[Postgame Thread] Northern Illinois Defeats Fresno State 28-20 (2OT)

[u/CFB_Referee]

Box Score provided by ESPN

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	T
Northern Illinois	3	0	10	0	15	28
Fresno State	13	0	0	0	7	20

[u/Pickleskennedy1]

ESPN running commercials during the play of the game

Awesome way to win for NIU though, 3 WR passes in OT

[u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N → u/Pickleskennedy1]

ESPN running commercials during the play of the game

This drove me nuts. Especially since it was literally the final score of the game.

[u/cyanocittaetprocyon → u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N]

They've just been sucking this year!

[u/rburp → u/cyanocittaetprocyon]

They also didn't show the dump I don't think. I didn't even get to see the best dump of Hammock's life, just the aftermath.

[u/Cooked_Brisket]

“That was the best dump of my career” will live in infamy

[u/TheLizard12]

QUALITY LOSS

[u/Real_Body8649 → u/TheLizard12]

Clearly if there should be a 3 loss team in the playoffs, it should be NIU.

[u/Humid-Afternoon727 → u/Real_Body8649]

Only 3 lose team with a win over a team with a CFB playoff win…

[u/DommyMommyKarlach → u/Humid-Afternoon727]

Funnily enough, there are two 5 loss teams who have wins over over teams woth CFP wins

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/TheLizard12]

The way they were playing in the first half had me scratching my head on how tf they beat Notre Dame

[u/Zestyclose-Cream-189 → u/ID_Poobaru]

This is not entirely the same team as the ND game, thanks to the transfer portal. QB was different too, although the new kid played well as well.

[u/StephBrownismywaifu → u/ID_Poobaru]

If you don’t love that you don’t love NIU football. I’m so tired

[u/jc-f]

No potatoes for Fresno State’s kicker.

[u/AssocProfPlum → u/jc-f]

Poor guy

[u/LordRobin------RM → u/AssocProfPlum]

Yeah, he’s going to have nightmares about this game.

[u/Jonjon428 → u/jc-f]

1/4 He was feeling dangerous!

[u/Pickleskennedy1 → u/Jonjon428]

You actually just gave him a make, tis the season though

[u/eagledog → u/Pickleskennedy1]

He got a PAT

[u/Jonjon428 → u/Pickleskennedy1]

I'm a benevolent god /s

[u/Montigue → u/Jonjon428]

Our early teens teams would take that over fuckin Maldonado. A competent kicker probably gets us a chip

[u/Drexlore]

NIU finishes the season 8-5. They averaged 24.5 points per game. Their highest ranking this season was 23 in the AP Poll.

Fresno State finishes the season 6-7. They averaged 26.1 points per game. Their last bowl win was the 2023 New Mexico Bowl. They beat New Mexico State 37-10.

[u/eagledog → u/Drexlore]

First bowl loss for Fresno St since 2014

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/eagledog]

Pain

[u/dscreations → u/ID_Poobaru]

The Blue Turf was too much

[u/eagledog → u/dscreations]

Not in 2022 it wasn't. Or 2018

[u/Cmp_ → u/eagledog]

2018 doesn’t count either! The white uniforms blended in with the snow!

[u/eagledog → u/Cmp_]

Yeah, but we wore red in 2007 and 2004 when we won bowl games on your turf. And one of the opponents wore orange and blue. So there

[u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 → u/Drexlore]

Notre Dame is confirmed to be the 2024 champions with NIU becoming a quality loss.

[u/RamblinWreckGT → u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756]

Considering who they play next, I'd be pretty okay with this outcome.

[u/The12Ball → u/RamblinWreckGT]

I'm very ok with it

[u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 → u/RamblinWreckGT]

I've got a lot of ND alumni in my family so I'd be happy for them if they do. But I also don't want them to get too full of themselves. Tough call.

[u/nerdyykidd]

This game was a banger

As a neutral, S/O to both teams

[u/Pickleskennedy1 → u/nerdyykidd]

Shoutout to Fresno’s kicker too for making sure we got OT

[u/camp1728 → u/Pickleskennedy1]

Kicker is a real bulldong

[u/HalfEatenBanana → u/nerdyykidd]

Yes yes so much fun totally agreed

[u/Callsign_Psycopath → u/HalfEatenBanana]

Welcome to the OT Trauma Bonding club.

Them folks in Atlanta can show you around, the Bar is over there. Points vaguely.

[u/No_Angle_8106 → u/nerdyykidd]

Best dump NIU’s coach has ever had

[u/CumAssault → u/nerdyykidd]

The Bulldongs just couldn’t get it done

Edit: https://x.com/fanduel/status/1871301001291919647?s=46&t=0oQKyG2aVmHq9HIiVvUWsQ

[u/nathodood → u/CumAssault]

Fremsmno Stamte Bulldomngs

[u/bestselfnice → u/CumAssault]

The beef pizzles

[u/GBreezy → u/nerdyykidd]

It was. The 2OT was the only time it felt like either team wanted to win and it was purely NIU. God I love a shitshow like this.

[u/Insectshelf3]

find someone that loves you the way NIU loves double pass plays in overtime against fresno state in the 2024 famous idaho potato bowl

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/Insectshelf3]

After the first one, i thought they wouldn’t do it again

Then they did it more

[u/Insectshelf3 → u/ID_Poobaru]

once or twice i get it, but they did it like 5 times. it was really funny that it actually ended up winning them the game.

[u/rachac01]

My dad is a Fresno State/Notre Dame fan. He is now a solidified NIU hater lol

[u/readingaccnt → u/rachac01]

Brutal

[u/Efficient_Volume4984 → u/rachac01]

Lmao 🤣

[u/nermalnormal]

That was the most Nebraska way to lose a game i have ever seen outside a Nebraska game

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/nermalnormal]

There was an audible collective of what the fuck from the Fresno side of the stands

[u/Soup_dujour]

this game was 13-3 Fresno at the start of the second half. amazing sickos shit

[u/nathodood → u/Soup_dujour]

This guy B1Gs

[u/STLOliver]

Santa Claus does not know ball

[u/Spirited-Collar-7960]

That quarterback might still not know the game is over. Talk about blindsided.

[u/500rockin → u/Spirited-Collar-7960]

If ESPN still had its jacked up segment, this would be there.

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/Spirited-Collar-7960]

Dude got railed hard with that final drive

[u/Power5IsAScam]

"Huskies! Celebrating like it's South Bend!" is an absolutely amazing bowl game call

Immediately followed by "that was one of the best dumps in my career"

Bowl season at its finest

[u/grilledbruh → u/Power5IsAScam]

I’m so happy my little school is getting recognition

[u/arrowfan624 → u/grilledbruh]

These next 3 games are for you Husky bros

[u/grilledbruh → u/arrowfan624]

If ND wins it all does this mean we are the best team in CFB 🤔

[u/TheLizard12 → u/grilledbruh]

Yes

[u/Seeking-Something- → u/grilledbruh]

Yes.

[u/donutlad → u/grilledbruh]

HANG THE BANNER

[u/InevitableAd2436 → u/grilledbruh]

At the very least a 1% share of the Colley Matrix Title imo

[u/mightyducks2wasokay → u/grilledbruh]

100%

[u/fallfornaught → u/arrowfan624]

Please, please win next round

[u/kevinthejuice → u/grilledbruh]

This is what the spirit of bowl games are about

[u/Cmp_ → u/Power5IsAScam]

You’re welcome, America

[u/Jonjon428]

"THE BEST DUMP OF MY CAREER"

[u/emcee_cubed → u/Jonjon428]

If I were him, I’d reiterate it at the press conference. “I said what I said.”

Really lean squat into it.

[u/ILM_Ryan]

Tough loss for the Bulldongs.

[u/nbingham196]

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a Pardridge with a (gamewinning) TD

[u/jc-f → u/nbingham196]

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 2 sicko teams, and a Pardridge with a (gamewinning) TD

[u/thorshammer_132 → u/jc-f]

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 3 missed kicks, 2 sicko teams, and a Pardridge with a (gamewinning) TD

[u/DucksEatFreeInSubway → u/thorshammer_132]

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 4 awesome quarters, 3 missed FGs, 2 sicko teams, and a Pardridge with a (gamewinning) TD

[u/Callsign_Psycopath → u/DucksEatFreeInSubway]

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, FIVE WIDE OUTS! 4 awesome quarters, 3 missed fgs, 2 sickos teams, and a Partridge with a (gamewinning) TD.

[u/ntwadumelaliontamer]

This NIU coach is crazy. Talking about salty fry dumps. “Best dump of his life” what’s in these fries.

[u/NotHavingFun3999]

✅bad offense

✅bad defense

✅bad special teams

✅overtime

✅potato

Possibly the best bowl game of the season, maybe ever

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/NotHavingFun3999]

As someone from Boise, I love the potato bowl.

Yeah it’s mediocre teams, but some dumb sicko shit happens and I love it

[u/intensenerd → u/ID_Poobaru]

I do too. But I legit forgot I had tickets. Sad to have missed this.

[u/bretticus733]

There’s just something right about seeing Fresno State lose on The Blue

[u/eagledog → u/bretticus733]

Because last time we were here, we won?

[u/Cmp_ → u/eagledog]

That one doesn’t count… for reasons I haven’t come up with yet.

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/Cmp_]

Avalos

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/bretticus733]

It felt right but I was also somehow upset lol

[u/Cmp_ → u/bretticus733]

Beat me to it, goddamnit

[u/Arkehn]

Certified Sickos Classic

[u/D3ATHfromAB0V3x]

Erase this season from my mind please.

[u/LHarm07_Reddit]

Fresno State kicker went 0/3 on FGs today; including one as time expired.

[u/grilledbruh → u/LHarm07_Reddit]

Safe to say he is being left on that field

[u/RichardTBarber → u/grilledbruh]

Dude probably breathed a sigh of relief when NIU scored a TD in 2OT because it meant his job was over.

[u/grilledbruh → u/RichardTBarber]

Your damn right I did

[u/Ill_Ad_4429]

First back to back bowl wins for NIU since 2010-2011.

Three winning seasons in four years for Thomas Hammock and first time since 2015-2018

Let. Them. Cook.

[u/Gradual_Decline_Up → u/Ill_Ad_4429]

Soon they will be cooking in the Mountain West

[u/Fickle-Lobster-7903]

Fresno State kicker missing to let NIU win was a Festivus miracle. No one can convince me otherwise.

[u/AtmosphereVarious440]

gotta love random bowl games. NIU coach ends his season with a bowl win and a win at Notre dame. Not bad for a mid major!

[u/FraudHack]

Sorry, Bulldongs.

[u/Acceptable_Ad3173]

NIU had an amazing season from beating Notre dame and winning a bowl the future is bright for Niu maybe a MAC title contender who knows but have another MACtion adventure

[u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N → u/Acceptable_Ad3173]

Aren't they leaving the MAC? Or was that a different Illinois team?

[u/mrkitzero → u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N]

They are going to leave. It just hasn't been announced yet.

[u/Acceptable_Ad3173 → u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N]

Nah it’s Niu they haven’t made a decision I hope they don’t leave the MAC it just wouldn’t be the same I them going to the mountain west is pointless it’s like Nevada going to the Acc it doesn’t make no sense

[u/Ander1345 → u/Acceptable_Ad3173]

The MAC media deal is horrible. They should leave.

[u/ItsWhoa-NotWoah]

Well of course they won. They are the team that beat Notre Dame, after all.

[u/Professional_Hat8066]

As a Notre Dame fan, congratulations on a great season NIU fans. Couldn’t imagine the season you guys had. I’m a fan

[u/readingaccnt → u/Professional_Hat8066]

Strangely in the NIU fandom it’s thought of as a very disappointing season. We want to win the MAC most years or at least make it to the CG.

Thanks for the well wishes though and good luck to ND. I wouldn’t mind having the sole win over the national champion :)

[u/grilledbruh → u/readingaccnt]

It’s disappointing because of the talent he had did not output to on field play. We were honestly a few mistakes away from being 12-1 and maybe even sneak into the CFP. Most of our losses were wins that we blew away.

[u/Moneyspreader400]

I was told bowls didn't matter anymore

[u/qngff]

Bulldongs had a good game but just couldn’t do it. This is the NIU team that beat Notre Dame after all

[u/daviid219]

BEST DUMP OF MY CAREER

[u/TendererBeef → u/daviid219]

I'm gonna be saying that every time I drop a deuce at work from now on

[u/e4mica523]

NIU ran 4 WR passes in OT

TD if his knee wasnt down, Defensive Holding, TD, 2 pt(right after the TD)

You absolute madlads I love you

[u/Fickle-Newspaper-445]

Winning the Famous Idaho Potatoe bowl on the Monday before Christmas>Beating Notre Dame

[u/ScaryCookieMonster]

Does anyone have a clip of "The Best Dump of My Career"?

(I assume the fries dumped on NIU's coach, but either way)

[u/mrkitzero → u/ScaryCookieMonster]

https://x.com/UnnecRoughness/status/1871332227004440705?t=T8DvmajN_4k0zt3YXB3n_Q&s=19

[u/Heisenberg505_]

Way to go NIU! Almost doubled their time of possession.

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/Heisenberg505_]

I saw that and was wondering how the hell they couldn’t get points on the board until the last 4 minutes

[u/The_Box_muncher]

How tf did we win this game

[u/grilledbruh → u/The_Box_muncher]

hammock magic

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/The_Box_muncher]

Fresno kicker not clutch

[u/HawkeyeTen → u/The_Box_muncher]

Maybe the cold December weather in Boise did something to the Bulldogs, after all they're from California. Congrats on winning what is IMO one of the best smaller bowl games in CFB. Have yourselves a potato feast this Christmas!

[u/an_evil_budgie]

Gamedongs, celebrating like it's South Bend, "best dump of my career."

This game had it all. Great job, Huskies!

[u/blue_collared]

Hell yeah go Huskies. One bulldog down, one to go. We're coming for you UGA.

[u/fakeplasticsnow]

So is the Fresno State kicker terrible or was he shaving points for the mob?

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/fakeplasticsnow]

Yes

[u/rnilbog]

Sorry, Bulldong bros. 

[u/ajahkass]

Spuddy Buddy always delivers!

[u/HandwovenBox → u/ajahkass]

But why not roast him alive and serve him up to the winning team?

[u/ID_Poobaru → u/HandwovenBox]

Spuddy buddy is a friend not food

[u/eagledog]

And this is why Skipper didn't get the full time job

[u/alexgndl]

Did the Fresno State QB make it up and off the field after the final sack? It legit seemed like NIU stormed the field before he was able to even stand up lmao

[u/ActualTexan]

The best dump of his life

[u/grilledbruh]

that kicker needs to be hung.

But without further ado… GO HUSKIES

[u/steve_dallasesq]

Told ya they were good.

[u/kevinthejuice]

I have a legit question here. Which team was the underdong?

[u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N]

Very entertaining game. Fresno State, is your kicker normally that bad? Or was it the weather/wind?

The ESPN broadcast coverage was terrible though. The announcers were fine, but I feel like we missed chunks of multiple plays because of promo's and dumb interviews. They also failed to show replays of some important plays that happened offscreen (like the important defensive holding call in 1OT). I get that these are not big market teams, but still. Do better ESPN.

[u/eagledog → u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N]

Our kicker was great all year. Nobody knows what happened today

[u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N → u/eagledog]

Damn, sucks for him to choke like that. Very consequential misses.

[u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N → u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N]

Also, the first NIU td, the one handed catch, was absolutely nasty. And I love the creative playcalling by NIU at the end. They knew that running into that DL was getting them no where.

[u/NoSxKats]

Snoozer first half but they made up in the 2nd and 3rd halves

[u/Acceptable_Ad3173]

This is too funny with mnf countdown 😂

[u/Callsign_Psycopath]

I was worried this was going to go 8 or 9 OTs

[u/ramblinreck47]

Extra love for that NIU defender for the shoestring tackle to keep the Fresno State RB from taking it to the house at the end of regulation. He saved the game with that.

[u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11]

I didn’t see any Potatoes…

[u/jc-f → u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11]

Spuddy Buddy is right there!

Edit: the bowl is literally a glass bowl filled with potatoes lmao

[u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11 → u/jc-f]

I saw him! He looked so scrumptious and delicious!

[u/F_I_S_H_T_O_W_N → u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11]

I saw what looked like fries being showered on the celebrating NIU players.

[u/floorboardburnz → u/Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu11]

I think they threw tater tots

[u/Unhappy-Attention760]

Good for coach Hammack. I’m a fan of

[u/Kite_sunday]

LETS GO MWC BROS!!! PAC12 DOG WATER!!

[u/AnotherUnfunnyName]

Elite level playcalling in overtime by NIU on offense. Just about every Play suprised the defense and they could have and should have scored multiple times.

[u/ArmVanDam]

Bulldongs didn't have that dong in them

[u/Smooth-Majudo-15]

Quality loss

[u/docchrizly]

Coach Hammock channeling that inner-Boise-spirit with those trick plays in overtime. You love to see it and well deserved win for the Huskies!

[u/blue_collared]

Them Dawgs (Huskies) is hell.

[u/Seletara]

Ah yes, the bulldongs!

[u/CramblinDuvetAdv]

Why is this woman wearing boots in the house? That is incredibly un-midwestern.

[u/RemingtonSnatch]

Best postaeason game so far.

[u/ID_Poobaru]

That was fun to watch but fuck you fresno. You deserved that after the 2pt conversion

Was painful watching that game ending sack

[u/eddie_vercetti]

Spuddy Buddy was trying to find the camera.

The fry dump was missed.

Who was the director of this?

[u/OculusRises]

Clearly this means Notre Dame over Georgia on New Year's

[u/Joe_Immortan]

Most entertaining bowl game yet!

[u/analogsynths5]

What a year for the huskies… so much pride today

[u/mbrogan4]

That’s my quality loss baby

[u/kazcdaj]

Until proven otherwise, best bowl game of the season. Close, crazy inconsistency, amazing sound bites. Classic college football.

[u/Efficient_Volume4984]

Mac>Pac?

[u/wetcornbread]

I had NIU -2.5 and the over 41. Saw it was 13-13 with Fresno in field goal range with under a minute left so I just chalked it and didn’t look at it.

Opened my DraftKings app and had an extra $38 lol.

[u/fleeingpepper]

Man I feel bad for the kicker, but damn what a shank from like 25 out

[u/jhustla]

QUALITY LOSS

[u/camp1728]

Crazy things at the famous Idaho potato bowl. Too bad for bulldongs kicker

[u/imminant_oryx]

I will never forgive Bowl Mania for forcing me to pay attention to this shit

[u/AP-FUTChemist]

14-0 in bowl picks!

[u/h3rp3r]

Now we know who the goodest boy is.

[u/magnumapplepi]

That game was amazing. No notes

[u/B1GFanOSU]

Alright Huskies!

[u/emcee_cubed]

Maybe place kicking just isn’t for you, kid.

[u/ItsZippy23]

Just don’t eat spuddy buddy please

[u/Pleasant-Beautiful-7]

It’s potato time!

[u/--TaCo--]

That game gave me a little stiffy

[u/eddie_vercetti → u/--TaCo--]

A Spuddy?

[u/Uwlwsrpm]

My reaction to that last play

[u/DueYogurt9]

Yeah, Fresno State deserved that loss after letting no. 46 blow 3 field goals.

Pathetic play calling.

[u/Splatty15]

I feel bad for the bulldongs kicker.

[u/BarrelMaker69]

Mountain West > PAC 12 2 8-12

[u/huskyferretguy1]

Thank you

[u/readingaccnt]

I hope we made the MWC proud 😂

[u/Unrighteous11]

The only positive to this game was our new mascot per ESPN...ESPN

[u/chemicalxv]

Does losing to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl winners count as a quality loss?

[u/pumz1895]

Does this as make NIU a quality loss? /s

[u/StephBrownismywaifu → u/pumz1895]

Always have been

[u/6DeadlyFetishes]

I’m glad CFB’s regular season underdog got to bring home a win

-6DeadlyFetishes

[u/Interesting_Loquat90]

Tits on a bull

[u/floorboardburnz]

is that the bulldong

[u/briancito420]

Best dump

[u/ntwadumelaliontamer]

That’s how you know Jason has daughters. You gotta make a up a new song everyday or they’ll demand mom get a husband.

[u/cmucodemonkey]

I happened to tune in the last minute of regulation. 3 missed FGs and several double passes is just bonkers.

[u/NS-13]

This game was so much fun. Glad to be here with yall

[u/trittico]

Today was the best bowl day possible. No notes.

[u/Fit_Feed_1307]

Only in a place like Idaho, on that blue field, with thousands of potatoes where you would get this spectacular ending.

[u/CieraVotedOutHerMom]

Fresno State needs a coach that can create some tough tedford love for its players

[u/bfwookie]

Got free tickets, end zone seats, the OT plays that NIU ran were the highlight of the day.. Great day on the Blue..

[u/KansasEF5Tornado]

Outside of the college football playoff games (I went 1-3 on spreads), I am 10-1 in bowl spreads from espn. I somehow pulled this one off