NCAAF Game Preview - Northern Illinois at Utah
Sat Sep 7, 2019 1:00 PM EDT

TxAM
10
Clem
24
F
NMS
10
Bama
62
F
Murr
17
UGA
63
F
SD
14
Okla
70
F
Cin
0
OSU
42
F
LSU
45
Tex
38
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Army
21
Mich
24
F(1OT)
Tul
6
Aub
24
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UT-M
0
Fla
45
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NIU
17
Utah
35
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Cal
20
Wash
19
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13
PSU
45
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6
Oreg
77
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0
Wisc
61
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UCF
48
FlAtl
14
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WestMI
17
MSU
51
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0
Iowa
30
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Syr
20
MD
63
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NoCol
17
WaSt
59
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Stan
20
USC
45
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Marsh
7
Boise
14
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Neb
31
Colo
34
F OT
Wake
41
Rice
21
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W&M
17
UVA
52
F
SacSt
7
AzSt
19
F
Ohio
10
Pitt
20
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(N/A)
23
Kent
26
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WVU
7
MIZ
38
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Sou
24
Mem
55
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BGSU
0
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52
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OD
17
VaTec
31
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ChaSo
10
SCar
72
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Vand
24
Purd
42
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UAB
31
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20
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WCU
0
NCSt
41
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10
GATec
14
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29
Ball
57
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TnTec
17
MiaOH
48
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SMiss
15
MissSt
38
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Gram
14
LT
20
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SIU
45
UMass
20
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E Il
0
Ind
52
F
Ill
31
UConn
23
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Rich
13
BC
45
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UNCC
41
App
56
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WIl
13
ColSt
38
F
UTSA
14
Bayl
63
F
SDSU
23
UCLA
14
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ULMon
44
FlaSt
45
F OT
StFPA
7
JMU
44
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Maine
18
GaSo
26
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GWebb
9
ECU
48
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NCAT
13
Duke
45
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(N/A)
0
SamHu
77
F
Furm
42
GASt
48
F
Chat
20
JacSt
41
F
Wyo
23
TxSt
14
F
JacSt
14
SoAl
37
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NorTx
27
SMU
49
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McNee
14
OkSt
56
F
TnSt
26
MidTN
45
F
CoCar
12
Kans
7
F
BYU
29
Tenn
26
F(1OT)
E Ky
0
Lou
42
F
W Ky
20
FLInt
14
F
Stony
7
UtSt
62
F
Ark
17
Miss
31
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Lib
14
ULLaf
35
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E Mi
17
KY
38
F
UTEP
3
TxTch
38
F
PVAM
17
Hou
37
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MiaFL
25
UNC
28
F
Tuls
34
SJSU
16
F
ArkSt
43
UNLV
17
F
MIN
38
Fres
35
F(1OT)
NoAZ
41
Ariz
65
F
OreSt
28
Hawaii
31
F
N. Illinois-Utah Preview
Fri Sep 6, 2019 1:17 PM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah's defense already looks as strong as advertised.

The No. 14 Utes come into their home opener against Northern Illinois on Saturday tied for first nationally in defensive touchdowns.

Their ability to force turnovers and convert those miscues into points played a key role in the Utes' 30-12 dismantling of rival BYU to open the season. Utah scored off interception returns by Francis Bernard and Jaylon Johnson and totaled 20 points overall from three turnovers.

This isn't a trend limited to a single game or opponent. Utah's coaching staff drills a mantra of "four and a score" into players' heads from spring to fall. The Utes make it their primary goal to create at least four turnovers and score a defensive touchdown in every game.

"It just drives us to be ball hawks," Johnson said. "We always want the ball, whether it's fumbles or interceptions. Anything we can do to get the ball, we just want to do it."

Turnovers proved pivotal when Utah faced Northern Illinois a year ago. The Utes pulled away for a 17-6 win when Chase Hansen returned an interception for a touchdown with 2:36 left. Utah forced two turnovers and limited the Huskies to 228 yards. It helped the Utes overcome a pair of turnovers from their own offense.

"Northern Illinois is a team that gave us fits last year," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We were lucky to escape there with a win."

The Huskies appear capable of making it tough again in the rematch.

Northern Illinois won 24-10 over Illinois State in its opener after quarterback Ross Bowers put up some big numbers in his debut. Bowers, a graduate transfer from California, threw for 299 yards and a pair of second-half touchdowns. His passing helped the Huskies rebound from a listless first half on offense.

It also complemented a defensive effort that saw Northern Illinois hold the Redbirds to 238 total yards. The Huskies clinched a win on Jared McKie's 32-yard interception return with 2:31 remaining.

"I just really liked the fight of our team," first-year coach Thomas Hammock said. "Our players did not flinch. They stayed in the moment. They handled adversity. They handled the pressure."

Here are other things to know when Northern Illinois visits Utah on Saturday:

KICKING SHUFFLE

Utah will use two kickers Saturday. Freshman Jadon Redding will get the call for field goals and PATs while UCLA transfer Andrew Strauch will handle kickoffs.

Whittingham made the switch to Redding after Strauch missed a PAT and a 25-yard field goal against BYU. Redding took over in the fourth quarter after Strauch's field goal miss and kicked the PAT on each of Utah's final two touchdowns.

RISING UP

A knee injury in spring ball forced Daniel Crawford to sit out the entire 2018 season. Now Crawford is back and showing signs he may become a top target for Bowers in 2019.

The redshirt senior caught three passes for 75 yards against Illinois State. Crawford had catches of 45 and 27 yards to set up field goal attempts for Northern Illinois. Coming into the season, he had totaled just 65 yards on seven catches for his career.

RUNNING STRONG

Northern Illinois experienced more success than any other team in containing Zack Moss last season, holding him to a season-low 66 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

Doing it again will be easier said than done.

Moss opened his senior season by churning out 187 yards and a touchdown against BYU. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry against the Cougars. Moss has rushed for at least 100 yards in his last four contests dating back to October and is coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons.

"He is put together as well as any back we've ever had come through here," Whittingham said.

ERROR FREE

Utah entered the week as one of 22 FBS teams that didn't turn the ball over in Week 1. The Utes were also one of 28 FBS teams that didn't allow a sack. Two freshmen, Braeden Daniels and Johnny Maea, made their first career starts on the offensive line against BYU.

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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

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