Kansas @ Northern Illinois preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) Northern Illinois 42, Kansas 45

Defending Mid-American Conference champion Northern Illinois will look to extend its school-record, 16-game Huskie Stadium winning streak and end its non-conference schedule on a winning note when it plays host to Kansas on Saturday. After three home games, the Jayhawks will leave Lawrence for the first time having lost their last 12 games against Bowl Subdivision teams since winning 45-42 in the closing seconds over the Huskies last year. Since that game, Northern Illinois is 12-3, including a nine-game winning streak snapped by an 18-17 season-opening loss to Iowa in Chicago. Kansas and first-year coach Charlie Weis will seek to bounce back from a 25-24 last-second loss to Rice on Sept. 8 and last week's 20-6 loss to No. 16 TCU.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3.com LINE: Northern Illinois -9.5

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (2-1): In his third career start, dual-threat quarterback Jordan Lynch accounted for 467 yards of offense in last Saturday's 41-40 win at Army, the third-best total in school history. The junior's 342-yard passing and 125-yard rushing day moved him to 19th in total yards per game (304.67), 29th in passing efficiency (156.97) and 30th in rushing yards per game (101.33). Lynch has run for five touchdowns and a 7.2-yard average and completed 63 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and two interceptions.

ABOUT KANSAS (1-2, 0-1 Big 12): While senior quarterback Dayne Crist, a transfer from Notre Dame, is the best-known Jayhawk, it'll be the defense that plays difference-maker if Kansas hopes to stop Lynch. With 12 forced turnovers, the Jayhawks are tied with Alabama and Mississippi State for the best total in the nation. Safety Bradley McDougald has two interceptions and tallied a career-high 12 tackles and two forced fumbles against TCU as the Jayhawks held the Horned Frogs to 20 points, their lowest output in 27 games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Jayhawks employ a two-headed rushing attack with Tony Pierson averaging 5.8 yards per carry and 93 per game and splitting carries with Taylor Cox, who averages 5.9 and 82.3.

2. Northern Illinois gave up 486 rushing yards against Army last week, but Army ran 86 times while completing just 1 of 4 passes.

3. Kansas has not won a true road game since a Sept. 12, 2009, win at UTEP, a streak of 13 losses.

PREDICTION: Northern Illinois 28, Kansas 21