Northern Illinois @ Mississippi State Game Overview
NIU vs MSSTRecords
NIU RecordLast 10
| Date | vs | Result | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 05, '25 |
@
MD
|
L 9 - 20 | W 16.5 | u45.0 |
| Aug 30, '25 |
HC
|
W 19 - 17 | L -13.5 | u49.0 |
| Dec 23, '24 |
@
FRES
|
W 28 - 20 | W -2 | o41.0 |
| Nov 30, '24 |
CMU
|
W 24 - 16 | L -13.5 | u40.5 |
| Nov 19, '24 |
@
M-OH
|
L 9 - 20 | L 1 | u43.0 |
| Nov 13, '24 |
AKR
|
W 29 - 16 | L -14 | o43.5 |
| Nov 06, '24 |
@
WMU
|
W 42 - 28 | W -2 | o52.0 |
| Oct 26, '24 |
@
BALL
|
L 23 - 25 | L -13.5 | o47.0 |
| Oct 19, '24 |
TOL
|
L 6 - 13 | L -3 | u42.5 |
| Oct 12, '24 |
@
BGSU
|
W 17 - 7 | W 3.5 | u46.5 |
NIU Next 3 Games
NIU vs MSST Preview
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
NIU vs MSSTInjury report
Northern Illinois's Injuries
| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Bond | WR | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Bond is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| J. Appleget | TE | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Appleget is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| T. Paasch | OG | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Paasch is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| E. Murray | OG | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Murray is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| M. Jimmar | OG | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Jimmar is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| L. Skartvedt | OG | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Skartvedt is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| T. Hunter | LB | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Hunter is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| J. Poe | RB | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Poe is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| J. Finley | S | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Finley is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| J. McIvory | WR | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| McIvory is battling an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| J. Williams | DL | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Williams is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| G. Dimopoulos | WR | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Dimopoulos is battling an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| T. Myles | S | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Myles is battling an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
| J. Holst | QB | Questionable - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Holst is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Huskies. | ||||
Mississippi State's Injuries
| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. Steen | OG | Out - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Steen is dealing with an undisclosed injury and will not take the field for the Bulldogs. | ||||
| B. Smith | OG | Out - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Smithis dealing with an undisclosed injury and will not take the field for the Bulldogs. | ||||
| W. Whitson | DL | Out - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Whitson is dealing with an undisclosed injury and will not take the field for the Bulldogs. | ||||
| J. Jefferson | CB | Out - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Jefferson is dealing with an undisclosed injury and will not take the field for the Bulldogs. | ||||
| I. Smith | S | Out - Undisclosed( Nov 12, '25) | Nov 12, '25 | |
| Smith is battling an undisclosed Injury and will not take the field for the Bulldogs. | ||||
QB Passing StatsRecent Games
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.Holst | Sep 5, 2025 | MD 20 - NIU 9 | 91 | 22 | 14 | 63.6 | 4.1 | 0/0 | 98.4 |
| J.Holst | Aug 30, 2025 | NIU 19 - HC 17 | 101 | 18 | 12 | 66.7 | 5.6 | 0/1 | 102.7 |
| J.Proctor | Aug 30, 2025 | NIU 19 - HC 17 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 33.3 | 1.3 | 0/0 | 44.5 |
| J.Holst | Dec 23, 2024 | FRES 20 - NIU 28 | 182 | 30 | 18 | 60.0 | 6.1 | 2/1 | 126.3 |
| E.Hampton | Nov 30, 2024 | NIU 24 - CMU 16 | 169 | 29 | 19 | 65.5 | 5.8 | 0/0 | 114.5 |
| E.Hampton | Nov 19, 2024 | M-OH 20 - NIU 9 | 70 | 25 | 10 | 40.0 | 2.8 | 0/1 | 55.5 |
| J.Holst | Nov 19, 2024 | M-OH 20 - NIU 9 | 31 | 8 | 6 | 75.0 | 3.9 | 0/0 | 107.6 |
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Shapen | Sep 13, 2025 | MSST 63 - ALCN 0 | 173 | 14 | 10 | 71.4 | 12.4 | 2/1 | 208.1 |
| K.Taylor | Sep 13, 2025 | MSST 63 - ALCN 0 | 46 | 3 | 2 | 66.7 | 15.3 | 1/0 | 305.5 |
| L.Kromenhoek | Sep 13, 2025 | MSST 63 - ALCN 0 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 13.0 | 0/0 | 209.2 |
| B.Shapen | Sep 6, 2025 | MSST 24 - ASU 20 | 279 | 33 | 19 | 57.6 | 8.5 | 3/0 | 158.6 |
| B.Shapen | Aug 30, 2025 | USM 17 - MSST 34 | 272 | 33 | 26 | 78.8 | 8.2 | 1/1 | 152.0 |
| L.Kromenhoek | Aug 30, 2025 | USM 17 - MSST 34 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 33.3 | 2.3 | 0/0 | 52.9 |
| M.Van Buren Jr. | Nov 29, 2024 | MISS 26 - MSST 14 | 280 | 32 | 17 | 53.1 | 8.8 | 1/2 | 124.4 |
| M.Van Buren Jr. | Nov 23, 2024 | MSST 20 - MIZZ 39 | 191 | 28 | 16 | 57.1 | 6.8 | 1/0 | 126.2 |
NIU vs MSST Offense vs Defense
Key Stats League ranks in parenthesis
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 279.0 | (135) | Yards | (32) | 265.0 |
| 3.9 | (135) | Yards/Play | (32) | 4.1 |
| 179.0 | (79) | Rush Yds | (60) | 140.3 |
| 48.0 | (30) | Rush Att | (62) | 37.7 |
| 3.7 | (109) | Yards/Rush | (67) | 3.7 |
| 100.0 | (134) | Pass Yds | (27) | 124.7 |
| 23.0 | (129) | Pass Att | (57) | 27.7 |
| 14.0 | (128) | Comp | (52) | 16.3 |
| 60.9 | (116) | Comp% | (47) | 59.0 |
| 7.1 | (136) | Yards/Comp | (18) | 7.6 |
| 4.3 | (135) | Yards/Att | (22) | 4.5 |
| 93.0 | (134) | QB rating | (25) | 99.2 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 369.0 |
| 5.6 |
| 153.4 |
| 35.6 |
| 4.3 |
| 216.6 |
| 30.1 |
| 18.8 |
| 62.5 |
| 11.5 |
| 7.2 |
| - |
More Stats
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | (71) | Sacks | (112) | 1.3 |
| 14.0 | (80) | Sack Yds | (--) | 9.7 |
| 0.5 | (78) | Intercepts | (13) | 1.3 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Fumbles | (110) | 0.7 |
| 6.5 | (72) | Penalties | (102) | 8.3 |
| 51.5 | (70) | Penalty Yds | (88) | 59.7 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 1.9 |
| 12.7 |
| 0.7 |
| 0.5 |
| 6.0 |
| 52.4 |
Points
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.0 | (136) | Score | (33) | 12.3 |
| 1.5 | (127) | 1st Q | (41) | 1.0 |
| 3.0 | (131) | 2nd Q | (29) | 3.3 |
| 3.0 | (129) | 3rd Q | (19) | 2.3 |
| 6.5 | (127) | 4th Q | (68) | 5.7 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 26.8 |
| 6.0 |
| 8.2 |
| 5.8 |
| 6.6 |
Special Teams
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Punt Ret | (--) | 0.0 |
| 27.0 | (24) | Yards/KO Ret | (110) | 15.3 |
| 4.0 | (84) | FG Att | (109) | 4.0 |
| 3.0 | (74) | FG Made | (103) | 3.0 |
| 75.0 | (48) | FG% | (60) | 75.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 10.5 |
| 21.1 |
| 25.7 |
| 19.7 |
| 76.5 |