Northern Illinois hasn’t battled Vanderbilt since the end of the last millennium, but the Huskies were matched up with a familiar foe in the country music capital of America.
Former Ball State quarterback Riley Neal transferred to Vanderbilt as a graduate last December and won the starting job in Derek Mason’s offense. Neal entered Saturday 0-3 against Northern Illinois in his collegiate career, but he guided his new squad past the Huskies, 24-18, in Nashville on Saturday afternoon.
Neal completed 75% of his passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in a mistake-free game. Vanderbilt’s offense received a considerable boost from the ever-electric running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn.