It’s a trophy game. It’s a homecoming game. And it’s a chance for a 1-3 team to start conference play right.

Miami (Ohio) heads to DeKalb on Saturday for NIU’s homecoming game. The teams also compete for the Mallory Cup, which started in 2018 and is named for Bill Mallory, who led NIU and Miami to Mid-American Conference titles.

Both teams are playing their MAC opener after 1-3 starts. Miami is off a 38-0 win against Lindenwood after road losses to Wisconsin (17-0) and Rutgers (45-17) and a home loss to UNLV (41-38).

NIU opened the season with a win against Holy Cross (19-7), losses at Maryland (20-9) and Mississippi State (38-10), then lost last week at home to San Diego State (6-3).

Here are three things to know about the game.

NIU linebacker Quinn Urwiler emerging as one

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