Three months after handily beating Notre Dame, the Northern Illinois Huskies suffered a massive loss.

And unlike a Truffle Shuffle bedroom visit from Amber Heard, this dump was actually a good thing.

NIU defeated Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Monday and needed double overtime to put away the pesky Bulldogs, or is it the Bulldongs? Whatever the case, NIU’s eighth win of the season followed a french fry dump that Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock thoroughly enjoyed.

“You know, that was the best dump of my career,” Hammock told ESPN sideline reporter Tori Petry. “And it was french fries. They seemed a little salty.”

Who knew it would feel so good to take a break on live television in front of tens of thousands of fans?

And salty?

NIU Freshman leads the way in the famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Northern Illinois’ bowl victory would not have been possible without redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Holst. In just his third start this season, Holst, a walk-on, threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Holst added another 65 yards on the ground. The QB’s efforts earned him MVP honors. But unfortunately not a huge garbage dump.

BOISE, ID – DECEMBER 23: Quarterback Josh Holst #15 of the Northern Illinois Huskies goes to the middle of the field during the second half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Albertsons Stadium on December 23, 2024 in Boise. Idaho. Northern Illinois won the game 28-20 in double overtime. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)

“What a great game,” Hammock said after the win. “I’m proud of our players, proud of our coaches. We stayed committed and fought for each other even when some things didn’t go our way. I couldn’t be more proud of these men in the locker room.”

Not a bad early Christmas present for Hammock and the boys. A bowl win, a few french fries, and a giant dump. If this isn’t the ideal December Monday, I don’t know what is.

As for Fresno State, the end of their season still stinks, even if they didn’t experience a major blowout.

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