Alert Top Story THE FAN FILES | NORTHERN ILLINOIS The Fan Files: What does a matchup against Iowa mean for upward-trending Northern Illinois? ethan.petrik Aug 13, 2026 3 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save kAm}@E 6G6CJ 72? 6?E6CD E96 H@C=5 C625J 7@C 2 @?6D:6 25@C?65 3J E96 =@8@ @7 9:D @C 96CVD 72G@C:E6 4@==686 7@@E32== AC@8C2>] $@>6 7:?5 E96:C H2J E@ 72?5@> 2 =:EE=6 5:776C6?E=J]k^AmkAm%92E H2D E96 42D6 7@C !9:=:A z:>]k^Am kAm%96 aa\J62C\@=5 7C@> vFC?66[ x==:?@:D @?=J H6?E E@ @?6 }@CE96C? x==:?@:D 7@@E32== 82>6 5FC:?8 9:D 7C6D9>2? J62C :? a_aa — 2 bg\ag =@DD E@ '2?56C3:=E] %96 wFD<:6D H6?E b\h E92E D62D@?[ H:E9 @?=J EH@ H:?D 282:?DE uq$ 4@>A6E:E:@?]k^Am People are also reading… Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce accused of minimizing role in steakhouse lawsuit TJ Otzelberger has no plans to add Tamin Lipsey, former Cyclones to roster Caitlin Clark’s flopping isn’t just annoying – it’s becoming dangerous | Opinion Iowa State athletics breaks fundraising record in 2026 Want the best Perseid meteor shower views? Here's the where and when ISU's Jimmy Rogers gives backup QB, injury updates after first fall practice Sheriff shares Nancy Guthrie update after video plea Severe Thunderstorm Warning until THU 5:15 AM CDT Nursing home administrator accused of elder abuse and financial exploitation AJ Pritchard looks like the one to beat on ‘DWTS: The Next Pro’ Bulldozers roll into national park to build Trump border wall US employers shed 23K jobs as new report suggests weaker labor market Forget Tarik Skubal. These MLB trade deadline deals will actually decide October Political Soapbox to host 21 candidates at 2026 Iowa State Fair Creepy poems and strip club plans: How a congressman disturbed young female staff kAm“%92E H2D 2 8C62E :?EC@5F4E:@? E@ }x& 7@@E32==[” z:> E@=5 E96 "F25\r:EJ %:>6D[ H:E9 2 9:?E @7 D2C42D> :? 9:D G@:46]k^AmkAmw@H6G6C[ 27E6C ;@:?:?8 E96 wFD<:6 |2C49:?8 q2?5 5FC:?8 9:D D@A9@>@C6 J62C :? s6z2=3[ z:> 7@F?5 2 A2DD:@? 7@C E96 AC@8C2>] uC@> 9:D F?:BF6 G2?E286 A@:?E[ 96 8@E E@ D66 E96 9:89D 2?5 =@HD @7 }x& 7@@E32==[ :?4=F5:?8 2 >2DD:G6 FAD6E H:? @G6C }@EC6 s2>6 :? H66< EH@ @7 E96 a_ac D62D@?]k^Am Northern Illinois graduate Phil Kim takes a selfie before the Huskie Marching Band takes the field during a NIU football game. Photo Courtesy of Phil Kim kAm“xE ;FDE 5:5?’E 766= C62= E92E }x& >2?2865 E@ <?@4< @77 }@EC6 s2>6[” z:> D2:5] “tG6CJ@?6 <?6H[ :? E92E DE25:F>[ H6 H6C6 8@:?8 E@ =@D6] … (6 H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 86E 3=@H? @FE]k^Am kAm“… p A2CE @7 >6 H2?E65 E@ D2J H6 H6C6 D@>69@H 8@:?8 E@ AF== @77 E96 7F??:6DE @FE4@>6 A@DD:3=6[ 2?5 :E C62==J 92AA6?65] x 4@F=5?’E 96=A 3FE =2F89 2E 2== E96 }@EC6 s2>6D 36:?8 23D@=FE6=J :? 5:D36=:67]”k^Am kAmtFA9@C:2 A6CG2565 E96 3FD C:56 324< E@ 42>AFD 2D 96 D4C@==65 %H:EE6C[ ?@H <?@H? 2D )[ 2D E96 4@==686 7@@E32== H@C=5 4=@H?65 E96 u:89E:?8 xC:D9]k^Am kAm“%92E H2D 46CE2:?=J 2? 6IA6C:6?46[” z:> D2:5]k^AmkAmp7E6C f\e 2?5 g\d D62D@?D :? a_ab 2?5 a_ac[ C6DA64E:G6=J[ }x& @?46 282:? >2?2865 2 >6286C b\h C64@C5 5FC:?8 E96 a_ad D62D@? — 282:? H:E9 ;FDE EH@ uq$ H:?D] w@H6G6C[ z:> D2:5 96 925 2 G6CJ 5:776C6?E C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 wFD<:6D’ DECF88=6D 5FC:?8 9:D D6?:@C J62C E92? 5FC:?8 9:D 7C6D9>2? J62C]k^AmkAm“x’> DE:== ECJ:?8 E@ 86E @G6C E96 724E E92E x’> @77:4:2==J 5@?6 H:E9 D49@@= ?@H[ E92E x’> 2? 2=F>?:[” z:> D2:5] “xE’D 92C5 7@C >6 E@ =62G6 }x&] }x& :D D>2==6C E92? x@H2[ E92E’D 7@C DFC6] %96 72? 32D6 :D 2 =@E >@C6 4=@D6\<?:E] %96J’C6 567:?:E6=J H6=4@>:?8[ D@>6 @7 E96 ?:46DE A6@A=6 x’G6 >6E]”k^Am kAm“x 42?’E 232?5@? }x&] }x& :D DEF4< H:E9 >6]”k^Am Northern Illinois graduate Phil Kim poses for a picture with the school's Formula SAE motorsports team. Photo courtesy of Phil Kim kAmkDEC@?8mtE92? !6EC:<i (92E :D E96 @G6C2== EC6?5 @7 E96 }x& 7@@E32== AC@8C2> @G6C E96 =2DE d\`_ J62CDnk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm!9:= z:>i xE’D 92C5 E@ AC65:4E[ 6DA64:2==J D:?46 H6 92G6 2 ?6H 4@249:?8 DE277 2?5 E96 D49@@= :D DH:E49:?8 4@?76C6?46D] ~?6 E9:?8’D 7@C DFC6i (6’C6 567:?:E6=J 8@:?8 FA]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mt!i (92E >2<6D J@F @AE:>:DE:4 23@FE E9:D D62D@?nk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm!zi x’> 9@A:?8 7@C @?46 H6 42? 24EF2==J 86E 2 BF2CE6C324< E92E 42? 24EF2==J 5@ E9:D E9:?8 42==65 E96 7@CH2C5 A2DD] r2> %9@>AD@? :D 4@>:?8 324< 7C@> |:DD:DD:AA: $E2E6] (6 92G6 s6pC66 #@86CD 2?5 %6==J y@9?D@? yC] — E92E 8FJ’D 2 5@8] w6’D E96 @?=J C62D@? H6 5:5?’E 86E D9FE @FE 6G6CJ D:?8=6 82>6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mt!i (92E >2<6D J@F A6DD:>:DE:4 23@FE E9:D D62D@?n^(92E 4@?46C?D 5@ J@F 92G6nk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm!zi (6 =@DE 2C@F?5 b_ A=2J6C E9C@F89 E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2=] $@[ ?@E 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 2C6 C6EFC?:?8 2D DE2CE6CD] … (6 2=D@ 92G6 2 AC6EEJ E@F89 C@25 D4965F=6] (6’C6 @?=J A=2J:?8 7:G6 9@>6 82>6D E9:D J62C]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mt!i (92E :D E96 36DE\42D6 D46?2C:@ :7 6G6CJE9:?8 8@6D A6C764E=Jnk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm!zi !2CE @7 >6 H2?ED E@ D2J H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 86E 2E =62DE `_ H:?D[ 3FE[ C62=:DE:42==J[ x E9:?< E96 46:=:?8 :D AC@323=J f\d @C >2J36 g\c]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mt!i (92E :D E96 H@CDE\42D6 D46?2C:@ :7 6G6CJE9:?8 8@6D HC@?8nk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm!zi (6 92G6 2 7=@@C] %96 7=@@C :D b\h] … %96C6’D 2E =62DE 2 >:?:>F> @7 E9C66 82>6D H6 D9@F=5 H:? — @?6 @7 E96> 36:?8 x==:?@:D $E2E6 6G6? E9@F89 E96J H6C6 E96 ur$ CF??6CD\FA =2DE J62C]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mt!i (:== }x& 36 2 4@?E6?56C :? :ED 7:CDE J62C :? E96 |@F?E2:? (6DEnk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm!zi x 5@?’E E9:?< E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 :E E@ E96 |@F?E2:? (6DE r92>A:@?D9:A E9:D J62C] xE H@F=5 E2<6 2 >:C24=6 E@ 6G6? 86E E92E 72C]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mt!i s@ J@F E9:?< E96 wFD<:6D H:== >2<6 2 3@H= 82>6nk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm!zi p 3@H= 82>6[ E92E’D 2 =@E >@C6 >2?28623=6] *@F @?=J ?665 D:I H:?D 7@C E92E] … v6EE:?8 2 3@H= H:?[ @C x D9@F=5 D2J 2 3@H= 82>6[ :D 2? 249:6G6>6?E] (:E9 2== E96 :?E6C?2= D9F77=:?8 8@:?8 2C@F?5 2?5 7:8FC:?8 @FE E96 DE2CE6C W2E BF2CE6C324<X 2?5 E96 E@F89 C@25 D4965F=6[ x’== 36 52>?65 :7 H6 D@>69@H >2<6 :E E@ 2 3@H= 82>6] x 9@A6 H6 5@[ 3FE 2 3@H= 82>6 :D <:?5 @7 2 46:=:?8 7@C }x&]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mt!i (92E 5@ J@F <?@H 23@FE x@H2nk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm!zi p AC6EEJ 5646?E >:5H6DE6C?[ q:8 %6? E62>] … ~?6 E9:?8 :D 7@C DFC6i 2 G6CJ E@F89 5676?D6 E@ 3C62< E9C@F89 2?5 2 G6CJ E@F89 @776?D6 E@ H2E49] x’G6 D66? 2 =@E @7 E96 =@H\D4@C:?8 82>6D 324< :? E96 q:8 %6? (6DE 52JD] x 42? D66 E92E @442D:@?2==J 92AA6?:?8[ 3FE x E9:?< x@H2 :D 7:?2==J DE2CE:?8 E@ 7C66 E96>D6=G6D 7C@> D4@C:?8 F?56C `a A@:?ED A6C 82>6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mt!i (92E 5@6D 2 >2E49FA 282:?DE x@H2 >62? 7@C }x&nk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm!zi xE’D 567:?:E6=J 2 E@F89 >2E49FA[ 3FE :E’D 2 >2E49FA E92E’D 92AA6?65 367@C6] xE’D D@>6E9:?8 H6 42? >2?286] v6EE:?8 @G6C E96 9FC5=6 @7 H:??:?8 :D 567:?:E6=J 2? @3DE24=6] … xE’D 567:?:E6=J 2 492==6?86 E96 wFD<:6D 2C6 H:==:?8 E@ E2<6] $@>6E:>6D H6 8@E E@ 5@ E9:?8D E96 92C5 H2J] %96 92C5 H2J :D @FC >@EE@] (6 2C6 wFD<:6D] (6 8@E E@ 36 E@F89]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mt!i s@ J@F 2?E:4:A2E6 }x& 362E:?8 x@H2nk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm!zi x H2?E E@ 36 56=FD:@?2= 2?5 D2J J6D] … x’5 D2J H6 =@D6[ 3FE :E’5 36 2 4=@D6 82>6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mt!i x7 }x& H:?D[ 9@H H@F=5 E96J 5@ :En (92E H@F=5 2 H:? >62? 7@C E96 D62D@?nk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm!zi x7 H6 5@ H:?[ :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 G6CJ 4=@D6 82>6] … x7 H6 H:?[ :E H@F=5 36 F?56C 5C2>2E:4 4:C4F>DE2?46D] xE H@F=5 92AA6? :? 5C2>2E:4 72D9:@?] (6’5 H:? 3J @?6 A@:?E]k^AmkAmx7 H6 5@ H:? E92E >2E49FA[ :E’5 D6E 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 E@?6 7@C E96 C6>2:?56C @7 E96 D62D@?] (6 42? 24EF2==J H:? D@>6 C@25 82>6D] (6 42? 362E D@>6 E@F89 @AA@?6?ED @FE E96C6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mt!i x7 }x& =@D6D[ H9J 5:5 :E 92AA6?n (92E H@F=5 2 =@DD >62? 7@C E96 D62D@?nk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAm!zi %96 w2H<6J6D 4@>7@CE23=J 362E }@CE96C? x==:?@:D] x 42? D66 E96> 3=@H:?8 @FE }@CE96C? x==:?@:D 2D :D 2=H2JD 2 H66< @?6 82>6] … xE’5 36 2 4@>7@CE23=6 H:? 7@C x@H2]k^Am Ethan Petrik is a University of Iowa beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at ethan.petrik@wcfcourier.com. 0 Comments ethan.petrik Author email Follow ethan.petrik Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Petrik: The three things that define Iowa football … according to fans of the 12 teams it faces in 2026 Ask fans of Iowa’s 2026 opponents what defines Hawkeye football, and the answers are remarkably consistent — and it's what college football co… Watch Now: Related Video Knicks To Host LeBron On Ring Night, Wemby's Spurs On Christmas Day | NY Got Game The Dodgers Aren't Ruining Baseball: Blame MLB's Cheap Owners The Dodgers Aren't Ruining Baseball: Blame MLB's Cheap Owners 5 NBA Teams That Improved The MOST This Offseason 5 NBA Teams That Improved The MOST This Offseason Why FSU football fans should be excited about these players in 2026 Why FSU football fans should be excited about these players in 2026 Recommended for you
ethan.petrik Author email Follow ethan.petrik Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Petrik: The three things that define Iowa football … according to fans of the 12 teams it faces in 2026 Ask fans of Iowa’s 2026 opponents what defines Hawkeye football, and the answers are remarkably consistent — and it's what college football co…