Is Arkansas’s apparent growth from last season legitimate? A win over a strong Northern Illinois team would go a long way in convincing people that this turnaround is no fluke. The Razorbacks host the Huskies Saturday night in what could be a close game between two power running teams.
How to watch Arkansas vs. Northern Illinois: Game guide, TV/streaming, odds
Can the Huskies stay undefeated against an improving Razorbacks squad?
John Weast
Arkansas opened the season with a 45-21 loss to Auburn, but the Razorbacks were firmly in contention until the second half. They’ve looked like a much stronger team in year two under Bret Bielema, and a win here would already equal 2013’s three-win total. Arkansas has one of the strongest running games in the country, scoring seven touchdowns on the ground in its 49-28 Week 3 victory over Texas Tech.
Northern Illinois is 3-0, but hasn't exactly played a murderers' row of opponents. The Huskies opened the season with a 55-3 victory over FCS Presbyterian, and followed that up with an eight-point win over Northwestern (prompting this taunt in print from some NIU alumni) and a 14-point win over UNLV, both on the road. New quarterback Drew Hare looks promising as a passer and has an explosive target in Da'Ron Brown (19 receptions, 357 yards, four touchdowns).
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Online streaming: WatchESPN
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The numbers
Rankings and records: Neither team is ranked in either poll. Arkansas is 2-1 this season, while Northern Illinois is 3-0. The Razorbacks hold a 1-0 lead in the all-time series: a 30-27 victory back in 1994.
Vegas: Arkansas opened as an 8-point favorite, but the line has since moved up to 14. The over/under is set at 65 points.
Weather forecast: 79 degrees and partly cloudy.
Two things at stake
A win here would give Arkansas three in a row heading into a tough conference stretch of Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia. With a goal of bowl eligibility on the table for the foundering Razorbacks, every win is precious.
This is by far the toughest game on Northern Illinois’ schedule. A win here would keep another long winning alive, and NIU has had streaks of at least nine games in each of the last four seasons. Not surprisingly, the Huskies have gone to the MAC Championship four years running as well, and while Arkansas doesn’t affect those conference title chances, NIU looks like an even more solid contender for the MAC crown if it has a win over the Razorbacks on its schedule.
One big matchup
Arkansas rushing offense vs. Northern Illinois rushing defense. The Razorbacks' power-running mentality has come into full bloom in Bret Bielema's second season, averaging an incredible 7.93 yards per carry through three games. That's second in the nation, trailing only triple-option squad Georgia Southern (8.17), and the Razorbacks' 14 rushing touchdowns also rank second in the country (behind Georgia Southern, again). Alex Collins has run 50 times for 411 yards and five touchdowns, while Jonathan Williams has 33 carries for 322 yards and six scores.
The Huskies have done an excellent job stopping the run so far this season, holding opponents to just 2.43 yards per carry. Northwestern, the only other power-conference opponent NIU has faced, ran for just 72 yards on 37 carries against the Huskies. They're led by senior defensive end Jason Meehan, who has recorded five tackles for a loss already on the season.
Further reading
For full coverage of Arkansas, check out Arkansas Fight. For more on Northern Illinois and the rest of the MAC, head to Hustle Belt.
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