The 2017 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Rod Carey, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 8–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the MAC's West Division. Northern Illinois received an invitation to the Quick Lane Bowl, their 11th bowl game in the 14 seasons. There they lost to Duke, 36–14. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.
Preseason For the third consecutive year, the Huskies were picked to finish in third place in the MAC's West division.
Schedule
2017 Northern Illinois Huskies football schedule. FBSchedules.com. Accessed April 16, 2017.
Game summaries
Boston College
9–11Nov 1, 2016NIU, 45–20 The Huskies opened the season on September 1 at home against Boston College at Huskie Stadium. Northern Illinois took the early lead on a Christian Hagan 32-yard field goal in the first quarter. However, the Eagles responded with their own field goal shortly before the end of the first quarter to tie the game at three. Following a 60-yard run by NIU quarterback Ryan Graham, Graham hit D.J. Brown on a 15-yard pass for the first touchdown of the game and put the Huskies up 10–3. BC kicked their second field goal of the game a few possessions later to cut the NIU lead to 10–6. Following a quick three-and-out possession for the Huskies, the Eagles moved down the field and converted on a five-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds left in the half. The TD gave the Eagles the 13–10 edge at halftime. Boston College extended their lead on their second possession of the second half, scoring on a four-yard touchdown pass to move the score to 20–10. The Huskies responded on a 13 play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Graham touchdown pass to Shane Wimann from seven yards out to narrow the lead to 20–10. The Huskie defense forced the Eagles to punt on the following possession and the Huskie offense tied the score with a 21-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Neither offense could muster anything further until BC took over with a little over seven minutes remaining in regulation. The Eagles moved into field goal position with a 13 play, 46-yard drive and hit a 37-yard field goal to give them the lead with 2:13 seconds remaining. NIU moved the ball quickly downfield as time was running out, but the drive stalled at the BC 22-yard line. On fourth down, Christian Hagan attempted a 39-yard game-tying field goal that hit the cross bar and fell short with 21 seconds remaining. BC ran out the clock to win the game 23–20. The loss moved the Huskies to 0–1 on the season.
Eastern Illinois
26–10–1Sep 21, 2014NIU, 43–39 Looking to rebound from their opening season loss, the Huskies welcomed FCS Eastern Illinois to Huskie Stadium for their second straight home game. Starting NIU quarterback Ryan Graham missed the game with a shoulder injury and was expected to miss a few more games. The Huskies jumped to an early 7–0 lead on backup QB Daniel Santacaterina's pass to Spencer Tears from 29 yards out. Eastern answered with a field goal to cut the lead to 7–3. The Huskie defense intercepted the Panthers on their next possession and scored on a Marcus Jones four-yard run to increase the lead to 14–3 early in the second quarter. Following a missed field goal, the Huskies scored another touchdown on a 19-yard pass from Santacaterina to Christian Blake. The Huskies added another touchdown, following another NIU interception, on another Marcus Jones run, this one from one yard out to take a 28–3 lead as the rout was on. The Huskies added a field goal with 52 seconds remaining to push the rout to 31–7 at the half. The Huskies added another with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter as Santacaterina hit Shane Wimann for a one-yard score. With the Huskies up 38–3 in the fourth quarter, the Panthers finally scored a touchdown on Scotty Gilkey one-yard touchdown run. The 38–10 win moved the Huskies to 1–1 on the season. The NIU defense played well, allowing 60 yards rushing and 187 yards overall. The NIU offense put up 230 yards passing and 269 yard rushing in the easy win over the Panthers.
At Nebraska
0–2Sep 8, 1990Neb, 60–14 In their first road game of the season, the Huskies traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers. Nebraska got the ball first and moved down the field to reach the NIU 13-yard line. Looking to take the early lead, Husker quarterback Tanner Lee threw the ball to the right, but Huskie defensive back read the play beautifully and picked off the pass, returning it 87 yards to give the Huskies an early 7–0 lead. After each team punted on their next two possessions, Lee was intercepted again, this time by Jawuan Johnson who returned the pick 25 yards for a touchdown and a 14–0 lead. The NIU defense further held the Huskers in check in the first half, holding Nebraska scoreless as they missed a field goal to end the half giving NIU the 14–0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, neither team was able to manage anything on their first two possessions, but Nebraska was finally able to put points on the board after forcing NIU returner Jalen Embry to fumble a punt which the Huskers recovered. Two plays later, Lee scored for Nebraska, cutting the lead to 14–7. NIU was forced punt on their ensuing possession and the Huskers converted a 36-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter. NIU's offense again managed nothing and was forced to punt. The Huskers went 63 yards on their next possession before Lee scored on a one-yard run as the Huskie dream story appeared to be over with Nebraska taking the lead 17–14. However, NIU answered on their next possession, going 75 yards in six plays before Jordan Huff scored from two yards out to retake the lead 21–17. Nebraska's next possession ended on fourth down as Mycial Allen broke up a fourth down pass from Lee. Following yet another NIU punt, Josh Corcoran intercepted Lee yet again in Nebraska territory and the Huskies were able to run out the clock clinching the 21–17 win. The win moved the Huskies to 2–1 on the season.
The NIU offense only mustered 213 yards in the game, but forced three key Nebraska turnovers. Jordan Huff rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown as the NIU defense held the Cornhuskers to 384 yards of offense.
The Huskies became the first team not in a Power 5 conference or major independent to win in Lincoln since Southern Miss knocked off the Cornhuskers in 2004. Northern Illinois moved to 4–1 against Big Ten teams under fifth-year coach Rod Carey.
At San Diego State
0–3Sep 17, 2016SDSU, 42–28 In their second straight road game, NIU traveled to the West Coast to face the Aztecs in San Diego, California. The game did not start well for the Huskies as the Aztecs returned the opening kick for a touchdown to put NIU in an early hole 7–0. NIU answered on their first possession as Daniel Santacaterina hit Christian Blake for a 34-yard touchdown to tie the game. Special teams would let the Huskies down as the Huskies fumbled on the ensuing punt by the Aztecs which set them up at the NIU 33 for 33-yard touchdown run as SDSU regained the lead 14–7. Santacaterina answered again for the Huskies, hitting Christian Blake for 10-yard touchdown pass. However, in the second quarter, Santacaterina would make a mistake throwing a pick-six to SDSU's Tariq Thompson which again gave the Aztecs the lead at 21–14. The Aztecs would add another touchdown via a touchdown pass and a field goal near the end of the first half to take a commanding 31–14 lead.
NIU, however, was not ready to give in. Santacaterina hit Spencer Tears on an 81-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the third quarter to bring the Huskies within 10 at 31–21. Following a 50-yard pass to set up the Huskies at the Aztec 10, Marcus Childers ran the ball in to close the lead to 31–28. A SDSU field goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter pushed the lead to six as the Huskies looked to defeat the No. 19-ranked Aztecs. The NIU offense could not garner another point as they turned the ball over on three of their last four possession (two interceptions and one turnover on downs) as the Huskies fell 34–28.
The loss dropped the Huskies to 2–2 on the season as they got read for MAC play.
Kent State
20–3Nov 25, 2016NIU, 31–21 NIU returned home to open MAC play against the Golden Flashes at Huskie Stadium. The game also marked Homecoming for the Huskies. Starting quarterback Daniel Santacaterina was ineffective early for the Huskies and was replaced by Marcus Childers in the first quarter. Childers threw three touchdown passes for the Huskies, two in the first half to give NIU a 14–3 lead at halftime. The NIU defense held the Flashes to 131 total yards as the majority of the game was played in a rain storm. Shawun Lurry, Jawuan Johnson, and Bobby Jones IV intercepted passes in the game for the Huskies as they forced four Kent State turnovers.
Childers threw for 114 yards while rushing for 65 in the easy 24–3 win over Kent State. The win was NIU's 21st in the last 22 games against MAC Eastern Division teams. The win moved the Huskies to 3–2 on the season and 1–0 in MAC play.
At Buffalo
10–1Oct 22, 2016NIU, 44–7 In their first road MAC game, NIU traveled to face Buffalo. Marcus Childers kept up his strong play at quarterback for the Huskies as he passed for 224 yards and ran for 79 in first career start. Childers ran for one touchdown and threw for another to give NIU a 14–3 lead early in the second quarter. Buffalo drew within one point at 14–13 before the half ended. In the second half, neither team could score any points as both defenses stepped up. NIU did miss two field goals in the half as Buffalo also missed one. With less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, Buffalo moved to midfield, but had their ensuing pass intercepted by Jawuan Johnson. An NIU field goal attempt was no good and the Bulls were forced to punt with just over four minutes remaining in the game. The NIU offense took over and was able to run out the clock, giving the Huskies a 14–13 win. The win moved NIU to 4–2 on the season and 2–0 in MAC play.
At Bowling Green
9–11Nov 1, 2016NIU, 45–20 The Huskies again went on the road, this time to Ohio to face Bowling Green in their third MAC game of the season. Marcus Childers, making his second consecutive start at quarterback for the Huskies, again performed well. He threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns and added 73 yards on the ground as NIU jumped up early on Bowling Green. However, BGSU kept the game close as the first quarter ended with the NIU leading 14–7. The Huskies blew the game open in the second quarter. Two touchdown passes from Childers, including a 73-yard catch by Chad Beebe, son of former NFL wide receiver Don Beebe, put NIU up 31–7 at the half. A 16-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Sutton Smith early in the third quarter followed by Christian Hagan's second field goal of the game moved the lead to 41–7 with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter. BGSU added 10 points to pull within 41–17 with just under five minutes remaining in the game, but Jauan Wesley scored from nine yards out with 50 seconds left in the game to give the Huskies a 48–17 blowout win. NIU running back Tommy Mister carried the ball 17 times for 115 yards and a touchdown in the game. Beebe added six catches for 124 yards in the big game of the NIU offense. The win moved NIU to 5–2 on the season and 3–0 in MAC play.
Eastern Michigan
23–5–2Nov 16, 2016NIU, 24–7