Fresh off a statement win and with big momentum the Aztecs travel to DeKalb for an away contest against the embattled but stoic Northern Illinois Huskies
WEEK 5: San Diego State Aztecs vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
WHEN: Saturday, September 27th, 2025, 12:30 PM PST | 3:30 PM EST
WHERE: Huskie Stadium; DeKalb, Illinois (28,211)
TV: ESPN +
STREAM: Mountain West Network (www.themw.com)
SERIES RECORD: SDSUleads 6-0. Last match: Sept. 30, 2017- Aztecs won 34-28 (SDCCU) ODDS: San Diego State -3
DeKalb, Illinois– The SDSU Aztecs (2-1, 0-0 MW) head east to take on the NIU Huskies (1-2, 0-0 MAC) in their fourth contest of the season. SDSU waged a dominant performance last week by shutting out the heavily favored California Golden Bears 34-0 at Snapdragon Stadium, under head coach Sean Lewis. The dominant victory was SDSU’s first statement win of the Lewis era, and marked the first time in 50 years an Aztecs team has shut out a power conference team. The stellar performance has fans thinking “I believe…” once again.
Nevertheless, many caution the Aztecs against overconfidence. While the ceiling is high for this 2025 squad, and as Sean Lewis may finally be finding his sea legs, SDSU must exercise incredible diligence, because they will be in enemy territory this week to face a very desperate foe. For further caution: this game may be reminiscent of a MAC grudge match.
Now, let’s take a closer look at NIU.
GET TO KNOW THE HUSKIES
NIU has won five MAC championships in the past 15 years. In 2021 the Huskies defeated Coach Lewis and Kent State for championship number five. The Huskies managed twelve bowl trips over twenty years, including three visits to San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl.
NIU won two bowl games in the past two years, including the 28-20 2OT win against Fresno State in last year’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Last year, the Huskies also went to South Bend, Ind., and bested #5 Notre Dame 16-14.
Head coach Thomas Hammock, a former Huskies running back from 1999-2002, has acted as running backs coach for several programs over 20 years, including landing the job at the Baltimore Ravens (2014-18). Six years ago, he became head coach for his alma mater.
It should surprise nobody that NIU’s offense is run-game centered. This season, NIU ran the ball 60% of the time. The Huskies average 161 rushing yards a game, and 114 passing yards.
On offense, QB1 Josh Holst has gone 40 of 63 for 327 yards. He has a touchdown and two interceptions. Chavon Wright is the Huskies’ top running back with 214 yards and one touchdown on 51 carries. Telly Johnson Jr. is right behind Wright with 199 yards and a touchdown on 37 carries. Receiver DeAree Rogers leads the team with 173 yards and one touchdown on 16 receptions. Rogers is Holst’s top target.
At the time of this writing, NIU ranks 135th among FBS teams for points per game this season (12.7), and 135th among FBS teams for 1st downs this season (44). Huskies offense has struggled terribly in their past two games.
On defense, NIU has allowed 25 points a game (80th) and 333.3 yards in total offense (106th). The Huskies even gave up 29 points per game over the past two games.
Linebackers Quinn Urwiler and Filip Maciorowski are the team’s top tacklers with 34 and 20, respectively. Urwiler leads the MAC in tackles. Junior safety Jasper Beeler forced NIU’s only fumble, and fellow safety Muhammad Jammeh, grabbed NIU’s sole interception.
THE AZTECS FRESH OFF A BIG STATEMENT WIN
In their game versus California last Saturday the Aztecs scored 13 points in the second quarter and 14 more in the third on the way to their nice 34-0 shutout win. QB1 Jayden Denegal went 15-of-18 for 189 yards and a score, while Lucky Sutton led the rush with 61 yards and a touchdown of his own on 12 runs. Jordan Napier was Denegal’s top target with 9 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown.
At the time of this writing, San Diego State ranks T1st among FBS teams for red zone percentage this season (100.0), but also 133rd among FBS teams for 1st downs (49). The win against California represented the first time in 50 years that the Aztecs shut out a power opponent. SDSU previously shut out Oregon State 25-0 on September 13, 1975.
The Aztecs and Sean Lewis will be in enemy territory, and despite last week’s accolades and NIU’s losses they must work to maintain control of this game, given their result at Washington State where the team’s confidence rode high before entering a tailspin. The Aztecs cannot let Huskies fans enter their headspace and Lewis must keep the team and himself focused.
KEYS TO A SAN DIEGO STATE VICTORY
1. Run, Rinse, Repeat
Mississippi State recorded 292 rushing yards against the Huskies, averaging 6 yards per carry. NIU defense could not stop them. Mississippi State running back Fluff Bothwell, had over 100 yards rushing, and Davon Booth and Xavier Gayten, each added touchdowns on the ground. Bothwell noted the Bulldogs got into a rhythm and said the Mississippi line was consistently able to clear a path. If the Aztecs lean on the run game this Saturday, the result could be very prolific.
2. Hurry Josh Holst
If the Aztecs defense is able to effectively and repeatedly collapse the pocket, it’s going to put a ton of pressure on quarterback Josh Holst to hurry his plays. In haste, the Aztecs might find greater opportunities to sack Holst; limit NIU’s run, rack up tackles for losses, force fumbles and pick off passes. A hurried Holst will be a panicked, less focused Holst.
3. Turnover Tenacity
Holst averages more interceptions than touchdowns. Meanwhile, SDSU safety Chris Johnson leads the Mountain West Conference in forced fumbles this season. That’s a recipe for turnovers. Strong defense facing off against underperforming offense will be a catalyst for mistakes, forced fumbles, interceptions, and the like. During their game against Cal, the Aztecs forced fumbles and made interceptions. They can act out the same strategy against Northern Illinois and capitalize.
PREDICTION
Lewis first met Hammock at Wisconsin in 2004. Lewis said, “Our paths run deep with one another. We’ve battled. The last time, we met he kicked my tail in the MAC championship game.” Lewis and Kent State also fell 41-23 to Hammock and NIU for the 2021 MAC crown.
With that history, on the road, Lewis might find Hammock drawing him back into an old MAC chess match. If Lewis were to take the bait: this time around he has Aztec football firepower. It’s notable that the last two back-to-back NIU losses were against power foes, so the Aztecs cannot bolster the idea that NIU isn’t a capable program.
Nevertheless, this game favors SDSU. So long as the Aztecs do not underestimate NIU’s home field advantage- and the team’s sheer desperation to return to a 2-2 record entering conference play, and so long as the Aztecs stay focused they should be able to wage a road victory, even if the Huskies fight like hell to mitigate further losses.
FINAL SCORE
San Diego State 35, Northern Illinois 13
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