Northern Illinois Eyes Another Week 2 Upset

NIU Seeks Another Week 2 Upset, This Time at Maryland

A year ago, Northern Illinois sent shockwaves through college football by upsetting Notre Dame in South Bend. While Friday night’s clash with Maryland won’t carry quite the same weight, it does present the Huskies with another opportunity to spoil the early-season optimism of a Power Five program.

NIU enters 1-0 after a narrow win over FCS foe Holy Cross, while Maryland started strong with a dominant 39-7 home victory against Florida Atlantic. The Week 2 primetime showdown will be nationally televised — and it could be a springboard for whichever team seizes the moment.

Maryland’s Malik Washington Debuts in Style

All eyes in College Park are on true freshman quarterback Malik Washington, who dazzled in his collegiate debut. The highly touted recruit completed 27 of 43 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns — all of them in the final eight minutes of the first half against Florida Atlantic.

“This kid is mature beyond the years,” said Terrapins coach Mike Locksley. “He really took it on himself to make the plays when it mattered.”

Washington’s calm presence and command of the offense were welcome sights for a program trying to rebound from a disappointing 4-8 campaign in 2024.

Maryland Week 1 Key Stats

Category	Stat
Final Score	Maryland 39, FAU 7
Malik Washington	258 YDS, 3 TDs
Total Offense (Team)	453 YDS
Turnovers	0

Locksley knows Week 2 presents a new challenge — and the chance to prove last week wasn’t a one-off performance.

NIU Looks to Recapture Magic Despite Roster Turnove

Last year’s upset over Notre Dame came with a more veteran-laden squad. This time around, Northern Illinois features nine new starters on both offense and defense, and a quarterback still getting comfortable in the pocket.

Josh Holst, last season’s backup, managed the game against Holy Cross, going 12-for-18 for 101 yards with one interception. He’s more dangerous on the ground than through the air, and his mobility may be key to avoiding Maryland’s defensive pressure.

NIU’s offense leaned heavily on its run game, with Chavon Wright and Telly Johnson Jr. combining for 144 yards on 32 carries. A game-changing 96-yard kickoff return from Dev’ion Reynolds proved decisive in the 19-17 win.

NIU Week 1 Offensive Breakdown

Player	Stat Line
Josh Holst (QB)	12/18, 101 YDS, 1 INT
Chavon Wright	11 CAR, 77 YDS, 1 TD
Telly Johnson Jr.	21 CAR, 67 YDS
Dev’ion Reynolds	96-YD Kickoff Return TD

While the win wasn’t pretty, it gave the Huskies a foundation to build on — and another chance to play spoiler.

What’s at Stake?

For Maryland, this game is about building momentum and showing consistency under a new signal-caller. For Northern Illinois, it’s an opportunity to claim another Power Five win and boost the confidence of a young roster.

A win for the Huskies wouldn’t make national headlines like last year’s shocker in South Bend — but it would certainly turn heads.

Betting Insights

This matchup is already drawing interest from bettors watching for potential upset alerts. Check the latest:

Maryland opened as a double-digit favorite, but NIU’s track record of Week 2 chaos could make them a sneaky underdog pick.

Maryland Terrapins vs Northern Illinois Huskies Picks and Predictions September 5th 2025