The Huskies host the Chippewas in Jim McElwain’s final game
The Northern Illinois Huskies take on the Central Michigan Chippewas in the final game of the MAC season this Saturday afternoon.
It will also be the final game for Central Michigan (4-7. 2-5 MAC) head coach, Jim McElwain, who announced on November 20th that he was retiring from coaching at the season’s end to become the special assitant to CMU’s athletic director, Amy Folan. The Chips will look to end his career with a two game winning streak, as they were able to take down WMU, 16-14, last week.
Meanwhile, the NIU Huskies (6-5, 3-4 MAC) will look to bounce back from a 20-9 loss to Miami last week and assure themselves of a bowl bid with their seventh win of the season.
Game Notes
- Time and date: Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois
- TV options: CBS Sports Network
- Gambling considerations: NIU (-12.5), with an over/under of 43.5.
- All-time series: This will be the 60th time the schools have played. CMU holds a 33-25-1 record over the Huskies and have won eight of the last ten meetings, including the last two.
Getting to Know the Chippewas
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The Chippewas come in having lost five of their last six game, with their lone win coming last week against in-state rival Western Michigan.
They have struggled offensively this season, averaging 23.5 points (102nd in the FBS) and 344.0 yards per game (104th). They have especially had issues passing the ball, ranking last in the MAC and in the bottom 12 teams in the NCAA, averaging just 169.9 yards per game through the air. Injuries have played a big role in that. Starting quarterback, Joe Labas, hasn’t played since October 12th, Bert Emanuel Jr. hasn’t played since October 19th, Tyler Jefferson came in and struggled, and now, CMU has used Jadyn Glasser for the past few weeks.
Glasser has now played in the last three games, starting the last two, and has gone 29/51 (569.9%) for 347 yards but has yet to throw a touchdown pass. He has, however, thrown three interceptions and been sacked seven times.
Wide receiver Chris Parker will be his main target, if he is healthy. Parker, who missed last week’s game, is questionable for this game but leads the team in receptions (29), yards (360), and touchdowns (3). However, right behind him is Solomon Davis, who has caught 18 passes for 341 yards and two scores. With the injuries to Evan Boyd and possibly Parker, Jesse Prewitt III will be another target for Glasser. Prewitt has 149 yards and 18 receptions on the year.
On the ground expect a heavy dose of Marion Lukes. The senior half back is seventh in the MAC with 710 rushing yards and five touchdowns on his 148 carries. But B.J. Harris will also get touches. Harris has just shy of 400 yards (398) and three TDs on his 84 carries.
Defensively Central is giving up 366.5 yards (t-66th) and 30.2 points (t-103rd) per game. Their secondary has been solid, allowing 191.6 passing yards per game, which ranks 38th nationally, near the top third of all teams. Their run defense, however, is near the bottom quarter of FBS teams, ranking 97th, and allowing 170.4 yards per game.
Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski has been all over the field and has 32 more tackles than the next Chippewa defender. Kwiatkowski has netted 88 stops this season and also leads the team in tackles for loss, with 13, and has an interception – CMU has just TWO picks on the season, ranking them dead last in the NCAA in interceptions.
While the team might not come away with picks, defensive backs Caleb Spann, Da’Raun McKinney, and Donte Kent have been great at breaking up passes. Spann is second on the team with 55 tackles and also has five pass break ups, four TFL, and 1.5 sacks. McKinney leads the team with 11 pass break ups and has added 49 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and sack while Kent has 47 stops and seven break ups.
CMU has been able to get pressure on quarterbacks this season, tallying 30 sacks on the year – tied for 23rd best in the NCAA. Jason Williams leads the way for the Chips with 5.5 sacks while Michael Heldman has four.
Getting to Know the Huskies
Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images
This season has been all about Northern’s defense. The Huskies are eighth in the nation in total defense, allowing just 288.0 yards per game, and are 18th in scoring defense, with opponents scoring 18.6 points per game. The 176.3 passing yards allowed is 12th best in the nation and their 111.7 rushing yards allowed is 23rd best in the FBS.
They are also the best defense in the NCAA on third downs, allowing foes to convert just 25.9% of the time, and has only allowed teams to get a combined 180 first downs on the season, which is twelfth best in the NCAA. Northern is also tied for 14th in the FBS in sacks, with 32 – just a few more than CMU.
Leading the charge up front are Devonte O’Malley and Roy Williams. O’Malley now has at least half a sack in six of the last seven games and eight total sacks on the season, which is second in the MAC and tied for 21st in the NCAA. In addition to that, he has 34 tackles, 9.5 TFL, a team-leading four quarterback hurries, and forced and recovered a fumble. Williams has added 5.5 sacks in his 35 tackles, with two pass break ups, a quarterback hurry, and a forced fumble.
Linebackers Christian Fuhrman and Jaden Dolphin lead the team in tackles, both having 51 total stops. Both have an interception as well but Fuhrman has added 3.5 TFL and a pass break up to Dolphin’s 2.5 TFL and two pass break ups.
While the Huskies’ defense has been one of the nation’s best this season, NIU’s offense has been an enigma and one of the nation’s worst. Some days they can bust out 42 points and run all over a strong team…other days, they struggle to get past midfield, let alone score. They are averaging 24.5 points per game (98th) and 388.1 yards per game (68th), with 176.7 yards passing per game (119th) and a more impressive 211.4 rushing yards per game (15th in the NCAA).
The rushing attack will rely on Gavin Williams and Telly Johnson if Antario Brown is still hurt. If Brown is back, that would make this team even more dangerous on the ground. Brown has missed the last ten quarters of football and is now second on the team with 567 yards and four TDs on 115 carries. Williams and Johnson will split carries, with Williams having a team-leading 129 rushes and 676 yards to go along with three scores. Johnson, who has come on since the Brown injury, now has 340 yards and three TDs on 65 carries.
Quarterback Ethan Hampton has passed for 1431 yards and has 12 touchdowns to six interceptions on the season. But the Huskies passing attack has been very limited at best, as they are completing just 57.4% of their throws and 10.92 yards per completion, which is second worst in the MAC and 114th in the NCAA.
NIU has four main receivers – Cam Thompson, Trayvon Rudolph, Andrew McElroy, and tight end Grayson Barnes. Thompson leads the team with 380 yards and three touchdowns on his 26 catches, while Rudolph is right behind him with 295 yards and a score on his 28 grabs. Barnes and McElroy also have over 200 yards, with Barnes netting 276 and two TDs on 24 receptions and McElroy having 222 yards on 22 receptions.
Special teams have been an issue for NIU this season, with the Huskies having seven kicks blocked, second most in the NCAA. Kicker Kanon Woodill has gone just 14/21 on field goal attempts and 25/28 on PATs. They’re also fourth worst in the NCAA, and worst in MAC, in punting, averaging just 37.9 yards per boot.
Prediction
In theory, the Huskies should come away with the win. NIU’s defense has been smothering this season and goes up against a struggling offense. Meanwhile, the Chips porous run defense is going up against one of the best ground games in college football.
However, the Huskies have a tendency to play slow, methodical football which keeps the score close, no matter who they’re facing. If the Huskies don’t hurt themselves with turnovers, NIU wins…but they don’t cover the spread.
CMU – 17
NIU 24