Iowa opens its 2026 season on Saturday afternoon with a nonconference game against the Northern Illinois Huskies.
The Hawkeyes are big favorites to start their season with a win, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to worry about in this game. The Huskies have been prone to pull off some huge upsets in recent years. Most notably, they went on the road and took down a top-5 Notre Dame team back in 2024.
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Head coach Thomas Hammock has kept the Huskies fairly competitive since taking over the program in 2019. They’ve been to three bowl games in Hammock’s tenure, winning two of them. And the program is undergoing a huge change this season, moving from the MAC to the Mountain West Conference.
Northern Illinois isn’t flashy, but there is some talent on that roster that Iowa will have to contend with over the weekend. Here’s a look at some key Huskies to watch for in Week 1:
2025 stats (with Western Carolina): 74.2% completion, 3,508 passing yards, 38 passing TDs, 2 INTs
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Dickens is expected to win the starting quarterback job for the Huskies, and for good reason. The Western Carolina transfer stunned the college football world when he ended up at Northern Illinois in early July following a stint with North Carolina. The 5-foot-11 signal caller was electric in 2025, being both highly efficient and explosive in the passing game. Dickens is a talent you don’t often see at a mid-major program. Iowa will need to make sure they contain him on Saturday.
2025 stats: 124 carries, 712 yards, 4 TDs, 5.7 yards per carry
Johnson is the most experienced and talented returning skill position player for Hammock and the Huskies. The 5-foot-11 running back was great last season, even though he was splitting carries with Chavon Wright. With Wright out of the picture, the backfield will be led by Johnson. The Hawkeyes must control the line of scrimmage in this game. The Huskies know Iowa has a brand-new defensive line entering the season. Expect a heavy dose of Johnson running the football this weekend.
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2025 stats: 46 receptions, 506 yards, 3 TDs
The Huskies also return their leading receiver from last season in DeAree Rogers. The 5-foot-11, Lexington, South Carolina, native found a way to put up good numbers in 2025, despite very inconsistent quarterback play. He accounted for nearly half of Northern Illinois’ total receiving yards last season. Now that Dickens is in the fold, Rogers may have the quarterback play he needs to fully break out. He’ll need to be priority number one for Iowa’s secondary.
2025 stats: 21 total tackles, 2 sacks
Northern Illinois doesn’t return a ton of experience or production from last year’s defense. Thomas is the marquee returner for Hammock’s defense. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound defensive lineman provided a little splash last season in limited snaps. He’ll face a tough matchup against a great Iowa offensive line, but could do some damage while that group gels.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football opponent preview: NIU players to watch for
