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DeKALB – The NIU football team will look to win back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2010 and 2011 when the Huskies face Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a rematch of the 2010 game in Boise.
NIU (7-5) won the 2010 game, then called the Humanitarian Bowl, 40-17 against the Bulldogs (6-6). The Huskies won the Camellia Bowl last year, 21-19 against Arkansas State, to win their first bowl game since 2011.
The Huskies are 5-10 in the modern bowl era and 3-2 all-time against Fresno State.
The game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Monday and will air on ESPN.
Here are three things to know heading into the contest.
The portal and the starting lineup
Even with high-profile losses to the transfer portal that include starting quarterback Ethan Hampton, wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph and defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard, coach Thomas Hammock said the Huskies are in good shape.
Every player expected to start Monday has started at some point in his career.
“All those guys that left, I wish them the best,” Hammock said. “But we got guys that started games that are jumping into returning starting roles. I’m excited about that.”
Hammock praised the coaching staff’s ability to evaluate talent. He said that’s why so many programs raid the Huskies and target their recruits.
Iowa State alone flipped two NIU commits just before the early signing period began.
“That’s why people are coming after our players,” Hammock said. “We will continue to evaluate at a high level and develop. We don’t look at recruiting stars or rankings. We trust our own evaluations and that’s on full display at the moment. We’ve got good young players who are anxious to play, and I’m excited to get those guys out there.”
Josh Holst will take over for Hampton at quarterback, having filled in for a start earlier this season. D-lineman Pierce Oppong and safety Jordan Hansen, who have both been with the program since 2020, return to starting roles.
“When guys are getting paid, what surprises you?” Hammock said. “We have to adjust and adapt and we’ve done that. The thing I told our guys is the guys who are stepping in have started games for us.”
Defense looking to finish off strong season
With Oppong and Hansen stepping in, the defense is poised to continue its strong season. The Huskies enter bowl season fifth nationally in total defense, allowing 281 yards per game.
They’re top 20 in seven other defensive categories, including second in third-down efficiency (26.5%), seventh in passing yards allowed (111.3) and fifth in first downs allowed (196).
“The defense is always going to look great,” said defensive lineman Devonte O’Malley, who is second in the country with an average of 0.67 sacks per game. “Whether I leave, whether someone else leaves, we always got guys. Next man up mentality, and they’ve been working with the one-on-ones down on the offensive side, giving them a great look. They’ve been going against great competition all year.”
Huskies search for back-to-back bowl wins
Hammock said with such a senior-leaden roster – 30 of them played for the team this year and 20 of them played their entire careers with the Huskies – he said he feels this group can break through with a bowl win.
“We want to go out the right way by honoring them by the way we play,” Hammock said. “But also I know what the bowl win last year, what it did for our team in the offseason. We want to carry that momentum into next season with a strong performance.”
Safety Nate Valcarcel said the team is grateful for the extra time together and they are focused on making the most of it.
“It’s a blessing to get another game after the regular season,” Valcarcel said. “I think it’s been over a decade since we won back-to-back bowl games, so that would be something extra.”