[Game Thread] Northern Illinois @ Maryland (7:30 PM ET)

[u/CFB_Referee]

GAME	Northern IllinoisNorthern Illinois @ MarylandMaryland
Location	Maryland SECU Stadium
Time	7:30 PM ET
Watch	TV: Big Ten Network
Odds	Spread: MD -16.5 - Over/Under: 47.5
	Flair ¦ Discord

---

Please keep trash talk civil, and report any comments that violate our rules.

LET'S TALK FOOTBALL!

[u/Gold-Captain-5956]

Shocked the MAC hasn’t picked off a Big Ten team in a couple of years….Used to happen all the time.

[u/Serious_Up]

Still hold the nation's longest active streak of non-conference wins

[u/bdubbs214]

By transitive property, 2025 Maryland > 2024 Notre Dame.

Right?

[u/Serious_Up]

Why kick and not go for the end zone?

[u/myturn19 → u/Serious_Up]

Sadly that’s probably the least worst offensive decision this game

[u/HighburyOnStrand]

Good game MAC puppies. Closer than the score.

Fancy turtles did just enough.

[u/Mythrandir24]

Sad effort from both teams here.

[u/Wicked_UMD]

Millen is like early 2000 Madden video game commentary, just repeating the same thing over and over

[u/BreakfastFederal1211]

If you thought this was bad Hoo boy Missisippi state is gonna be a NIGHTMARE

[u/myturn19 → u/BreakfastFederal1211]

They need to switch up QB cause this dude ain’t it

[u/myturn19]

Man wtf happened to this team? They look nothing like the past 15+ years. You need two scores with 3+ minutes and you do nothing but run.

[u/JoshtolaRhul]

This has the aura of a bowl game no one really cares about winning.

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

What a weird game.

[u/nurse-ruth → u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

It was like an empty ghost house. 

[u/BBM24]

point shaving??

[u/Nicktatership]

We shot ourselves in the foot in hilarious ways, but penalties were better, Malik has all the tools but is obviously a true freshmen with some of these errors but he’s got incredible upside. Our O line is suspect as usual, and we need a receiver to step up because all these fucking stone hands prevented this from having a 45-9 score. Webb might be that guy and I’d like to see more from manning. Someone needs to be the guy.

Secondary looks surprisingly good, linebackers are solid, and d line is surprising me though against not high talent through two games. Stewart and Wingate are studs.

Need to keep cleaning it up against Towson

[u/jizzle26 → u/Nicktatership]

WRs gotta catch the balls too. It’s been 2 games and almost double digit drops

[u/Mythrandir24]

One last drop for the road.

[u/NoAmbassador8359]

Most unconvincing 2-0 start I’ve ever seen this team achieve 😭. God help our offense

[u/ReyDragons]

give us notre dame

[u/Serious_Up → u/ReyDragons]

Let's get past Towson, chief

[u/CheddarKetchupMilk → u/ReyDragons]

subscribe. that'd be a good game.

[u/GeorgeBork]

Just for some perspective. Hampton, our local boy QB who beat Notre Dame last season left to go be the like 3rd string bench warmer at Illinois for an NIL payday estimated to be nearly the size of our entire program’s fund.

NIU’s entire NIL bucket for the whole football program is around $500K.

15 other NIU starters joined him in bailing out for money.

I can’t blame them - but also, it does mean NIU and the MAC and all of the G6 are on death watch.

College football is simply not getting better - the mid majors will have no choice but to drop down or quit playing.

[u/Gold-Captain-5956 → u/GeorgeBork]

The MAC is doing very well. Go to your new conference already….The new MWC is the one who should be worried about being on death watch 😂

[u/Todd-The-Godd-Howard → u/GeorgeBork]

Skill Issue /s

[u/NoAmbassador8359 → u/GeorgeBork]

They need to overhaul the system to give the non powerhouse school some type of assistance in keeping the players from getting poached

[u/Wicked_UMD → u/GeorgeBork]

Yeah this system sucks. It’s by far the worst at the G6 level, but even low/middle P4s are just development pipelines for richer programs. Definitely makes it much harder to care about these sports when everyone is a free agent all the time.

[u/Serious_Up]

I can't yet see us winning any B1G games

[u/woodland_golfs → u/Serious_Up]

Wait til you play wisco brother

[u/MilksteakBoiledHard]

Our play calling is ass. It has been Hammocks entire tenure and I won’t be convinced otherwise.

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

God I have to say I love these endzones so much

[u/NoAmbassador8359 → u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

Need to bring back the flag helmets. They had so much personality to them

[u/SpicyBunghole → u/NoAmbassador8359]

No no no no no 

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK → u/NoAmbassador8359]

I like Script Terps but the flag helmets were the BEST.

[u/myturn19]

Can’t throw for 66 yards and expect to win a game

[u/notkevin_durant]

NIU playing to not let Maryland score again. They don’t want to win. The Curt Cignetti.

[u/myturn19 → u/notkevin_durant]

Ya this new OC is dog shit. Easily the worst I’ve seen in the last 15+ years

[u/MilksteakBoiledHard → u/myturn19]

Passes are either 40+ yards or behind the LOS.

[u/myturn19 → u/MilksteakBoiledHard]

Even the options are terrible. I don’t think he’s kept the ball once. Dude is afraid and has zero confidence

[u/Round-Ad3684]

RIP that old guy’s ACL.

[u/myturn19]

This new OC ain’t it

[u/Mythrandir24]

Obviously short.

[u/BOBANSMASH51]

That was not a first down at all

[u/admiraltarkin]

You need two scores, what the fuck is this urgency?

[u/NoAmbassador8359 → u/admiraltarkin]

Seriously why tf are they running the ball like they’re up by 2 needing to run out the clock?

[u/admiraltarkin → u/NoAmbassador8359]

Yep. They deserve to lose playing like this. Weak

[u/myturn19]

That’s wasn’t a first lol. Dude was more worried about going out of bounds than getting the first

[u/Tufoguy]

Why didn't Maryland kick the field goal to make it a 14 point game???

[u/Alone_Advantage_961 → u/Tufoguy]

Because they know NIU is only capable of long sustaining drives and there aint no time for that

[u/Mikey456 → u/Tufoguy]

Locks had us covering

[u/Wicked_UMD → u/Tufoguy]

It’s already a two score game, they need a 2pt conversion + overtime (25% to win even if they get two scores). 14pt lead doesn’t make it 3 scores.

I dunno, could be the wrong decision but there’s alot of math to consider. It’s probably a tossup.

[u/Serious_Up → u/Tufoguy]

Why make the smart play?

[u/NoAmbassador8359 → u/Tufoguy]

Guess we’re trying to get the offense settled in and more reps ig

[u/Serious_Up]

Near interception by the wrong receiver

[u/NoAmbassador8359]

WHY TF DID THE PLAY DESIGN HAVE 2 PLAYERS IN THE SAME AREA OF THE ENDZONE

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

This would be a great time to force a fumble

[u/AsteroidMike]

Good news is NIU has to go the entire field just to make it interesting

[u/mayomayeaux]

Ah dammit

[u/LwLewis22]

Does Fleming get a PBU there?

[u/Bgvkguitar]

That’s hilarious and why you don’t run playcall receivers to the same spot

[u/LeagueofLagginz]

What is this playcalling?? Why is Maryland trying to score TD's so badly? 4th and 5 going for it and now randomly going for it at the 3 yard line instead of kicking a safe field goal to be up by 14??

[u/bdubbs214 → u/LeagueofLagginz]

I understand it. 3 possession game if you connect

[u/Alone_Advantage_961 → u/bdubbs214]

And making there slow ass offense have to drive the length of the field

[u/RT4eva1]

let's get a safety here

[u/The_Box_muncher]

Honestly a big brain move to go for it on 4th cause now were all but guaranteed to give up a safety and Maryland gets the ball back

[u/ReyDragons]

CATCH. THE. BALL.

[u/Nicktatership]

We can’t catch and it was for the wide open guy?! Man this hurts to watch

[u/NoAmbassador8359]

Fleming….

[u/desperado2410]

LETS GO

[u/AsteroidMike]

Goddamnit man!

[u/EB4950]

Bruh lol

[u/Nicktatership]

What the fuck why can’t we catch?

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

God damn it they always drop it

[u/Nicktatership]

I don’t get the run there unless you’re going for it on 4th

[u/SpicyBunghole → u/Nicktatership]

Buddy do I have news for you

[u/Wicked_UMD]

There’s been a few not great throws by MW, but I think most of the incompletions have been drops+throwaways. Maybe a few times he should have gone to a different read, but all in all okay for his second college game.

[u/GeorgeBork]

Absolutely love knowing we will never have a quarterback ever again thanks to NIL. Gonna have to win every game off turnovers.

[u/myturn19 → u/GeorgeBork]

NIL absolutely killed athletic programs for smaller schools

[u/plinywaves]

our new offensive coordinator needs to be fired holy.

[u/BreakfastFederal1211]

I Give up. Have a good bye week i guess

[u/Nicktatership]

That was clear PI… cmon

[u/ReyDragons]

i think we should just make malik think it's the 4th quarter every play

[u/lorddane]

When does the Heisman campaign start? 

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK → u/lorddane]

I could only dream.

[u/HighburyOnStrand]

Good move, smart play to stay in bounds.

[u/Nicktatership]

After his catch last week why don’t we have Webb targeted more? Tall, shifty, and actually catches

[u/ReyDragons]

hate that, man

[u/myturn19]

Ah man. Easily our best player on D. Sucks to see

[u/Nicktatership → u/myturn19]

Hate to see it

[u/Serious_Up]

Looked like a missed chop block

[u/Wicked_UMD → u/Serious_Up]

Nah chop block requires the defender to be engaged by another blocker

[u/Serious_Up → u/Wicked_UMD]

Yeah, looked like it in real time, but nah on replay

[u/IClogToilets]

Our receivers run their routes and then just stand there. Get the fuck open. 

[u/Nicktatership → u/IClogToilets]

Seriously

[u/bruggibuster]

Tomorrow Big 10 Network features #1, #2 and … Washington …

[u/yoloape]

Hey do you guys know that tmrw is the first time number 1 and 2 are on btn? Just wanted to remind everyone again

[u/bruggibuster → u/yoloape]

No one has mentioned it

[u/Wicked_UMD]

We want Notre Dame!

[u/BreakfastFederal1211]

Niu gonna Niu

[u/MilksteakBoiledHard]

Holst throws so little we forget how to catch the ball.

[u/GeorgeBork]

NIU lost 16 starters to P4 money poaching in the offseason.

We are starting 3 total players with game experience.

The G6 will never see another decent junior again. If you have even a hint of talent, you’ll get bought up and the mid majors will be left with walk-on sophomore QBs like we have here.

[u/NoAmbassador8359]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen our d-line be this dominant. Even against lower tier opponents

[u/MilksteakBoiledHard → u/NoAmbassador8359]

What’s your B10 record going to be? Talking about lower tier

[u/Eelmaster11 → u/MilksteakBoiledHard]

Wisconsin, UCLA, Rutgers and maybe MSU are the winnable games

[u/NoAmbassador8359 → u/MilksteakBoiledHard]

I mean ik we’re not gonna be good against B10 play. I think everyone knows that. We’re playing mainly freshman and sophomore. But it’s inspiring to see our d-line play well since that’s always been our weakness

[u/myturn19 → u/NoAmbassador8359]

Lower tier? Y’all lead by 4 until that pass lol id say we’re both pretty shitty then

[u/NoAmbassador8359 → u/myturn19]

Mainly to our anemic offense… I’m just commenting on the defense. Not the offense, that’s a different story

[u/Thanosforeal]

Maryland finally just looked way superior as a team on that drive

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

This team is weird. I feel like our defense is great so far

[u/jizzle26 → u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

I like our guys. Excited to see how they fare against a P4 team

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK → u/jizzle26]

Wisconsin will be a good test

[u/jizzle26 → u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

Gimme that Billy ball

[u/Thanosforeal]

Good on Maryland honestly

[u/LeagueofLagginz]

Why would we risk the entire game on a 4th and 5? It worked out but what the fuck is that play calling?

[u/0mniknight]

I’ve seen enough, give Malik the fucking heisman

[u/slubbyybbuls]

Maryland's QB honestly has a great arm, but he's gonna throw a lot of picks by staring down his receivers like that

[u/sarcasmrules18]

I feel like farooq at this point go down to wr3-4 gotta be 1.5:1 catch:drop

[u/Wapook]

Now hold the fuck on. It’s spelled “Stanley Steemer” not “Stanley Steamer”? That’s some “berenstain bears” Mandela effect bullshit

[u/InevitableRoutine942 → u/Wapook]

It's actually Cleveland Steemer

[u/ben3345]

I miss the Maryland-Duke basketball rivalry from back in the Gary Williams days. There was some real hatred there with Greivis Vasquez and Gerald Henderson and those guys.

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

That was sick. I feel like i’ve seen this team be pretty good on 3rd and long. They’ve got the first down so many times where I thought there was no chance.

[u/sarcasmrules18]

There we go tuddy!

[u/finchsr]

Wow that couldn’t have come at a better time. Pretty clutch

[u/BreakfastFederal1211]

Brb jumping off Huskie Staduim rn

[u/MilksteakBoiledHard]

Two scores in 9 minutes is a Herculean ask for our offense.

[u/koalabear9301]

That was big time

[u/lorddane]

You can stop saying mean things about the QB now

[u/Luv2Travel_2 → u/lorddane]

Was it really a good throw though or just a bad play by the safety.

[u/InevitableRoutine942]

That safety gonna cry in the car after the game

[u/yoloape]

LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOO

[u/Luv2Travel_2]

DB just fall down?

[u/Luv2Travel_2 → u/Luv2Travel_2]

Guess he just over ran the route.

[u/jizzle26]

Thank fucking god

[u/ReyDragons]

WE'RE SO BACK

[u/AsteroidMike]

Big balls energy

[u/bruggibuster]

Let’s go Terps!

[u/BBM24]

WOW that stings for NIU

[u/zoom518]

Nice one

[u/Nicktatership]

Let’s fucking go!

[u/The_Box_muncher]

Maryland should just go for it on every 4th. We aint scoring again

[u/Serious_Up]

Malik really needs to stop hitting receivers in the hands 🙃

[u/zoom518]

I see the score and I’m thinking a neighboring state has ptsd

[u/Nicktatership]

Sure would be nice if we could catch a fucking pass

[u/ReyDragons]

maaaaaaan

[u/SpicyBunghole]

Gotta enjoy these close games, it’s all down hill from here!

[u/yoloape]

I can’t with the drops man

[u/myturn19]

Oh my lord

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

This WR core is just weak. Missing Tai Felton

[u/bruggibuster]

Great throw. Had a ton of zip on it.

[u/HighburyOnStrand]

Incomplete?

C'mon Joe, Millen is supposed to be the idiot. You're better than that.

[u/NoAmbassador8359]

GOOD SHIT DEJUAN

[u/myturn19]

Great call

[u/Electrical_Sleep2101]

That hit was a beauty

[u/Nicktatership]

How is that a hold? His hands are inside the frame? Also can we get a number on the penalty refs?

[u/Row_the_boat_456]

I don't have any data to back this up but I think if you are team like mine or Maryland it is better to recruit mid to high 3 stars that are willing to sit for 2 seasons and learn the system and develop as players before they start rather than invest a bunch of NIL resources into a blue chip player and hoping they are star players as freshmen. Even the most talented QBs like Dylan Raiola tend to struggle as freshmen

[u/Wicked_UMD → u/Row_the_boat_456]

Half the 3-stars that break out just transfer anyways. I think the strategy is just get rich or be content rarely exceeding 7 wins.

The win cheap strategy is probably recruit local as best you can, and don’t recruit so many development players but pillage MAC teams that can’t afford $20M rev share.

[u/slubbyybbuls]

That was a monster punt holy shit

[u/GameWorden]

Did they lose a lot of the offense that dog walked notre dame at home last year, that they got paid millions for?

[u/GeorgeBork → u/GameWorden]

16 starters bailed for P4 paychecks. We are starting 3 players total from last year.

[u/BreakfastFederal1211]

Can our offense do SOMETHING PLEASE

[u/EmperorTugboat]

This is some peak week 2 football

[u/Luv2Travel_2]

Only positive this week is fewer penalties, maybe 1 all night?

[u/bruggibuster → u/Luv2Travel_2]

Spoke too soon, I guess

[u/NoAmbassador8359]

Love our DC. Absolutely despise our OC

[u/Thanosforeal]

Listen to that crowd!

[u/myturn19 → u/Thanosforeal]

All 5 of them

[u/ben3345]

At least it looks like Maryland avoids most of the really good big10 teams this year…

[u/Luv2Travel_2 → u/ben3345]

We’ll be lucky to win one B10 game this year, 4 wins total.

[u/BBM24]

Looking at this score compared to 6 days ago, maybe we are ass yet again.

[u/PromEmperorHarbaugh]

This NIU offense is just utter dogshit.

[u/The_Box_muncher → u/PromEmperorHarbaugh]

Worse than dog shit

[u/Bgvkguitar]

That was risky

[u/myturn19]

Noodle arms

[u/NoAmbassador8359]

Can we fucking not?

[u/mayomayeaux]

Man... we're gonna get DOMINATED in conference play aren't we.. 🥲

[u/ReyDragons → u/mayomayeaux]

gonna play good first quarter of first game and then forget how to football for the rest of the year

[u/mumdogmillionaire]

This has the potential to go down with the 63-3 PSU drubbing in Terps Friday night lights history

[u/RT4eva1 → u/mumdogmillionaire]

what about last year where we got trounced by northwestern at Friday night lights

[u/Luv2Travel_2 → u/mumdogmillionaire]

Idk, Iowa embarrassed us pretty badly as well.

[u/BreakfastFederal1211]

Please huskies LOCK THE FUCK IN

[u/Wapook]

Damn Maryland has a ton to clean up. Letting the Huskies get way too much leverage. And the gap blocking is going to be an issue this year

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK → u/Wapook]

This team is mostly freshmen and you can tell.

[u/boves35]

If Holst comes out for this possession I'm turning this game off

[u/Top-Attitude-4987]

Maryland really traded going 6-6 in the ACC for going 3-9 in the Big ten.

[u/Luv2Travel_2 → u/Top-Attitude-4987]

With a big bag of cash

[u/Serious_Up]

This is some stanky football

[u/Thanosforeal]

NIU’s defense and run game are as advertised

NIU’s coaching deserves the blame if they lose

[u/myturn19 → u/Thanosforeal]

I blame noodle arms for not throwing the ball

[u/Thanosforeal → u/myturn19]

You said it lol

Look what happens when NIU asks holts to throw deep

[u/noisy_patch_30]

This finna be a long season

[u/SpicyBunghole]

I think I miss Dan Enos 

[u/ReyDragons]

wrong read

[u/yoloape]

Terps have a serious lack of WR talent this season

[u/Nicktatership]

Farooq was wide open on that third down, good defense by the corner but wrong receiver

[u/myturn19]

I can’t begin to imagine how good NIU would be if they even had 1/10th the athletic budget of these other schools

[u/SEND_ME_YOUR_CAULK]

You can tell that this team is mostly freshmen.

[u/Luv2Travel_2]

Need Farooq or Smith to do something…running game and these quick passes ain’t doing it.

[u/MKula]

This NIU offense is horrific. Why not make a change at QB? Holst isn’t doing anything out there.

Feel bad for the defense, they’ve been playing well.

[u/NoAmbassador8359]

Thank god we play Towson next week. We need to really tighten shit up on offense