When an offensive line is playing great, its play goes rather unnoticed, but that hasn’t been the case for Huskies football.

Fortunately for the football team (5-0, 1-0 MAC), it’s had a strong group of linemen this season. They’ve been able to propel this team forward with both the pass protection and run protection they’ve executed this season.

“It’s definitely a group effort,” said redshirt junior left tackle Tyler Loos. “Each play we have to work all five guys at once because if one guy gets through, the play’s busted. So, if we don’t all do our job on a single play, then we won’t get any yards, [and] we’ll give up a TFL [tackle for loss] or sack.”

The offensive line has done a good job of keeping redshirt senior quarterback Jordan Lynch upright for much of the season. Their 0.60 sacks allowed per game is tied for fourth-fewest in the country.

The line has given up only three sacks in five games this season; however, Lynch said they haven’t given up any that were their fault.

“They’ve been huge,” Lynch said. “They’re one of the hardest working groups on and off the field…. They’ve really come a long way from last year, and I only got sacked three times, and I think all three of those sacks were on me from holding onto the ball too long. So they’ve done a good job.”

One reason the Huskies’ offensive line has been so good this season is because of the consistency of having the same five players start all five games this season. The Huskies have six other linemen who have seen action this season, but the message is the same no matter who’s on the field.

“We all expect our guy next to us to do their job,” Loos said. “And they expect us to do our job. If we work together as a unit and we’re cohesive, then you don’t really have anything to worry about. Just make sure we take care of our own guy.”

The offensive line’s protection has allowed the Huskies to run — and pass — wild this season. The offense is averaging 529.6 yards per game. That mark is good enough for 12th-best in the nation.

Their blocking and creation of running lanes has allowed NIU to rush for an average of 303.4 yards per game. That is the fifth-highest average among all 123 FBS teams.

Offensive line coach Joe Tripodi knows they will continue to elevate their level of play to another level.

“I’m very pleased with the progress of the group,” Tripodi said. “But I think they would tell you they aren’t satisfied. That’s what I love about those guys: They’re always pushing to get better, and they’re pushing each other to get better.”