Various Articles

CBS Sportsline
Scouting the pro prospects: Running backs

Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois, 5-7, 174, Sr.:
The most dominant runner in D-I football over the past two seasons, Wolfe remains relatively unknown because of the attention heaped on Reggie Bush and Peterson. Wolfe took the "Triple Crown" of the MAC as a sophomore in 2004, winning the rushing yardage (1,656), scoring (21 touchdowns) and all-purpose yardage (2,004) races. Wolfe was on pace for even bigger numbers this past season before a knee sprain knocked him out of three games. He finished with 1,580 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, and had more 200-yard rushing games (three) than games held to less than 100 (two) while healthy. Wolfe obviously lacks the prototypical size for the next level, but has legitimate quickness and speed. Some will also question Wolfe's level of competition, but he rushed for a combined 393 yards and four touchdowns against two Big Ten opponents, Michigan and Northwestern last season.

ESPN Game Preview
Top-ranked Ohio State opens with Northern Illinois

However, the Buckeyes must replace nine defensive starters, including standout linebackers A.J. Hawk, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter, putting extra pressure on senior defensive tackles Quinn Pittcock and David Patterson.

SI.Com
Crashing the Party - ten teams that might crash the BCS

5. Northern Illinois (MAC)

2005 record: 7-5 (lost to Akron 31-30 in MAC championship game)

Returning starters: 13 (six offense, seven defense)

Key games: Sept. 2 at Ohio State, Oct. 28 at Iowa, Nov. 7 vs. Toledo

The skinny: The Huskies boast the nation's leading returning rusher, senior tailback Garrett Wolfe, who along with veteran QBs Phil Horvath and Dan Nicholson and standout LT Doug Free will form a highly dangerous offense. Wolfe, who averaged 175.6 yards per game last season, ran for 148 against Michigan, 245 against Northwestern and 270 in the MAC title game.

How it could happen: It's quite simple, really: NIU needs to knock off one of the Big Ten heavyweights, Ohio State or Iowa, and win all its conference games. "If we catch any of 'em sleeping," Huskies coach Joe Novak told the Associated Press, "you never know."

MAC-Sports.com
MAC Football Season Begins Thursday Night

The two defending MAC Divisional Champions open the season versus the defending co-champions from the Big Ten. 2005 MAC and East Division Champion Akron opens at Penn State (3:30, ESPN2) and 2005 MAC West Division title holder Northern Illinois takes on No. 1 Ohio State (3:30 ABC Sports) on Saturday.