The Northern Illinois Huskies are ready for their first matchup with Notre Dame

DEKALB, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Northern Illinois University football teams have played on the big stage many times over the years. The Big House at Michigan, The Horseshoe in Columbus, and Bryant-Denny Stadium in Alabama are a few of them. This Saturday, they’ll be on another big one for the first time in NIU history, Notre Dame Stadium when they take on the Fighting Irish.

The House that Rockne Built holds almost 78,000 people. It might be the most legendary stadium in the country. It’s where so many Heisman Trophy winners and other legendary players and coaches have made their mark on college football.

“It’s a great game to play,” said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. “These are the games you live for.”

This game is what NIU folks call a “Boneyard” game. It’s a game against a Power 5 now Power 4 Conference team or comparable. NIU teams have 18 “Boneyard” wins all-time including a win last year at Boston College.

The Biggest non-conference wins in NIU history were against Alabama in 2003 and against a 15th-ranked Maryland team also in 2003. A win at fifth ranked Notre Dame would top those.

“We know Notre Dame is a good team,” said NIU defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley. “We’re just going to state the obvious, but coming out with a win would be, like awesome! Definitely.”

Adding another layer of excitement for this game is the fact that this will be the first nationally televised game in NIU history. NIU’s previous appearances on major networks were regional telecasts. The players are aware of that, but they say that all fades into the background once the game begins.

The national televised games don’t matter as much when you’re there,” said offensive tackle Evan Buss. “It’s a bigger atmosphere. It’s a bigger stadium, but as a player on the field, you don’t notice, like ‘Hey, I’m actually playing on ESPN instead of ESPN+ today.”

It’s not so much the national attention or the history of Notre Dame that the Huskies have to deal with on Saturday as it is the players who will be wearing the Golden Helmets, guys like quarterback Riley Leonard and running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.

“We know the quarterback is a tremendous player,” said Hammock. I had a chance to watch a crossover game when he was at Duke when we played Boston College. He can throw it. He can run it. He’s big. He’s physical. Obviously, they have some really physical and downhill backs.”

Notre Dame’s defense is even more formidable than its offense is led by All-American lineman Howard Cross and by safety Xavier Watts. Watts led the nation in interceptions last year with seven, and he already has one pick this year against Texas A&M.

“They’re going to hit you, and they’re going to hit you full speed, so you have to understand that, understand how to offset that and counter that.” said Hammock. “You have to match that level of intensity. We know what’s coming. We know what it looks like, and we’ve got to be ready to fight back.”

Kickoff Saturday will be at 2:30CT.

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