NIU heads to Vegas looking to change winless fortunes: What to know ahead of UNLV game
Anita Patel, a graduate of DePaul University, has over 8 years of experience covering high school athletics for various local publications. She has a deep passion for sports and youth development, often championing the stories of student-athletes making an impact in their communities.
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The NIU football team heads to Las Vegas on Saturday, facing UNLV for the fifth time and the first since 2015.NIU (0-7 overall, 0-3 Mountain West) has won all five meetings between the two programs, the most recent a 38-30 win in DeKalb in 2015. Both teams were members of the Big West Conference from 1993 until 1995. The teams met in 1995, with the Huskies winning 62-14 in DeKalb. NIU won 48-34 on its Vegas last trip in 2014.The Rebels (4-3, 2-1) had a three-game winning streak snapped last week with a 41-31 loss at Air Force despite leading in the third quarter.The Huskies enter the game ranked in the bottom 10 in 16 statistical categories nationally, including six offensive, six defensive and four special teams. They rank 138th, last, in red-zone offense, kickoff-return defense and third-down conversion defense.Here’s what to know about the game:Johnson still producing despite dismal run-game numbersJunior running back Telly Johnson Jr. entered the season with high expectations and w