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The Runout: Previewing Indiana football’s Week 2 game against Western Illinois

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The Runout: Previewing Indiana football’s Week 2 game against Western Illinois


BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football isn’t just playing Western Illinois on Friday night. 

“You are fighting human nature,” coach Curt Cignetti said during his weekly appearance on Inside Indiana Football. 

Cignetti was referencing the fact that Western Illinois comes to Memorial Stadium riding a 25-game losing streak that dates back to 2021. The program has changed coaches three times since its last winning season in 2017. 

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Indiana football built up a bit of momentum with a 31-7 win over FIU in the opener, but Cignetti wants to make sure his team doesn’t get tripped up by overlooking a clearly inferior opponent. 

More: Will Indiana football WR Donaven McCulley be available against Western Illinois?

Jump into our weekly preview, The Runout, for what stood out during the week, players to watch, a prediction and more:

Indiana football vs. Western Illinois: Tale of the tape

  • When: Friday, Sept. 6 at 7:00 ET
  • Where: Memorial Stadium (52,626), Bloomington, Indiana
  • TV: Big Ten Network
  • Line: N/A
  • Series: This is the first meeting between the programs

More: What are the most important stats from Indiana football’s win over FIU? Consider these

Indiana football players to watch vs Western Illinois

Myles Price, WR

Price has been looking for his second career 100-yard receiving game since 2021. He first reached the milestone when he had nine catches for 175 yards for Texas Tech in a win over Iowa State. 

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He might not be able to surpass that total on Friday night, but the speedster should be in line for a big day against a Western Illinois secondary that gave up 394 passing yards in its season opener against Northern Illinois.

Price, who had four catches for 29 yards, forced three missed tackles in the opener. 

He’s going to be hard for the Leathernecks to contain in the open field — their defense combined for 11 missed tackles — and gave up four receptions of 20 yards or more through the air for 173 yards and three scores. 

Trey Wedig, OT

Indiana’s offensive line had a strong showing in the run game. 

The group consistently won at the point of attack and played with a physicality that’s been lacking the last few seasons. Things weren’t as clean when IU dropped back to pass, and Wedig struggled more than the rest of his linemates.

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The Hooisers gave up six quarterback pressures in the season-opener and Wedig gave up half of them, according to Pro Football Focus. He had the lowest pass-blocking rating among the starters at 48.2 on 35 snaps. 

Some growing pains were to be expected considering Wedig hadn’t played tackle in a game since 2022, but a bounceback performance would help give him some confidence with a UCLA team with a much more imposing defensive front on deck. 

The Bruins had five sacks and 11 tackles for loss in their opener against Hawaii. 

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Andrew Turvy, DE

Turvy played more snaps in the season-opener than his first two seasons at Indiana. 

He played the fourth most snaps of IU’s defense ends ahead of scholarship players like Jacob Mangum-Farrar (11) and Venson Sneed Jr. (11). He was plenty productive as well with three quarterback pressures including a sack.

Will Turvey be a one-hit wonder or land a permanent spot on the two-deep? The role is there for the taking since the Hooisers don’t have a ton of depth at defensive end behind Mikail Kamara and Lanell Carr. 

More: Curt Cignetti said not to expect too many freshmen to play. He meant it.

Indiana football: Week 2 Odds and Ends

Tip of the cap: Indiana football tackled pretty well for a team that only went full contact in practice one time during the offseason. Cignetti was pleased with how IU’s defense swarmed to the ball — he said they consistently had  “multiple hats at the point of contact” — and it was a key factor in limiting FIU to just three explosive plays. 

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Heavy plate: Indiana’s starting safeties Shawn Asbury II and Josh Sanguinetti were basically interchangeable on Saturday. The Hoosiers also had multiple guys on the defensive front (Mikail Kamara and Marcus Burris) rotating between defensive end and tackle. Those roles could change week-to-week based on defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ game plan, but he clearly values versatile players that allow him to throw different looks at the competition.  

“Inexcusable”: Indiana was called for nine penalties for 80 yards in the opener and seven of those were called on the offense. Cignetti addressed the topic after the game, during his press conference on Monday and again on his weekly coach’s show. He said the team had some issues with penalties during a pair of scrimmages during fall camp as well. It’s clear the offense isn’t getting a mulligan on those miscues and have to clean things up in a hurry to tamp down Cignetti’s frustration. 

Indiana football stat of the week

25: Here’s a bit more on Western Illinois’ lengthy losing streak — the Leathernecks haven’t won a game since beating Illinois State 38-31 on Oct. 30, 2021, their average margin of defeat during the streak is 29.8 points and they have only played four one-possession games.

More: Mind Your Banners: Defense shines IU’s season-opening win against Florida International

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Indiana football quote of the week

 “We’re up 21-0, as a coach that’s where you really got to do the job. Not being satisfied, keeping the hammer down, really being on the kids trying to detect any relaxation or warm fuzzies,” — Indiana coach Curt Cignetti on Inside Indiana Football

Herald-Times prediction: Indiana 58, Western Illinois 10

Western Illinois has given up 50-plus points in its last four matchups against FBS opponents going back to the 2022 season. The Hoosiers should be able to hit that number for the first time since 2021 against Idaho without having to keep their starters in the game for much more than a half. The first-team defense shouldn’t have to strain too hard to get a shutout either. The focus will be on staying healthy and getting some youngsters reps. 

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.





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Notre Dame OL Tosh Baker ruled out vs. Northern Illinois with shoulder injury

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Notre Dame OL Tosh Baker ruled out vs. Northern Illinois with shoulder injury


NOTRE DAME VS NORTHERN ILLINOIS PREVIEW | Final thoughts, observations and predictions

Notre Dame offensive lineman Tosh Baker has been ruled out for Saturday’s game against Northern Illinois, the program announced. He is dealing with a shoulder injury.

Baker is the only player on this week’s depth chart to miss the game. That means freshman Guerby Lambert could be the first offensive tackle off the bench for Notre Dame, as Blue and Gold’s Jack Soble noted.

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Baker was listed behind Anthonie Knapp at left tackle on the depth chart after last week’s season-opening victory against Texas A&M. They’re part of the plan to replace Charles Jagusah at the position after his season-ending injury suffered during training camp.

Notre Dame started the season strong with a big-time road win over Texas A&M. The Fighting Irish went into halftime tied with the Aggies 6-6. But Marcus Freeman’s group found its stride after the break, totaling 217 yards to eventually come away with the 23-13 victory.

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It was a signature win for Freeman, who’s starting his third season at the helm. In the eyes of Urban Meyer, the victory spoke to what he’s been building in South Bend and how he’s grown as a head coach since taking over after the 2021 season.

“That’s a different man right now than it was two or three years ago when he took over the job,” Meyer said on The Triple Option. “That was not fake. When you walk into A&M, there’s over 100,000 people there. That’s a real environment against a real team. You know where the players were looking at? … Him. You are the leader of the team. And he did not have that confident look that he has now.

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“When you saw – I think they lost to Marshall or something like that several years ago. He’s got a real look. And you want to know something? They nutted up and they got it done in the fourth quarter. I can’t say enough about Marcus Freeman. That’s a real team – a very young team. Offensive line is very young.”



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How to watch Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois: TV channel, streaming info

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How to watch Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois: TV channel, streaming info


The No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0) host the Northern Illinois Huskies (1-0) at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

What channel is Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois on?

  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana
  • Date: Sept. 7
  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: NBC
  • Live stream: Fubo
  • Live stream: Peacock
  • Live stream: Sling

What time is Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois?

Notre Dame and Northern Illinois play at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois betting odds, lines, spread

  • Spread favorite: Notre Dame (-28)
  • Moneyline: Notre Dame (-8333), Northern Illinois (+1880)
  • Total: 44.5 points

Odds courtesy of BetMGM

Watch Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois with Fubo FREE trial

Notre Dame schedule

Northern Illinois schedule

This content was created for Gannett using technology provided by Data Skrive.



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How to watch the Northern Illinois vs. Notre Dame NCAA college football game today: Livestream options, more

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How to watch the Northern Illinois vs. Notre Dame NCAA college football game today: Livestream options, more


Riley Leonard #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish warms up prior to the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on August 31, 2024 in College Station, Texas. 

Jack Gorman/Getty Images


The Northern Illinois vs. Notre Dame NCAA college football game happens today. Both teams come in riding high from victories last week.

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Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Northern Illinois vs. Notre Dame NCAA college football game, even if you don’t have cable.


How and when to watch the Northern Illinois vs. Notre Dame game

The Northern Illinois vs. Notre Dame game will be played on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT). The college football game will air on NBC, and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.


How and when to watch the Northern Illinois vs. Notre Dame game without cable

While many cable packages include NBC, it’s easy to watch the game if NBC isn’t included in your cable TV subscription, or if you don’t have cable at all. Your best options for watching are below. (Streaming options will require an internet provider.)

Watch the Northern Illinois vs. Notre Dame game with FuboTV

Live TV streaming service Fubo offers the same top-tier programming you can get from your local cable provider at a fraction of the price. The streamer is a sports fan’s dream considering the sheer volume of live sporting events you can watch on it.

Fubo packages include access to plenty of channels for NCAA college football fans, including SEC Network, Big Ten Network and ESPNU. Subscribers also get access to NFL games airing on your local CBS affiliate, Fox Sunday NFC games via “NFL on Fox,” “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN, and all games aired on NFL Network. 

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If you want to give Fubo a try, now’s a great time to do so: Fubo is currently offering $30 off your first month of any subscription tier. That means you can watch every NFL and college football game airing on network TV this week starting at just $49.99. Once you subscribe, you can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer.

Top features of Fubo:

  • There are no contracts with Fubo. You can cancel at any time.
  • The Pro ($49.99 first month, $79.99 thereafter) tier includes over 200 channels, including channels not available on some other live TV streaming services.
  • Upgrade to 4K resolution with the Elite with Sports Plus tier ($69.99 first month, $99.99 thereafter). It features 299 channels, including NFL RedZone.
  • Fubo also offers live MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. 
  • All tiers now come with unlimited cloud-based DVR recording.
  • You can watch on up to 10 screens at once with any Fubo plan.
  • Stream on your TV, phone, tablet and other devices.

Sling TV: Save money and stream college football

If you don’t have cable TV that includes NBC, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream college football this season is through a subscription to Sling TV. We suggest leveling up your coverage to the Orange + Blue with Sports Extra tier to get more NFL and college football games this fall.

The Orange + Blue plan regularly costs $60 per month, but the streamer currently offers a $25 off promotion for your first month, so you’ll pay just $35. The Orange + Blue with Sports Extra plan is $50 for your first month and $75 per month after. The Sports Extra add-on features 18 channels, including NFL Redzone, ESPNU, SEC Network, Big 10 Network and ACC Network, making it ideal for pro and college football fans.

The streamer is also currently offering big savings on four months of the Orange + Blue tier plus the Sports Extra plan when you prepay for the Sling TV Season Pass. The plan costs $219, reduced from $300.

Note: Because Sling TV does not carry CBS, Sling subscribers will want to add Paramount+ to their bundle. (Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are both subsidiaries of Paramount Global.)

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Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue plan:

  • Sling TV is our top choice for streaming major sporting events like NASCAR.
  • There are 52 channels to watch in total, including local ESPN, NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
  • You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
  • All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
  • You can add Golf Channel, NBA TV, NHL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, Tennis Channel and more sports-oriented channels (18 in total) via Sling TV’s Sports Extras add-on.

Watch today’s game on Peacock

College football fans can stream games airing on NBC on Peacock, in addition to getting access to Peacock-exclusive NFL games. Peacock subscribers can also access Peacock originals like “Love Island” and the Annette Bening thriller “Apples Never Fall,” plus live NBC-aired content with a Peacock Premium Plus subscription, and Peacock’s library of on-demand content including “The Office.”

Your best value, you can get a year of Peacock Premium (with ads) for $80, or a year of Peacock Premium Plus (mostly ad-free) for $120. Or, get a monthly subscription: Peacock Premium subscription costs $8 per month, while Peacock Premium Plus is $14 per month.


Watch the Northern Illinois vs. Notre Dame game on Hulu + Live TV

You can watch college football, including NBC and ESPN with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including both Fox and FS1. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every game on every network with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch live NFL preseason games, exclusive live regular season games, popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.

Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month after a three-day free trial.


If you’re anxiously waiting for today’s game to begin, now is a great time to check out Amazon’s college football fan shop. The Amazon College Fan Shop is filled to the brim with officially licensed fan gear: You’ll find jerseys, team flags, T-shirts, hoodies and more, including tons of great gear for the football fan in your life. There are plenty of great deals awaiting you at Amazon, too, including some must-see deals on TVs for watching sports.

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Tap the button below to head directly to the College Fan Shop page on Amazon and select your favorite team.


What is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish current team ranking?

The Fighting Irish are currently ranked 5 out of 134 teams, according to our sister site CBS Sports.


What is the Northern Illinois Huskies current team ranking?

The Huskies are currently ranked 91 out of 134 teams, according to CBS Sports.


When is the 2024 NCAA college football championship game?

The College Football Playoff National Championship will be Monday, January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.




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