How Good is Northern Illinois?

Kirk is God

Junior
Oct 21, 2025
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ESPN has them as the second worst FBS team this week. I guess I didn’t realize they were that bad. Coupled with how we looked against Iowa State does anyone think there is a reason to be worried? Michigan game will be a good measuring stick.
 
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squeezebox_1

All-Conference
Mar 6, 2018
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ESPN has them as the second worst FBS team this week. I guess I didn’t realize they were that bad. Coupled with how we looked against Iowa State does anyone think there is a reason to be worried? Michigan game will be a good measuring stick.
coupled? Iowa could have hung 80 points on NIU if they wanted. That's not Kirk's style, I do think ISU will be better than expected given their special teams play and decent defense. The fact that the passing game stepped up to the plate when the running game wasn't effective says this team has some upside.
 

Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo

All-Conference
Oct 1, 2001
883
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I like Southern Illinois much better than Northern Illinois. Much more scenic.
Thats Good Robert Deniro GIF
 

Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
6,356
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ESPN has them as the second worst FBS team this week. I guess I didn’t realize they were that bad. Coupled with how we looked against Iowa State does anyone think there is a reason to be worried? Michigan game will be a good measuring stick.
I could follow this up with "How good is ISU?". Did Iowa just struggle to put up 16 points against a good defense or an average defense? Does it matter? Does anyone believe that Western Michigan is as good or better than Oklahoma and Michigan? The results vs Michigan would have you believe that. In state rivalries and early season contests can skew perceptions.
 

Hawksfor3

All-American
Dec 5, 2016
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I like Southern Illinois much better than Northern Illinois. Much more scenic.
Many, many moons ago, I hiked in Southern Illinois. Went to Shawnee National Forest and even went onto SIU's campus. I was a skinny 17 year old then. Beautiful down there. Biggest peaches I ever pulled from the tree too.
 

FanInBlack

All-Conference
Nov 9, 2001
2,284
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I dont think Iowa is a top 25 team. I dont see any game breakers in any phase. Kaleb and Keden tilted a lot of close games with big plays. I think this is the year that we see other side of the coin. think 2010.
 
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Kirk is God

Junior
Oct 21, 2025
171
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I could follow this up with "How good is ISU?". Did Iowa just struggle to put up 16 points against a good defense or an average defense? Does it matter? Does anyone believe that Western Michigan is as good or better than Oklahoma and Michigan? The results vs Michigan would have you believe that. In state rivalries and early season contests can skew perceptions.
I would say Iowa St is probably a lot better than everyone thought they would be. I think they will surprise a lot of people in the big 12 this year.

Michigan is probably still very solid but I think Kirk will have the boys ready to go. I think they can win.
 
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MeetTheFerentzes

All-Conference
Sep 6, 2022
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I would say Iowa St is probably a lot better than everyone thought they would be. I think they will surprise a lot of people in the big 12 this year.
Classic Iowa message board sentiment year after year after Iowa struggles with a crappy noncon opponent. Just substitute “Iowa St” with that season’s MAC or FCS team. Throw in “So and so would compete in the B1G West” and the delusion is complete.
 

Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
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I would say Iowa St is probably a lot better than everyone thought they would be. I think they will surprise a lot of people in the big 12 this year.

Michigan is probably still very solid but I think Kirk will have the boys ready to go. I think they can win.
I don't think ISU is a last place team in the Big12 if that's what you mean, but Iowa rarely looks good in that game. Other than it being a rivalry game there's really no explanation for why it's so ugly. Part of it stems from the fact that Iowa's offense has been so abysmal that a lot of games have looked like that. That doesn't really explain this year though.
 

IA79Cam

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Jan 1, 2023
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I don't think ISU is a last place team in the Big12 if that's what you mean, but Iowa rarely looks good in that game. Other than it being a rivalry game there's really no explanation for why it's so ugly. Part of it stems from the fact that Iowa's offense has been so abysmal that a lot of games have looked like that. That doesn't really explain this year though.
Both teams pounded the rock, or at least tried to shortening the game. Less possessions, less points. I actually think the ISU game was simply well played in a style both coaches prefer, there were zero turnovers from either team in the game. (Disregarding the TO on downs at midfield) i know im in the minority but I thought both teams played a decent game and I believe state will look like a good win by the end of the year.
 
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Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
6,356
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Both teams pounded the rock, or at least tried to shortening the game. Less possessions, less points. I actually think the ISU game was simply well played in a style both coaches prefer, there were zero turnovers from either team in the game. (Disregarding the TO on downs at midfield) i know im in the minority but I thought both teams played a decent game and I believe state will look like a good win by the end of the year.
There were 24 games involving top 25 teams last week. Only one of them involved the winning team (Iowa) scoring less than 17 points. The only one from the week before was Michigan and that was an ugly shat show vs Western Michigan that they should have lost. Iowa has played too many games exactly like that against ISU and lost 3 of 4 prior to last week because the offense couldn't perform. Even last week when it seemed obvious that ISU wasn't going to allow Iowa to beat them on the ground (especially on first down) Iowa spent the better part of that game trying to do exactly that.

This is the year with Diaz, RVZ, DJV, and Ostrenga that Iowa should be able to counter that effectively. When they did pass on first down they were effective. They needed more of that.
 
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