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Notre Dame College Football 2024: 5 Things to Know About Northern Illinois, Week 2

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Notre Dame College Football 2024: 5 Things to Know About Northern Illinois, Week 2


Beware of the letdown.

Notre Dame started the 2022 season at Ohio State and fought the good fight in a 21-10 loss that was far better and tougher than the final score.

The Buckeyes came within a missed walk-off field goal of almost certainly winning the national title, and the Irish held CJ Stroud and company to just those 21 points. One week later, Marshall walked into South Bend, scored 26, and left town with a fat check and a stunning upset win.

This year, Notre Dame starts out the season against Texas A&M in what should be a whale of a fight in College Station. But there’s no need to worry about Northern Illinois a week later, right? It’s just a MAC team, and it’s not even a great one this season like Miami University likely will be.

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The RedHawks come into town two weeks later on the Irish slate, there’s a road game at Purdue to prepare for in Week 3, and …

Northern Illinois 27, Boston College 24. That was the 2023 season opener.

In 2021, NIU beat Georgia Tech, the 2017 team shocked Nebraska, and the 2015 version balled out against a LOADED Ohio State team in a 20-13 loss.

Again, beware of the letdown, Irish.

The 5 things you need to know about the Huskies, Irish fans, are …

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NIU’s biggest strength should be a deep and experienced group of targets that just got a little bit better.

Grayson Barnes is a dangerous tight end who can stretch the field, Trayvon Rudolph led the team with 51 grabs, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer Kenji Lewis averaged 23 yards per catch at his former school. However …

Northern Illinois has traditionally been about a grinding ground game. It has been a long, long time since a Huskie O finished the season with the quarterbacks completing over 60% of their throws – it was 2015.

The Irish can take their chances that NIU won’t hit the short-range shots and worry about the deep plays and third down opportunities.

If there’s a pass rush on this year’s NIU defense, it probably won’t get going here.

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The 2023 Huskie defense was good overall, and the 23 sacks weren’t awful, but 15 of them came in four games against bad offensive lines. Northern Illinois might have the best secondary in the MAC, but it won’t matter much if Irish QB Riley Leonard has time.

The Irish should be able to strike quickly and won’t care too much about controlling the clock, but if they can lean on the offensive front to pound out a few long drives, all will be okay.

Last year’s NIU team lived on control and time of possession, and it’ll be more of the same. But bad things happened when the defense got plowed on, going 0-5 when allowing 180 yards or more. It all ties together – run, don’t let the NIU offense get control and make it have to throw.

There’s no need to take a bunch of chances here, and focus will mean everything. It might seem basic, but don’t lose the turnover battle, control the clock, and don’t get hit with a ton of penalties.

How did Northern Illinois beat Boston College last season? The Eagles hit just 45% of their passes, they let the game stay close throughout, and ten penalties for 93 yards were a killer.

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That, and the Huskies had the ball for almost 37 minutes.

Early Summer Notre Dame vs Northern Illinois Prediction
This can and will change when we do this for real when the season starts. Call this the soft-opening first call. The Irish lines will overwhelm the Huskies, but it’ll take about a half to get comfortable.

Notre Dame 38, Northern Illinois 13
Full breakdown of Northern Illinois here in the 2024 season preview

Notre Dame and the Expanded College Football Playoff: No Bye? No Problem



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Illinois

Vice President Harris calls family of woman shot to death in Illinois

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Vice President Harris calls family of woman shot to death in Illinois


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Vice President Kamala Harris called the family of Sonya Massey, the Black woman who was shot to death in her home in Illinois by a sheriff’s deputy. Massey’s father said Harris expressed her condolences to the family. New details emerged about the shooting and the background of the former deputy, Sean Grayson, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder. NBC News’ Maggie Vespa reports.



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Sonya Massey, shot by Illinois sheriff’s deputy, died of gunshot wound to the head, autopsy finds

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Sonya Massey, shot by Illinois sheriff’s deputy, died of gunshot wound to the head, autopsy finds


CHICAGO (CBS) — Authorities in central Illinois on Friday released an autopsy report that confirmed 36-year-old Sonya Massey died of a gunshot wound to the head, after she was shot by a sheriff’s deputy in Springfield earlier this month.

According to the autopsy report from the Sangamon County Coroner’s office, Massey was shot just beneath her left eye, and the bullet exited the back of her upper neck. The bullet caused a skull fracture, perforated her carotid artery, and caused bleeding in her brain.

Massey also suffered minor blunt force injuries to her right leg.

Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in Massey’s death. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and is being held in the Sangamon County Jail while he awaits trial. He was fired by the sheriff’s office after the shooting.

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After learning of the autopsy results on Friday, Massey’s family said they are still struggling mentally and emotionally nearly three weeks after her death.

“I haven’t been able to sleep for real. The only time I really feel comfortable sleeping is when I’m just on the floor. I can’t even sleep in my bed,” said her son, Malachi Hill-Massey. “I really don’t have words. Like I’ve been said, I don’t have words for real.”

Massey’s uncle, Raymond, said her daughter has been “having nightmares to the point where we have to check the room.”

“It just makes me so angry to see my family hurt as they do,” Raymond said.

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Watch Live: Family of Sonya Massey discuss shooting after autopsy results | CBS News Chicago by
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Bodycam video shows sheriff’s deputy shooting Massey inside her home

Authorities said Massey, a Black mother of two, called 911 in the early morning hours on Saturday, July 6, to report a suspected prowler outside her house near Springfield, Illinois.

The bodycam video shows Grayson and his partner, who are both White, arriving at Massey’s home, and searching outside the house and talking to Massey at the front door. They are later seen inside her home, and Deputy Grayson instructs Massey to check on a pot overheating on the stove, saying they don’t need a fire in the house.

Massey went to turn off the flame and picked up the pot. She asked where the deputies were going, to which Grayson replied, “Away from your hot, steaming water.”

Massey replied, “Away from my hot, steaming water?” and then twice said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

“You’d better f***ing not. I swear to God, I’ll f***ing shoot you right in your f***ing face,” Grayson said. He then raised his gun and yelled at Massey to “drop the f***ing pot!”

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Massey is seen apologizing and ducking for cover. Grayson opens fire—three shots are heard.

Massey’s family and friends claim authorities tried to cover up the fatal shooting

The family said if it weren’t for the bodycam video of the shooting that was released on Monday, no one would know the truth.

Massey’s friends and family have said police first suggested it was a neighbor who had a previous dispute with Massey who shot her, and then later suggested the shooting was self-inflicted.

Massey’s oldest son, Malachi, said no one from law enforcement ever told the family who actually shot Massey. He said he didn’t learn until he saw it on the news the next day.

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Sonya Massey shooting: Illinois State Police release bodycam

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Sonya Massey shooting: Illinois State Police release bodycam


National outrage continues after Illinois State Police released new bodycam video of a sheriff’s deputy fatally shooting a Black woman in her home. Two officers were at Sonya Massey’s home to investigate reports of a prowler in the neighborhood. Please be warned that the video may be disturbing for some.



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