With its first winning season since 1990 after a 6-5 record last year, NIU’s football team looks to continue the same success as the season kicks off Thursday at 6:36 p.m. against the University of South Florida at Huskie Stadium.

“The first game is always an exciting one for everybody,” coach Joe Novak said. “As a coach, you’re kind of anxious to see where you’re at and what you have. The first game for anyone is always like Christmas time: You’re opening up a new package and you’re anxious to see what’s in there. I’ve got good feelings about it.”

The Huskies had a strong nucleus of players that needed to be replaced — they lost 14 players from a strong senior class that included nine four-year lettermen. Also, they lost two NFL draft picks and All-Americans in Justin McCareins (Titans) and Ryan Diem (Colts), and three NFL free agents in Jermaine Hampton (Colts), Cameron Saulsby (Panthers) and McAllister Collins (Jaguars).

The lack of experience could get the better of the Huskies, but Novak said the team has some good young players who should grow and improve as the season continues.

Chris Finlen, the Huskies’ four-year starting quarterback, has no lack of experience. Last year, Finlen threw for 1,857 yards and 11 touchdowns while completing 57 percent of his passes.

McCareins, Finlen’s favorite target, who accounted for more than 60 percent of Finlen’s completions last season, could be replaced by a platoon effort. Coach Novak will be looking to step up 6-foot-3-inch senior split end Darrel Hill, whom he calls the best athlete on the team.

The NIU offense will have a tough time countering USF’s high-octane offense, led by 6-foot-1-inch, 205-pound junior quarterback Marquel Blackwell, who averaged 183 yards passing and 51 yards rushing per game last year.

“[Blackwell] is an excellent quarterback and a great athlete,” Novak said. “[USF] is putting in an offense that is very similar to what Northwestern ran last year: A no-huddle, hurry up tempo, spread offense, and they are really going to feature the quarterback and he’s a really good athlete, thrower and runner.”

“We are going to really have to respond and be able to defend that offense well and it won’t be easy. If we don’t do that, they are going to score some points and it will make it very difficult for us. This is a very skilled football team coming in here and we are going to be challenged well. If we don’t play well on our defense, their offense could get out of control.”

A key to the Huskies’ defense will be the linebacker spot, where NIU lost Cameron Saulsby and Kevin Selover to graduation. Replacing them will be sophomore Nick Duffy, senior Ryan Laurenti, freshman Brian Atkinson and returning All-MAC performer junior Larry Williams.

“We lost some players but I think we have more kids up front that we can rotate and I think that’s important on our defensive line,” Novak said. “I think we’ve got eight to 10 in our four spots that we can role in there and be successful. Last year we didn’t have that depth.

“We lose three good starters in our secondary, but we’ve got young ones that are going to be really good,” Novak said. “I just worry about our depth at the secondary spot. If we can stay healthy I think our defense can step it up from last year and we need that.”