The 2024 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Huskies were led by Thomas Hammock in his sixth year as the head coach. The Huskies played home games at Huskie Stadium, located in DeKalb, Illinois.[1]
2024 Northern Illinois Huskies football | |
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Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champion | |
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, W 28–20 2OT vs. Fresno State | |
Conference | Mid-American Conference |
Record | 8–5 (4–4 MAC) |
Head coach |
|
Offensive coordinator | Wesley Beschorner (1st season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Nick Benedetto (3rd season) |
Base defense | 4–2–5 |
Home stadium | Huskie Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miami (OH) y | 7 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio y$ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buffalo | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowling Green | 6 | – | 2 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Michigan | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Toledo | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Illinois | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Akron | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eastern Michigan | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Central Michigan | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ball State | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent State | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | – | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Ohio 38, Miami (OH) 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On September 7, the Huskies notched their first-ever win over a top-10 ranked team, beating No. 5 Notre Dame 16–14 in South Bend, Indiana.[2] As a result, the Huskies were ranked No. 25 in the AP poll released on September 9, the first time an NIU team had been ranked since December of 2013.[3]
Preseason
editPreseason polls
editCoaches Poll
editOn July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Northern Illinois was picked to finish tied for third in the conference. They received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.[4][5]
MAC Coaches poll | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Miami | 119 (9) |
2 | Toledo | 109 (3) |
T3 | Bowling Green | 92 |
T3 | Northern Illinois | 92 |
5 | Ohio | 81 |
6 | Eastern Michigan | 64 |
7 | Western Michigan | 60 |
8 | Central Michigan | 59 |
9 | Ball State | 42 |
10 | Buffalo | 37 |
11 | Akron | 24 |
12 | Kent State | 13 |
Coaches poll (MAC Championship) | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
---|---|---|
1 | Miami | 10 |
2 | Toledo | 2 |
Schedule
editDate | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 31 | 2:30 p.m. | Western Illinois* | ESPN+ | W 54–15 | 10,828 | ||
September 7 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 5 Notre Dame* | NBC | W 16–14 | 77,622 | ||
September 21 | 2:30 p.m. | Buffalo | No. 23 |
| ESPN+ | L 20–23 OT | 18,688 |
September 28 | 11:00 a.m. | at NC State* | The CW | L 17–24 | 56,919 | ||
October 5 | 11:00 a.m. | UMass* |
| CBSSN | W 34–20 | 12,466 | |
October 12 | 2:30 p.m. | at Bowling Green | ESPN+ | W 17–7 | 9,559 | ||
October 19 | 2:30 p.m. | Toledo |
| ESPN+ | L 6–13 | 18,350 | |
October 26 | 2:30 p.m. | at Ball State | ESPN+ | L 23–25 | 15,318 | ||
November 6 | 6:00 p.m. | at Western Michigan | ESPN2 | W 42–28 | 10,346 | ||
November 13 | 6:00 p.m. | Akron |
| CBSSN | W 29–16 | 6,795 | |
November 19 | 8:00 p.m. | at Miami (OH) | ESPN | L 9–20 | 5,891 | ||
November 30 | 2:30 p.m. | Central Michigan |
| CBSSN | W 24–16 | 5,843 | |
December 23 | 1:30 p.m. | vs. Fresno State | ESPN | W 28–20 2OT | 10,359 | ||
|
Rankings
editWeek | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
AP | — | — | 25 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Coaches | — | — | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
Game summaries
editWestern Illinois
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leathernecks | 3 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 15 |
Huskies | 6 | 28 | 13 | 7 | 54 |
Game information |
---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | WIU | NIU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 17 | 30 |
Total yards | 298 | 706 |
Rushing yards | 94 | 312 |
Passing yards | 204 | 394 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 28:26 | 31:34 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Western Illinois | Passing | Nathan Lamb | 17/29, 204 yards, TD |
Rushing | Cameren Smith | 14 rushes, 51 yards | |
Receiving | Tristin Duncan | 5 receptions, 68 yards | |
Northern Illinois | Passing | Ethan Hampton | 18/20, 328 yards, 5 TD |
Rushing | Antario Brown | 8 rushes, 69 yards | |
Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 4 receptions, 104 yards, TD |
At No. 5 Notre Dame
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
No. 5 Fighting Irish | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Game information |
---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Statistics | NIU | ND |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 17 |
Total yards | 388 | 286 |
Rushing yards | 190 | 123 |
Passing yards | 198 | 163 |
Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
Time of possession | 34:38 | 25:22 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois | Passing | Ethan Hampton | 10/19, 198 yards, TD |
Rushing | Antario Brown | 20 rushes, 99 yards | |
Receiving | Antario Brown | 2 receptions, 126 yards, TD | |
Notre Dame | Passing | Riley Leonard | 20/32, 163 yards, 2 INT |
Rushing | Jeremiyah Love | 11 rushes, 79 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Beaux Collins | 5 receptions, 45 yards |
This was the Huskies' first win over an AP top-10 team in program history.[7]
Buffalo
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bulls | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 23 |
No. 23 Huskies | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois
- Date: September 21
- Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 88 °F (31 °C) • Wind: N 9 mph
- Game attendance: 18,688
- Referee: David Siegle
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Ross Jr. and Tyoka Jackson
- Box score, Recap
Game information |
---|
|
Statistics | UB | NIU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 9 | 24 |
Total yards | 184 | 359 |
Rushing yards | 77 | 165 |
Passing yards | 107 | 194 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Time of possession | 23:47 | 36:13 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Buffalo | Passing | C. J. Ogbonna | 10/17, 107 yards, TD |
Rushing | Al-Jay Henderson | 11 carries, 56 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Victor Snow | 3 receptions, 72 yards, TD | |
Northern Illinois | Passing | Ethan Hampton | 23/43, 194 yards, INT |
Rushing | Antario Brown | 24 carries, 73 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Cam Thompson | 3 receptions, 49 yards |
At NC State
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wolfpack | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Carter–Finley Stadium, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Date: September 28
- Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT/12:00 p.m. EDT
- TV announcers (The CW): Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst) and Carla Gebhart (sideline)
Statistics | NIU | NCST |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
NC State | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
UMass
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minutemen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Huskies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois
- Date: October 5
- Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT/12:00 p.m. EDT
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) and Luke Kuechly (analyst)
Statistics | MASS | NIU |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
UMass | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Northern Illinois | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
At Bowling Green
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 17 |
Falcons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Doyt Perry Stadium, Bowling Green, Ohio
- Date: October 12
- Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Wind: NE at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
- Game attendance: 9,559
- Referee: Billy Williams
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
Game information |
---|
No scoring plays
|
Statistics | NIU | BGSU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 19 | 15 |
Total yards | 278 | 205 |
Rushing yards | 170 | 107 |
Passing yards | 108 | 98 |
Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
Time of possession | 34:44 | 25:16 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois | Passing | Josh Holst | 10/14, 89 yards |
Rushing | Gavin Williams | 29 carries, 102 yards | |
Receiving | Andrew McElroy | 5 receptions, 47 yards | |
Bowling Green | Passing | Connor Bazelak | 8/14, 88 yards, TD |
Rushing | Terion Stewart | 13 carries, 64 yards | |
Receiving | Jamal Johnson | 3 receptions, 43 yards |
Toledo
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rockets | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
Huskies | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois
- Date: October 19
- Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: N 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
- Game attendance: 18,350
- Referee: Rich Edwards
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)
Game information |
---|
|
Statistics | TOL | NIU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 15 | 25 |
Total yards | 285 | 391 |
Rushing yards | 133 | 181 |
Passing yards | 152 | 210 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Time of possession | 23:46 | 36:14 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Toledo | Passing | John Richter | 15/28, 152 yards, TD |
Rushing | Connor Walendzak | 19 carries, 78 yards | |
Receiving | Jerjuan Newton | 3 receptions, 64 yards, TD | |
Northern Illinois | Passing | Josh Holst | 22/46, 210 yards |
Rushing | Gavin Williams | 16 carries, 78 yards | |
Receiving | Cam Thompson | 5 receptions, 80 yards |
at Ball State (Bronze Stalk Trophy)
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, Indiana
- Date: October 26
- Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Kelsie Kaspar (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst)
Statistics | NIU | BALL |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Ball State | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
at Western Michigan
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT/7:00 p.m. EDT
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play) and Fozzy Whittaker (analyst)
Statistics | NIU | WMU |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Western Michigan | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Akron
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zips | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Huskies | 17 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 29 |
at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois
- Date: November 13
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT/7:00 p.m. EDT
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Jason Knapp (play-by-play) and Brock Vereen (analyst)
Statistics | AKR | NIU |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Akron | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Northern Illinois | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
at Miami (OH)
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
RedHawks | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Yager Stadium, Oxford, Ohio
- Date: November 19
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT/8:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Fog • Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: NW 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h)
- Game attendance: 5,891
- Referee: William Williams
- TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
Game information |
---|
No scoring plays
|
Statistics | NIU | M-OH |
---|---|---|
First downs | 19 | 17 |
Total yards | 242 | 324 |
Rushing yards | 128 | 87 |
Passing yards | 114 | 237 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 32:56 | 27:04 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois | Passing | Ethan Hampton | 10/25, 70 yards, INT |
Rushing | Telly Johnson Jr. | 15 carries, 47 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Andrew McElroy | 5 receptions, 38 yards | |
Miami (OH) | Passing | Brett Gabbert | 14/23, 207 yards, INT |
Rushing | Keyon Mozee | 14 carries, 91 yards | |
Receiving | Reggie Virgil | 4 receptions, 107 yards, TD |
Central Michigan
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chippewas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Huskies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois
- Date: November 30
- Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT
- TV announcers (CBSSN): TBD
Statistics | CMU | NIU |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Turnovers | ||
Time of possession |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Central Michigan | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Northern Illinois | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
Fresno State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)
editNorthern Illinois Huskies (7-5, 4-4) at Fresno State Bulldogs (6-6, 4-3)
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huskies | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 28 |
Bulldogs | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Statistics | NIU | FRES |
---|---|---|
First downs | ||
Total yards | ||
Rushing yards | ||
Passing yards | ||
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
Time of possession |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving | |||
Fresno State | Passing | ||
Rushing | |||
Receiving |
References
edit- ^ "2024 Football Coaching Staff". NIU Athletics. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Williams, James H. "Notre Dame upset by NIU: Instant reactions to historic Northern Illinois win". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ Wiles, Ethan (September 9, 2024). "No. 25 Ranked NIU Named Cheez-It Team of the Week". 13 WREX. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ "2024 Northern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Bromberg, Nick (September 8, 2024). "Northern Illinois stuns No. 5 Notre Dame for first-ever win over a top-10 team". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved September 8, 2024.