It’s hard to believe we’re already at the halfway point of the college football season, but that just means the stakes are getting higher as teams make their push for a championship. NIU, meanwhile, will try to get back on track after taking four straight losses.
As per usual, the fine folks in the Northern Star’s sports section hopped on a Google Doc to pick five winners from an action-packed Week 7 schedule.
No. 24 South Florida @ North Texas
6:30 p.m. CT | Friday, Oct. 10 | ESPN2
Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor (18-12): South Florida — The good people in South Florida have a special place in my heart, so even though North Texas is undefeated, I’ve got the Bulls.
Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter (23-7): South Florida — Sure, North Texas is undefeated, but South Florida’s résumé looks a whole lot better with wins over then-ranked Boise State and Florida teams. Plus, I’m a born-and-raised Floridian, so how could I not pick the hometown team?
Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter (23-7): South Florida — South Florida and North Texas have both had impressive starts to the season, with just one loss between the two. South Florida has the far more impressive resume this year with two ranked wins and its only loss coming to No. 2 Miami.
Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter (16-14): South Florida — Don’t make me tap the photo again.
Eric Avila, Sports Reporter (21-9): South Florida — I really wanted to pick North Texas because Stone Cold Steve Austin went — and played — there, but the Mean Green also beat Lamar, and now he’s out for the Ravens, and that’s not cool. So, I pick the Bulls!
Logan Whittington, Sports Reporter (21-9): North Texas — Texas has won each of its last five games and South Florida has lost each of its six games in the state of Texas. This should be an easy win.
Abel Naranjo, Sports Reporter (16-9): South Florida — This is a coin flip. North Texas has been perfect, while SF has been near perfect, losing only to now No. 2 Miami. Both offenses have looked sharp, especially the Mean Green, whose lowest scoring game was 33 points, but the Bulls defense has been more consistent as of late, so I’m expecting a very close SF win.
Toledo @ Bowling Green
11:00 a.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 11 | ESPNU
Schaefer: Toledo — Toledo has just looked better than Bowling Green. Even though Bowling Green are the hosts, they play in Ohio, as Bowling Green is not a state.
Kisellus: Toledo — The last time I picked the Rockets to win here, they burned me with a dumb loss to Western Michigan. Fortunately for them, I can be suckered into believing in a team more than once (see: any of my sports fandoms).
Segreti: Toledo — Toledo has had a lackluster season so far, to its standards, with the team’s worst loss coming to Western Michigan on the road. They have another road test with Bowling Green this week, but expect the Rockets to take care of the Bowling Green on their home turf.
Valenti: Toledo — Both Ohio teams, both kind of eh. If I could pick neither, I would, but go Rockets, I guess.
Avila: Toledo — Honestly, I pick Toledo because a rocket is stronger than a falcon, the only cool falcon is Falco Lombardi from Star Fox. But if we’re talking about on the field, I do believe Toledo is the stronger team. The only way I see them losing is if Pudge the cat plays.
Whittington: Toledo — Quarterback Tucker Gleason shredded Akron’s defense last week and should fare well this week. Toledo holds a slight advantage over Bowling Green in record and I think they have the edge in this matchup.
Naranjo: Toledo — The Rockets rushed for 245 yards in their 45-3 dub over Akron two weeks ago while the Falcons got cooked by Ohio’s run game and gave up 231 rushing yards. I think the plan is pretty clear here, Toledo should get it done away from home.
NIU @ Eastern Michigan
Noon CT | Saturday, Oct. 11 | ESPN+
Schaefer: NIU — I know I said that I wouldn’t pick NIU until they looked like a half decent time, yet here we are. They have to win at some point, right??
Kisellus: NIU — The Huskies haven’t scored more than 19 points in a game this season, but Eastern Michigan hasn’t given up less than 24 points in a game all year. Something has to give. So, against my better judgement, I’ll put some faith in Brady Davidson and the boys this week.
Segreti: NIU — NIU has been really bad so far this year, ranking among the worst teams in college football in offensive rankings. I believe Eastern Michigan is worse and NIU finally breaks out of their slump and finally wins another game.
Valenti: NIU — I’m a sucker for a terrible team. Maybe this is the week the Huskies give us a reason to believe again.
Avila: NIU — I didn’t think I’d be here, but there’s a 4th chance for everything they say. Anyways I think NIU will finally break their losing streak and defeat Eastern Michigan. I also really hate Maxx Crosby, especially for thinking they were going to beat the Bears.
Whittington: Eastern Michigan — My hopes and dreams keep getting stomped out by NIU football. Why cheer for a team that has me in an abusive relationship?
Naranjo: NIU — Something’s got to give for the NIU and this Eastern Michigan team is the perfect game to get this poor offense going. The Eagles are winless in the past 3 against the Huskies so if they can’t get a result here, just never mind.
No. 7 Indiana @ No. 3 Oregon
2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 11 | CBS
Schaefer: Oregon — Oregon has been one of the best teams in the country, and as I said before, the things I root for out of Indiana are Caitlin Clark and the Indianapolis 500. Since neither of those things apply to college football, give me the Ducks.
Kisellus: Oregon — Unlike my boss, my reasoning actually has some validity to it: Indiana hasn’t proven it can beat a top-10 opponent. The Hoosiers couldn’t beat No. 2 Ohio State or No. 7 Notre Dame last year, and the 2025 Oregon Ducks are hardly anything to sneeze at.
Segreti: Oregon — The Ducks have been among the best teams in college football each of the past two seasons and will get to play a red hot Indiana team. Despite having some impressive wins this season, Indiana will not be able to handle Oregon, especially on the road.
Valenti: Oregon — The Ducks will never let me down! I know Indiana is strong on both sides of the ball, but Oregon’s offense is too ducking good.
Avila: Oregon — I honestly think this has the chance to be one of the best games of the season, and the winner of this will make the B1g 10 championship game. It hurts me to say this but I do think the Oregon Ducks will win this game, only because they are playing at home. I really hope this is just a great game, an enjoyable one for the fans!
Whittington: Oregon — Both teams are coming into this matchup 5-0, however Indiana has lost 19 of their last 20 road games against AP-ranked opponents, plus I like Oregon.
Naranjo: Oregon — If Indiana was hosting, there might have been a chance for the Hoosiers but Oregon went into Beaver Stadium last week and survived the white out crowd in double OT. The Ducks are riding the momentum here and their strong defense should be enough to hold off Indiana.
UL Monroe @ Coastal Carolina
6:00 p.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 11 | ESPN+
Schaefer: Coastal Carolina — I know nothing about either of these teams, but Coastal Carolina is the home team and the Chanticleers are a better mascot than the WarHawks. How’s that for logic?
Kisellus: Coastal Carolina — This one feels like a toss-up, so it’s hard to not give an edge to the home team here. The Chanticleers may not be what they used to be, but they’re still a respectable program.
Segreti: Coastal Carolina — There is not much reasoning behind this pick, I just think Coastal Carolina is the better team and they will win. Also their football field is cool and has blue turf so that helps too.
Valenti: UL Monroe — Apparently both of these teams are bad, but ULM is first in the SBC West, so let’s roll with that.
Avila: Coastal Carolina — If I’m going to be quite honest I don’t really want to pick anyone here, but I do like Coastal Carolina’s colors, and field so Chanticleers all the way!
Whittington: Coastal Carolina — Both teams are terrible on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. However, Coastal Carolina is slightly less terrible, so they’re my pick in this matchup.
Naranjo: UL Monroe — These are basically the same teams this season, both have been shut out while recording one of their own and are looking to bounce back after tough losses to Northwestern and Old Dominion respectively. However the Warhawks’ offense has seen more success so I’ll go with them.
