NIU still controls its own destiny.

An opening weekend loss in Wisconsin was something that I expected, and I was actually encouraged by the Huskies’ determination to stick close to the Badgers. The loss was understandable.

The fact that NIU has three losses is as baffling as it is infuriating. Outside of being beaten 28-20 by Wisconsin, the Huskies have lost two football games by a combined four points. NIU was favored by more than a dozen points in each of its losses to Idaho and Toledo.

At least the Idaho debacle only decreases the Huskies’ chances of grabbing a bigger bowl bid. It is the heartbreaking and totally avoidable conference loss to Toledo that could come back to haunt NIU.

Despite these skeletons in the Huskies’ closet, they still have a legitimate shot at contending for the MAC Championship, a feat that NIU hasn’t accomplished since 1983.

The table is set for a November 27 matchup with Central Michigan, which by all indications doesn’t appear poised to lose anytime soon in conference play. Although, a non-conference trip to Boston College this weekend is enough to rattle any mid-major.

In losing to Toledo, the Huskies backed themselves into a corner with only one option — win out.
After back–to–back road contests, NIU returns to DeKalb for three straight home games against Akron, Eastern Michigan and Ball State. Those three opponents have combined for two victories this season.

Things only get better for the Huskies. Their next three opponents are averaging just 287.6 yards of offense while being outscored by an average of 11.8 points per game.

NIU head coach Jerry Kill’s message to his players only needs to be one word: tackle.

Tackling has been the downfall for an otherwise stellar defense. If the Huskies have any aspirations for a MAC Championship, then it is crucial they don’t allow the big play as they did in losses to Idaho and Toledo.

There really can’t be anything scarier to the Huskies on Halloween than missed tackles.

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