Northern Illinois will make its 21st all-time bowl appearance and 16th as an FBS team Monday against Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
It’s the Huskies’ 15th bowl game since 2003, more than any other Mid-American Conference team in that span.
The Huskies and Bulldogs previously played in this game in 2010, when it was called the Humanitarian Bowl, and NIU won 40-17 to complete an 11-3 season.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Northern Illinois (7-5) vs. Fresno State (6-6)
- Time/TV: 1:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN.
- Site: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho.
- Line: NIU by 1½.
- Series: NIU leads 3-2.
Key matchup
NIU passing game vs. Fresno State pass defense
The Huskies are 118th in the FBS in passing, averaging 176.1 yards per game through the air. The Bulldogs allow 215.9 passing yards per game, which ranks 64th.
The matchups don’t favor Fresno State’s offense, which has the No. 123 FBS rushing attack (98.6 ypg) and will be up against the No. 19 run defense. NIU allows 112.1 yards per game on the ground.
Last game
NIU: Ethan Hampton threw for 169 yards on 19-of-29 passing (65.5%) and ran for a touchdown in a 24-16 victory over Central Michigan. Telly Johnson Jr. carried 20 times for 84 yards and a touchdown, and Trayvon Rudolph had nine receptions for 97 yards.
Fresno State: The Bulldogs lost 20-13 to UCLA. Mikey Keene completed 30 of 43 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. Bryson Donelson carried six times for 41 yards and had nine receptions for 44 yards.
Players to watch
NIU: Hampton has 1,600 passing yards (145.5 per game), completing 58.5% of his passes (144 of 246) with 12 TDs and six interceptions. He also has rushed for 129 yards and two TDs. … Gavin Williams has 135 carries for 741 yards (61.8 per game) and four TDs plus 22 catches for 138 yards and a score. … Rudolph has 392 yards (39.2 per game) on 37 catches with one TD.
Fresno State: Keene has 2,887 passing yards (240.6 per game), completing 70.2% of his passes (276 of 393) with 18 TDs and 11 interceptions. … Elijah Gilliam has 121 carries for 466 yards (38.8 per game) and eight TDs plus 29 catches for 190 yards. … Mac Dalena has 58 receptions for 941 yards (78.4 per game) and eight TDs.
Facts & figures
NIU has outscored opponents by 5.9 points per game, Fresno State by two per game. … The Huskies rank in the top 25 nationally in both rushing offense (16th, 207.3 ypg) and rushing defense (19th, 112.1 ypg). … Fresno State is 45th in the country in passing with 244.7 yards per game.