As a proud component of midweek MACtion, the Northern Illinois Huskies are no stranger to a weekday encounter. This Monday, they face the Fresno State Bulldogs of the Mountain West in one of the most iconic bowl games on the calendar: the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Between injuries, transfer portal entrants, and NFL Draft declarations, there will be several Northern Illinois and Fresno State players not playing in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Top Northern Illinois Players Not Playing in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Huskies won’t be in action in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
- Christian Medlock, OL, Northern Illinois
- Jalonnie Williams, EDGE, Northern Illinois
- Cameron Dorner, WR, Northern Illinois
- Skyler Gill-Howard, DL, Northern Illinois
- Kenny Lueth, QB, Northern Illinois
- Kyle Thomas, WR, Northern Illinois
- Dashaun Gibson, CB, Northern Illinois
- Keyshaun Pipkin, WR, Northern Illinois
- Santana Banner, S, Northern Illinois
- Jalen Johnson, WR, Northern Illinois
- Trayvon Rudolph, WR, Northern Illinois
- Amariyun Knighten, DB, Northern Illinois
- Navaeh Sanders, EDGE, Northern Illinois
- Ethan Hampton, QB, Northern Illinois
- Cam’Ron Dabney, CB, Northern Illinois
- Raishein Thomas, EDGE, Northern Illinois
- Shaad Dabney, DB, Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois has a host of players not playing in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl due to a transfer portal exodus. Thomas Hammock’s side earned a bowl berth following a 7-5 season that included a famous win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but most of the players that got them to this point aren’t featured on the depth chart issued by the team ahead of the game.
Starting quarterback Hampton is perhaps their most significant loss. He accounted for 14 of the team’s touchdowns this fall but has committed to play for the Illinois Fighting Illini after a brief flirtation with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Dynamic WR Rudolph led the team in receiving yards in 2024, while Banner and Gil-Howard have been key cogs for an impressive defense.
Top Fresno State Players Not Playing in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Bulldogs won’t be in action in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
- Josiah Freeman, WR, Fresno State
- Jalen Moss, WR, Fresno State
- Julian Neal, S, Fresno State
- Phoenix Jackson, LB, Fresno State
- Justin Houston, CB, Fresno State
- Jacob Holmes, DL, Fresno State
- Mikey Keene, QB, Fresno State
- Antoine Sullivan, WR, Fresno State
- Alzillion Hamilton, CB, Fresno State
- Malik Sherrod, RB, Fresno State
- Tim Grear, WR, Fresno State
- Raylen Sharpe, WR, Fresno State
- Gavriel Lightfoot, DL, Fresno State
It’s a similar situation for Fresno State, with 13 players not playing in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Bulldogs booked their bowl berth with a win over the Colorado State Rams in their final Mountain West matchup, but key contributors on both sides of the ball won’t step foot on the Albertsons Stadium blue turf.
The Bulldogs will be without their starting quarterback, with Keene currently doing the rounds of Power Four programs, including the Michigan Wolverines and Ole Miss Rebels.
The Fresno State QB led the Mountain West with 2,892 passing yards. Backfield enforcers Holmes and Jackson will be sorely missed from the defense. CB Hamilton led the team in pass breakups this year and is also absent for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
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