Unsettled NIU makes first Tucson trip | Greg Hansen

First, NIU jumped from its long membership in the Mid-American Conference to the reshuffled Mountain West Conference this season. That means NIU will be playing road games at unfamiliar, far-away locations to face Wyoming, UNLV and San Jose State this season. Does that make any sense?

Worse, NIU head coach Tom Hammock jumped ship in February, taking a role as the running backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks. Instead of hiring a full-time replacement, NIU promoted defensive coordinator Rob Harley with the title of interim head coach. Good luck on that.

NIU went 3-9 last year and opens the season at Iowa, but it also can say that it won't be intimidated. In September 2024, NIU stunned No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.