The 2026 Northern Illinois Huskies football team will represent Northern Illinois University during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Huskies will be led by Rob Harley in his first year as the head coach. The Huskies will play home games at Huskie Stadium, located in DeKalb, Illinois. The Huskies will compete as first-year members of the Mountain West Conference (MWC).
Schedule
Source
Personnel Roster
Coaching staff Rob HarleyHead Coach1stQuinn SandersOffensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2ndTony Petersenco–Offensive Coordinator/Quarterback1stTy BolesAssistant Coach/Running Backs 2ndMatt WhiteAssistant Coach / Offensive Line 1stJoseph HawkinsAssistant Coach/Wide Receivers 5thBrayden PattonAssistant Coach/Tight Ends 2ndJustin Robinson Assistant Coach/Defensive Tackles 2ndChris West Assistant Coach/Defensive Ends 1stCory ConnollySpecial Teams Coordinator/Linebackers2ndDJ BlandAssistant Coach/Cornerbacks/Pass Defense Coordinator4thKai RossAssistant Coach/Safeties2nd Source
Game summaries
at No. 22 Iowa
Statistics NIUIOWA First downs 7 26 Plays–yards 55–120 78–507 Rushes–yards 31–7 38–289 Passing yards 113 218 Passing: –– 13–24–1 21–40–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:09 33:51 Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois Passing Taron Dickens 9/14, 96 yards, INT Rushing Telly Johnson Jr. 8 carries, 16 yards Receiving Kelan McInerney 3 receptions, 55 yards Iowa Passing Hank Brown 12/20, 129 yards, TD Rushing Kamari Moulton 11 carries, 183 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tony Diaz 7 receptions, 84 yards, TD
No. 5 (FCS) Illinois State
Statistics ILSTNIU First downs 19 20 Plays–yards 63–254 66–308 Rushes–yards 36–101 36–112 Passing yards 153 196 Passing: comp–att–int 21–27–2 23–30–2 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 31:16 28:44 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois State Passing Gage Roy 20/23, 146 yards, 2 TD Rushing Victor Dawson 12 carries, 46 yards Receiving Dylan Lord 8 receptions, 62 yards, TD Northern Illinois Passing Taron Dickens 22/27, 193 yards, TD, INT Rushing Telly Johnson Jr. 22 carries, 83 yards, TD Receiving DeAree Rogers 11 receptions, 74 yards, TD
at Arizona
Statistics NIUARIZ First downs 20 22 Plays–yards 67–341 64–441 Rushes–yards 24–86 27–84 Passing yards 255 357 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29–43–0 32–37–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 29:40 30:20 Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois Passing Taron Dickens 25/37, 228 yards, TD Rushing Telly Johnson Jr. 12 carries, 69 yards Receiving DeAree Rogers 10 receptions, 68 yards Arizona Passing Noah Fifita 31/34, 325 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kedrick Reescano 8 carries, 30 yards Receiving Tre Spivey 6 receptions, 90 yards, TD
at Georgia State
Statistics NIUGAST First downs 24 17 Plays–yards 73-432 57-342 Rushes–yards 31-112 35-144 Passing yards 320 198 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28-42-0 15-22-1 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 33:11 26:49 Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois PassingTaron Dickens28/42, 320 yards, TD RushingTelly Johnson Jr.15 carries, 91 yards, TD ReceivingDeAree Rogers9 receptions, 107 yards, TD Georgia State PassingCameran Brown14/21, 148 yards, 2 TDs, INT RushingLanear McCrary Jr.21 carries, 112 yards, TD ReceivingRodshaun Dorsey5 receptions, 114 yards, 2 TDs
Air Force
Statistics AFANIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Air Force Passing Rushing Receiving Northern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Wyoming
Statistics NIUWYO First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Wyoming Passing Rushing Receiving
Hawaii
Statistics HAWNIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Hawaii Passing Rushing ReceivingNorthern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at UNLV
Statistics NIUUNLV First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving UNLV Passing Rushing Receiving
at San Jose State
Statistics NIUSJSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Rushing ReceivingSan Jose State Passing Rushing Receiving
Nevada
Statistics NEVNIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Nevada Passing Rushing ReceivingNorthern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at North Dakota State
Statistics NIUNDSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Rushing ReceivingNorth Dakota State Passing Rushing Receiving
UTEP
Statistics UTEPNIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UTEP Passing Rushing Receiving Northern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
References