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American college football season
The 2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Huskies are led by fifth-year head coach Thomas Hammock and played their home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.[1][2] They finished the regular season 6–6 and 5–3 in conference play[3] They played Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl, who they beat 21–19.[4]
On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Northern Illinois was picked to finish third in the West.[5]
East
|
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1
|
Ohio
|
63 (9)
|
2
|
Miami
|
52 (2)
|
3
|
Buffalo
|
51 (1)
|
4
|
Bowling Green
|
35
|
5
|
Akron
|
26
|
6
|
Kent State
|
19
|
West
|
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1
|
Toledo
|
66 (11)
|
2
|
Eastern Michigan
|
55 (1)
|
3
|
Northern Illinois
|
38
|
4
|
Central Michigan
|
37
|
5
|
Ball State
|
27
|
6
|
Western Michigan
|
23
|
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Votes
|
1 |
Toledo |
7
|
2 |
Ohio |
4
|
3 |
Buffalo |
1
|
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
September 2 | 11:00 a.m. | at Boston College* | | ACCN | W 27–24 OT | 30,122 |
September 9 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 24 (FCS) Southern Illinois* | | ESPN+ | L 11–14 | 13,114 |
September 16 | 6:00 p.m. | at Nebraska* | | FS1 | L 11–35 | 86,875 |
September 23 | 11:00 a.m. | Tulsa* | | CBSSN | L 14–22 | 10,321 |
September 30 | 2:30 p.m. | at Toledo | | ESPNU | L 33–35 | 23,417 |
October 7 | 2:30 p.m. | at Akron | | ESPN+ | W 55–14 | 8,216 |
October 14 | 3:00 p.m. | Ohio![dagger](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Dagger-14-plain.png) | | ESPNU | W 23–13 | 11,143 |
October 21 | 2:30 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | | ESPN+ | W 20–13 | 9,458 |
| 6:00 p.m. | at Central Michigan | | ESPNU | L 31–37 | 9,625 |
| 6:00 p.m. | Ball State | | CBSSN | L 17–20 | 6,282 |
| 6:00 p.m. | Western Michigan | | ESPNU | W 24–0 | 6,417 |
November 25 | 11:00 a.m. | at Kent State | | ESPN+ | W 37–27 | 5,427 |
December 23 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. Arkansas State* | | ESPN | W 21–19 | 11,310 |
|
[6][7]
Northern Illinois (0–0) @ Boston College (0–0)
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Huskies |
0 |
7 |
7 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
Eagles |
0 |
0 |
7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
at Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Date: September 2, 2022
- Game time: 11:04 pm CDT
- Game attendance: 30,122
- Referee: Billy Williams
- TV announcers (ACCN): Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst)
Game information
|
- Second quarter
- (02:44) NIU TD: Antario Brown 7–yard pass from Justin Lynch (Jake Seibert kick) NIU 7–0; 8 plays, 60 yards, 5:14.
- Third quarter
- (10:33) NIU TD: Antario Brown 2–yard run (Jake Seibert kick) NIU 14–0; 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:27.
- (04:58) BC TD: Lewis Bond 11–yard pass from Thomas Castellanos (Liam Connor kick) NIU 14–7; 5 plays, 25 yards, 1:55.
- Fourth quarter
- (09:24) NIU TD: Brock Lampe 1–yard run (Jake Seibert kick) NIU 21–7; 12 plays, 55 yards, 7:04.
- (05:59) BC TD: Thomas Castellanos 2–yard run (Liam Connor kick) NIU 21–14; 10 plays, 59 yards, 3:24.
- (01:44) BC TD: Jaden Williams 30-yard pass from Thomas Castellanos (Liam Conner kick) TIE 21–21; 6 plays 83 yards, 1:39
- Overtime
- (00:00) BC FG: Liam Connor 39-yard field goal BC 24–21; 4 plays, 4 yards, 0:00.
- (00:00) NIU TD: Rocky Lombardi 1-yard run NIU 27–24; 4 plays, 25 yards, 0:00.
|
Statistics
|
NIU
|
BC
|
First downs |
21 |
19
|
Plays–yards |
78–338 |
66–314
|
Rushes–yards |
48–166 |
28–146
|
Passing yards |
172 |
168
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
14–30–0 |
17–38–1
|
Time of possession |
36:53 |
23:07
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
NIU
|
Passing |
Rocky Lombardi |
13/29, 165 yds
|
Rushing |
Gavin Williams |
15 rushes, 61 yds
|
Receiving |
Kacper Rutkiewicz |
5 receptions, 46 yds
|
BC
|
Passing |
Thomas Castellanos |
13/28, 138 yds, 2 TDs, INT
|
Rushing |
Thomas Castellanos |
9 rushes, 74 yds, TD
|
Receiving |
Lewis Bond |
4 receptions, 40 yds, TD
|
Southern Illinois (1–0) at Northern Illinois (1–0)
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Salukis |
7 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 14 |
Huskies |
0 |
0 |
3 | 8 | 11 |
at Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, Illinois
- Date: September 9, 2023
- Game time: 2:32 pm CDT
- Game attendance: 13,114
- Referee: Matt Packowski
- TV: ESPN+
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (01:58) SIU TD: Nic Baker 8-yard run (Thomas Burks kick) SIU 7–0; 5 plays, 70 yards, 2:48.
- Third quarter
- (11:45) SIU TD: Ro Elliott 10–yard run (Thomas Burks kick) SIU 14–0; 5 plays, 57 yards, 2:48.
- (05:35) NIU FG: Jake Siebert 27-yard field goal SIU 14–3; 13 plays, 65 yards, 6:10.
- Fourth quarter
- (09:24) NIU TD: Kacper Rutkiewicz 62-yard pass from Rocky Lombardi (Rocky Lombardi pass) SIU 14–11; 9 plays, 99 yards, 4:56.
|
Statistics
|
SIU
|
NIU
|
First downs |
12 |
19
|
Plays–yards |
50–217 |
72–360
|
Rushes–yards |
26–73 |
34–63
|
Passing yards |
144 |
297
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
16–24–0 |
23–38–3
|
Time of possession |
24:01 |
35:59
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
SIU
|
Passing |
Nic Baker |
16/24, 144 yds
|
Rushing |
Ro Elliott |
9 rushes, 62 yds
|
Receiving |
Aidan Quinn |
2 receptions, 47 yds
|
NIU
|
Passing |
Rocky Lombardi |
23/38, 297 yds, TD, 3 INTs
|
Rushing |
Antario Brown |
22 rushes, 66 yds
|
Receiving |
Kacper Rutkiewicz |
6 receptions, 139 yds, TD
|
Northern Illinois (1–1) at Nebraska (0–2)
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Huskies |
3 |
0 |
0 | 8 | 11 |
Cornhuskers |
7 |
7 |
7 | 14 | 35 |
at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska
- Date: September 16, 2023
- Game time: 6:00 pm CDT
- Game weather: Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: North at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 86,875
- Referee: Chris Coyte
- TV announcers (FS1): Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (9:39) NEB - Billy Kemp IV 10-yard pass from Heinrich Haarberg, Tristan Alvano kick (6 plays, 55 yards, 3:17, Nebraska 7-0)
- (3:08) NIU - Jake Seibert 30-yard field goal ('4 plays, -8 yards, 2:13, Nebraska 7-3)
- Second quarter
- (3:15) NEB – Thomas Fidone II 16-yard pass from Heinrich Haarberg, Tristan Alvano kick (4 plays, 36 yards, 2:14, Nebraska 14-3)
- Third quarter
- (1:00) NEB – Gabe Ervin Jr. 3-yard run, Tristan Alvano kick (14 plays, 76 yards, 7:10, Nebraska 21-3)
- Fourth Quarter
- (8:19) NEB – Heinrich Haarberg 20-yard run, Tristan Alvano kick (9 plays, 65 yards, 5:33, Nebraska 28-3)
- (3:23) NEB – Anthony Grant 11-yard run, Tristan Alvano kick (5 plays, 35 yards, 3:07, Nebraska 35-3)
- (0:04) NIU – Ethan Hampton 4-yard pass from Chris Carter, Billy Dozier 2-pt PAT pass from Chris Carter (11 plays, 75 yards, 3:19, Nebraska 35-11)
|
Statistics
|
NIU
|
Neb
|
First downs |
12 |
23
|
Plays–yards |
149 |
382
|
Rushes–yards |
22–26 |
44–224
|
Passing yards |
123 |
158
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
17–36–1 |
14–24–0
|
Time of possession |
23:43 |
36:17
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
NIU
|
Passing |
Rocky Lombardi |
11/28, 73 yds, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Antario Brown |
8 carries, 16 yds
|
Receiving |
Davis Patterson |
2 rec, 30 yds
|
Neb
|
Passing |
Heinrich Haarberg |
14/24, 158 yds, 2 TD
|
Rushing |
Heinrich Haarberg |
21 carries, 98 yds
|
Receiving |
Thomas Fidone II |
4 rec, 42 yds, 1 TD
|
Tulsa (1–2) at Northern Illinois (1–2)
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Golden Hurricane |
2 |
7 |
3 | 10 | 22 |
Huskies |
0 |
7 |
7 | 0 | 14 |
at Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, Illinois
- Date: September 23, 2023
- Game time: 11:00 am CDT
- TV: CBSSN
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
Statistics
|
Tul
|
NIU
|
First downs |
|
|
Plays–yards |
|
|
Rushes–yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Tul
|
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
NIU
|
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
Ohio Bobcats(5–1) vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (2–4)
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bobcats |
3 |
10 |
0 | 0 | 13 |
Huskies |
7 |
0 |
10 | 6 | 23 |
at Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL
- Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: cloudy, Temperature:53 °F (12 °C), Wind:Southwest 17 mph
- Game attendance: 11,143
- Referee: Andrew Speciale
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Drew Carter, Dustin Fox
- Pregame line:Ohio -5.5; O/U 45.0 • Ohio notes, boxcore
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- (08:18) NIU - Gavin Williams 53 Yd Run (Kanon Woodill Kick) 7 plays, 85 yards, TOP 04:05 (NIU 7–0)
- (03:04) OHIO - Gianni Spetic 27 Yd Field Goal 10 plays, 51 yards, TOP 05:10 (NIU 7–3)
- Second Quarter
- (10:22) OHIO - Kurtis Rourke 1 Yd Run (Gianni Spetic Kick) 13 plays, 60 yards, TOP 07:00 (OHIO 10–7)
- (00:07) OHIO - Gianni Spetic 37 Yd Field Goal 16 plays, 69 yards, TOP 06:00 (OHIO 13–7)
- Third Quarter
- (12:54) NIU - Grayson Barnes 58 Yd pass from Rocky Lombardi (Kanon Woodill Kick) 3 plays, 66 yards, TOP 01:10 (NIU 14–13)
- (02:12) NIU - Kanon Woodill 31 Yd Field Goal 12 plays, 68 yards, TOP 06:50 (NIU 17–13)
- Fourth Quarter
- (10:31) NIU - Kanon Woodill 37 Yd Field Goal 9 plays, 40 yards, TOP 05:11 (NIU 20–13)
- (08:09) NIU - Kanon Woodill 32 Yd Field Goal 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 02:05 (NIU 23–13)
|
Statistics |
Ohio
|
Northern Illinois
|
First downs |
16 |
13
|
Total yards |
254 |
302
|
Rushes/yards |
159 |
172
|
Passing yards |
159 |
172
|
Passing: Comp–Att–Int |
22–36–3 |
15–23–0
|
Time of possession |
28:15 |
31:45
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Ohio |
Passing |
Kurtis Rourke |
23/36, 159 yards, 3 INT
|
Rushing |
O'Shaan Allison |
11 rushes, 43 yards
|
Receiving |
Sam Wiglusz |
4 receptions, 37 yards
|
Northern Illinois |
Passing |
Rocky Lombardi |
15/23, 172 yards, 1 TD
|
Rushing |
Gavin Williams |
10 rushes, 55 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Grayson Barnes |
2 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD
|
vs Eastern Michigan
[edit]
at Central Michigan
[edit]
vs Western Michigan
[edit]
- ^ "Thomas Hammock". NIU Athletics. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Huskie Stadium". NIU Athletics. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "MAC College Football Standings - 2023". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Donaldson, Maxwell (December 3, 2023). "Camellia Bowl: Which teams are coming to Montgomery? Date, time, TV, ticket info". yahoo.com. Gadsden Times. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked to win conference championship; BGSU tabbed to finish fourth in MAC East". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "2023 Northern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Northern Illinois Huskies Schedule 2023". ESPN.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |