Less than a week removed from its second blowout loss of September, NC State football looks to get back on track as it welcomes the Northern Illinois Huskies to town on Saturday.
This weekend’s matchup will mark just the second time that these two programs meet. The Wolfpack soundly defeated the Huskies 41-14 in their only previous matchup in 1997.
Apart from not being able to keep up with teams such as Tennessee and Clemson, the Pack has struggled in its other two non-conference games in which the team had to dig deep to find a way to win. NC State would be wise to take everyone seriously on its remaining schedule, including the Huskies, who represent the final non-conference test of the year for NC State.
The presence of NIU on the schedule for NC State presents a significant opportunity as well as a hurdle that headlines an important three-game homestand. Northern Illinois has been at the forefront of a chaotic season of college football. With many Group of Five teams making a name for themselves, perhaps few made as much of an impression as the Huskies, who broke the top 25 two weeks ago for their first time since 2013.
Despite no longer being ranked after an overtime loss to Buffalo last week, the Huskies have enjoyed a blazing start to the season that poses them as a tough out for NC State. After soundly defeating Western Illinois in Week 1, NIU prepared to travel to take on No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend. Entering the game as 28.5-point underdogs, there appeared to be little to no chance for them as the Irish were fresh off a strong victory over Texas A&M in Week One.
What resulted was perhaps one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. NIU did not back down, controlling the flow of the game throughout the entirety of the contest. Cradling a two-point lead at the end of the fourth quarter, Notre Dame attempted a desperate last-second field goal from 62 yards to ward off the enormous upset. However, the Huskies blocked the field goal to seal a program-defining victory.
Last week, NIU traveled to Buffalo after enjoying a bye week. After jumping out to a 14-3 lead at halftime, Buffalo utilized a strong 17-point second half to mount a furious comeback and force overtime. Getting the ball first, the NIU drive stalled with a missed field goal which opened the door for Buffalo to nail a game-winning field goal to seal the win.
Heading into this week’s matchup, NC State will face off against an opponent that has proven its ability to play complimentary football. Boasting a defense that currently allows an average of 256 total yards per game, which ranks among the best in all of college football. One piece of this mark includes an impressive 98 rushing yards allowed on average. Heading this defensive effort is linebacker Christian Fuhrman who leads the team in total tackles with 19 which also includes 10 solo tackles. He has also recorded one of the Huskies’ two interceptions on the season. Defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley has also enjoyed success as he has recorded 10 tackles and a pair of sacks.
After a frustrating offensive showing at Clemson last week, NC State will yet again have its hands full. One struggle for the Pack so far has been the inefficiency of its run game as it currently only boasts 143.3 yards on the ground per contest. It will look to find its identity against one of the best-run defenses in the nation. It will turn to its leaders in graduate running back Jordan Waters and sophomore running back Kendrick Raphael who have shown glimpses of opportunity so far but have yet to fully establish the ground attack.
Last week, the Wolfpack offense had a different look with freshman quarterback CJ Bailey behind center. Head Coach Dave Doeren will continue to roll with Bailey this weekend after a performance against the Tigers in which he showed promise. He will guide an aerial attack against a passing defense which has allowed a staggering low of 158 passing yards through the air. The unit looked adept against the Irish as it collected two interceptions. This should prove to be an excellent test for a passing game that has shown some improvement since the emergence of Bailey.
On the other side of the ball, the ground game is a component that NC State has struggled to contain so far. In past seasons, it has found a level of sustained success in defending against it that it has not enjoyed so far this season. NC State has allowed over 200 yards on the ground in two separate games. This is a figure that it will look to fix as it takes on a unit that averages a solid 222.3 rushing yards per game. The leader of the unit, running back Antario Brown has 241 yards so far on the season.
Lastly, NC State will take on a skilled quarterback in Ethan Hampton. Embarking on a strong start to the 2024 season, he has thrown for 720 yards along with six touchdowns and a single interception. He has been complimented with the presence of Brown who leads the team with 193 receiving yards and a score. Able to distribute the football well, Hampton has access to three other receivers who have at least nine yards and a score to each other their names.
NC State aims to rebound against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for noon and will be televised on the CW Network.
