Mid-American Conference Football

Northern Illinois has an offer on the table from the Mountain West to leave the Mid-American Conference for its league as a football-only school beginning with the 2026 season, per Brett McMurphy of Action Network, who cited industry sources.

That decision on whether to stay or go is "imminent." If NIU does leave, then it's unclear which league the non-football teams will play in moving forward, sources noted to McMurphy.

On September 26, McMurphy reported on the Mountain West's interest in adding Northern Illinois and Toledo as football-only members before 2026.

NIU released a statement on the matter one day later, per the Associated Press.

"Conference realignment is a highly dynamic situation, and NIU appreciates the interest in our strong brand and proven commitment to the success of our student athletes. At this time, we have not received a formal offer to consider a change."

The Pac-12 is adding five current Mountain West schools beginning with the 2026-27 collegiate sports season: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State.

Six schools who currently play all their sports in-conference now will remain: UNLV, Air Force, San Jose State, Wyoming, Nevada and New Mexico.

Hawai'i has been a football-only member since 2012 but will join full-time in 2026. UTEP is also joining as a full-time member in 2026. UC Davis is joining in 2026 in every sport but football. Grand Canyon is joining in 2026 in 17 sports (the school does not have a football team).

Understandably, the Mountain West would still like to add to the league, especially with only eight football schools on tap beginning in 2026. Perhaps NIU is next up.

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 241

HAND: 9¼"

ARM: 32¼"

WINGSPAN: 79¼"

40-YARD DASH: 4.71"

3-CONE: 6.97"

SHUTTLE: 4.39"

VERTICAL: 34"

BROAD: 9'10"

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POSITIVES

— Vertical athleticism to threaten defenses up the seams.

— Strong-handed receiver with good hand-eye coordination when tracking the ball.

— Playmaking after the catch, good play strength, and functional agility in space.

— Potential matchup nightmare due to position and scheme versatility.

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NEGATIVES

— Lacks the traditional height/weight NFL teams' desire for in-line tight ends.

— Lacks lower body strength at the point of attack as an in-line blocker.

— Can struggle when facing physical and handsy press coverage defenders.

— Needs to expand his release package to ensure transition as a big/power-slot in the NFL.

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NOTES

— Unranked LB recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: First-team All-American; MAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year; Mackey Award Semifinalist

— 2023: First-Team All-MAC

— Ranks inside top-10 receiving records for Bowling Green University

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OVERALL

Harold Fannin Jr. is a fun, talented, and versatile tight end who expects to be used as a power slot in the NFL.

Fannin Jr. is having an incredible season from a production standpoint. He aligns in multiple positions for Bowling Green's offense—as the h-back, in the backfield, outside, in the slot, in bunch, and stacked sets. Fannin Jr. brings a strong pass-catching skill set to an NFL offense. He runs good routes against zone and off-man coverages. With good stems, body control, and play strength, he gets open routinely. He does a good job attacking angles and leverages against defenders, giving him cushion/playing from depth.

Fannin Jr. is a three-layer threat in the passing game, effectively impacting the game as a quick/short, intermediate, and downfield receiver.

He has displayed outstanding hands when targeted. He plucks the ball from the air with supreme confidence and plays well through contact at the catch point. Fannin Jr. has two drops on 171 targets throughout his career. He is a hassle to bring down once the football is in his possession. He is strong after the catch and can force missed tackles singled up in space with a defender.

As a blocker, Fannin Jr. is effective in both the run and passing games. He cuts off access points to the ball carrier well by using his body to wall off defenders. He possesses good and functional arm length to lock out at the point of attack. Fannin Jr. blocks well from h-back alignment on split flow concepts, in space as a lead blocker, and climbing to pick off defenders on the perimeter.

That said, as a traditional in-line blocker, he will not pass the test for most teams. Fannin Jr. does not bring outstanding power or size to the fight to be trusted against traditional NFL defensive ends/edge defenders in the run game. He doesn't generate enough force in man/down block situations to overpower defenders and drive them off the ball.

Fannin Jr. is a talented pass catcher, but his effectiveness in defeating physical press defenders is a work in progress. He needs to improve his use of hands in the contact window to counter physical punches and grabby defenders. His release package is underwhelming and repetitive, leading to struggles separating quickly from this style of defense. Due to his size, he will primarily be viewed and used as a big/power-slot tight end at the next level.

Overall, Harold Fannin Jr. projects as a highly functioning pass-catching tight end with alignment versatility. Creative offensive play callers are best if you want to maximize his skill set to its fullest potential. He will be able to generate favorable matchups based on his alignment fluidity. In the right offensive system and role, he can be a top-3 receiving option at the next level.

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GRADE: 7.6 (Potential Impact Player — Second Round)

OVERALL RANK: 48

POSITION RANK: TE5

PRO COMPARISON: Isaiah Likely

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock led his team to the biggest upset win in program history on Saturday as the Huskies took down No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend.

After the monumental win, Hammock was overcome with emotion, and rightfully so.

"I'm so proud of our kids, the coaches, everybody," he said. "They believed, they believed. And we came in and got it done."

This is what it's all about.

NIU's @NIUCoachHammock is overcome with emotion after leading his team to the win at Notre Dame! @NIU_Football | @NIUAthletics | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/K7oS9tsrTC

— MACtion (@MACSports) September 7, 2024

Hammock praised his team for doing exactly what they were supposed to rather than trying to be heroes against the giant that was the Fighting Irish.

"They listened to what I said," Hammock said. "I told them all week, we don't need luck, we just got to be our best. And they were their best today and we were able to get it done."

When asked where his emotion was coming from, Hammock explained how much the win meant for his players.

"All these guys that have been with our program, they've been through the ups and downs and they continue to fight," he said. "It's like they're my kids, I'm happy for the adversity they pushed through, no matter the situation. I just couldn't be more proud."

Hammock wasn't the only one overcome with emotion after the win. The radio call by Andy Garcia, the voice of the Huskies, on the final play of the game shows just how special the win was.

Here’s the NIU Football Radio by @AGarciaInSports of the last play of the Huskies upset of #5 Notre Dame in South Bend

(Courtesy of WDKB) pic.twitter.com/s9zjoP95xP

— Herb Lawrence (@Ecnerwal23) September 7, 2024

Saturday's win couldn't have been more dramatic. The two teams were neck and neck the entire game, and the Huskies got a crucial interception in the final minutes, capitalizing with a field goal from Kanon Woodill to take the lead.

With just 31 seconds remaining, Notre Dame managed to get in field goal range, but Northern Illinois blocked the game-winning field goal attempt to seal the win.

THIS. IS. MACTION!!!!! @NIU_Football | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/RF0ClUF0ui

— MACtion (@MACSports) September 7, 2024

Getting an upset win like Saturday's is special no matter who the coach is, but it's even more special for Hammock, who played for Northern Illinois from 1999-2002. Hammock returned to his alma mater in 2019 and has found some success over the past few years.

He's posted a pair of winning seasons, including last year when the Huskies went 7-6, winning the Camellia Bowl. He also led Northern Illinois to a conference title in 2021.

Northern Illinois was once a powerhouse of the MAC, regularly winning conference titles and even appearing in the AP Top 25 several times. The Huskies are still one of the top teams in their conference, but they're hoping Saturday's miraculous win will propel them to the next level.

Miami (Ohio) head coach Chuck Martin dropped a scathing accusation of Alabama tampering in the transfer portal this past offseason.

In a preseason video released by the school's athletic department on Wednesday, Martin was asked about having to replace kicker Graham Nicholson, who transferred to Alabama on Wednesday. Martin didn't hold back in his response.

"We didn't lose him. He's at Alabama. We know exactly where he's at," Martin said of Nicholson, per The Athletic's Justin Williams. "Alabama stole our kicker. They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us. That's a fact, but that's college football. … Everybody knows what's going on. Yeah, Alabama stole our kicker."

While the kicker position is usually low on the totem pole for most football rosters. Nicholson isn't just any kicker. As a junior in 2023, he connected on 27 of his 28 field goals and 35 of his 37 extra points on his way to earning the Lou Groza Award, which is presented annually to the best kicker in college football. He became the first kicker from the Mid-American Conference to achieve the honor.

Nicholson announced that he will be spending his senior season at Alabama, giving new head coach Kalen DeBoer another new addition that will benefit him in his first year replacing the legendary Nick Saban.

DeBoer was asked Thursday about Martin's comments about Nicholson and he replied, "I don't know anything about [Martin's comment]. He entered the portal and we reached out to him, that's how it goes right? So we did everything the way we were supposed to."

Martin is understandably not a big fan of the transfer portal. Per Williams, Miami has had a dozen players transfer to power-conference schools over the past four seasons. This offseason, three other key players joined Nicholson in transferring, as running back Rashad Amos left for Ole Miss, wide receiver Gage Larvadain joined South Carolina and defensive lineman Caiden Woullard landed at Oklahoma.

Still, Martin has the RedHawks in a position to compete for another MAC championship. After going 11-3 and winning the conference title last year, Martin is aware of the talent on his team and said he takes pride in the way other schools covet his players.

"Listen, if you're not losing good players at this level, you probably don't have a good team," Martin said. "If they come after 15 of my guys, I probably just had a pretty good year. Last year, they came after about 15 of my guys and we won the MAC. There's a reason. We had good players."

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 267

HAND: 9⅛"

ARM: 34½"

WINGSPAN: 83⅜"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.75

3-CONE: 7.02

SHUTTLE: 4.18

VERTICAL: 35.5"

BROAD: 9'11"

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POSITIVES

— Great frame with good length. Has an NFL-ready body.

— Impressive strength at the point of attack and long arms to get extension.

— Can set the edge versus offensive tackles against the run and has the strength to hold ground against combo blocks/double-teams from tackles and tight ends.

— Good bull-rusher with good pad level and leg drive to collapse the pocket.

— High-motor pass-rusher who can get coverage sacks.

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NEGATIVES

— Not quick-twitched or a high-level athlete. A little clunky and heavy-footed in his movements.

— Lacks burst or acceleration off the line of scrimmage. Isn't going to win around the edge with speed.

— Drops his hands, and overall use of hands as a pass-rusher is still a work in progress.

— A little tight, limiting his bend to turn tight corners around the edge.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 10 G, 57 TOT, 4.5 SK, 7.5 TFL, 2 FF

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NOTES

— Born July 8, 2001

— 2-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2022 (Lower leg, missed 3 games), 2023 (Arm, missed 2 games)

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OVERALL

With his combination of strength and power, Marshawn Kneeland is a bull in the trenches. He has a handful of reps on film where he just overwhelms offensive tackles at the point of attack and refuses to get blocked by tight ends.

He's also quick to get his hands up against the run, has good block recognition and is decent at holding ground against combo blocks.

Kneeland is an impressive bull-rusher, as he has plenty of strength, uses good pad level by getting his helmet on the offensive tackle's chin and keeps his feet moving through contact. All of that allows him to collapse the pocket, and he's flashed a solid arm-over move as an inside counter off the bull.

However, the Western Michigan product doesn't appear to be a good athlete, and he's a little stiff. That limits his pass arsenal and can make bending or turning a tight corner at the top of the rush difficult. Right now, he's pretty reliant on winning with power.

Schematically, Kneeland would be best as a 5- or 6-technique defensive end in even fronts. He has an NFL-ready body that is perfect for that type of scheme, which is rare for a Group of Five prospect. He also had a decent showing at the Senior Bowl to help prove he can hold up against better competition and boost his draft stock.

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GRADE: 7.0 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 80

POSITION RANK: EDGE8

PRO COMPARISON: Za'Darius Smith

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 195

HAND: 9 1/8"

ARM: 31 1/8"

WINGSPAN: 75 3/4"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.33

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL: 38"

BROAD: 10'0"

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POSITIVES

— Very good vision when in zone coverage. Has the route recognition needed to patiently read and react to the quarterback or the ball in the air.

— Shows the speed necessary to carry receivers deep. Gets to his top speed quickly and has great turnover.

— Solid tackler, especially when tackling receivers. Not afraid to be physical out of break and deliver a blow.

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NEGATIVES

— Slower transitions at times. Doesn't always trust his eyes out of breaks and can be slow to open and run downfield.

— Questionable tackler in open space. Not interested in wrapping up bigger running backs, often dips his head and throws a shoulder at ball-carriers on the edge.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 13 G, 41 TOT, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 18 PD

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NOTES

— DOB: NA

— 40 career starts

— 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— 2023 second-team All-American (AP)

— 2023 and 2022 first-team All-MAC

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OVERALL

Quinyon Mitchell is one of the top cornerbacks at the Group of Five level. The three-year starter was quite productive when playing the ball. He has the strength and physicality to defend the run and the speed and ball skills to cover downfield.

Mitchell is a very good coverage defender who performs best in off coverage. Though he has a rigid backpedal at times, he has the patience to allow routes to develop and react with quick feet to transition. He doesn't always trust his eyes when breaking, which has caused his transitions to be slow and sloppy. But when he's able to stay square and drive on what he sees, Mitchell has explosive breaks.

Mitchell drives using very good angles, combined with the ball skills necessary to disrupt catches. He can be slow to open and run at times, but he has the top-end speed to run with most receivers he faced. When he's able to get his head around and play the ball, Mitchell has great awareness and ball skills, though he lacks the hands to capitalize on all of his opportunities.

When tackling and playing the run game, Mitchell does a very good job of keeping his leverage on the edge. When taking on blocks, he does a good job of keeping his outside arm free and condensing running lanes. He did struggle with disengaging and working past blocks on the edge at times.

When tackling receivers on the edge, Mitchell does a great job of being physical and running his feet through the tackle. On the flip side, when tackling running backs, he has less security when tackling. Mitchell often opts to dive at ball-carriers' legs and not wrap up in the open field. Though he has the willingness to contribute against the run, he will need to work on securing the tackle in the NFL.

Mitchell has the skill set to play both man and zone, but he would be best served in a zone scheme, where he can play from off coverage and see the routes develop in front of him. He has the ceiling of a top-15 selection, with the potential of being a Day 1 starter and lengthy NFL career.

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GRADE: 8.5 (Impact Player — 1st Round)

OVERALL RANK: 10

POSITION RANK: CB1

PRO COMPARISON: Corey Ballentine

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

Eastern Michigan defensive back Korey Hernandez was seen on video running across the field and sucker-punching South Alabama cornerback Jamarrien Burt following the Jaguars' 59-10 blowout win in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Saturday night.

A brawl ensued, and Eastern Michigan athletic director Scott Wetherbee apologized for his player's actions in a statement on Sunday:

We strongly condemn the actions of some of the student-athletes on the EMU football team in the ugly incident that took place following last night's 68 Ventures Bowl. We are deeply upset and embarrassed by what happened. Their conduct does not reflect the great pride and high standards we place on the game and our program, and the expectations for good sportsmanship and exemplary conduct of student-athletes on and off the field. What happened was completely unacceptable. We apologize to the Eastern Michigan University community and to the South Alabama team and their fans.

Wetherbee added that both he and head coach Chris Creighton have apologized to South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack and athletic director Joel Erdmann, and that he and Eastern Michigan president James Smith have been in contact with MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and a joint investigation will be held.

Erdmann said he appreciated Eastern Michigan "for taking ownership of the incident" and for both apologizing and investigating.

The incident occurred while South Alabama players joined the school's cheerleaders and faced the band to sing the alma mater after their win. Both teams were then cleared from the field once the brawl was broken up, according to Creg Stephenson of AL.com, and the Jaguars were then escorted back onto the field for the South Alabama's team returned to the field for the trophy and awards ceremony.

Per that report, Hernandez and Dillard scuffled during the game when the former face-masked the latter on punt coverage before Dillard threw him to the ground. In the brawl that occurred after the game, Hernandez was left bloodied after several South Alabama players jumped to Dillard's defense.

The strange saga of Connor Stalions now involves Central Michigan opening an investigation to determine if the suspended Michigan football staffer was on the sidelines for its game on Sept. 1 against Michigan State.

Central Michigan athletic director Amy Folan issued a statement about the investigation after a photo circulated that led to speculation if Stalions was standing on its sideline.

Central Michigan is investigating if the person on the right here is Connor Stalions on the CMU sideline at Michigan State earlier this season.

AD Amy Folan: “We became aware of these photos late yesterday and we are in the process of determining the facts surrounding them." pic.twitter.com/ncazAghBbS

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 31, 2023

NEW: @TheAthletic has obtained more photos of the goatee'd sunglasses person on the Central Michigan sideline at Michigan State.

CMU is looking into whether this is Connor Stalions.

Story: https://t.co/79siEcZ89r pic.twitter.com/R5AyslTIWF

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 31, 2023

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel issued a statement on Oct. 19 that the football program was being investigated amid allegations of sign stealing:

"U-M Athletics will offer its complete cooperation to the NCAA in this matter. At the University of Michigan, all of us are committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity for all members of our community. This is the same expectation I have of all coaches, staff, and student-athletes."

On Oct. 20, ESPN's Pete Thamel and Mark Schlabach reported Stalions, who is described as a "low-level staffer with a military background", was at the center of the NCAA's investigation for allegedly violating rules by scouting future opponents in person at games.

Manuel announced Stalions was being suspended with pay after he was identified as a person of interest in the investigation.

Per an Oct. 23 report from The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach and Austin Meek, Stalions bought tickets to watch at least seven Big Ten schools play in games over the past three seasons, including in 2023.

"Purchasing tickets to the game of an upcoming opponent does not violate NCAA rules," Auerbach and Meek wrote, "but using those tickets to scout other teams would be a violation of the NCAA rule prohibiting in-person, on-campus scouting."

Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh issued a statement denying any knowledge of the alleged sign-stealing operation, but pledged to cooperate with the NCAA investigation.

Jim Harbaugh has released a statement saying that, while cooperative with the investigating, it’s not a practice he claims to be aware of. pic.twitter.com/ua91by67nm

— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) October 19, 2023

Harbaugh has also denied a report from the Wall Street Journal's Andrew Beaton and Rachel Bachman that Michigan rescinded a contract offer to him in the wake of the sign-stealing investigation.

The Wolverines signed Harbaugh to a five-year extension in February 2022 that runs through the 2026 season. He has an 82-25 record in nine seasons at Michigan.

The alleged photo of Stalions on Central Michigan's sideline was in the season opener against Michigan State. The Wolverines defeated Michigan State 49-0 at Spartan Stadium on Oct. 21.

Noah Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, has received his first offer to play college football.

The class of 2025 running back was offered by Toledo after rushing for 145 yards and three touchdowns and catching one pass for 45 yards in a game for Birmingham Groves High School in Michigan last Friday, per Allen Trieu of 247Sports.

"It was a surreal moment to find out that I had just received my first offer," Sanders said. "I had been thinking about that day for years and for it to finally come was a dream come true."

Sanders added that "a few other schools have reached out" to him, one of which was Pittsburgh, but he doesn't have any visits planned yet. He should receive more interest if he can build upon his most recent game.

"My goals are to get over 1,200 all-purpose yards and 14 or more touchdowns," Sanders said. "And team-wise, we definitely want to make a deep run into the playoffs."

Sanders is 5'11", 170 pounds. He does not yet have a prospect ranking on 247Sports.

Barry Sanders was a star running back for the Detroit Lions from 1989-1998, earning 10 Pro Bowl selections, six All-Pro nods, two Offensive Player of the Year awards and one MVP honor, which came in 1997.

In 153 games across 10 NFL seasons, Barry Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns and caught 352 passes for 2,921 yards and 10 scores. He ranks fourth on the NFL's all-time rushing yards list.

Barry will be hoping his son can follow in his footsteps.