Venue, Date & Time
Location: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois
Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (DeKalb, IL)
Conditions: Sunny, mild fall afternoon
Temperature: ~74°F (23°C) at kickoff
Wind: 6–9 mph
Impact: Excellent football weather, minimal effect on passing/kicking
Injury Report
San Diego State Aztecs
No major injuries reported; QB Jayden Denegal and RB Lucky Sutton expected to start.
Northern Illinois Huskies
No significant injuries reported; QB Josh Holst remains starter despite early struggles.
Key Player Matchups
QB Jayden Denegal (SDSU, 529 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT) vs. DB Muhammad Jammeh (NIU, 17 tackles, 1 INT)
Denegal is mistake-free so far; Jammeh is NIU’s top ballhawk.
RB Lucky Sutton (SDSU, 249 yds, 3 TD) vs. LB Quinton Urwiler (NIU, 34 tackles)
Sutton ranks 3rd in Mountain West rushing; Urwiler leads NIU in tackles.
WR Jordan Napier (SDSU, 241 yds, 1 TD) vs. CB Jasper Beeler (NIU, 16 tackles)
Napier is Denegal’s go-to target; Beeler must contain him.
RB Chavon Wright (NIU, 214 yds, 1 TD) vs. LB Owen Chambliss (SDSU, 18 tackles, 2 TFL)
Wright is NIU’s most consistent runner; Chambliss is SDSU’s run-stopper.
QB Josh Holst (NIU, 327 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT) vs. DL August Salvati (SDSU, 3.5 sacks)
Holst has struggled under pressure; Salvati leads SDSU’s pass rush.
Recent Team Forms
San Diego State (2-1)
W 42–0 vs. Stony Brook
L 13–36 @ Washington State
W 34–0 vs. California
Trend: Defense elite (12 PPG allowed, 10th nationally); offense improving.
Northern Illinois (1-2)
W 19–17 vs. Holy Cross
L 9–20 @ Maryland
L 10–38 @ Mississippi State
Trend: Offense struggling (12.7 PPG, 136th nationally); defense solid early but fades late.
Conference Context
San Diego State: Final season in Mountain West before joining restructured Pac-12.
Northern Illinois: MAC member, set to join Mountain West in 2026.
Cross-Conference Note: A rare meeting between current MW and MAC, soon-to-be conference mates.
Series History
All-time H2H: San Diego State leads 6–0
Last Meeting (2017): SDSU 34–28 win in San Diego
Largest Margin: SDSU 47–6 in 1967
Trend: Aztecs have never lost to NIU, outscoring them 228–96 overall
Betting Trends
San Diego State:
2–1 ATS in 2025
1–2 O/U this season
6–0 all-time vs. NIU
Northern Illinois:
1–2 ATS in 2025
0–3 O/U this season
0–6 SU vs. SDSU historically
Historical Betting Results
2017: SDSU -9.5 covered, won 34–28 (Over 48)
2016: SDSU -13 failed to cover, won 42–28 (Over 48)
Overall: SDSU 2–0 ATS in last two meetings; both games went Over.
Game Odds
San Diego St. Aztecs – 1.5
Northern Illinois Huskies 42.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
