No. 23 Northern Illinois looks to keep rolling against Buffalo after stunning Notre Dame
Northern Illinois quarterback Ethan Hampton (2) celebrates with fans after defeating Notre Dame in an NCAA college football game Saturday Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. Credit: AP/Michael Caterina
Buffalo (2-1) at No. 23 Northern Illinois (2-0), Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN Plus)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Northern Illinois by 13 1/2.
Series record: Northern Illinois leads 13-2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The game is the MAC opener for both teams, though the buzz is all about Northern Illinois after the Huskies pulled off the upset of the season at then-No. 5 Notre Dame two weeks ago, beating the Fighting Irish 16-14. NIU is in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2013. Buffalo bounced back from a 38-0 rout at Missouri by pounding Massachusetts 34-3 last week. The Bulls, in their first season with coach Pete Lembo, are trying to get back to winning on a consistent basis after taking a step back the past three years under Maurice Linguist. Before that, Lance Leipold closed his six-year tenure with three straight bowl berths.
KEY MATCHUP
Northern Illinois DT Devonte O’Malley against Buffalo's offensive line. O'Malley caused havoc up front against Notre Dame with two sacks, giving him 16 in five seasons.
Missouri wide receiver Theo Wease Jr., right, catches the ball in front of Buffalo cornerback Marquis Cooper (28) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. Credit: AP/L.G. Patterson
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Buffalo: CB Marquis Cooper. Cooper had a highlight-reel play against UMass when he returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown. He picked off a pass several yards deep in the end zone and raced up the right sideline.
Northern Illinois: QB Ethan Hampton. After winning a competition for the starting job, Hampton leads the nation in passing efficiency and yards per attempt. He is 28 for 39 with 526 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions.
FACTS & FIGURES
Buffalo is 1-16 against Top 25 teams. The win was against No. 14 Ball State in the 2008 MAC championship game. ... Buffalo is playing ranked teams in consecutive road games for the first time since 2013, when it lost at No. 2 Ohio State (Aug. 31) and No. 23 Baylor (Sept.7). ... LB Shaun Dolac is tied for the national lead with 43 tackles. ... Northern Illinois is in the Top 25 for the first time since Dec. 8, 2013, when it was ranked 24th. ... NIU is the first MAC team to beat a top-five opponent. ... The Huskies, 2-0 for the first time since 2015, are looking to match their best start since the 2014 MAC champions won their first three games. ... Antario Brown became the first NIU running back since Garrett Wolfe in 2006 with a 100-yard receiving game, when he caught two passes for 126 yards and a touchdown against Notre Dame. Brown also carried 20 times for 99 yards.
