Arkansas State, Northern Illinois, both 6-6, meet in Montgomery’s Camellia Bowl

Arkansas State and Northern Illinois are fighting for a winning record in Saturday’s Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.

Both teams enter the game with 6-6 records.

Northern Illinois has won five of its last seven games. Arkansas State is bowl eligible for the first time since 2019.

Arkansas State is led by Sun Belt freshman of the year Jaylen Raynor at quarterback. Northern Illinois running back Antario Brown is a first-team All-Mid American Conference performer.

Arkansas State also has a .500 record in bowl games (8-8-1) and have split their two previous trips to the Camellia Bowl. Northern Illinois is 4-10 in bowl games and making its first appearance in the Camellia Bowl.

KEY MATCHUP

Arkansas State’s offense against the Northern Illinois defense. Northern Illinois ranks 21st nationally in total defense and sixth in passing yards allowed, Arkansas State ranks ninth in the Sun Belt in scoring and total offense, averaging 27.8 points and 375.5 total yards per game. Northern Illinois is giving up 164.6 passing yards a game and 316.9 total yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Arkansas State: QB Jaylen Raynor has passed for 2,293 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for five scores. Raynor was 20-of-25 passing for 386 yards and six touchdowns against Massachusetts.

Northern Illinois: RB Antario Brown is a first-team All-MAC performer who has run for 1,164 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s averaging 6.2 yards per carry, rushing for 280 yards and four TDs on just 13 carries against Akron.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Arkansas State is one of just seven FBS teams who will play in a bowl game after winning three or fewer games last year. …Arkansas State lost to Middle Tennessee in 2017 and beat Florida International two years later in previous Camellia Bowl appearances. … Arkansas State hasn’t faced a MAC opponent since opening the 2016 season against Toledo. … It’s a rematch of the 2012 bowl game in Mobile, Alabama. …The game will end the seven-year college career for Northern Illinois quarterback Rocky Lombardi, who has spent four years at Michigan State and three with Northern Illinois. He received a medical redshirt last season.

Kickoff is at 11AM CST on ESPN.

(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)