Northern Illinois

Rob Harley takes over a Northern Illinois program that lost significant offensive firepower through the transfer portal, headlined by receiver DeAree Rogers' 36.6 PPA departure. The Huskies rank 125th nationally in JP+'s preseason ratings at -12.4 points, with the offense (-8.4, 131st) dragging down an already struggling unit that managed just three wins in 2025. Josh Holst returns as the starting quarterback, but he'll be throwing to a receiver corps missing Rogers and Gary Givens III, while the backfield lost Jaylen Poe to Georgia State.

JP+ projects 4.1 wins for the Huskies in their Mountain West campaign, a modest improvement that reflects both the low baseline and significant roster uncertainty. The defense grades out slightly better at 117th nationally (-4.8 points) but faces its own continuity concerns after secondary losses, creating structural instability on both sides of the ball. Road trips to Iowa, Arizona, and North Dakota State represent the season's toughest tests, while home games against UTEP and Illinois State offer the clearest paths to victories. If Harley can quickly identify portal replacements and Holst develops chemistry with new targets, Northern Illinois could exceed expectations. If the offensive pieces don't mesh, another long season awaits in DeKalb.