UMass NIU may seem like a meaningless Wednesday night #MACtion clash, but both sides have much to prove. UMass may have its best chance at avoiding its first winless non-pandemic season since 1927, while
NIU hopes to build much-needed momentum in a rebuilding year. Wednesday night’s contest features two offenses desperately needing a breakout performance, each ranking near the bottom of the FBS in points per game. Something’s got to give on a weeknight in Amherst, right?
Game Notes
- Time and date: Wednesday, November 11, 2025, at 7 PM Eastern time
- Location: McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst, MA
- TV options: ESPNU (a valid subscription is required)
- Radio options: The UMass broadcast will feature Jay Burnham (play-by-play),Matt Goldstein (color), and Nathan Strauss (sideline). Available at WHMP-FM 101.5 FM and 1400 AM or the Varsity Sports Network. Andy Garcia (play-by-play) and Mark Lindo (color) will provide the NIU call for WKDB 94.9 FM and the NIU Huskies app.
- Gambling considerations: WMU is favored by 11.5 points, with an over/under of 43.5, per FanDuel.
- All-Time Series: NIU is 3-0, winning the last meeting 34-20 in 2024.
About the NIU Huskies
NIU has felt the growing pains of new quarterbacks throughout the season. The Huskies enter the game averaging just 107 passing yards per game. Josh Holst and Brady Davidson have split the snaps throughout the year, throwing just five touchdown passes to six interceptions. Holst has started seven out of nine games, including the last three. Luckily, Holst should have a rare breakout against a secondary that has a 24-to-4 TD-INT ratio. NIU could exceed the 200-yard mark in the passing game all year against a secondary that has been a revolving door of late and is allowing 254 yards per game.
Of course, if NIU had its way, it would avoid throwing the ball entirely. The running back duo of Telly Johnson Jr. and Chavon Wright carries the offense. The two have a combined 1113 yards and five touchdowns on the year. In the Huskies’ lone FBS win this year against Ball State, Johnson carried the ball 37 times for 166 yards, while Wright had 15 attempts for 100. Holst only threw the ball eleven times.
Although the Minutemen have holes in the secondary, they have arguably bigger problems in the front seven. UMass allows 189 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry. Jordan Gant ran the ball with relative ease against UMass last week, with 153 yards on 28 carries. Johnson and Wright should have no issue taking the pressure off Holst and the struggling passing game.
When the Huskies do throw, DeAree Rogers will likely be the target. Rogers has 41 catches this year to lead the team. The next most prolific wide receiver, behind running back Telly Johnson Jr., is George Dimopoulos, who has 11 catches for 58 yards. This game could be a good opportunity for Holst to spread the ball around. Last week, despite only completing 14 passes, Akron’s Ben Finley connected with six different receivers.
The Huskies’ strength is their defense, which allows a respectable 24 points per game. The defense should have no issues containing a Minutemen squad averaging 11 points per game and scoring less than 10 against FBS opponents. Roy Williams (11 QB hurries, two sacks) leads a pass rush that should thrive against an offensive line that has allowed 27 sacks. Linebackers Quinton Urwiler (110 tackles, 6 TFLs) and Filip Maciorowski (67 tackles, 4.5 TFLs) should make the UMass run game earn every yard. Finally, NIU’s secondary matches well against a UMass squad with one receiver, Jacquon Gibson, accounting for over a quarter of their receptions. Defensive backs Jasper Beeler, James Finley, and Muhammad Jammeh all have two interceptions.
About the UMass Minutemen
The UMass Minutemen could not find any rhythm on offense last week against Akron. A 47-yard rush by Grant Jordan accounted for 28 percent of their yards. The offense had the closest thing resembling a spark with Jordan at the helm, yet the depth chart lists AJ Hairston as the starter. Hairston has 866 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions on the year. Like his counterpart, Holst, Hairston does best when the UMass run game thrives.
Brandon Hood showed flashes of brilliance against Buffalo with 179 yards, the most yards by a UMass back since Kay’Ron Adams ran for 234 against Army in 2023. However, Hood came back to earth in the last two games with a combined 16 carries for 30 yards over the last two games. Rocko Griffin, the Minutemen’s second-leading rusher, is still nursing an injury after missing nearly the whole month of October. Griffin is not listed on the depth chart for this week. Freshman Elijah Faulkner and journeyman Juwaun Price will take turns giving Hood a break.
Jacquon Gibson is the headliner in the receiving corps with 42 receptions for 393 yards. Jake McConnachie (14 catches for 134 yards) and Donnie Gray (17 catches for 195 yards) have seen their roles gradually increase over the season. Tight end Max Dowling had a 77-yard touchdown against Buffalo, but has been limited since then.
On defense, the Minutemen have suffered from injuries. Still, edge Marques White has been a bright spot throughout the year with 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Defensive tackle Timothy Grant-Randall anchors the middle with 25 tackles and three tackles for loss. The loss of linebacker Timmy Hinspeter for the season was devastating, but Tyler Martin (72 tackles) and Rashad Henry (48 tackles) have filled in admirably. Henry was disruptive against Akron with 16 tackles. The Minutemen will need the front seven to force NIU into passing situations.
Despite NIU’s ineffectiveness through the air, the secondary has concerns. DD Snyder and Jeremiah McGill are the only defensive backs to notch interceptions, with one apiece. Furthermore, the cornerback position has been a revolving door lately, with three different corners starting games at one of the slots. Brennen Bailey and Raheim Sexil have both made their first starts of the season in the last two weeks. Still, this unit can build confidence against the inept NIU passing game.
Prediction
The year has been forgettable for both schools. Both schools have offensive issues. However, NIU’s running game and body of work this year gives them the advantage of UMass. Nevertheless, UMass should be competitive, but offensive woes will hinder the Minutemen. Northern Illinois’ defense is the backbone of this team and the Minutemen will be hard-pressed to find any rhythm against this unit.
NIU 17, UMass 3
