Northern Illinois at Iowa Week 1 College Football Matchup Northern Illinois at Iowa Matchup - Week 1
Sat, Sep 5 2026 · Week 1 · 🏟 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA · Turf · 70,585 cap
Northern Illinois✈ 144 miSame TZ
Preseason projection — This game has not yet been played and 2026 in-season data is not yet available. Edges are based on 2025 full-season performance. Confidence will increase once in-season games are logged.
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Northern Illinois
6
Iowa
37
P&R Line Iowa -31
P&R Total O/U 43.5
Confidence 69 Good
Matchup Prediction
Iowa has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Iowa entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Iowa wins
Lean
Game Control
67.1%
Iowa wins
Solid
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Iowa · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
Northern Illinois 2026 Schedule
Northern Illinois's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Northern Illinois at Iowa+31
Sat 9/12Northern Illinois vs Illinois State-6
Sat 9/19Northern Illinois at Arizona+29
Sat 9/26Northern Illinois at Georgia State-1.5
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/10Northern Illinois vs Air Force+9
Sat 10/17Northern Illinois at Wyoming+9
Sat 10/24Northern Illinois vs Hawai'i+14.5
Sat 10/31Northern Illinois at UNLV+23
Sat 11/7Northern Illinois at San José State+3
Sat 11/14Northern Illinois vs Nevada-2.5
Sat 11/21Northern Illinois at North Dakota State+20
Sat 11/28Northern Illinois vs UTEP-2
Iowa 2026 Schedule
Iowa's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Iowa vs Northern Illinois-31
Sat 9/12Iowa vs Iowa State-11
Sat 9/19Iowa vs Northern Iowa-32.5
Sat 9/26Iowa at Michigan+2.5
Sat 10/3Iowa vs Ohio State+10.5
Sat 10/10Iowa at Washington+2
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/24Iowa at Minnesota-9.5
Sat 10/31Iowa vs Wisconsin-20
Sat 11/7Iowa at Northwestern-10.5
Sat 11/14Iowa vs Purdue-23
Sat 11/21Iowa at Illinois-2.5
Fri 11/27Iowa vs Nebraska-12.5
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season (prior year)
Iowa PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Iowa
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Iowa
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Iowa
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Northern Illinois #126
+0.120
Iowa #73
+0.356
Iowa Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Northern Illinois #134
+0.160
Iowa #71
+0.432
Iowa Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Northern Illinois #132
0.112
Iowa #42
0.169
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Iowa Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Northern Illinois #121
+6.379
Iowa #20
+7.883
Iowa Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Northern Illinois #132
+0.730
Iowa #45
+0.886
Iowa Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Northern Illinois #118
72.7
Iowa #6
66.7
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Iowa Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season (prior year — 2026 data not yet available) · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Iowa Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Northern Illinois #130
-17.8
Iowa #21
11.5
Offense Rating
Northern Illinois #120
8.5
Iowa #33
18.6
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Northern Illinois #134
26.3
Iowa #15
7.1
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Iowa Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Northern Illinois #123
0.91
Iowa #50
1.25
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Northern Illinois #104
1.36
Iowa #10
0.50
Iowa +0.34
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Iowa Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Northern Illinois #128
37.0
Iowa #59
54.0
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Northern Illinois #93
46.2
Iowa #21
26.6
Iowa +17.0
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 67.1% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Coaching Matchup
Northern Illinois
Rob Harley #77
0–0 (0%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Quinn Sanders Yr 1 #67
DC Rob Harley Yr 1 #130
Staff Rating
2.21 #114
Iowa
Kirk Ferentz #16
213–128 (63%) · Yr 28 at school
OC Tim Lester Yr 3 #117
DC Phil Parker Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
3.66 #15
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself