University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
NIU
Football Faces NIU On The Road Saturday
September 30, 2024 | Football
Minutemen and Huskies kickoff at noon on CBSSN at Huskie Stadium.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 6 | Massachusetts (1-4) at Northern Illinois (2-2) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, October 5 | 12 p.m. |
| Location | DeKalb, Ill. | Huskie Stadium |
| Tickets | Purchase Tickets Here |
| Series History | Northern Illinois leads, 2-0-0 Last Meeting | Nov. 2, 2013 | Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass. | Northern Illinois 63, Massachusetts 19 |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Northern Illinois: Game Notes |
| Watch | CBS Sports Network |
| Listen | WHMP 101.5 FM, 1240AM & 1400AM | WCRN 830 AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device |
| Live Statistics | SideArm Stats |
| @UMassFootball | @FBCoachDBrown | |
| UMass Football | |
| UMass Football | |
AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts football takes on Northern Illinois on Saturday, October 5, on the road at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois, at 12 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
SERIES HISTORY
In a series that dates back to 2012, Massachusetts and Northern Illinois have met only twice, with the Huskies holding the series lead 2-0 (1-0 in DelKalb, Illinois).
The teams most recently met on Nov. 2, 2013 at Gillette stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, with Northern Illinois prevailing 63-19.
QUICK HITSThe Minutemen are one of 12 FBS teams without a fumble (lost) this season.
UMass ranks tied for 34th in FBS (of 133 ranked) in total defense, allowing 308.6 yards against per game (tied with Illinois).
The Minutemen have held opponents to a 19-for-59 mark (.322) on third down, which is tied with Marshall for 34th in FBS.
The Minutemen rank tied for 15th in the NCAA in plays per game (75.8) with North Carolina.
For the season, graduate student Jakobie Keeney-James has played five games while catching 20 passes for 406 yards and three touchdowns. His 406 yards rank 26th in FBS, while his 81.2 receiving yards per game rank 39th in FBS.
Jalen Harrell (at Miami) and Ryan Barnes (vs. CCSU) have each recorded their first career interceptions this season.
Five different Minutemen have rushed for a touchdown this season, including CJ Hester (2), Taisun Phommachanh (1), Jalen John (1), Brandon Campbell (1) and Jackson Paradis (1).
The Minutemen posted four pass breakups against CCSU, marking their third game of the season with at least four pass breakups (4 vs. Eastern Michigan and 9 at Toledo).
The Minutemen are 7-for-12 this season on fourth down.
POWER FOUR TRANSFERS FOR 2024
Massachusetts added 14 transfers into the program with previous power four experience:
Owen Anderson - Illinois
Brandon Campbell - Houston/USC
Sterling Galban - Texas Tech
Mao Glynn II - Cincinnati
Jaylen Hudson - Wake Forest
Frank Ladson Jr. - Miami/Clemson
Jaelyn Lay - Clemson
Jacob Lurie - Vanderbilt
Brandon McElroy - Arizona State
Etinosa Reuben - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Brayden Rohme - California
Benjamin Roy Jr. - UCLA
Sam Staruch - Michigan\
Paul Tchio - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Additional players on the 2024 roster who previously joined from the Power Four include:
Ryan Barnes – Notre Dame
John Burton – Arizona
RJ Edwards – Arizona
Jalen Harrell – Miami
Zukudo Igwenagu – Rutgers
Shambre Jackson – Florida State
Jalen John – Arizona
Steven Ortiz – Arizona/Minnesota
Taisun Phommachanh – Clemson/Georgia Tech
Tyler Martin – Arizona
Tyler Rudolph – Penn State
Isaiah Rutherford – Notre Dame
Matt Smith – Duke
Tyson Watson – Michigan State
Jermaine Wiggins Jr. – Arizona
THE CENTURY MARK...
Don Brown posted his 100th career win as a collegiate head coach in the victory over Central Connecticut State University (Sept. 21).
Brown's career total includes wins at Plymouth State, Northeastern and the University of Massachusetts.
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK
Massachusetts ranks third in FBS in average time of possession (35:44), trailing only fellow independent Oregon State (37:56) and Army West Point (36:31).
In total time of possession, UMass (178 minutes) ranks first, with Utah (177) in second (both teams have played five games).
MINUTEMEN IN THE NFL
Former cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2016-19) signed with the Eagles after three seasons with Indianapolis. After working back from a broken hand suffered in the preseason, Rodgers made his season debut against Tampa Bay on Sept. 29 and chipped in with a solo tackle and a blocked kick.
Former running back Ellis Merriweather (2020-22) was elevated to the Packers' active roster from the practice squad ahead of their season opener against the Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil. It was his first career regular season game on an active NFL roster, but he did not appear in the contest.
Former long snapper Evan Deckers (2018-21) won the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job out of camp and made his season debut in week one but was placed on the IR before week five.
Former defensive back Josh Wallace (2019-22) signed with Los Angeles Rams as a free agent after he graduated from UMass and spent his final season of eligibility with Michigan (2023).
Former offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson (2013-16) is on the practice squad for the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFL coaching ranks also include a lot of former Minutemen, including Tampa Bay Offensive Coordinator Liam Cohen (2004-08) and Chiefs Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen (1986-89).
RECEIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Wide receivers Jakobie Keeney-James (GS) and Jacquon Gibson (R-So.) stepped up for the Minutemen to turn in career-best days in the loss at Toledo.
Keeney-James caught six passed for 93 yards and a touchdown, which was his first as a Minuteman and the fifth of his career. His six receptions marked a career-high total.
Gibson hauled in a career-high six receptions to go along with a career-high 72 yards while also grabbing a career-long 39-yard reception in the second quarter (previous long was a 29-yard catch against Arkansas State on Nov. 11, 2022).
DUDES WITH DEGREES
Thirty-two Minutemen open the season having already earned undergraduate degrees. Seven of the 32 have degrees from UMass including Josh Atwood, Ethan Mottinger, Aaron Beckwith, Zukudo Igwenagu, Te'Rai Powell, Tyler Rudolph and Myles Turner.
Additional players with undergraduate degrees include Will Jones, Luke Painton, Brayden Rohme, Paul Tchio, Sterling Galban, Jakobie Keeney-James, Frank Ladson, Sam Staruch, Dom Mazotti, Jaelyn Lay, Matt Smith, Taisun Phommachanh, Ben Roy, Tim Grant-Randall, Brandon McElroy, Jaylen Hudson, Etinosa Reuben, Macklin Ayers, Leonard St. Gourdin, John Burton, Lake Ellis, Arsheen Jiles, Isaiah Rutherford, Jay Watkins and Jacob Lurie.
JK-J
Graduate student wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James has stepped up for the Minutemen this season and last weekend put together a career day at Miami (Ohio). He finished that game with a career-high 150 yards receiving on four catches, including a 66-yard touchdown catch. His 66-yard grab was also a career long.
For Keeney-James, it marked his second game of the season with 100-plus yards and second consecutive game with a touchdown. The 150 yards receiving were the most by a Minuteman since Andy Isabella had 303 yards against Liberty on November 3, 2018.
For the season Keeney-James, a native from Redlands, California, has played all five games while catching 20 passes for 406 yards and three touchdowns. His 406 yards rank 26th in FBS, while his 81.2 receiving yards per game rank 39th in FBS.
