Game Day Guide: What you need to know for Nebraska-Northern Illinois
Game Day Guide: What you need to know for Nebraska-Northern Illinois
After back-to-back road games to start the season, Nebraska is finally home at Memorial Stadium. Here's what you need to know for the Huskers' matchup with Northern Illinois.
After back-to-back road games to start the season, Nebraska (0-2, 0-1 B1G) is finally home. The Huskers are set to face the Northern Illinois Huskies (1-1, 0-0 MAC) Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium.
An interesting fact: this is the latest home opener for Nebraska since the 1994 season (excluding the 2020 Covid season). The Huskers opened against UCLA on Sept. 17 that season. This also kicks off the 100th anniversary celebration of Memorial Stadium.
Fun and interesting facts aside, this matchup with Northern Illinois is one Nebraska needs to — and should — win. The Huskers are a two-score favorite over the Huskies, but that also doesn’t guarantee an easy path to victory for Nebraska.
Quarterback Jeff Sims, for example, may not be available to play on Saturday after suffering a high-ankle sprain against Colorado. Coach Matt Rhule said the Huskers would see how he felt on Friday, adding that he’d been progressing throughout the week.
If Sims isn’t available, Nebraska will look to Heinrich Haarberg and Chubba Purdy to start in his place. If Sims is available, fans will look to see improvement from the quarterback in the turnover department. Sims is credited with six of Nebraska’s eight turnovers so far this season, which includes throwing four interceptions.
It’ll be an interesting home opener for Nebraska, that’s for sure. There will be change — like a swap in the Tunnel Walk entrance — and there will be plenty the same (we can always count on the Runzas, Valentino’s pizza and red hot dogs).
Until then, here’s what you need to get ready for game day.
Nebraska versus Northern Illinois: Everything you need to know for game day
TV Channel: FS1 (Jeff Levering, Mark Helfrich)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Live Stream: FoxSports.com (with TV provider)
Radio: Nebraska fans can listen to the game on the Huskers Radio Network. Internet radio, as well as a Spanish broadcast, will be available at Huskers.com.
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Weather: Partly cloudy skies with a high near 80 degrees during the day. North to northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph.
Line: Nebraska -10.5
Over/Under: 42.5
Notable quotes
Rhule on the pressure of this week’s matchup for the team:
“The hard thing for us is pressing the guys to keep moving forward. They feel the pressure, they feel the letdown, they feel the constant questions on if this will work this week. It’s how you learn how to win. It’s something we have to play right through.”
Defensive coordinator Tony White on Northern Illinois:
“They’re physical. This is a school that I had a chance to compete against in my prior school at San Diego State. They are a physical group that plays up. They’re going to come in here and do the same, especially since they didn’t have the showing they would’ve liked last week. That will be more fuel for them to get up and play correctly. They present a lot of variety, a lot of different formations and that’ll be a challenge.”
What else to read pre-game:
Other games we’re watching today:
(All games in CT)
Erin
Morning - No. 15 Kansas State at Missouri, 11 a.m., SEC Network
I always like and appreciate a matchup of ol’ Big 12 foes and this one should be interesting. Kansas State may be ranked, but the Wildcats are only a 3.5-point favorite at the time I scheduled this newsletter. With that said, Kansas State should be able to get this one from Missouri, especially if its defense has a repeat of last year’s meeting. Missouri quarterback Brady Cook struggled against the Wildcat defense in Manhattan last season, where he was just 15 of 27 for 128 yards and no touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. Can the Missouri offense find more opportunities in 2023? It’ll be a fun one to watch.
Afternoon - Minnesota at No. 20 North Carolina, 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Did you know these two teams have never played each other in football? That’s wild. As far as what to expect, North Carolina is a 7.5-point favorite in this matchup but you can never fully rule out Minnesota coach PJ Fleck. He’s 5-0 against non-Big Ten Power 5 teams on neutral/away venues as at Minnesota. That’s also wild. Appalachian State gave North Carolina a run for its money, so maybe Minnesota will do the same.
Evening - No. 11 Tennessee at Florida, 6 p.m., ESPN
Tennessee is a 6.5-point favorite in this one, which surprised me a bit. The Vols only beat FCS opponent Austin Peay, 30-13, and that seemed to concern quite a few people. Tennessee also hasn’t been able to win in Gainesville in two decades. Is 2023 the year? Many are betting on Vols coach Josh Heupel and his team. As Florida fans grow frustrated with Billy Napier, maybe this is the week to really make that coaching seat hot. I’ll have my eye on this one while sitting in Memorial Stadium.
Brandon
Morning - No. 14 LSU at Mississippi State, 11 a.m., ESPN
LSU appeared to be in a good position to win the SEC West in the offseason. Alabama had questions, primarily at quarterback, while the Tigers returned almost everything off a team that beat the Tide last season. Then Florida State won going away against LSU in the opener. The Tigers are favored by 9.5 points headed to Starkville, but most of the power rankings point to a line lower than that. The Bulldogs were a little fortunate to beat Arizona last week, but might have a live shot at ending LSU’s title hopes, of any kind, first thing on Saturday.
Afternoon - East Carolina at Appalachian State, 2:30 p.m., ESPN+
There’s another game in North Carolina–Northwestern at Duke–that’s probably of more direct interest to fans of a team in the Big Ten, but in terms of pure enjoyment I’m going with this intrastate rivalry. Appalachian State is a G5 heavyweight, but entered the season on the shakiest ground it has experienced since moving up to FBS. Last week’s narrow loss to North Carolina was encouraging on that front, but East Carolina has quietly become a G5 program that can be scary, which is what it used to be. Two programs trying to hold on to previous levels of relative excellence, one state, mountain setting. This game has everything I need.
Evening - Syracuse at Purdue, 6:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock
Nebraska plays at night, so I’m operating under the assumption that any pick in this slot is a second screen option. You can offer less than half your attention to Orange-Boilermakers and feel justified in getting a look at a future Husker opponent. You’ll also get a look at the defense current Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White left behind at Syracuse. It’s now being coordinated by Rocky Long, one of White’s mentors, and has looked quite good through two games.