With the conclusion of the 2010 college football season, eyes have already started to turn to 2011.

The NIU football team finished off its 2010 campaign last month with a rousing 40-17 victory over Fresno State in the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl. By earning their first win in a bowl game since 2004, expectations will be set high for the returning Huskies.

With a bevy of key players coming back, some expect NIU to be ranked in the BCS standings at some point next season. NIU linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz’s set his sights a little higher though.

“I’m telling you right now, we better start in the top 25 next year,” said Matukewicz after serving as NIU’s interim head coach at the Humanitarian Bowl. “We have a lot of guys back and I’m just really looking forward to next year.”

Redshirt junior quarterback Chandler Harnish will return in 2011 for his redshirt senior season. After entering 2010 in a competition for the starting job, Harnish played his way onto the All-MAC first team by throwing for 2530 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Harnish’s top two targets, Willie Clark and Martel Moore will both return in 2011. Clark led the Huskies in receptions with 42 in 2010, while Moore finished with 40. Combined, Clark and Moore caught 11 of Harnish’s 21 touchdown tosses.

New NIU head coach Dave Doeren hasn’t seen much of the Huskies, but has been impressed with what he’s seen so far.

“All of my impressions of the team right now are coming off the bowl game, but I thought it was unbelievable what they did without their head coach and coordinators,” Doeren said. “I thought it showed resolve and mental toughness.”

On defense, the Huskies have experience at most positions. Former NIU head coach Jerry Kill believed in rotating players frequently to give others experience. The only position that may be a work in progress is cornerback. Chris Smith and Kiaree Daniels both finished their senior seasons in 2010.

After playing in his last game as a Huskie, running back Chad Spann explained his confidence in the 2011 team.

“We came so close this year to getting that goal, the MAC Championship,” Spann said. “The team is so talented, but the young guys just don’t know it yet. And with the new coaching staff, coach Tuke [Matukewicz] and the rest are going to get the best out of them.”