| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILST | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| NIU | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
Northern Illinois renews rivalry, beats Illinois State 24-10
Ross Bowers finds Tyrice Ritchie who takes off for a Norther Illinois touchdown. (0:27)
DEKALB, Ill. -- Ross Bowers threw a pair of touchdown passes to Tyrice Ritchie, including a 66-yard fourth-quarter bomb to put the Huskies on top for good, and Thomas Hammock won his coaching debut at his alma mater as Northern Illinois knocked off Illinois State, 24-10 in a season opener Saturday night.
The game marked the 57th meeting between the in-state rivals, but the first since September 9, 2000 when the Huskies pummeled the Redbirds 52-0. Hammock made his first career start at tailback for NIU in that game, rushing for 140 yards on 29 carries.
The teams traded first-half field goals and neither team managed to get into the end zone until Bowers found Ritchie from 22-yards out with 2:11 left in the third quarter.
Illinois State answered on its next series when Brady Davis found Taylor Grimes with a 42-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter. On the first play of the Huskies' next possession, Bowers hit Ritchie on a short pass that turned into a 68-yard go-ahead score. Jalen McKee added a 32-yard interception return of a Davis pass with 2:31 left to set the final score.
Bowers was 20 of 33 for 299 passing yards with an interception. Ritchie finished with three catches for 102 yards. Tre Harbison carried 23 times for 99 yards.
Northern Illinois held the Redbirds to just 51 yards rushing. Davis was 14 of 32 for 187 yards.
College Football News
![]()
Demetric Felton's NFL draft profile
Check out the best highlights from UCLA RB Demetric Felton's college career.
![]()
Noah Gray's NFL draft profile
Check out the best highlights from Duke TE Noah Gray's college career.
![]()
William Bradley-King's NFL draft profile
Check out the best highlights from Baylor DE William Bradley-King's college career.
![]()
Rondale Moore's NFL draft profile
Check out the best highlights from Purdue WR Rondale Moore's college career.
![]()
Former USC Trojans offensive lineman Chris Brown dies at 24
Former USC offensive lineman Chris Brown has died at age 24, coach Clay Helton tweeted.
![]()
South Dakota State earns top seed for spring FCS playoffs
South Dakota State, which will make its 10th FCS playoff appearance, opens against Holy Cross.
2020 Missouri Valley Football Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State | 5-1 | 5-1 |
| Missouri State | 5-1 | 5-4 |
| North Dakota | 4-1 | 4-1 |
| North Dakota State | 5-2 | 6-2 |
| Southern Illinois | 3-3 | 5-3 |
| Northern Iowa | 3-4 | 3-4 |
| South Dakota | 1-3 | 1-3 |
| Illinois State | 1-3 | 1-3 |
| Western Illinois | 1-5 | 1-5 |
| Youngstown State | 1-6 | 1-6 |
2020 Mid-American Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 5-0 | 6-1 |
| Kent State | 3-1 | 3-1 |
| Miami (OH) | 2-1 | 2-1 |
| Ohio | 2-1 | 2-1 |
| Akron | 1-5 | 1-5 |
| Bowling Green | 0-5 | 0-5 |
| TEAM | CONF | OVR |
| Ball State | 5-1 | 7-1 |
| Western Michigan | 4-2 | 4-2 |
| Toledo | 4-2 | 4-2 |
| Central Michigan | 3-3 | 3-3 |
| Eastern Michigan | 2-4 | 2-4 |
| Northern Illinois | 0-6 | 0-6 |