College football preview: Northern Illiois at C. Michigan

By Mike McGraw

mmcgraw@dailyherald.com

Northern Illinois (2-2, 0-0) at Central Michigan (1-3, 0-1)

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Kelly-Shorts Stadium

TV: none

Radio: WSCR 670-AM, WLBK 1360-AM.

Series: (CMU leads 24-21-1; NIU won 33-7 last season)

Coaches: Dave Doeren (2-2, first year at NIU); Dan Enos (4-12, 2nd year at CMU).

CMU players to watch: After throwing 6 interceptions in four games, the Chippewas replaced junior QB Ryan Radcliffe, a returning starter, with sophomore A.J. Westendorp last week at Michigan State. Radcliffe is expected to start against NIU. Central has averaged just 3.0 yards per rushing attempt, even though the offensive line returned four starters. Freshman WR Titus Davis (Wheaton Warrenville South) caught a 67-yard TD pass in the season opener against South Carolina State.

NIU players to watch: Senior RB Jasmin Hopkins rushed for a career-high 143 yards on 22 carries last week against Cal-Poly. Senior QB Chandler Harnish ran for 118 yards, and completed 18 of 21 passes for 187. Senior MLB Pat Schiller (Geneva) led the Huskies with 11 tackles.

The skinny: Northern Illinois is favored to repeat as MAC West champion, while Central Michigan seems to be in a rebuilding phase under second-year coach Dan Enos. CMU has had 11 players make their first career starts so far this season. NIU rebounded from challenging losses to Kansas and Wisconsin by rolling to a 47-30 win over Cal-Poly last week. Central Michigan lost badly the past two weeks, 45-7 to Michigan State and 44-14 at Western Michigan.

Fast fact: Central Michigan coach Dan Enos started at quarterback for Michigan State in the 1989 and ‘90 seasons.