Scouting: NIU @ Miami Ohio

Northern Illinois (3-3, 1-1) at Miami Ohio (0-7, 0-3)

When: Noon Saturday at Yager Stadium, Oxford OH

Pay TV: MAC-sports.com; Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Series: Miami leads 7-6

Coaches: Jerry Kill (9-10, second year at NIU; 113-67 in 16th year overall); Mike Haywood (0-7 in first year at Miami)

Players to watch: NIU might not have sophomore QB Chandler Harnish, who hurt his knee in last week's loss at Toledo. If he can't go, soph DeMarcus Grady and senior Ryan Morris (West Chicago) are the alternatives. LB Cory Hanson's 3 interceptions lead an opportunistic defense that helps NIU rank third nationally in turnover margin at plus-10. RB Me'co Brown leads the MAC in rushing (559 yards) while Chad Spann leads in scoring (10 TDs)

Miami QB Zac Dysert, a strong-armed redshirt freshman, has fired 9 interceptions in the last four games. He hasn't been helped by a line that has allowed a national-worst 31 sacks, though he has a knack for scrambling as his 107 rushing yards against Kent State attest. Sophomore LB Jerrell Wedge leads an improving defense with 64 tackles and 10 tackles for loss.

The skinny: The RedHawks have lost their last 12 games, but they larded this year's non-conference schedule with No. 4 Boise State, No. 5 Cincinnati, Northwestern and Kentucky - to whom they lost by a combined 134-13 score. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois' three losses have been by a total of 12 points against teams with a collective 15-6 record. NIU should be in decent hands on Miami's homecoming even if Harnish can't play, even though Grady has thrown just 4 passes since starting NIU's 17-13 win over Miami last Oct. 11. He showed marked improvement during the spring and summer.