Putting Up Numbers· college football

Northern Illinois @ Iowa

Sat, Sep 5, 2026 · Unranked at No. 22

Iowa 40, Northern Illinois 0Iowa was favored by 31.5, and Iowa covered.

Northern Illinois at Iowa: against expected, a game, this season, This game
a gameNorthern Illinois1 gameIowa1 game
Points−17.2+2.5
Points allowed+13.1−17.6
Total offense, yards−207+70
Total defense, yards+133−212
Touchdowns−2.1−0.5
Passer rating−48.7−33.2
Third downs−16.5%−5.5%
Sacks−1.4+3.6
Penalty yards+4.5+5.7
Turnovers forced−0.2+0.8
Turnovers lost+0.8−0.2

Each number is over (+) or under (−) what the team’s opponents usually allow, a game.

Who put up numbers

Iowa

Northern Illinois

Analysis

What was true going in. Each line says how it stood up, and how it came out.

Iowa

  • Iowa had beaten 10 straight unranked teams.streakthe runs →Extended to 11.
  • Iowa had covered 4 straight on the road.streakthe runs →This game didn’t count toward it.

The series

  • Iowa leads the series 10–1 since 1985. Iowa has won the last 2.seriesevery meeting →

If you squint

  • Iowa had covered 8 of its last 10.countits form →Now 9 of 11.
  • Iowa had won 8 of its last 10 at home.countits form →Now 9 of 11.
  • Iowa had won 7 of its last 10.countits form →Now 8 of 11.
  • Northern Illinois had lost 8 of its last 10.countits form →Now 9 of 11.

Every meeting

DateWhereScore
Sep 5, 2026at IowaIowa 40, Northern Illinois 0
Sep 1, 2018at IowaIowa 33, Northern Illinois 7
Aug 31, 2013at IowaNorthern Illinois 30, Iowa 27
Sep 1, 2012neutralIowa 18, Northern Illinois 17
Sep 1, 2007neutralIowa 16, Northern Illinois 3
Oct 28, 2006at IowaIowa 24, Northern Illinois 14
Sep 18, 1999at IowaIowa 24, Northern Illinois 0
Nov 6, 1993at IowaIowa 54, Northern Illinois 20
Sep 28, 1991at IowaIowa 58, Northern Illinois 7
Sep 20, 1986at IowaIowa 57, Northern Illinois 3

Method

  • Over or under is each game against what the opponent usually allowed, or usually scored, in its other games that season, with half the home edge, averaged over the team’s games. The ten biggest numbers in the league either way are lit.
  • “This season” and the analysis are the games through Sep 4, the day before, so the page says what was true going in. “This game” is the night’s own numbers against expected.
  • Touchdowns are passing and rushing. Turnovers are interceptions and fumbles lost. The passer rating is the NCAA’s over the team’s passers that game, and third downs and penalty yards are ESPN’s team box (sportsdataverse, CC BY 4.0). A night game kicked off at 6pm or later at the home team’s clock.
  • A game with no box score sits out.

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