Northern Illinois will make its 21st all-time bowl appearance and 16th as an FBS team on Monday against Fresno State in the famed Idaho Potato Bowl.

It is the Huskies’ 15th bowl game since 2003, more than any other Mid-American Conference team during that time.

The Huskies and Bulldogs played in this game back in 2010 when it was called the Humanitarian Bowl, and NIU won 40-17 to complete an 11-3 season.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Northern Illinois (7-5) vs. Fresno State (6-6)

• Time/TV: Monday, 1:30 p.m., ESPN.
• Website: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho.
• Line: NIU by 1½.
• Series: NIU leads 3-2.

Key match

NIU passing game vs. Fresno State pass defense

In the passing game, the Huskies rank 118th in the FBS with an average of 176.1 yards per game through the air. The Bulldogs are allowing 215.9 passing yards per game, which ranks 64th.

The matchups do not favor Fresno State’s offense, which boasts the No. 123 FBS rushing attack (98.6 ypg) and will face the No. 19 run defense. NIU allows 112.1 yards per game on the ground.

Last game

NIU: Ethan Hampton threw for 169 yards on 19 of 29 passes (65.5%) and ran for a touchdown in a 24-16 win over Central Michigan. Telly Johnson Jr. carried 20 balls for 84 yards and a touchdown, and Trayvon Rudolph had nine balls for 97 yards.

Fresno State: The Bulldogs lost 20-13 to UCLA. Mikey Keene completed 30 of 43 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. Bryson Donelson carried six balls for 41 yards and had nine balls for 44 yards.

Players to watch

NIU: Hampton has 1,600 passing yards (145.5 per game) and completed 58.5% of his passes (144 of 246) with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns. … Gavin Williams has 135 carries for 741 yards (61.8 per game) and four touchdowns and 22 catches for 138 yards and a score. … Rudolph has 392 yards (39.2 per game) on 37 catches with one touchdown.

Fresno State: Keene has 2,887 passing yards (240.6 per game) and completed 70.2% of his passes (276 of 393) with 18 TDs and 11 interceptions. … Elijah Gilliam has 121 carries for 466 yards (38.8 per game) and eight touchdowns plus 29 catches for 190 yards. … Mac Dalena has 58 receptions for 941 yards (78.4 per game) and eight touchdowns.

Facts & Figures

NIU has outscored its opponents by 5.9 points per game and Fresno State has outscored its opponents by two per game. … The Huskies rank in the top 25 in both rushing offense (16th, 207.3 YPG) and rushing defense (19th, 112.1 YPG). … Fresno State ranks 244.7 in passing Yards per game ranked 45th in the country.