Preview: Northern Illinois at Western Michigan

[October 08, 2016]  Western Michigan plays as a ranked team for the first time when it tries to snap a seven-game slide against visiting Northern Illinois on Saturday in a Mid-American Conference West Division contest. The No. 25 Broncos, who are 5-0 for the first time since 1994 and haven't been 6-0 since 1941, were ninth in the nation in scoring at 44.8 points per game entering Week 6 after a 49-10 dismantling of Central Michigan - their largest margin of victory over the Chippewas since 1970.

Western Michigan, which had also never defeated two Big Ten teams in a campaign before prevailing at Northwestern 22-21 and Illinois 34-10 this season, does not appear to be fazed by its success. "This is a mature group,” coach P.J. Fleck told reporters. “We haven’t had a mature group here before. We define maturity as doing what you have to do versus doing what you want to do.'' Broncos junior running back Jamauri Bogan (team highs of 530 yards and five rushing touchdowns) returned to limited practice Tuesday after injuring his ankle on the first possession against Central Michigan and is expected to play. Northern Illinois began pursuit of its seventh consecutive MAC West title with a 31-24 victory at Ball State for its first win of the season.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Western Michigan -18.5

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (1-4, 1-0 MAC): Senior quarterback Anthony Maddie made his first start a winning one, completing 26-of-41 passes for 298 yards with two touchdowns and an interception versus Ball State after getting the job when No. 1 Drew Hare injured his hamstring and No. 2 Ryan Graham was ineffective. Senior wide receiver Kenny Golladay caught 13 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns last week and is among the national leaders in receiving TDs (tied for fourth with six), overall TDs (tied for fifth with eight), receiving yards (ninth with 556) and receptions per game (10th, 7.4). Senior linebacker Sean Folliard was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week after recording 17 tackles (11 solo) versus Ball State and leads the Huskies with 22 solo tackles.

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN (5-0, 1-0): The Broncos are the only team in the nation without a turnover and the ball protection starts with senior quarterback Zach Terrell, who completes 69.7 percent of his 119 passes (12 touchdowns) for 212.6 yards per game. Senior wide receiver Corey Davis, the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week after recording 72 yards and two touchdowns versus Central Michigan, is tied with Greg Jennings for most receiving TDs in school history with 39 and is the all-time MAC receiving yards leader with 4,252. Junior linebacker Robert Spillane paces the team with 43 tackles and 25 solo while sophomore defensive lineman Eric Assoua and senior defensive end Keion Adams share the sack lead with 3.5 apiece after combining for three of Western Michigan's eight last week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The 224 points through five games are the most scored by the Broncos since 1916, when they put up a school-record 313.

2. Northern Illinois' losses included a season-opening 40-34 triple-overtime setback at Wyoming and a 42-28 decision to San Diego State on Sept. 17 that vaulted the Aztecs to No. 24 in the coaches poll before they lost 42-24 at South Alabama on Oct. 1 in their next contest.

3. Nevada's Trevor Insley (1996-99) holds the FBS record for receiving yards with 5,005.

PREDICTION: Western Michigan 42, Northern Illinois 23

[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.