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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: Official Game 7 Thread: Northern Illinois
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Ted Thompson
10/12/2025 6:37 PM

Use this thread to talk about anything game-related. For away games, we'll have a separate travel thread.

Date: October 18th, 2025 3:30 PM

Opponent: Northern Illinois  (1-5, 0-2 MAC)

Site: Peden Stadium

TV/Webcast: ESPN+

Radio: The Varsity Network App (free) 

NIU statistics, roster and media guide

NIU message board:  NIU Dog Pound

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STVCastle
10/12/2025 9:19 PM
One quote comes to mind when thinking about this game:

"No more excuses."
Last Edited: 10/12/2025 9:19:49 PM by STVCastle
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71 BOBCAT
10/13/2025 6:38 AM
Amen






GO BOBCATS
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Andrew Ruck
10/13/2025 8:48 AM
It's been 9 days and I am still as disgusted and dejected as I was on game day. They need to murder NIU to get my confidence back that they can repeat as MAC champs.
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M.D.W.S.T
10/13/2025 9:34 AM
Even after a flat-out bizarre stumble, even more bizarre now that balls got whacked by western, they're still in the drivers seat. Time to act like it. Win and your in.
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colobobcat66
10/13/2025 11:35 AM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
It's been 9 days and I am still as disgusted and dejected as I was on game day. They need to murder NIU to get my confidence back that they can repeat as MAC champs.
I agree. Off the top of my head, that’s about the most deflating loss in a long time for me. Need to see lots of improvement to even think about another MACC.
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Ted Thompson
10/13/2025 2:42 PM

 

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Diamond Cat
10/13/2025 3:29 PM
Fiami at home against EMU - W. WMU is off. Look out to 10/25, WMU at Fiami will probably mean something as the season unfolds.
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GoCats105
10/13/2025 4:56 PM
Put these dorks in the dirt and wish them a grand goodbye to their new hilariously stupid conference.
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SBH
10/13/2025 5:55 PM
He looks too happy given the crapfest in Muncie.
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STVCastle
10/13/2025 7:35 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
He looks too happy given the crapfest in Muncie.
I think Smith is just keeping it cool here. Though I certainly hope the coaching staff has made the legit changes they needed to make during the Bye Week.
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M.D.W.S.T
10/15/2025 9:14 AM
STVCastle wrote:expand_more
He looks too happy given the crapfest in Muncie.
I think Smith is just keeping it cool here. Though I certainly hope the coaching staff has made the legit changes they needed to make during the Bye Week.
Yeah, he IS a cool customer.

Honestly, I think they likely turned the page. Especially after balls got walloped by Western. I think you just chalk it up to quicksand and have a short memory. We have more to play for than a shitastic loss at Ball State. They control their destiny. Time to win out.
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Turney13
10/15/2025 9:59 AM
I have eight available tickets in section 106 - free of charge - shoot me an email, tell me the number of tickets needed, first and last name, and one fun fact about yourself but make it Ohio University edition.

turneyiv@gmail.com
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71 BOBCAT
10/15/2025 3:43 PM
Now that we are halfway through the season, and after a loss, Brian continues to come across with very calm demeaner.
He mentions that the team needed this break and the coaching staff made the most of it.






GO BOBCATS
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colobobcat66
10/15/2025 5:44 PM
71 BOBCAT wrote:expand_more
Now that we are halfway through the season, and after a loss, Brian continues to come across with very calm demeaner.
He mentions that the team needed this break and the coaching staff made the most of it.






GO BOBCATS
We shall see the new, refreshed version on Saturday. We’ll see if the break made any difference.
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71 BOBCAT
10/16/2025 8:20 AM
Great point COLOBOBCAT66






GO BOBCAT
Last Edited: 10/16/2025 8:20:51 AM by 71 BOBCAT
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Pataskala
10/17/2025 9:40 PM
The big task for Ohio will be to stop NIU's running game. In the first two MAC games NIU is averaging just 100 ypg, dead last in the MAC. Ohio's pass defense is 5th in the MAC at 177.5, so they should be able to handle the Huskies. NIU's rushing offense is 4th in the league at 176 ypg (just behind Ohio) while Ohio's rushing defense is 7th at 176 ypg (just behind NIU's).

Ohio is +1 in turnover margin while NIU is -2. NIU is 12th in the league in 3rd down conversions (13%) while Ohio is 1st (48%). They're about even in giving up 3rd down conversions: NIU is 10th and Ohio 11th. But NIU has converted 71% of its fourth downs while Ohio is at just 25%. Just the opposite on opponents' fourth down coversions: Ohio just 33% and NIU 100% (three out of three).
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LuckySparrow
10/18/2025 11:07 AM
NIU's offense is HORRIBLE. They haven't score more than 20 pts in a game this season. This had better be an Ohio win, or this season is troubled and lost.

NIU 17
OHIO 28
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STVCastle
10/18/2025 12:02 PM
LuckySparrow wrote:expand_more
NIU's offense is HORRIBLE. They haven't score more than 20 pts in a game this season. This had better be an Ohio win, or this season is troubled and lost.

NIU 17
OHIO 28
Exactly.

If we can't even take down a team that looked helpless in that terrible 9-6 loss to San Diego State a few weeks back, and at home to boot, then we have no business talking about going back to Detroit. If we let NIU off the hook, our team has serious issues.

"No more excuses."
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Casper71
10/18/2025 3:43 PM
Glad to see, we learned to put the football into the end of the kickoff

Know if we could just stay on sides on the kickoff
Last Edited: 10/18/2025 4:01:44 PM by Casper71
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bobcatsquared
10/18/2025 3:56 PM
Up 14-0 in 1st qtr. . . just like OUr last game.
Last Edited: 10/18/2025 4:14:11 PM by bobcatsquared
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STVCastle
10/18/2025 3:57 PM
14-0 Ohio early.

Now unlike the Ball State game, let's keep our foot on the gas.
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Casper71
10/18/2025 4:24 PM
That’s it, real cute kick it short and let them run it back 80 yards. This is just plain stupid coaching.
So we scored the second half in the first kickoff is a stupid ass short kick the kids in the ball the 44 yard line. Stupidest coaches in the country when it comes to kickoff.
Last Edited: 10/18/2025 5:29:08 PM by Casper71
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bobcatsquared
10/18/2025 4:24 PM
And the one time we don't kick it off into the end zone?
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STVCastle
10/18/2025 4:25 PM
Special Teams garbage like that needs to stop. Seriously.
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