NIU set to battle Fresno State in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl rematch

The NIU football team will take a trip to Boise to face Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 23.

It’s a rematch of the 2010 game, then the Humanitarian Bowl, which the Huskies won 40-17. This year will be the sixth meeting between the schools, with NIU leading the all-time series 3-2. The teams played twice in the 1970s and twice in the 1990s.

The Bulldogs went 6-6 in the Mountain West Conference this year, the same conference that has been reported to have an interest in adding football-only schools including potentially NIU.

It’s the second straight season in a bowl game for the Huskies (7-5). They beat Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl 21-19 last year, picking up their first bowl win since the 2011 season.

This will be their third bowl appearance under sixth-year head coach Thomas Hammock. They lost the 2021 Cure Bowl 47-41 to Coastal Carolina after winning the MAC.

“There is no such thing as a bad bowl, and I have heard nothing but great things about Boise and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl,” Hammock said “What a great reward for the hard work and dedication the players and coaches have put in all year long. We love the date of the game, which gives us time to develop our younger players during these bowl practices and then allows everyone to enjoy the holidays. Playing a team we haven’t seen before [during my tenure] is always exciting, and Fresno State will present a great challenge. Our players and staff are determined to do everything we can to bring a bowl trophy home for the second year in a row.”

The Huskies pulled off one of college football’s biggest upsets earlier this season, winning 16-14 at Notre Dame. The Irish earned a spot in the playoff, earning the No. 7 seed and a home game against No. 10 Indiana.

NIU dropped its next two games to Buffalo (8-4) and NC State (6-6). The Huskies won three of their final four games to end the season.

The Huskies also lost a trio of key players to the transfer portal – starting quarterback Ethan Hampton, wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph and defensive lineman Ray Thomas were among the players who declared.

Hammock said those players still could suit up for the Huskies, although generally players who declare for the portal don’t play anymore for their soon-to-be former teams.

If Hampton is indeed out for the bowl game, quarterback Josh Holst is likely to get the start. The redshirt freshman from Marengo filled in for Hampton at times this year. He completed 58% of his passes for 411 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He also ran 33 times for 165 yards and a score.

Antario Brown’s status also is unknown for the game. The senior running back was injured against Western Michigan. He has run for 567 yards in eight games. Telly Johnson Jr. has run for 424 yards in five games since replacing him, scoring four times as a true freshman.