The Northern Illinois University football program experienced a bit of a recovery last season after a 5-7 record in 2016 and missing a bowl game.
The Huskies ended 8-5 overall with an appearance in the Quick Lane Bowl Game in Detroit against Duke last season.
If Northern Illinois corrals eight victories this season, a tip of the hat may be in order for head coach Rod Carey and Company. The Huskies’ schedule this year is far more of a challenge than what the 2017 squad faced.
It’s nice to bring a name team to DeKalb. Utah of the Pac-12 fits the description. The Utes will be at Huskie Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 8.
Northern Illinois will open the season at Iowa Saturday, Sept. 1, with Utah and Central Michigan to follow. Then comes a game at Florida State Saturday, Sept. 22. A visit to Tallahassee, Fla. will help the bottom line, but, victory is seldom part of the package.
Three games in 12 days will include Northern Illinois at Brigham Young, Saturday, Oct. 27, then at Akron Thursday, Nov. 1, and follow with a home game against Toledo Wednesday, Nov. 7.
The Huskies are not devoid of talent. Seventeen starters, nine on offense and six on defense return, plus two specialists. On offense, tackle Max Scharping, second-team all-America in 2017, should provide plenty of support for sophomore quarterback Marcus Childers who started eight games last season.
Junior Sutton Smith is the headliner on defense. Smith earned all-America honors last season for his play as a defensive end. Smith opened strong against Boston College, never let up, and ended with 43 solo tackles for the season.
A member of the MAC West, the Huskies have seen divisional foes Western Michigan and Toledo capture the conference championships the past two seasons.
Consensus has the Huskies good enough to make it to bowl game this season, however, to match last season’s eight victories will be a challenge, especially, in light of a demanding schedule.
Northern Illinois opened last season at home with a 23-20 loss to Atlantic Coast Conference member Boston College and finished up falling to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Duke, 36-14, in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Huskies had six home games in 2017. This time only five home games are on the docket for Northern Illinois.
It never hurts to have a FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) team on the schedule. Not a guaranteed victory, but, a game Northern Illinois figures to win. For Northern Illinois last Fall it was Eastern Illinois and the Huskies won, 38-10. No FCS team is on tap for Northern Illinois this season!
In 2017, Northern Illinois’ first Mid-American Conference game was game five. This Fall it’s game No. 3, September 15 when always troublesome Central Michigan plays in DeKalb.