A Clash of Struggling Teams: Northern Illinois vs. Kent State

Northern Illinois and Kent State are set to face off in a MAC conference game on November 28th at 12 p. m. EST. This matchup features two teams with similar records and challenges. Northern Illinois has a 3-8 record, while Kent State sits at 4-7. Both teams have had a tough season. Northern Illinois has struggled to move the ball through the air, ranking 134th in passing offense. However, they have a solid rushing attack, ranking 47th in the FBS. Their defense has been decent, allowing only 349. 9 yards per game, which is 52nd in the FBS. Kent State, on the other hand, has a more balanced offense. They rank 101st in passing and 132nd in rushing. Their defense has been a concern, allowing 436. 8 yards per game, which is 129th in the FBS. Both teams have had issues stopping opponents on third down, with a 44. 2% conversion rate, tying them for 119th in the FBS. In the red zone, both teams have struggled. Kent State ranks 126th, scoring on 72. 2% of their trips, while Northern Illinois is 116th, scoring on 77. 3% of their chances. Kent State also has the shortest time of possession in the FBS, averaging just 27:42. Key players to watch include Northern Illinois' quarterback Josh Holst, who has thrown for 689 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Chavon Wright has rushed for 690 yards and three touchdowns. For Kent State, quarterback Dru DeShields has thrown for 1, 823 yards and 16 touchdowns, while running back Gavin Garcia has rushed for 496 yards and two touchdowns. In their last game, Northern Illinois lost 35-19 to Western Michigan. Brady Davidson led the team with 73 passing yards and one touchdown. Wright rushed for 92 yards. Kent State lost 28-16 to Central Michigan. DeShields had 185 passing yards and one rushing touchdown, while Garcia rushed for 77 yards. This game is a critical one for both teams. Northern Illinois needs to improve their passing game, while Kent State needs to tighten up their defense. It will be interesting to see how these teams perform under pressure.