College football previews: Wisconsin vs. Northern Illinois

Posted September 16, 2011 12:00 am

NIU coach Dave Doeren spent the past five years as an assistant at Wisconsin, serving as defensive coordinator for the last three. Hell take the Huskies to Soldier Field on Saturday to play the Badgers. Photo courtesy of NIU

By Mike McGraw

mmcgraw@dailyherald.com

No. 7 Wisconsin (2-0) vs. Northern Illinois (1-1)

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Soldier Field, Chicago

TV: ESPN3

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

Series: Wisconsin leads 11-1 (Wisconsin won the last meeting 28-20 in 2009.)

Coaches: Dave Doeren (1-1, first year at NIU); Bret Bielema (51-16, sixth year at Wisconsin).

Wisconsin players to watch: QB Russell Wilson, a transfer from North Carolina State, is off to a fast start at his new school, completing 27 of 34 passes for 444 yards in the first two games. Slimmed-down RB Montee Ball has gained 181 yards, while WR Nick Toon has 9 catches for 123 yards. LB Mike Taylor was named Big Ten defensive player of the week for recording 9 tackles, a sack and forced fumble in the 35-0 win over Oregon State.

NIU players to watch: Fourth-year starting QB Chandler Harnish set career-highs last week with 27 completions and 404 yards of total offense against Kansas. The Bluffton, Ind., native has rushed for 169 yards on the season. Senior RB Jasmin Hopkins is the team’s top rusher with 185 yards on 27 carries. WR Nathan Palmer has 10 catches for 105 yards. On defense, the Huskies are hoping CB Rashaan Melvin (Waukegan) can return after missing the Kansas game with an injury.

The skinny: Northern Illinois’ offense is averaging 45.5 points, but the defense couldn’t stop Kansas, which scored on a 6-yard TD with nine seconds left to pull out a 45-42 win last week. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is coming off a shutout victory over Oregon State and has won 30 straight regular season nonconference games. This is the second Soldier Field home game for NIU, following a 17-3 loss to Iowa in 2007. The Huskies have beaten Big Ten teams the past two seasons (Minnesota and Purdue).

Fast fact: New NIU coach Dave Doeren spent the past five years as an assistant at Wisconsin, serving as defensive coordinator for the last three.

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema will be going against a familiar coach on Saturday when the Badgers travel to Chicago to play Northern Illinois. Bielemas former defensive coordinator, Dave Doeren, is now NIUs head coach. Associated Press

Wisconsins Nick Toon, right, is one of the explosive players that Northern Illinois will try to contain Saturday when the two teams meet at Soldier Field. Associated Press

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