Huskies Face Winless Minutemen as Scoring Struggles Continue

The Northern Illinois University (NIU) football team will meet the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen on March 15, 2024, in a matchup highlighting two of the lowest-scoring offenses in college football. The Huskies enter the game with a record of 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), ranking 133rd nationally with an average of just 12.2 points per game. UMass, still seeking its first victory of the season at 0-9 and 0-5 in conference play, sits at the bottom of the rankings, averaging 11.3 points per game.

Kickoff is scheduled for 18:00 and will be broadcast on ESPNU. As both teams aim to break free from their struggles, here are three key points to consider ahead of the game.

Huskies Coach Reflects on Team’s Challenges

NIU coach Thomas Hammock faces the prospect of a fourth losing season in his seven years with the program, a stark contrast to the team’s previous successes. The Huskies’ last winning record came in 2021, and this year marks the first time since a 3-9 campaign in 2022 that the team has struggled to make an impact on the field.

Hammock attributed some of the team’s difficulties to the offseason losses through the transfer portal and the challenges posed by limited Name, Image, and Likeness resources compared to other institutions. “I think part of my detriment at least early in the season was looking at some of the guys we lost and the things we don’t have,” Hammock explained. “I looked at it the wrong way. I have to look at the things we do have. We have an unbelievable culture, an unbelievable university, an unbelievable athletic department and we have unbelievable players.”

Despite outside noise regarding the team’s performance, offensive lineman A.C. Curry stated that the squad remains focused on their game. “We see a lot of stuff online … but we don’t let it bother us,” Curry said. “At the end of the day, it’s not like they’re playing. We just strap up and let our pads talk.”

Defensive Performance and Offensive Woes

NIU has struggled defensively this season, ranking 103rd in the nation in rushing defense, allowing an average of 171.4 yards per game. Notably, the Huskies conceded 333 yards in a 48-21 loss to Ohio and 292 yards in a 38-10 loss to Mississippi State. However, improvements have been evident in recent games, with the team allowing only 139 yards during a 21-7 victory against Ball State and 134 yards in the loss to Toledo.

Hammock acknowledged that the defense’s struggles can partially be attributed to the offense’s inability to sustain drives. The Huskies are currently 105th nationally in time of possession, averaging just 28 minutes and 39 seconds on the field. “They play a lot of football on defense,” Hammock noted. “We need to do a better job playing complementary football on offense.”

The offensive side of the game has also been a challenge for NIU, with the team ranking in the bottom three nationally in several categories, including total offense and passing offense. Wide receiver DeAree Rogers leads the team with 41 receptions for 468 yards, accounting for nearly half of NIU’s total passing yards this season.

Hammock emphasized the importance of the quarterbacks, Josh Holst and Brady Davidson, in finding open receivers. “We had receivers that were open [against Toledo]. We did not hit them,” he explained. The Huskies are also dealing with injury issues, as quarterback Jalen Macon has been limited in play due to a hand injury affecting his grip strength.

As the Huskies prepare to take on the Minutemen, the outcome of this game could be significant for both teams as they seek to build momentum and improve their standings in the MAC.