NIU plots to derail Mississippi State's strong start
Mississippi State will try to complete a spotless non-conference schedule by beating Northern Illinois in their first-ever matchup on Saturday in Starkville, Miss.
Share Video
Mississippi State will try to complete a spotless non-conference schedule by beating Northern Illinois in their first-ever matchup on Saturday in Starkville, Miss.
Coming off a 63-0 rout of Alcorn State, coach Jeff Lebby's Bulldogs (3-0) are in great shape to enter Southeastern Conference play unbeaten but they are wary of the Huskies (1-1).
"It's about the ability to be 4-0 ... for us to have an undefeated non-conference (schedule)," Lebby said on Monday. "We have a great, great test on Saturday. (The Huskies) have gone on the road and won huge games. You point to that more than anything."
NIU does have a reputation under seventh-year head coach Thomas Hammock of crafting upsets against Power 4 schools.
The Huskies' greatest one came a year ago against No. 5 Notre Dame, leaving the legendary South Bend stadium with a 16-14 shocker in the Fighting Irish's only regular-season loss.
It was NIU's first victory over a top-10 foe, and it became the first MAC program to beat a top-five team.
However, this season's Huskies, a three-touchdown underdog against the Bulldogs, struggled to a 19-17 win over Holy Cross before succumbing to Maryland two weeks ago before a bye week.
"I'm proud of the way the guys played," Hammock said after the 20-9 defeat at Maryland, which required a fourth-quarter touchdown pass by the Terrapins to ice the win. "I'm proud of the way they competed for four quarters against a Big Ten opponent with a lot more resources, and we showed we have a lot of heart."
NIU is averaging 179 rushing yards per game (59th in NCAA), while allowing just 74 on the ground (tied for 13th).
"They've done a great job of getting off blocks," Lebby added of NIU's run defense. "It's really hard to dent the interior. They are a physical bunch, with the (middle linebacker) and (weakside linebacker) being guys that play downhill. And it's the same deal: They don't stay blocked."
The Bulldogs' Blake Shapen has tossed a TD pass in 18 straight games, the second-longest active streak behind Iowa State's Rocco Becht (22).
Mississippi State has not started 4-0 since 2014.
--Field Level Media
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Field Level Media. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Field Level Media is strictly prohibited.
