th Boneyard Win to its ledger. "Boneyard Wins" date back to 1983 and are defined as wins over teams from "power" leagues, as well as independents like Notre Dame and (formerly) BYU. NIU has added three bones to the yard in the last four seasons under Thomas Hammock. See page seven for the complete list of NIU's Boneyard Wins.

MADE HISTORY: NIU's win over fifth-ranked (AP Poll) Notre Dame team was its first victory over a Top 10 team in school history. The Huskies also became the first Mid-American Conference team to defeat a team ranked in the Top Five of a major poll. Prior to Sept. 7, NIU's last win over a ranked team was on Nov. 3, 2015, a 32-27 win over No. 20 Toledo. and its last win over a ranked non-conference foe was a 19-16 win over No. 21 Alabama on Sept. 20, 2003. The win was the Huskies' seventh all-time over a ranked opponent (in 41 games).

MOVING ON UP: With NIU's win at Notre Dame, Thomas Hammock passed Bill Mallory and Jerry Ippoliti for seventh place on the Huskies' all-time coaching wins chart and enters this week with 28 wins.  Hammock's 63 games coached since 2019 rank sixth all-time at NIU. He is the 23rd head coach in NIU's 123-year college football history. 

PULLING RANK: On September 8 following its win over Notre Dame, NIU entered the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since December 8, 2013 with a number 25 national ranking and 114 points. NIU climbed to No. 23 the next week after the Huskies' open date. This year marked the earliest in the season that NIU cracked the Top 25. NIU spent 11 consecutive weeks in at least one of the polls in 2013.

HUSKIE GRADS: There are 18 players on the Huskie roster who are already college graduates, including all four senior members of the starting offensive line, eight players listed as first team on the current NIU depth chart and another six on the two-deep. 

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: NIU offensive lineman J.J. Lippe has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Campbell Trophy. Lippe, who has become one of the top leaders on the Huskie team, has earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in business from NIU over the past five years. A member of the Captain's Council, the NIU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Marketing Student Advisory Board, he also found time to complete a pair of internships. 

NEXT: Following the Toledo game, NIU returns to heads back out on the MAC road for three of its last five regular season games as the Huskies take on Ball State in the Battle for the Bronze Stalk on Saturday, October 26 in Muncie. Following the Ball State game, NIU heads into the weeknight #MACtion portion of the schedule beginning Wednesday, November 6 at Western Michigan. 









 
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