The first round of the College Football Playoff didn’t have a game that was close to going to overtime, as all four games ended in scores that were decided by double-digits.
The closest CFP matchup in round one was between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 10 Indiana. The Hoosiers scored two late touchdowns, one coming after a successful onside kick, to make their 27-17 loss at Notre Dame Stadium look closer than the game actually was.
While the CFP has been a second-half snooze, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertsons Stadium on Monday gave all 10,359 fans in attendance an exciting matchup that concluded with extra football.
A college football bowl game was close
The Fresno State Bulldogs entered Monday’s game looking to finish the season with a winning record. The Northern Illinois Huskies wanted to finish 2024 on a positive note in the same season they won a game against a CFP team when they knocked off Notre Dame in Week 2.
Fresno State took a 13-3 lead into halftime before NIU charged back with 10 points in the third quarter. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, and the game would go into overtime tied at 13-13.
A double-overtime win for Northern Illinois football
The Huskies and Bulldogs would each score a touchdown in the first period of overtime. However, a 25-yard pass from NIU quarterback George Dimopoulos to quarterback Josh Holst in the first play over the second overtime would be the only touchdown scored in the second overtime.
The Huskies converted their two-point conversion, and their defense would force the Bulldogs to turnover the ball on downs in four plays, giving NIU a 28-20 win over Fresno St.
NIU outgained Fresno State 368-328 in total yards. Fresno State would be penalized eight times (seven more than Northern Illinois) for 58 yards. Each team had one turnover.
NIU improved to 8-5 with the win. They are 6-10 in bowl games. The Bulldogs dropped to 6-7. They are 17-14 in bowl games.
Per ESPN BET, NIU entered Monday’s game as a 2.5-point favorite.
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