SETTING THE STAGE
The fourth season of the Trent Miles era continues on Saturday, Oct. 8, as the No. 17 Sycamores hit the road in Missouri Valley Football Conference play for the second contest weekend as they travel to battle No. 2 Northern Iowa. Saturday's game is set for a 5:05 p.m. (ET) kickoff at UNI-Dome (16,324). The game will air live on ESPN Radio (92.7 FM), with Brian Fritz and Danny Pfrank calling the action for the Nelligan Sports Marketing Radio Network. Action can be heard live worldwide on GoSycamores.com. Through a partnership with Northern Iowa, the game will also be available on the internet via a live stream share on Sycamore Vision, which can be found at GoSycamores.com. The live stream will be available on a pay-per-view basis world wide.

THE NORTHERN IOWA SERIES
Northern Iowa leads the all-time series against Indiana State by a 23-4 margin, including a 12-1 mark against the Sycamores at UNI-Dome. ISU's lone win on the road against the Panthers came on October 29, 1988 in the form of a 24-6 ISU victory. The Panthers have won the last eight meetings, dating back to a 21-19 victory for ISU on November 2, 2002 inside Memorial Stadium. UNI has won the last ten meetings versus the Trees in Cedar Falls , Iowa.

THE COACHES
INDIANA STATE: Trent Miles (Indiana State '87)
- Overall: 11-28 (4th Season)
- at Indiana State: 11-28 (4th Season)
- vs. Northern Iowa: 0-3
- vs. Missouri Valley Football Conference: 7-19
NORTHERN IOWA: Mark Farley (Northern Iowa, '86)
- Overall: 92-38 (11th Season)
- at Northern Iowa.: 92-38 (11th Season)
- vs. Indiana State: 9-1
- vs. Missouri Valley Football Conference: 55-19

QUICK HITS
- Indiana State is playing in its first game between two nationally-ranked teams since a 34-19 loss at Northern Iowa in November of 1996.
- Indiana State is looking for its first 3-0 start to MVFC play since they downed Western Illinois, Southern Illinois and Illinois State in consecutive weeks to begin the 1996 league campaign. ISU is also looking to down its first Top 5 FCS opponent in 17 tries since 1985.

An Indiana State Win Over Northern Iowa Would ...
• Give Indiana State three consecutive victories to start a MVFC campaign for the first time since a 3-0 start out of the gate in 1996.
• Give Indiana State a 5-1 start to the season, which would be its best since a similar start in 1995. A win would also give Indiana State its first five-game winning streak since the 1996 season.
• Give Indiana State consecutive road victories over MVFC opposition for the first time since downing Western Illinois and Southern Illinois in 1996.
• Be Indiana State's first road victory over South Dakota State and even the all-time series at 2-2.

The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Trent Miles (Indiana State, 1987) is 11-28 (.282) overall in his third season as a head coach, all with the Sycamores. He is 7-19 all-time in MVFC games, including a 5-8 mark at home and a 2-11 mark on the road. During his career, he is 8-11 in all home games, 3-17 on the road and 3-2 in games decided by three points or less. Miles is 0-3 all-time against Northern Iowa. With the Trees, Miles is 1-2 in overtime games, and 0-5 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Trent Miles' 40th game as Indiana State head coach.

The Northern Iowa Head Coach
Northern Iowa is led by 11th-year head coach Mark Farley, who is 92-38 at the Cedar Falls, Iowa school. Farley owns a 9-1 record all-time against Indiana State, in addition to a 55-19 record against the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Scouting The Panthers
The Northern Iowa Panthers are the No. 2 ranked team in both The Sports Network/Fathead.com and FCS Coaches Polls. UNI is led in rushing by their quarterback Tirrell Rennie who leads the team in rushing with 396 yards (99.0 per game average) and in passing with a 47-of-87 mark for 683 yards. He has rushed for five touchdowns and thrown for four more. L.J. Fort leads the team in tackles and has four forced fumbles.

A Little History
This marks the 107th season of football at Indiana State, dating back to 1896. The University did not field teams from 1899 to 1900, 1908 or from 1910 to 1919. ISU owns an all-time record of 349-471-22 and is competing for the 26th consecutive season as a member of the MVFC.

Television Particulars
Indiana State's game against Northern Iowa will be streamed live on Sycamore Vision, which is a pay-per-view service provided by GoSycamores.com. Fans should navigate to GoSycamores.com for pricing and schedule information.

What's Transpired
Indiana State is 4-1 on the season, dropping its season opener at Penn State by the score of 41-7 and downing Butler in the home opener 48-34. The Sycamores are led in rushing by Brock Lough who has 130 yards on 18 carries, averaging 7.2 yards per touch with three touchdowns. Ronnie Fouch has completed over 63 percent of his passes, connecting on 26-of-41 attempts with two touchdowns. Justin Hilton leads ISU with 10 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown while Jacolby Washington leads the way defensively with 23 total tackles. The Sycamores rolled up 456 yards of total offense against Butler. Larry Carter and Cory Little earned MVFC Player Of The Week honors for their efforts against Western Kentucky as the Sycamores earned a 44-16 road victory over the Hilltoppers. The Sycamores won their first contest against a NCAA FBS Subdivision member since 2001 with the win over WKU. ISU stretched its winning streak to three games with a 37-35 home victory over Youngstown State - its first over the Penguins at Memorial Stadium in 12 tries. ISU secured its first 2-0 start to league play since 1996 with a 38-28 victory at South Dakota State. Bell once again led the offensive attack with 199 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns.

Earning National Respect In The Top 25 Polls
Indiana State is ranked No. 17 in this week's The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25 poll while they are No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The No. 17 national ranking is the second-highest for an Indiana State football program since 1985. Indiana State and Northern Iowa are both nationally-ranked this week and sets up the first time that the Sycamores will be playing in a contest when both teams are in the polls since the same two teams played on November 9, 1996 when ISU was No. 21 and UNI was No. 3 in a contest which saw the Panthers walk away with 34-19 victory inside Memorial Stadium. Since the inception of the traditional FCS national rankings prior to the 1985 season, a nationally-ranked Indiana State team has faced a nationally-ranked opponent four times, falling in alll four contests.

Nationally Ranked Sycamores Vs. Nationally Ranked Opposition
Oct. 8, 2011 No. 17 ISU vs.. No. 2 UNI Cedar Falls, Iowa
Nov. 9, 1996 L, 19-34 No. 21 ISU vs. No. 3 UNI Memorial Stadium
Nov. 18, 1995 L, 6-27 No. 19 ISU vs. No. 12 EIU Memorial Stadium
Oct. 14, 1995 L, 10-27 No. 23 ISU vs. No. 18 UNI Cedar Falls, Iowa
Sept. 9, 1989 L, 10-31 No. 14 ISU vs. No. 10 MSU Springfield, Mo.

Bell Looking To Be Quickest To 1,000 Yards In School History
Through just five games in 2011, sophomore tailback Shakir Bell has amassed 767 yards rushing, which is the most ever for a Sycamore through the first five games of any season, breaking Vincent Allen's record of 612 in 1974.. Bell needs 233 more yards rushing this year to become the 12th 1,000-yard rusher in the history of the program. The quickest that any Indiana State football player has ever reached 1,000 yards rushing in a season is Allen who eclipsed the mark in just eight games during his freshman campaign in 1974.

Shakir Bell Named To Walter Payton Award Watch List
Indiana State sophomore tailback Shakir Bell is off to the best start rushing in school history and today (Oct. 4) he was honored by being added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List by The Sports Network. The Walter Payton Award, in its 25th season, honors the most outstanding player in FCS football and Bell was one of four players nationally to be added to the watch list. Bell is one of four players from the Missouri Valley Football Conference to be featured on the watch list as Youngstown State's Jamaine Cook, North Dakota State's D.J. McNorton and Northern Iowa's Tirrell Rennie are also honored. Bell is enjoying a stellar season so far as he has helped lead the Sycamores to their first 4-1 start since 2004 and their first 2-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference start since 1996. Through five games, Bell has amassed 767 rushing yards, which is the highest total anyone in the Indiana State program has ever posted this early in a season. His 153.4 rushing yards per game average ranks second nationally and needs just 233 more rushing yards over the next two games to become the earliest 1000-yard rusher in the history of the program. Additionally, he has found the end zone eight times on the ground and earlier this season reached 200 yards rushing in back-to-back games, including a school record 256 against Youngstown State. Bell leads the MVFC in all purpose yardage as his 155.8 average also ranks 17th nationally. Bell is averaging 9.6 points per game, which ranks third int he league and tied for 12th in FCS football.

Alex Sewall Named MVFC Defensive Player Of The Week Following South Dakota State Victory
Indiana State senior safety Alex Sewall was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week following the South Dakota State contest. Sewall led the Sycamore defensive attack with 11 total tackles, including five solo stops as ISU won at South Dakota State for the first time by the score of 38-28. Sewall had one sack for a loss of four yards and recovered a key fumble early in the game which set up the Sycamores' first score. He also added one pass breakup. Sewall also had two near forced fumbles in the game but both times the SDSU ball carries were ruled down by contact.

Sycamores Off The Best League Start Since 1996
Indiana State is off to its first 2-0 start to Missouri Valley Football Conference play since the 1996 campaign when the Sycamores actually won each of their first three league contests that season. Additionally, the Sycamores' 4-1 start to the season is their best since 2004 when that team also began the year with a 4-1 mark. ISU has won back-to-back road contests now for the first time since 2001 with its consecutive road victories over Western Kentucky and South Dakota State.

Nothing Little About This Leg
With his 32-yard field goal with 8:36 left in the first quarter, sophomore kicker Cory Little extended his career-best string of made field goals to five. The streak would end right there as he missed a 30-yarder later in the first quarter to finish the game with a 1-for-2 mark on field goals. Little is 5-for-7 on the year in field goal kicking, averaging 1.0 made field goals per game.

Tee Total Towalid
Indiana State's Johnny Towalid was the benefactor of a Jacolby Washington pass breakup late in the third quarter at South Dakota State as he took the ball that spiraled high in the air off the hands of Washington and returned the interception 78-yards to stretch Indiana State's lead out to 31-15 with 52 seconds remaining in the game's third quarter. The 78-yard return was the first by a Sycamore since 2006 when Bryan Jackson returned an interception 100 yards at Eastern Illinois.

Sycamore Defense Features Three Top 5 Tacklers In MVFC
Led by junior Aaron Archie, the Sycamores have three defenders ranked in the Top 5 of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in total tackles. Archie's 11.4 tackles per game ranks second and tied for ninth nationally. Alex Sewall averages 10 total tackles per game which is fourth in the league and tied for 27th in the nation and Jacolby Washington is posting 9.8 tackles per game -- good enough for fifth in the league and tied for 33rd nationally.

Versus Nationally Ranked Opponents
No. 24 Youngstown State was the first Sycamore opponent from the FCS to be ranked at the time of the contest this season and ISU earned a 37-35 victory over them on September 24 inside Memorial Stadium. With the victory, ISU defeated their first opponent ranked in the Top 25 since taking down No. 19 Western Illinois on Oct. 23, 1999. The Sycamores are now 9-71 all-time against FCS nationally-ranked opponents, including a mark of 7-52 against league members that are nationally ranked.

Bell Sets School Record Against Youngstown State; Earns National Honors
Indiana State sophomore running back Shakir Bell was outstanding against Youngstown State and for his efforts was named the Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player Of The Week, The Sports Network Co-Offensive National Player Of The Week and the College Sports Performance Awards National Running Back Of The Week. Bell amassed 256 rushing yards in the contest on 21 attempts, averaging 12.2 yards per carry for the Trees. His 256 rushing yards are the most in a single-game by a Sycamore in the history of the program and marks his second consecutive 200-yard rushing performance. Bell is just the second-ever Sycamore to rush for over 200 yards in consecutive contests. Bell's 256 rushing yards broke the previous record of 253 held by Derrick Franklin against Murray State in 1990. Franklin is also the only other Sycamores to rush for 200 yards in back-to-back games back in 1991. Additionally, Bell found the end zone on the ground a total of four times, all in the first half. His four rushing touchdowns in one half is also a new school record. Bell scored on the game's first play from scrimmage on a 62-yard scamper just 18 seconds into the contest. He gave ISU a 14-0 advantage on a 39-yard scoring run just four minutes into the game and tallied a 62-yard touchdown on the ground in the second quarter. He finished off his masterful first half with a 51-yard touchdown rush with 4:03 left in the first half. His 62-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game is the longest scoring play for the Sycamores this season. Bell currently leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in rushing yards per game with a 142.0 mark, a number which is second-best nationally.

Sycamore Turnover Turnaround Started Against WKU
Heading into the Western Kentucky contest, the Sycamores were -4 in the turnover margin category, but the Sycamores were +3 against the Hilltoppers and continued that positive trend with a +1 showing last week against Youngstown State. Now for the season, Indiana State is even in the turnover battle with their first four opponents.

Sycamores Beat FBS Western Kentucky In Impressive Fashion
Indiana State defeated NCAA FBS foe Western Kentucky, a current member of the Sun Belt Conference and a former member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (2001-06) by the score of 44-16 in Bowling Green. ISU broke a 12-game losing skid to the Hilltoppers and earned their first victory over a NCAA FBS school since a 2001 victory at Eastern Michigan. ISU's 28-point win over the Hilltoppers is the largest margin of victory for an FCS school over an FBS school since a 30-point victory by North Dakota State over Central Michigan in 2007. ISU's 44 points scored over is tied for the most points scored by a Sycamore squad against an FBS school with a 44 point outburst against Louisville in 1984.

Back-To-Back Non-Conference Victories For Indiana State
Indiana State's back-to-back victories against Butler and Western Kentucky are the Sycamores' first consecutive non-conference victories against NCAA Division I foes since the Sycamores downed Eastern Illinois, Murray State and UT-Martin in succession back in 2004. Likewise, the Sycamores entered MVFC play with a 2-1 record, its best start to a season since a 4-1 burst out of the gate in 2004.

Ben Obaseki Named To Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List; Solid Start To Season
Junior defensive lineman Ben Obaseki has been named to the 2011 Buck Buchanan Watch List, presented by Fathead.com as announced by The Sports Network. The Buchanan Award is in its 17th season and will be presented to the FCS' outstanding defensive player at the national awards banquet Thursday night, Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas. This season's winner will join a list of Buchanan Award greats such as Dexter Coakley, Jared Allen, Rashean Mathis, Kroy Biermann and 2010 winner J.C. Sherritt of Eastern Washington. Ballots will be sent to a panel of about 200 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries after the regular season on Nov. 21. Obaseki was everywhere for Indiana State at Penn State, totaling five total tackles and putting pressure on the Penn State quarterbacks numerous times over the course of the game on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Obaseki, a Preseason Buck Buchanan Watchlist Team member, recorded one solo stop and four assists versus the Nittany Lions. He went on to tally eight tackles with a quarterback sack at Western Kentucky. Obaseki now has 12 quarteback sacks in his career, and needs 13.5 more to tie Kyle Mitchell for the school record.

Sycamores Against The Missouri Valley Football Conference
Indiana State is in its 26th season as a member of the MVFC. ISU's first season as a league member came in 1986 when it went 1-5 through a six-game league schedule. The Sycamores are 46-115 in MVFC contests and have won seven of their last 14 league matchups, marking the first time since the 2002 season that an ISU team has won multiple league contests over a similar stretch.

Leonard Riston Kickoff Return For A Touchdown Against Butler; Sycamores Lead MVFC In Kickoff Returns
Leonard Riston returned three kickoffs for a total of 156 yards, including a 92-yard touchdown in the second quarter as the Sycamores downed Butler at Memorial Stadium. Riston's 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the Sycamores' first since the 2005 campaign when Cornell Johnson had a 97-yarder against Western Illinois. Riston currently ranks second in the MVFC in kickoff return average with a mark of 27.81 yards, which ranks 25th nationally. Indiana State is second in the MVFC through five games with a 25.05 kickoff return average.

Bringing Back Memories Of "The Fridge"
Ben Obaseki scored twice last season on offensive as a fullback despite being the team's starting defensive end and a nominee for the 2011 Buck Buchannan Award. Obaseki matched his career total of two rushing touchdowns with a pair against Butler. Obaseki opened the scoring for the Sycamores against Butler with a two-yard scoring rush in the game's first quarter and then added another two-yard TD in the third quarter.

Alex Sewall Nominated For 2011 All-State AFCA Good Works Team
Alex Sewall, a senior exercise science major, is one of 132 national nominees for the 2011 All-State AFCA Good Works Team. The award recognizes the selfless contributions to volunteerism and community service made by college football student-athletes across the nation. From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members will select two 11-player Good Works Teams® - one comprising of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA. The 22 student-athletes named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be announced in late September.

Must See TV
Indiana State is making a school record five appearances on television this season, beginning with the season opener at Penn State. The contest against the Nittany Lions was telecast on the Big Ten Network, the Sycamores second-ever appearance on that network. ISU's 2007 contest at Indiana was one of the network's first live college football telecasts. ISU also appeared on ESPN3.com in its September 17 contest at Western Kentucky and will be on there again during the October 22 road game at Illinois State. The Sycamores made an appearance on Valley Live as part of the MVC Television Network on September 24 against Youngstown State. ISU's Homecoming contest against Western Illinois on October 15 will be shown locally on WTWO-TV in the Wabash Valley. The league games against North Dakota State on November 5 and at Missouri State on November 12 are up for wildcard selections by the league office for telecasts on ESPN3.com.

In Overtime
The Sycamores have played in 12 overtime contests since the rule was established for regular season games in the NCAA FCS Subdivision in 1996. The Sycamores are 7-5 in games that have used an extra period. ISU's last overtime contest came in the form of a 38-35 victory against Missouri State in the sixth game of the 2010 season.

Up Next
The Sycamores return home for the annual Homecoming contest against Western Illinois on Saturday, October 15. Kick-off from Memorial Stadium is set for 3:05 p.m. (ET).