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2024 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

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2024 Northern Illinois Huskies football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record6–5 (3–4 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorWesley Beschorner (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorNick Benedetto (3rd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumHuskie Stadium
Seasons
← 2023
2025 →
2024 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Miami (OH)   6 1     7 4  
Ohio   6 1     8 3  
Bowling Green   5 1     6 4  
Buffalo   5 2     7 4  
Toledo   4 3     7 4  
Western Michigan   4 3     5 6  
Northern Illinois   3 4     6 5  
Ball State   2 4     3 7  
Eastern Michigan   2 5     5 6  
Central Michigan   2 5     4 7  
Akron   2 5     3 8  
Kent State   0 7     0 11  
Championship: December 7, 2024
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
As of November 21, 2024
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2024 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represents Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Huskies are led by Thomas Hammock in his sixth year as the head coach. The Huskies play home games at Huskie Stadium, located in DeKalb, Illinois.[1]

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

[edit]

Preseason polls

[edit]

Coaches Poll

[edit]

On 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

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 312:30 p.m.Western Illinois*ESPN+W 54–1510,828
September 72:30 p.m.at No. 5 Notre Dame*NBCW 16–1477,622
September 212:30 p.m.BuffaloNo. 23
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPN+L 20–23 OT18,688
September 2811:00 a.m.at NC State*The CWL 17–2456,919
October 511:00 a.m.UMass*
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
CBSSNW 34–2012,466
October 122:30 p.m.at Bowling GreenESPN+W 17–79,559
October 192:30 p.m.Toledodagger
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPN+L 6–1318,350
October 262:30 p.m.at Ball StateESPN+L 23–2515,318
November 66:00 p.m.at Western MichiganESPN2W 42–2810,346
November 136:00 p.m.Akron
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
CBSSNW 29–166,795
November 198:00 p.m.at Miami (OH)ESPNL 9–205,891
November 30Central Michigan
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL

[6]

Rankings

[edit]
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP2523
CoachesRVRV
CFPNot releasedNot released

Game summaries

[edit]

Western Illinois (FCS)

[edit]
Western Illinois Leathernecks (FCS) at Northern Illinois Huskies – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Leathernecks (FCS) 3 0 5715
Huskies 6 28 13754

at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois

  • Date: August 31
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 81 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 10,828
  • Referee: Amanda Sauer
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Kelsie Kasper and Ryan Cavanaugh
  • Box score, Recap
Game information
First quarter
  • NIU – Dane Pardridge 23-yard pass from Ethan Hampton (kick failed), 12:21. Huskies 6–0. Drive: 2 plays, 46 yards, 0:25.
  • WIU – Antonio Chadha 44-yard field goal, 0:51. Huskies 6–3. Drive: 11 plays, 61, yards, 4:35.

Second quarter

  • NIU – Cam Thompson 11-yard pass from Ethan Hampton (Kanon Woodill kick), 12:36. Huskies 13–3. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:15.
  • NIU – Trayvon Rudolph 60-yard run (Kanon Woodill kick), 8:47. Huskies 20–3. Drive: 1 play, 60 yards, 0:08.
  • NIU – Keyshaun Pipkin 11-yard pass from Ethan Hampton (Kanon Woodill kick), 1:55. Huskies 27–3. Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 5:05.
  • NIU – Trayvon Rudolph 43-yard pass from Ethan Hampton (Kanon Woodill kick), 0:40. Huskies 34–3. Drive: 4 plays, 60 yards, 0:44.

Third quarter

  • NIU – Grayson Barnes 60-yard pass from Ethan Hampton (Kanon Woodill kick), 13:28. Huskies 41–3. Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:32.
  • NIU – Jaylen Poe 7-yard run (kick blocked), 4:22. Huskies 47–3. Drive: 14 plays, 88 yards, 7:06.
  • WIU – Fredrik Greenhoward defensive PAT conversion, 4:22. Huskies 47–5.
  • WIU – Antonio Chadha 46-yard field goal, 1:39. Huskies 47–8. Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 2:36.

Fourth quarter

  • NIU – Jalen Macon 5-yard run (Kanon Woodill kick), 8:00. Huskies 54–8. Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 5:31.
  • WIU – Torrance Farmer Jr. 27-yard pass from Nathan Lamb (Antonio Chadha kick), 2:59. Huskies 54–15. Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards, 4:56.
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

[edit]
Northern Illinois Huskies at No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 10 3 0316
No. 5 Fighting Irish 7 0 7014

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 77,622
  • Referee: Tim Hedgepeth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks, Jason Garrett, and Zora Stephenson
  • Box score, Recap
Game information
First quarter
  • ND – Riley Leonard 1-yard run (Mitch Jeter kick), 8:28. Fighting Irish 7–0. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:25.
  • NIU – Antario Brown 83-yard pass from Ethan Hampton (Kanon Woodill kick), 5:35. Tied 7–7. Drive: 5 plays, 98 yards, 2:51.
  • NIU – Kanon Woodill 42-yard field goal, 2:13. Huskies 10–7. Drive: 5 plays, 30 yards, 1:27.

Second quarter

  • NIU – Kanon Woodill 21-yard field goal, 13:39. Huskies 13–7. Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards, 2:08.

Third quarter

  • ND – Jeremiyah Love 34-yard run (Mitch Jeter kick), 8:34. Fighting Irish 14–13. Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 2:43.

Fourth quarter

  • NIU – Kanon Woodill 35-yard field goal, 0:31. Huskies 16–14. Drive: 11 plays, 31 yards, 5:24.
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

[edit]
Buffalo Bulls at No. 23 Northern Illinois Huskies – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Bulls 0 3 710323
No. 23 Huskies 7 7 06020

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
First quarter
  • (5:14) NIU – Antario Brown 5-yard run, Kanon Woodill kick (Drive: 13 plays, 66 yards, 6:36; Northern Illinois 7-0)
Second quarter
  • (7:18) BUF – Upton Bellenfant 42-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards, 5:26; Northern Illinois 7-3)
  • (1:55) NIU – Antario Brown 14-yard run, Kanon Woodill kick (Drive: 2 plays, 36 yards, 0:16; Northern Illinois 14-3)
Third quarter
  • (10:59) BUF – Victor Snow 46-yard pass from C. J. Ogbonna, Upton Bellenfant kick (Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 2:32; Northern Illinois 14-10)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:51) NIU – Kanon Woodill 30-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 5:44; Northern Illinois 17-10)
  • (12:02) BUF – Al-Jay Henderson 36-yard run, Upton Bellenfant kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:49; Tied 17-17)
  • (3:28) BUF – Upton Bellenfant 42-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, -4 yards, 2:11; Buffalo 20-17)
  • (0:24) NIU – Kanon Woodill 27-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 66 yards, 3:04; Tied 20-20)
Overtime
  • (0:00) BUF – Upton Bellenfant 37-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 0:00; Buffalo 23-20)
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

[edit]
Northern Illinois Huskies at NC State Wolfpack – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 0 000
Wolfpack 0 0 000

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

[edit]
UMass Minutemen at Northern Illinois Huskies – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Minutemen 0 0 000
Huskies 0 0 000

at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois

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

[edit]
Northern Illinois Huskies at Bowling Green Falcons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 3 3 01117
Falcons 7 0 007

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
First quarter
  • (8:58) NIU – Kanon Woodill 46-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, 6:02; NIU 3–0)
  • (6:55) BGSU – Harold Fannin Jr. 11-yard pass from Connor Bazelak, Jackson Kleather kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:03; BGSU 7–3)
Second quarter
  • (1:40) NIU – Kanon Woodill 21-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 54 yards, 4:18; BGSU 7–6)
Third quarter

No scoring plays

Fourth quarter
  • (14:53) NIU – Josh Holst 22-yard run, Isaac Hatfield Two-point pass (Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 3:46; NIU 14–7)
  • (6:00) NIU – Kanon Woodill 27-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 59 yards, 5:43; NIU 17–7)
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

[edit]
Toledo Rockets at Northern Illinois Huskies – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rockets 0 7 3313
Huskies 3 3 006

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
First quarter
  • (11:43) NIU FG: Kanon Woodill 36-yard field goal NIU 3–0; 9 plays, 56 yards, 3:17
Second quarter
  • (08:08) TOL TD: Jerjuan Newton 52-yard pass from John Richter (Dylan Cunanan kick) TOL 7–3; 2 plays, 61 yards, 00:40
  • (00:00) NIU FG: Kanon Woodill 37-yard field goal TOL 7–6; 9 plays, 60 yards, 1:16
Third quarter
  • (02:22) TOL FG: Dylan Cunanan 22-yard field goal TOL 10–6; 12 plays, 88 yards, 4:39
Fourth quarter
  • (11:12) TOL FG: Dylan Cunanan 27-yard field goal TOL 13–6; 10 plays, 56 yards, 3:58
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)

[edit]
Northern Illinois Huskies at Ball State Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 0 000
Cardinals 0 0 000

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

[edit]
Northern Illinois Huskies at Western Michigan Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 0 000
Broncos 0 0 000

at Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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

[edit]
Akron Zips at Northern Illinois Huskies – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Zips 6 10 0016
Huskies 17 6 0629

at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois

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)

[edit]
Northern Illinois Huskies at Miami RedHawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 3 069
RedHawks 7 10 0320

at Yager Stadium, Oxford, Ohio

  • Date: November 19
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT/8:00 p.m. EDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
Statistics NIU M-OH
First downs 19 17
Total yards 242 325
Rushing yards 128 88
Passing yards 114 237
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 32:47 26:47
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Miami (OH) Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Central Michigan

[edit]
Central Michigan Chippewas at Northern Illinois Huskies – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chippewas 0 0 000
Huskies 0 0 000

at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois

  • Date: November 30
  • Game time: TBD
  • TV announcers (TBD): 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

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2024 Football Coaching Staff". NIU Athletics. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Williams, James H. "Notre Dame upset by NIU: Instant reactions to historic Northern Illinois win". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Wiles, Ethan (September 9, 2024). "No. 25 Ranked NIU Named Cheez-It Team of the Week". 13 WREX. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  4. ^ "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "2024 Northern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  7. ^ 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.