For the fourth time in school history, the NIU football team will play on ESPN.

The announcement came Monday that ESPN2 would carry the Huskies’ game at Bowling Green on Saturday, Oct. 25.

“Wow, that’s cool,” quarterback Josh Haldi said. “It’s fun to be on national TV. We have to worry about Western Michigan first, but that will be fun when we get there.”

NIU also was on ESPN in 1983 for the California Bowl, in 1987 against the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and against Northwestern.

The contest marks the first nationally-televised game from Perry Stadium.

NIU and BGSU are both undefeated in conference play going into this week.

NIU (6-0, 2-0) hosts Western Michigan (3-3, 2-1) while BGSU (5-1, 2-0) visits Eastern Michigan (1-6, 0-3).

Bowling Green’s only loss this season was a 24-17 setback to Ohio State.

NIU is No. 12 in the country, while BGSU enters this week at No. 27.

Starting QB a go

Haldi will play this week against Western Michigan.

Haldi suffered a mild concussion in the third quarter against Central Michigan. The junior was shaken up when he tried running a naked bootleg into the endzone.

“We ran a naked and it was covered,” Haldi said. “I was covered, and I tried to run it in. I jumped and a guy’s helmet hit me in the back of the head.”

Haldi said he felt “out of it” until the middle of the fourth quarter. The junior wanted to return, but was kept out for precautionary reasons.

Azar five away

Senior kicker Steve Azar’s 16 points against Central Michigan moved him within five points of the MAC’s all-time kick-scoring record.

Toledo kicker Todd France (1998-’01) holds the record with 320 points.

Azar passed Western Michigan’s Brad Selent and Miami’s Gary Gussman on Saturday.

Turner, Azar MAC Players of Week

The MAC announced an NIU-Bowling Green dominated players of the week list Monday.

The Huskies Michael Turner was rewarded for his season-high 199 yards in Saturday’s win over Central Michigan. The junior running back was one of two Huskies named a MAC Player of The Week Monday.

Along with Cole Magner of Bowling Green, Turner was named co-offensive player of the week.

Kicker Steve Azar also earned special teams player of the week for the Huskies.

“Michael and Steve played major roles in our comeback,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “It was good to see Michael have that breakout run. That 46-yard touchdown ignited us in the third quarter. He looks back in form. That was a Michael Turner game.

What do you say about Steve? He had another great day with 16 kick-scoring points. He’s just had a a great career here. I hope I never take Steve Azar for granted.”

Turner ran for 199 yards on 28 carries in the 40-24 comeback win over the Chippewas.

Turner had a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, including a 46-yarder to get the Huskies within seven.

Magner had 11 catches for 140 yards in Bowling Green’s 32-21 win over Western Michigan. Magner also had two touchdowns and 31 yards rushing for the Falcons.

Azar, who moved to within five points of the MAC record for points by a kick, accounted for 16 points in the Huskies win.

The senior was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals and extra points for NIU.

Azar improved to 20-for-20 on extra points this season. He is now 11-for-14 on field goals.

The Falcons Janssen Patton was the Defensive Player of The Week. Patton, a cornerback, had three interceptions and four tackles for the Falcons.