Football | September 23

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team caps back-to-back road games this weekend, heading south to take on the Georgia State Panthers. Saturday afternoon's game will be on ESPN+ at 1 p.m. CT and will close the non-conference slate for the Huskies.

Tune into 94-9 WDKB to hear Andy Garcia, Mark Lindo and Terry Bonadonna on the radio call.

The Huskies last played in Atlanta, Ga. during the 2021 season, knocking off Georgia Tech by score of 22-21. NIU and Georgia State will play for the first time. All-time NIU holds a 19-18 record against current Sun Belt teams.

Eleven players caught a pass in last week's game against Arizona, the first time NIU has had 11 or more players record a catch in a single game against an FBS opponent since Sept. 16, 2023 at Nebraska (13). The Huskies are coming off a season-high 341 yards of total offense and did not commit a turnover.

Redshirt junior quarterback Taron Dickens (Miami, Fla. / Western Carolina) completed 25 of 37 attempts for 228 passing yards and one touchdown pass. Redshirt senior wide receiver DeAree Rogers (Lexington, S.C. / Lenoir-Rhyne) finished with 10 catches for 68 yards, his second straight game with at least 10 receptions. 

NIU posted a season-high four sacks and forced an interception for the third consecutive game. Junior defensive end Jay'shon Thomas (Cataula, Ga. / Harris County) finished the game with five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Junior safety Kyon Conyers (Millville, N.J. / Long Island University) added seven tackles while linebackers Jack Murray (Brookfield, Wis. / Brookfield East) and Jashawn Nelson (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Wayne) each recorded their first sacks of the season.  

Three Huskies sit among the leaders in the FBS to this point of the season. Junior cornerback Yassine Falke (Indianapolis, Ind. / Marian University) is tied for second in the nation in interceptions with three. On the other side of the ball, Rogers ranks 10th in receptions per game (7.33) and Dickens sits 22nd in completion percentage (.718).

Georgia State comes into the game at 2-1 with wins over North Carolina A&T and Kennesaw State before dropping last week's contest against UCF, 44-30. The Panthers offense is averaging 40.0 points per game and 510.3 total yards through three games. Running backs Lanear McCrary Jr. and Qwantavius Wiggins pace an offense that ranks 21st in the FBS in rushing yards per game (239.0).

Linebackers Jaydon Hood and Coby Owens lead the team in tackles with 15 each. The Panthers rank top 25 in third down defense (.257, 18th) and passing yards allowed (157.0, 24th).

Next up for NIU is conference play as the Huskies host Air Force on Saturday, Oct. 10 for the first ever Mountain West game and will be broadcasted on CBS Sports Network. The 6:30 p.m. CT game will also be NIU's 119th Homecoming.