San Diego State, eager to build on the momentum from its victory over Cal, closes out the nonconference schedule against a Northern Illinois program with a reputation for being relentless.
“Coach (Thomas) Hammock and his staff run a great program,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said. “They do it the right way, and they do a tremendous job of getting the most out of their kids.
“They historically get better and better and better every single week. We’re excited about the opportunity to go do what good teams do and earn the right to win on the road.”
SDSU is 6-0 in the all-time series against the Huskies. It includes a 34-28 victory in 2017 at SDCCU Stadium the last time the teams met. This game is the front end of a home-and-home series, although NIU isn’t scheduled to come to San Diego until the 2031 season.
The Aztecs (2-1) are 2 1/2-point favorites against NIU (1-2) in Saturday’s game at 12:30 p.m. PT (ESPN+) at Huskie Stadium.
About the Huskies
Northern Illinois has been one of the most successful programs in the Mid-American Conference over the past 15 years, winning MAC championships in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2021.
The Huskies have made a dozen bowl trips the past two decades. The run includes three visits to San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl. A 37-7 Poinsettia victory over TCU in the 2006 game is a fond memory. A 21-14 loss to Utah State in 2013 and a 55-7 loss to Boise State in 2015 were more forgettable.
NIU has won bowl games the past two years, including a 28-20 double-overtime victory against Fresno State in last year’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Bigger than the bowl wins was a victory in last year’s season opener, when the Huskies went to South Bend, Ind., and beat then-No. 5 Notre Dame, 16-14. It represented the Huskies’ first victory over a top-10 team.
“Not shocking at all,” Lewis said. “It’s what that program has done for a very, very long time.
“They are a hard-nosed, well-coached, high-discipline, physical outfit. They play the game the right way. (Hammock) values high character. He knows what fits his scheme and they do a tremendous job developing their talent.”
The Huskies (1-2) opened this season with a 19-17 home victory over Holy Cross before losing 20-10 at Maryland and 38-10 at Mississippi State.
“Throw the records out,” Lewis said. “They win when they’re at home. They have great pride in their program. It’s a great place to go play. I know they’re going to give us their best effort. We better bring ours.”
Northern Illinois quarterback Josh Holst (15) in action during an NCAA football game against Maryland on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in College Park, Md. Maryland won 20-9. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
The offense
NIU’s offense is rooted in the run game. That may be because Hammock was a running back for the Huskies from 1999-2002 and has coached running backs at four different coaching stops over the past 20 years. That was his role with the Baltimore Ravens (2014-18) before returning to his alma mater as head coach six years ago.
NIU has rushed the ball 60% of the time this season. The Huskies are rushing for an average of 161 yards a game and passing for only 114 yards a game.
“That’s the identity of who they are,” Lewis said. “I think they’re going to test it early, test it often, to see if they can run it.”
Running backs Chavon Wright (51 carries, 214 yards, TD) and Telly Johnson Jr. (37 carries, 199 yards, TD) lead the ground game.
Quarterback Josh Holst (40 of 63, 327 yards, TD/2 INTs), a 6-foot-4 redshirt sophomore, has not been asked to do too much as he settles into the starting role. Holst started three games last season. He was named MVP in the Potato Bowl victory, completing 18 of 30 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver DeAree Rogers (16 catches, 173 yards, TD) is Holst’s favorite target. No one else has more than six receptions.
Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock on the sidelines before an NCAA football game against Maryland on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
The defense
The NIU defense is allowing 25 points a game (80th in the nation) and 333.3 yards in total offense (106th). The unit kept the Huskies in the game against both Maryland and Mississippi State. Both contests were one-score games at halftime. The Maryland game was in doubt until early in the fourth quarter.
Linebackers Quinton Urwiler and Filip Maciorowski are the team’s top tacklers with 34 and 20, respectively.
Junior safety Jasper Beeler has forced the team’s only fumble and teammate senior safety Muhammad Jammeh has its only interception.
“There’s some tough, big boys,” SDSU quarterback Jayden Denegal said. “They’re going to come ready to play, just like any other team. … We’ve got to focus on ourselves and play our game.”
Did you know?
Lewis and Hammock first met at Wisconsin in 2004, when Lewis was a Badgers tight and Hammock was a graduate assistant.
“Our paths run deep with one another,” Lewis said. “We’ve battled. The last time we met, he kicked my tail in the MAC championship game.”
That was when Lewis coached a Kent State team that lost 41-23 to the Huskies for the 2021 conference crown.