The regular season finale is upon us… wild! Where did this season go? The Jacks host Illinois State on Saturday at 2pm. Originally, the game looked to be pretty chilly but the forecast has improved and it will now be a balmy high of 26 degrees! This will be a great day to honor the Seniors and to honor our military for Military Appreciation Day.
What to Watch
Put Up Points
This Illinois State defense is good, allowing just 20 ppg this season. They have a history of being a terrific defense so this season is not an anomaly. However, their offense has struggled at times to score. If the Jacks can put up 21+ points I love their chances to win. The Jackrabbits will need to be efficient in the redzone and will need to be able to run the ball to keep their defense honest.
Win Special Teams
The Jackrabbits won the game last week because of excellent special teams play. Outside of their place kicker, the UNI special teams have not been good this year. However, Illinois State has been EXCELLENT on special teams. The Jackrabbits have improved throughout the year on special teams and this will be a huge test. In the playoffs, every mistake is magnified and every facet of the game matters. Let’s see the Jackrabbit special teams test their improvement against a top-tier Redbird special teams group.
Turnovers
The Jackrabbits have been sensational at not turning the ball over and forcing turnovers this season. In fact, they are +13 season which is ranked 3rd in all of the FCS. Illinois State is +1 which is ranked tied for 50th. The Jacks forcing a few turnovers early and getting up big would be a really nice way to end the season. Finish this game early and convert turnovers into points.
Slow the Pass Rush
Illinois State is great at getting after the passer with 25 sacks this season! The challenging part is that the pressure comes from all over the place with active linebackers and safeties. The #605Hogs struggled somewhat in pass protection last week (even though UNI registered 0 sacks). This week they must be better and hopefully being back at home will allow them to communicate more clearly and ensure that the blitz pickups are sound. The Illinois State pass rush is ferocious and this should be a good test to help the #605Hogs prepare for the playoffs!
Finish the Deal
The Jackrabbits have had a magical season so far. They have already achieved one goal, MVFC champions and have earned the auto bid. However, the work is not done yet. A win would virtually ensure a top-2 seed and they would be outright MVFC Champions and leave no room for a co-champion. A top-2 seed would mean that they do not need to leave Brookings until a trip to Frisco. A win would break the team record for longest consecutive win streak and it would also be their first undefeated season against FCS competition. There is still soooo much to play for. Finish the deal.
Go Jacks!
The JI Team
