Football will attempt to become the first MAC team since 2004 to beat an SEC team, potentially adding to its accomplishments of first MAC team to play in a BCS bowl and first MAC team to beat two Big Ten teams in the regular season.

The Huskies (3-0) take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1) 6 p.m. Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. The last MAC team to beat an SEC team was the Ohio Bobcats, who took down the Kentucky Wildcats, 28-16, Oct. 2, 2004.

The Huskies will face the tall task of attempting to slow Arkansas’ running game, which is one of the best in the nation. Through three games the Razorbacks have averaged 362 rushing yards per game, which is second-best in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and their 7.93 rushing yards per carry ranks first in the nation.

“They’re big, they’re physical, they’re strong [and] they’re quick,” said head coach Rod Carey. “They can jump cut, they’re one-footed cutters, they use the [arms] well when they get their legs cut out from under them. [They have] great balance [and] run with power. Can we think of anything more? … It’s the best group in the country in my opinion.”

Sophomore running back Alex Collins leads the team with 411 rushing yards (8.2 yards per carry) and has scored five rushing touchdowns. Junior running back Jonathan Williams has tallied 322 rushing yards (9.8 yards per carry) and has found the end zone a team-leading six times.

Sophomore running back Korliss Marshall has rushed for 58 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, while junior fullback Kody Walker has run for 67 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

The game will be played out in the trenches, and the NIU defense faces a large Arkansas offensive line. The Razorbacks’ starting offensive line weighs in at 328.4 pounds per player, which is more massive than any NFL Week 1 offensive line.

“Another thing on their running game, they [have a] pretty good offensive line,” said redshirt senior nose guard Donovan Gordon. They’re “big, they move people, so we definitely [are going] to have to play our technique [because] it’s going to be big in this game. So, that’ll be very key.”

As for the NIU offensive line, the Huskies face a defensive line where the four starters are 6-foot-2 or taller and 250 pounds or heavier.

“This isn’t going to come down to who’s stronger, who’s this, who’s that,” Carey said. “This is going to come down to who plays their technique better up front, who gets their first step in the ground quicker, who gets their hand placed, who plays with low pads. It’s not going to be anything but that, and we [have] to answer the bell.”

Making only his second career start at quarterback, redshirt sophomore Drew Hare said Saturday’s game is big — just as big as any other game.

“I mean, every game I feel like is a statement game for us,” Hare said. “Being a successful program like we have been, everybody’s going to give us their best shot. So, at this point every week we try to make a big game for ourselves. … Every game’s a big game for us. We treat every game the same.”