FCS #24 SIU heads to DeKalb after their big win against Austin Peay to take on a Northern Illinois team that just won at ACC Boston College.
Meet the Huskies:
Northern Illinois is coached by Thomas Hammock in his 5th year. It's been an up and down tenure so far for Hammock. He went 5-7 in his first year and then followed it up with an 0-6 season in 2020. In 2021, he led NIU to a 9-5 season and a MAC Championship but followed it up last year with a 3-9 season.
Going into this season, NIU was picked 3rd in the MAC West behind Toledo and Eastern Michigan.
At Quarterback for the Huskies is 6'3 Redshirt Senior Rocki Lombardi. Lombardi was a 3 star recruit out of West Des Moines, IA all the way back in the class of 2017 and started his collegiate career at Michigan State. Lombardi started 9 games at Michigan State threw for 1,902 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in his 22 career games. In his first year at Northern Illinois, Lombardi started all 13 games leading NIU to a MAC Championship. Lombardi passed for 2,597 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions that year and added 472 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns. Lombardi broke the NIU record for passing yards in a game with 532 passing yards against Central Michigan. Last season, Lombardi only started 4 games due to a knee injury. In NIU's win over Boston College last week, Lombardi went 13-29 for 165 yards and added a rushing touchdown.
NIU's leading Wide Receiver is 5'10 Redshirt Junior Trayvon Rudolph. Rudolph was a 3 star recruit out of Crete-Monee High School in Crete, IL. Rudolph had a breakout Sophomore season catching 51 passes for 892 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns as well as 113 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown landing him on the second team All-MAC for WR and Kickoff Return. Last season, Rudolph suffered a non-contact knee injury during training camp and missed the entire season. In NIU's win over Boston College last week, Rudolph caught 2 passes for 14 yards.
At Running Back, NIU is led by 5'10 Junior Antario Brown. Brown was a 3 star recruit out of Savannah, GA and committed Northern Illinois after de-committing from South Carolina. In his first 2 years at Northern Illinois, Brown combined for 1,227 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. In their win against Boston College last week, Brown rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown on 16 rushes and added a receiving touchdown on one catch. Also in the backfield for NIU is 5'11 Redshirt Junior Gavin Williams. Williams was a 3 star recruit out of Des Moines, IA and chose Iowa over offers from Iowa State, Michigan, and Nebraska. In 3 seasons at Iowa, Williams played 26 games and rushed for 471 yards on 116 carries. In the win over Boston College last week, Williams rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries leading the team in rushing yards.
On the defensive side, the Huskies returned 6'2 Junior Defensive Tackle Devonte O'Malley. O'Malley was 2nd on the Huskies in sacks last year with 5 and was named to the All-MVC second team by coaches and was selected as Northern Illinois Defensive Player of the Year.
Weather:
Massey Ratings:
Massey Ratings has NIU winning 31-28 and gives the Huskies a 53% chance of winning.
Links:
HC Nick Hill Press Conference 9/4
The NIU message board is a good read. Quite a bit of respect for Hill’s program. Most of their fans acknowledge this will be a tough game for them.
This a little off-topic but does anyone have links to buy tickets in the SIU section(s) and to the Alumni tailgate?
This a little off-topic but does anyone have links to buy tickets in the SIU section(s) and to the Alumni tailgate?
Tailgate:
Thanks.
I watched most of the NIU-Boston College game on Saturday. I think NIU is beatable -- didn't see a lot of explosive playmakers for them -- but they are a physical team with a veteran QB. As with a lot of games against FBS opponents, it will probably largely come down to holding up at the lines of scrimmage over the course of four quarters. They like to pound away on the ground so could be a lower-possession type game.
I'd expect NIU to have a nice crowd for their home opener, coming off a good win and with what looks like a really nice forecast. Should be a fun atmosphere there with a bunch of Saluki fans in the stadium as well.
Saluki Royalty Podcast with RB Kayleb Wagner:
NIU HC Thomas Hammock’s press conference:
https://www.youtube.com/live/R6JuTIOnygk?si=JccTS7v6EDVU64gw
Notably he says SIU’s skill position players might be better than they saw last week
The NIU coach is a plain spoken gent. He is all about execution and stressed fundamentals (ex: footwork of their QB). I really enjoyed his take on "momentum" as "...it's just one play to the next."
Looking fwd to a great game.
History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.
-Karl Marx
I watched most of the NIU-Boston College game on Saturday. I think NIU is beatable -- didn't see a lot of explosive playmakers for them -- but they are a physical team with a veteran QB. As with a lot of games against FBS opponents, it will probably largely come down to holding up at the lines of scrimmage over the course of four quarters. They like to pound away on the ground so could be a lower-possession type game.
I'd expect NIU to have a nice crowd for their home opener, coming off a good win and with what looks like a really nice forecast. Should be a fun atmosphere there with a bunch of Saluki fans in the stadium as well.
Agree. Watched the game. One thing to note. BC was extremely flat until the 4th qtr. Even the announcers mentioned it. They were down 21 - 7 at one point but managed to tie it with two TDs in the last 6 minutes to force OT.
BC also had 10 penalties to only 4 for NIU, handing NIU 93 free yards.
NIU has a tough, experienced O line and is physical. Didn't think much of their passing game - 14 of 30 and their running game only averaged 3.5 yds per carry. Ran 48 running plays to 30 passing plays, so they will run on us or die trying.
BC had pass plays of 16, 22, 30, 16, and 20. Their QB was only 13 of 28 though. No Doug Flutie.
NIU's 7th year QB is a cool one and very experienced. There's a rumor that he might take early Social Security this week and drop out. 😏
Anyone come across a spread for this game yet?
The one I saw was SIU +1.5. The number cruncher sites have it anywhere from 3 to 6 points. But definitely less than a touchdown.
We will win Saturday's contest vs the NIU Huskies for the following reasons.
1. Emotional letdown after beating ACC team in OT on the road, and coming home to play an FCS opponent.
2. SIU will be focused.
3. SIU is good, real good.
4. SIU will have more fans, and better tailgates.
5. SIU #1 fan, booster, and promotor Mr. Belleville Bobber himself will be there cheering on his beloved dawgs!
GO DAWGS!!!
LET'S GO !!!
It’s going to be a tough game for SIU. It always is when you play an FBS opponent. I think it’s a matter of keeping it close and giving yourself a chance at the end of the game. I’m guessing that’s going to hold true this Saturday.
CollegeFootballPoll.com has us 11.96 underdogs.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
