Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois

Saturday, December 23, 2023, Camellia Bowl

Northern Illinois beat Arkansas State 21–⁠19. It was their ninth meeting; Northern Illinois leads the series 8–⁠1.

Neutral siteArkansas State6–⁠7 in 2023
19
Neutral siteNorthern Illinois7–⁠6 in 2023
21

Final at Cramton Bowl, MontgomeryTV: ESPN, ESPN+Attendance 11,310

MVP Rocky Lombardi (QB, Northern Illinois)Wikipedia

At kickoff
60°F, clear, wind 3 mph from the northeastWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Maxwell AFB Airport (KMXF), 5 km from the stadium
Official
Kevin RandallGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Arkansas State760619
Northern Illinois1380021

Standouts

  • PassingJaylen Raynor16 of 30, 250 yards, 2 TD, 1 INTArkansas State
  • RushingAntario Brown25 carries, 132 yardsNorthern Illinois
  • ReceivingCorey Rucker5 catches, 107 yards, 2 TDArkansas State
  • DefenseSamy Johnson11 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 INTArkansas State

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Arkansas State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Jaylen Raynor16/3025021
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Jaylen Raynor1349023
Ja’Quez Cross82808
Zak Wallace51907
Cedric Hawkins1505
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Corey Rucker5107242
Jeff Foreman452020
Courtney Jackson131031
Ja’Quez Cross329015
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Dane Motley11000
Samy Johnson11101
Trevian Thomas9001
Melique Straker6200

Northern Illinois

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Rocky Lombardi18/2920012
Tom Foley1/13210
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Antario Brown25132032
Gavin Williams940011
Rocky Lombardi321111
Trayvon Rudolph26011
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Grayson Barnes5105135
Trayvon Rudolph532012
Kanon Woodill132132
Tristen Tewes118018
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Raishein Thomas60.50.50
DaRon Gilbert6000
Jaden Dolphin6000
Muhammed Jammeh5000
Javaughn Byrd4101
Jalonnie Williams10.50.50

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

Arkansas StateNorthern Illinois
351Total yards421
250Passing yards232
101Rushing yards189
8.3Yards per pass7.7
3.7Yards per rush4.5
18First downs26
7–⁠14Third downs7–⁠16
0–⁠1Fourth downs2–⁠2
1Turnovers2
6–⁠48Penalties3–⁠25
19:35Possession40:25
0Sacks (by defense)1

Efficiency

Arkansas StateNorthern Illinois
42%Success rate43%
0.10EPA per play0.15
1.24Explosiveness1.30
−0.05Rushing EPA0.09
0.23Passing EPA0.23
23%Passing-down success22%
0.10First-down EPA0.07
−0.12Second-down EPA−0.21
0.69Third-down EPA0.40
18%Havoc by its defense14%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Northern Illinois 51% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

Arkansas State −2.5, over/under 53.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Arkansas State 57%, Northern Illinois 43%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

Northern Illinois end zoneArkansas State end zoneQ1 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 10 playsQ1 Arkansas StateInterception, 5 playsQ1 Northern IllinoisInterception, 3 playsQ1 Arkansas StateTouchdown, 1 playQ1 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 9 playsQ1 Arkansas StateTurnover on downs, 6 playsQ2 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 8 playsQ2 Arkansas StateField goal, 11 playsQ2 Northern IllinoisMissed FG, 7 playsQ2 Arkansas StatePunt, 5 playsQ2 Northern IllinoisInterception, 7 playsQ2 Arkansas StateField goal, 5 playsQ3 Arkansas StatePunt, 3 playsQ3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 8 playsQ3 Arkansas StatePunt, 3 playsQ3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 playsQ3 Arkansas StatePunt, 3 playsQ3 Northern IllinoisMissed FG, 7 playsQ3 Arkansas StatePunt, 9 playsQ4 Northern IllinoisPunt, 10 playsQ4 Arkansas StateTouchdown, 8 playsQ4 Northern IllinoisEnd of game, 2 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Northern Illinois drives left to right, Arkansas State right to left.
  1. Q1 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 10 plays, 75 yards
  2. Q1 Arkansas StateInterception, 5 plays, 47 yards
  3. Q1 Northern IllinoisInterception, 3 plays, 6 yards
  4. Q1 Arkansas StateTouchdown, 1 play, 42 yards
  5. Q1 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 9 plays, 75 yards
  6. Q1 Arkansas StateTurnover on downs, 6 plays, 30 yards
  7. Q2 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 8 plays, 87 yards
  8. Q2 Arkansas StateField goal, 11 plays, 65 yards
  9. Q2 Northern IllinoisMissed FG, 7 plays, 56 yards
  10. Q2 Arkansas StatePunt, 5 plays, 12 yards
  11. Q2 Northern IllinoisInterception, 7 plays, 29 yards
  12. Q2 Arkansas StateField goal, 5 plays, −6 yards
  13. Q3 Arkansas StatePunt, 3 plays, 6 yards
  14. Q3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 8 plays, 38 yards
  15. Q3 Arkansas StatePunt, 3 plays, 3 yards
  16. Q3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
  17. Q3 Arkansas StatePunt, 3 plays, 7 yards
  18. Q3 Northern IllinoisMissed FG, 7 plays, 48 yards
  19. Q3 Arkansas StatePunt, 9 plays, 37 yards
  20. Q4 Northern IllinoisPunt, 10 plays, 33 yards
  21. Q4 Arkansas StateTouchdown, 8 plays, 86 yards
  22. Q4 Northern IllinoisEnd of game, 2 plays, 10 yards

Play by play

1st quarter6 drives, then Northern Illinois 13, Arkansas State 7
Northern Illinois Touchdown, 10 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Dominic Zvada kickoff for 61 yds for a touchback
14:551st & 10 at own 25Antario Brown run for a loss of 3 yards to the NIU 22
13:552nd & 13 at own 22Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 2 yds to the NIU 24
13:253rd & 11 at own 24Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Grayson Barnes for 17 yds to the NIU 41 for a 1ST down
12:501st & 10 at own 41Antario Brown run for no gain to the NIU 41
12:132nd & 10 at own 41Northern Illinois Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the NIU 36
11:552nd & 15 at own 36Antario Brown run for 7 yds to the NIU 43
11:333rd & 8 at own 43Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 12 yds to the ARST 45 for a 1ST down
11:111st & 10 at opp 45Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Grayson Barnes for 30 yds to the ARST 15 for a 1ST down
10:021st & 10 at opp 15Timeout Northern Illinois, clock 10:02
9:591st & 10 at opp 15Rocky Lombardi pass incomplete
9:452nd & 10 at opp 15Justin Lynch run for a loss of 3 yards to the ARST 18
9:093rd & 13 at opp 18Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Grayson Barnes for 18 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)Northern Illinois 6, Arkansas State 0
Arkansas State Interception, 5 plays
9:093rd & 13 at own 35Jake Seibert kickoff for 64 yds , Ja’Quez Cross return for 36 yds to the ARST 37
8:581st & 10 at own 37Jaylen Raynor run for a loss of 1 yard to the ARST 36
8:312nd & 11 at own 36Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
8:153rd & 11 at own 36Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Courtney Jackson for 31 yds to the NIU 33 for a 1ST down
7:571st & 10 at opp 33Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Corey Rucker for 17 yds to the NIU 16 for a 1ST down
7:431st & 10 at opp 16Jaylen Raynor pass intercepted Javaughn Byrd return for no gain to the NIU 4
Northern Illinois Interception, 3 plays
7:331st & 10 at own 4Antario Brown run for 3 yds to the NIU 7
6:462nd & 7 at own 7Antario Brown run for 3 yds to the NIU 10
6:073rd & 4 at own 10Rocky Lombardi pass intercepted Trevian Thomas return for no gain to the NIU 42
Arkansas State Touchdown, 1 play
5:591st & 10 at opp 42Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Corey Rucker for 42 yds for a TD (Dominic Zvada KICK)Arkansas State 7, Northern Illinois 6
Northern Illinois Touchdown, 9 plays
5:591st & 10 at own 35Dominic Zvada kickoff for 55 yds for a touchback
5:361st & 10 at own 25Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Tristen Tewes for 18 yds to the NIU 43 for a 1ST down
5:081st & 10 at own 43Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 8 yds to the ARST 49
4:082nd & 2 at opp 49Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Jalen Johnson for 5 yds to the ARST 44 for a 1ST down
3:551st & 10 at opp 44Antario Brown run for 9 yds to the ARST 35
3:042nd & 1 at opp 35Rocky Lombardi pass incomplete
2:543rd & 1 at opp 35Antario Brown run for 1 yd to the ARST 34 for a 1ST down
2:541st & 10 at opp 34Trayvon Rudolph run for 11 yds to the ARST 23 for a 1ST down Arkansas State Penalty, Unnecessary Roughness (12 Yards) to the ARST 11 for a 1ST down
2:001st & 10 at opp 11Antario Brown run for a loss of 1 yard to the ARST 12 for a 1ST down Arkansas State Penalty, Unnecessary Roughness (6 Yards) to the ARST 6 for a 1ST down
1:241st & goal at opp 6Rocky Lombardi run for 6 yds for a TD (Kanon Woodill KICK)Northern Illinois 13, Arkansas State 7
Arkansas State Turnover on downs, 6 plays
1:241st & 10 at own 35TEAM on-side kick recovered by Arkansas State at the NIU 48 Northern Illinois Penalty, Illegal Touching (-5 Yards) to the NIU 43
1:001st & 10 at opp 43Jaylen Raynor run for 5 yds to the NIU 38
0:302nd & 5 at opp 38Raynor, Jaylen rush for no gain to the NORTHERNIL38, PENALTY ARST unsportsmanlike conduct off-setting, PENALTY NORTHERNIL Unsportsmanlike Conduct off-setting, NO PLAY.
0:102nd & 5 at opp 38Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Jeff Foreman for 16 yds to the NIU 22 for a 1ST down
0:101st & 10 at opp 22Zak Wallace run for a loss of 1 yard to the NIU 23
Q2 14:552nd & 11 at opp 23Zak Wallace run for 7 yds to the NIU 16
Q2 13:453rd & 4 at opp 16Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Corey Rucker for 3 yds to the NIU 13
Q2 13:454th & 1 at opp 13Jaylen Raynor run for no gain to the NIU 13
2nd quarter6 drives, then Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 13
Northern Illinois Touchdown, 8 plays
13:401st & 10 at own 13Antario Brown run for 27 yds to the NIU 40 for a 1ST down
13:001st & 10 at own 40Antario Brown run for 6 yds to the NIU 46
12:302nd & 4 at own 46Arkansas State Penalty, Defensive Offside (5 Yards) to the ARST 49 for a 1ST down
12:091st & 10 at opp 49Rocky Lombardi pass incomplete
12:092nd & 10 at opp 49Arkansas State Penalty, Defensive Offside (5 Yards) to the ARST 44
11:552nd & 5 at opp 44Antario Brown run for 6 yds to the ARST 38 for a 1ST down
11:111st & 10 at opp 38Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Kyle Thomas for 5 yds to the ARST 33
10:302nd & 5 at opp 33Antario Brown run for 1 yd to the ARST 32
9:503rd & 4 at opp 32Rocky Lombardi pass incomplete
9:424th & 4 at opp 32Tom Foley pass complete to Kanon Woodill for 32 yds for a TD (Rocky Lombardi pass to Trayvon Rudolph for Two-Point Conversion)Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 7
9:424th & goal at opp 0Timeout Northern Illinois, clock 09:42
Arkansas State Field goal, 11 plays
9:424th & 4 at own 35Jake Seibert kickoff for 59 yds for a touchback
9:371st & 10 at own 25Jaylen Raynor run for 9 yds to the ARST 34
9:092nd & 1 at own 34Ja’Quez Cross run for no gain to the ARST 34
8:253rd & 1 at own 34Jaylen Raynor run for 2 yds to the ARST 36 for a 1ST down
8:081st & 10 at own 36Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Jeff Foreman for 9 yds to the ARST 45
7:592nd & 1 at own 45Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete to Reagan Ealy
7:473rd & 1 at own 45Zak Wallace run for 5 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
7:171st & 10 at the 50Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Jeff Foreman for 20 yds to the NIU 30 for a 1ST down
7:081st & 10 at opp 30Northern Illinois Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (15 Yards) to the NIU 15 for a 1ST down
7:011st & 10 at opp 15Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
6:482nd & 10 at opp 15Cedric Hawkins run for 5 yds to the NIU 10
6:353rd & 5 at opp 10Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
6:304th & 5 at opp 10Dominic Zvada 28 yd FG GOODNorthern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 10
Northern Illinois Missed FG, 7 plays
6:304th & 5 at own 35Dominic Zvada kickoff for 58 yds for a touchback
6:201st & 10 at own 25Antario Brown run for 32 yds to the ARST 43 for a 1ST down
5:301st & 10 at opp 43Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 7 yds to the ARST 36
4:562nd & 3 at opp 36Gavin Williams run for 3 yds to the ARST 33 for a 1ST down Arkansas State Penalty, Unnecessary Roughness (15 Yards) to the ARST 18 for a 1ST down
4:441st & 10 at opp 18Justin Lynch run for a loss of 5 yards to the ARST 23
3:592nd & 15 at opp 23Antario Brown run for no gain to the ARST 23
3:103rd & 15 at opp 23Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Gavin Williams for 4 yds to the ARST 19
3:094th & 11 at opp 19Timeout Arkansas State, clock 03:09
3:054th & 11 at opp 19Kanon Woodill 36 yd FG MISSED
Arkansas State Punt, 5 plays
2:451st & 10 at own 20Jaylen Raynor run for 3 yds to the ARST 23
2:332nd & 7 at own 23Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Ja’Quez Cross for 9 yds to the ARST 32 for a 1ST down
2:181st & 10 at own 32Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
2:122nd & 10 at own 32Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
2:083rd & 10 at own 32Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete to Reagan Ealy
2:014th & 10 at own 32William Przystup punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Dane Pardridge at the NIU 25
Northern Illinois Interception, 7 plays
1:451st & 10 at own 25Gavin Williams run for 2 yds to the NIU 27
1:322nd & 8 at own 27Rocky Lombardi pass incomplete
1:263rd & 8 at own 27Gavin Williams run for 11 yds to the NIU 38 for a 1ST down
1:001st & 10 at own 38Rocky Lombardi run for 11 yds to the NIU 49 for a 1ST down
0:491st & 10 at own 49Rocky Lombardi pass incomplete
0:412nd & 10 at own 49Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Grayson Barnes for 5 yds to the ARST 46
0:253rd & 5 at opp 46Rocky Lombardi pass intercepted Samy Johnson return for 28 yds to the ARST 41
Arkansas State Field goal, 5 plays
0:181st & 10 at own 41Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
0:132nd & 10 at own 41Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Miller McCrumby for 6 yds to the ARST 47
0:083rd & 4 at own 47Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Miller McCrumby for 9 yds to the NIU 44 for a 1ST down
0:071st & 10 at opp 44Timeout Arkansas State, clock 00:07
0:071st & 10 at opp 44Timeout Northern Illinois, clock 00:07
0:031st & 10 at opp 44Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Reagan Ealy for 16 yds to the NIU 28 for a 1ST down
0:021st & 10 at opp 28Timeout Arkansas State, clock 00:02
0:011st & 10 at opp 28Dominic Zvada 45 yd FG GOODNorthern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 13
3rd quarter7 drives, then Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 13
Arkansas State Punt, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Jake Seibert kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:551st & 10 at own 25Ja’Quez Cross run for 6 yds to the ARST 31
14:292nd & 4 at own 31Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
14:233rd & 4 at own 31Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete to Miller McCrumby
14:124th & 4 at own 31William Przystup punt for 55 yds, downed at the NIU 14
Northern Illinois Punt, 8 plays
14:001st & 10 at own 14Antario Brown run for 6 yds to the NIU 20
13:182nd & 4 at own 20Antario Brown run for 6 yds to the NIU 26 for a 1ST down
12:251st & 10 at own 26Antario Brown run for 1 yd to the NIU 27
11:302nd & 9 at own 27Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 3 yds to the NIU 30
10:553rd & 6 at own 30Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Dane Pardridge for 15 yds to the NIU 45 for a 1ST down
10:451st & 10 at own 45Rocky Lombardi pass incomplete
10:302nd & 10 at own 45Gavin Williams run for 5 yds to the 50 yard line
9:453rd & 5 at the 50Gavin Williams run for 2 yds to the ARST 48
9:054th & 3 at opp 48Tom Foley punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Courtney Jackson at the ARST 10
Arkansas State Punt, 3 plays
8:451st & 10 at own 10Ja’Quez Cross run for 5 yds to the ARST 15
8:002nd & 5 at own 15Jaylen Raynor run for a loss of 2 yards to the ARST 13
7:453rd & 7 at own 13Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
7:364th & 7 at own 13William Przystup punt for 46 yds , Dane Pardridge returns for 7 yds to the NIU 48
Northern Illinois Punt, 3 plays
7:081st & 10 at own 48Antario Brown run for a loss of 2 yards to the NIU 46
6:452nd & 12 at own 46Antario Brown run for 2 yds to the NIU 48
5:453rd & 10 at own 48Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Gavin Williams for 2 yds to the 50 yard line
5:144th & 8 at the 50Tom Foley punt for 47 yds, downed at the ARST 3
Arkansas State Punt, 3 plays
5:041st & 10 at own 3Jaylen Raynor run for 4 yds to the ARST 7
4:352nd & 6 at own 7Zak Wallace run for 3 yds to the ARST 10
4:033rd & 3 at own 10Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
3:554th & 3 at own 10William Przystup punt for 44 yds, fair catch by Dane Pardridge at the NIU 46
Northern Illinois Missed FG, 7 plays
3:451st & 10 at own 46Antario Brown run for 4 yds to the 50 yard line
2:592nd & 6 at the 50Antario Brown run for 3 yds to the ARST 47
2:233rd & 3 at opp 47Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Grayson Barnes for 35 yds to the ARST 12 for a 1ST down
1:511st & 10 at opp 12Rocky Lombardi pass incomplete
1:352nd & 10 at opp 12Antario Brown run for 6 yds to the ARST 6
1:013rd & 4 at opp 6Rocky Lombardi pass incomplete
0:554th & 4 at opp 6Kanon Woodill 23 yd FG MISSED
Arkansas State Punt, 9 plays
0:471st & 10 at own 20Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Ja’Quez Cross for 15 yds to the ARST 35 for a 1ST down
0:181st & 10 at own 35Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Ja’Quez Cross for 5 yds to the ARST 40
0:002nd & 5 at own 40Jaylen Raynor run for 5 yds to the ARST 45 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:501st & 10 at own 45Ja’Quez Cross run for 4 yds to the ARST 49
Q4 14:082nd & 6 at own 49Jaylen Raynor run for 3 yds to the NIU 48
Q4 13:453rd & 3 at opp 48Zak Wallace run for 5 yds to the NIU 43 for a 1ST down
Q4 13:301st & 10 at opp 43Ja’Quez Cross run for no gain to the NIU 43
Q4 13:002nd & 10 at opp 43Ja’Quez Cross run for 6 yds to the NIU 37
Q4 12:303rd & 4 at opp 37Jaylen Raynor sacked by Raishein Thomas and Jalonnie Williams for a loss of 6 yards to the NIU 43
Q4 11:244th & 10 at opp 43William Przystup punt for 43 yds for a touchback
4th quarter3 drives, then Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 19
Northern Illinois Punt, 10 plays
11:101st & 10 at own 20Gavin Williams run for 10 yds to the NIU 30 for a 1ST down
10:451st & 10 at own 30Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Billy Dozier for 2 yds to the NIU 32
10:002nd & 8 at own 32Trayvon Rudolph run for a loss of 5 yards to the NIU 27
9:303rd & 13 at own 27Rocky Lombardi pass complete to Kyle Thomas for 12 yds to the NIU 39
8:454th & 1 at own 39Rocky Lombardi run for 4 yds to the NIU 43 for a 1ST down
7:451st & 10 at own 43Gavin Williams run for 6 yds to the NIU 49
7:242nd & 4 at own 49Antario Brown run for 8 yds to the ARST 43 for a 1ST down
6:301st & 10 at opp 43Antario Brown run for a loss of 5 yards to the ARST 48
5:152nd & 15 at opp 48Gavin Williams run for a loss of 3 yards to the NIU 49
4:453rd & 18 at own 49Timeout Northern Illinois, clock 04:45
4:243rd & 18 at own 49Gavin Williams run for 4 yds to the ARST 47
3:524th & 14 at opp 47Tom Foley punt for 33 yds, fair catch by Courtney Jackson at the ARST 14
Arkansas State Touchdown, 8 plays
3:331st & 10 at own 14Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Corey Rucker for 32 yds to the ARST 46 for a 1ST down
3:131st & 10 at own 46Jaylen Raynor run for 23 yds to the NIU 31 for a 1ST down
3:021st & 10 at opp 31Jaylen Raynor pass incomplete
2:482nd & 10 at opp 31Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Jeff Foreman for 7 yds to the NIU 24
2:273rd & 3 at opp 24Ja’Quez Cross run for 8 yds to the NIU 16 for a 1ST down
2:111st & 10 at opp 16Ja’Quez Cross run for a loss of 1 yard to the NIU 17
1:482nd & 11 at opp 17Jaylen Raynor run for 4 yds to the NIU 13
1:143rd & 7 at opp 13Jaylen Raynor pass complete to Corey Rucker for 13 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 19
1:143rd & 7 at own 35Arkansas State Penalty, Offensive Offside (-5 Yards) to the ARST 30
Northern Illinois End of game, 2 plays
1:143rd & 12 at own 30Dominic Zvada kickoff for 30 yds , Grayson Barnes return for 28 yds to the ARST 32
1:051st & 10 at opp 32Timeout Arkansas State, clock 01:05
0:521st & 10 at opp 32Antario Brown run for 12 yds to the ARST 20 for a 1ST down
0:161st & 10 at opp 20Timeout Northern Illinois, clock 00:16
0:101st & 10 at opp 20TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the ARST 22

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

Northern Illinois leads 8–⁠1 in nine meetings.

Recent meetings
2023Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 19Camellia Bowl
2011Northern Illinois 38, Arkansas State 20GoDaddy.com Bowl
1996Northern Illinois 31, Arkansas State 30
1995Arkansas State 28, Northern Illinois 21
1994Northern Illinois 38, Arkansas State 16
1993Northern Illinois 23, Arkansas State 7

Around this game