Boston College Eagles vs. Northern Illinois Huskies: Game Thread (1 PM, ESPN3)

Northern Illinois Huskies (2-1, 0-0 MAC) vs. Boston College Eagles (2-1, 0-1 ACC)

Time: 1 PM
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2015
Place: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Capacity: 44,500

TV: ESPN3
Announcers: Bob Picozzi (play-by-play), Tom O'Brien (color analyst)
Radio: BC IMG Sports Radio Network, WEEI 850 AM
Sirius/XM: Sirius/XM 192
Announcers: Jon Meterparel (play-by-play), Pete Cronin (analyst), Scott Mutryn (sidelines)
Official Boston College Twitter Feed: @BCFootballNews
Official No. Illinois Twitter Feed: @NIU_Football
Hashtags: #NIUvsBC #BCFootball #WeAreBC #SOAR

Spread: BC favored by 4.5
Sagarin Rankings: BC #57 (72.14), NIU #68 (68.79)

Excitement Level: 7/10. We would be lying if we said most of this wasn't nervous energy. This feels almost like the start of the season all over again. After three games, fans will once again get their first look at BC's new starting quarterback, and after all of the discussion this week, this is one of those games where you're not really sure what to expect. Factor in that NIU just took Ohio State to the limit and have been an elite MAC program for their entire previous recruiting cycle, and all of a sudden, this is going to turn into an exciting game.

Series: BC leads, 1-0
First Meeting: 1971 (BC won, 20-10)
Last Meeting: 1971 (BC won, 20-10)

Series History:

W - November 13, 1971: Boston College 20, No. Illinois 10

Trends: Boston College is 38-8 all-time against the MAC with 20 straight wins...current AD of football personnel Barry Gallup is the only member of the BC football staff was on staff for the 1971 game (as BC freshman coach)...NIU is 1-8 lifetime against the ACC...Their only win came in 2002 against Wake Forest (42-41)...NIU hasn't played an ACC school since 2013 when they lost to FSU...BC's last loss to a "MAC school" came in 1978 when they lost to UMass (27-0)...NIU ranks 43rd in total offense while BC ranks 109th, but NIU is only 41st in scoring offense while BC is 51st...BC ranks #1 nationally in total defense, rushing defense, passing defense, and passing efficiency...BC also ranks 30th in time of possession.

Heading to the game? Got some thoughts as the game progresses? Leave them below! #SOAR!