Such a turn of events, which helped . . .
Ohio is freshoff a big win in Buffalo, edging the Bulls 21-20 in overtime last week. Northern Illinois, on the other hand, is trying to bounce back from a 27-20 home-field loss to Ball State. The Huskies enjoyed a 17-3 halftime lead in that one, but it was nearly all-Cardinals in the second half as BSU scored 24 straight points before a late Northern field goal.
at
Ohio Bobcats (2-3, 1-0 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 12 -- 3:30 p.m. ET
Peden Stadium -- Athens, OH
ESPN+
Series: NIU leds 12-10
ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS
-- The Huskies have just one win to their credit this year. That came in Week One as NIU defeated Illinois State 24-10. A Loss to No. 13 Utah the next week was followed by losses at Nebraska and Vanderbilt before the setback against Ball State last week.
-- The Huskies are 10th (MAC) in scoring offense (22.2 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense (28.0 ppg).
-- While NIU has traditionally been a very strong running team, the Huskies are currently 11th among MAC teams in rushing (97.2 ypg). They re third, however, in pass offense (266.2 ypg).
-- Northern tops the MAC in pass defense (182.2 ypg) and third in pass defense efficiency.
-- NIU is fifth against the run, (180.2 ypg).
-- Senior Ross Bowers is completing 56.9 percent of his passes (103/181), good for 1,297 yards with 4 TDs and 4 interceptions.
He was good on 21 of 43 for 241 yards with one pick last week against Ball State.
-- Tight end Daniel Crawford has a team-high 19 receptions for 316 yards. Tyrice Richie owns 17 receptions for 223 yards and two scores.
-- After averaging 5.0 ypc in 2019 when he picked up 1,034 yards, junior Tre Harbison is thus far averaging 4.9 ypg and has two TDs.
-- LB Antonio Jones-Davis leads the team with 39 tackles.
-- Kicker John Richardson has converted 7 of 8 field goal attempts, including a season-long 46-yarder.
ABOUT OHIO
-- The Bobcats never led in regulation at Buffalo but never trailed by more than seven points. O'Shaan Allison't one-yard run at 10:30 of the fourth period pulled Ohio even at 14-all. Both teams missed field goal attempts in regulation. Buffalo later mssed a PAT after scoring a touchdown in overtime. The 'Cats matched that TD and converted their PAT for the win.
-- Ohio is tied for last among MAC teams in turnover margin (minus-7).
-- The Bobcats are scoring 25.6 ppg (5th MAC) an allowing 27.6 ppg (2nd MAC).
-- The Ohio ground game is fifth among MAC teams (165 7pg). Freshman O'Shann Allison leads the attack with 59 trips for 241 yards with a pair of TDs. He carried 27 times for 96 yards and the two TDs last week. Quarterbck Nathan Rourke had 16 rushes for 63 yards and one score.
-- Rourke has completed 76 of 131 attempts (58%) for 1,012 yards with six passing TDs and four picks.
-- Ohio ranks 19th in the country and first among MAC teams with a 47.0 percent (33-of66) third-down conversion rate. The Bobcats converted eight of their 13 third down attempts in the win at Buffalo.