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2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

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2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football
Camellia Bowl champion
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record7–6 (5–3 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorEric Eidsness (5th season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorDerrick Jackson (5th season)
Co-defensive coordinatorNick Benedetto (2nd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumHuskie Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Miami (OH) xy$   7 1     11 3  
Ohio   6 2     10 3  
Bowling Green   5 3     7 6  
Buffalo   3 5     3 9  
Akron   1 7     2 10  
Kent State   0 8     1 11  
West Division
Toledo xy   8 0     11 3  
Northern Illinois   5 3     7 6  
Eastern Michigan   4 4     6 7  
Central Michigan   3 5     5 7  
Ball State   3 5     4 8  
Western Michigan   3 5     4 8  
Championship: Miami (OH) 23, Toledo 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

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]

Preseason

[edit]

Preseason polls

[edit]

Coaches Poll

[edit]

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

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 211:00 a.m.at Boston College*ACCNW 27–24 OT30,122
September 92:30 p.m.No. 24 (FCS) Southern Illinois*ESPN+L 11–1413,114
September 166:00 p.m.at Nebraska*FS1L 11–3586,875
September 2311:00 a.m.Tulsa*
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
CBSSNL 14–2210,321
September 302:30 p.m.at ToledoESPNUL 33–3523,417
October 72:30 p.m.at AkronESPN+W 55–148,216
October 143:00 p.m.Ohiodagger
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPNUW 23–1311,143
October 212:30 p.m.Eastern Michigan
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPN+W 20–139,458
October 316:00 p.m.at Central MichiganESPNUL 31–379,625
November 76:00 p.m.Ball State
CBSSNL 17–206,282
November 146:00 p.m.Western Michigan
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPNUW 24–06,417
November 2511:00 a.m.at Kent StateESPN+W 37–275,427
December 2311:00 a.m.vs. Arkansas State*ESPNW 21–1911,310

[6][7]

Game summaries

[edit]

at Boston College

[edit]
Northern Illinois (0–0) @ Boston College (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Huskies 0 7 77627
Eagles 0 0 714324

at Alumni StadiumChestnut 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: compattint 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

[edit]
Southern Illinois (1–0) at Northern Illinois (1–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Salukis 7 0 7014
Huskies 0 0 3811

at Huskie StadiumDeKalb, 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: compattint 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

at Nebraska

[edit]
Northern Illinois (1–1) at Nebraska (0–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 3 0 0811
Cornhuskers 7 7 71435

at Memorial StadiumLincoln, 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: compattint 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

vs Tulsa

[edit]
Tulsa (1–2) at Northern Illinois (1–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Golden Hurricane 2 7 31022
Huskies 0 7 7014

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 17 18
Plays–yards –281 –295
Rushes–yards 48–179 41–167
Passing yards 102 128
Passing: compattint 8–20–2 17–29–2
Time of possession 27:48 32:12
Team Category Player Statistics
Tul Passing Cardell Williams 8–20, 102 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Anthony Watkins 23 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Kamdyn Benjamin 4 receptions, 53 yards
NIU Passing Ethan Hampton 13–23, 97 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Justin Lynch 8 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Grayson Barnes 3 receptions, 40 yards

at Toledo

[edit]

at Akron

[edit]

vs Ohio

[edit]
Ohio Bobcats(5–1) vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (2–4)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bobcats 3 10 0013
Huskies 7 0 10623

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 Ball State

[edit]

vs Western Michigan

[edit]

at Kent State

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Thomas Hammock". NIU Athletics. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Huskie Stadium". NIU Athletics. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "MAC College Football Standings - 2023". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "2023 Northern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  7. ^ "Northern Illinois Huskies Schedule 2023". ESPN.