2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

Last updated

2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football
Northern Illinois Huskies football wordmark.svg
Camellia Bowl champion
Camellia Bowl, W 21–19 vs. Arkansas State
Conference Mid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record7–6 (5–3 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Eric Eidsness (5th season)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinatorDerrick Jackson (5th season)
Co-defensive coordinatorNick Benedetto (2nd season)
Base defense 4–2–5
Home stadium Huskie Stadium
Seasons
←  2022
2024  →
2023 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
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]

Contents

Preseason

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Northern Illinois was picked to finish third in the West. [5]

East
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Ohio63 (9)
2Miami52 (2)
3Buffalo51 (1)
4Bowling Green35
5Akron26
6Kent State19
West
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Toledo66 (11)
2Eastern Michigan55 (1)
3Northern Illinois38
4Central Michigan37
5Ball State27
6Western Michigan23
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
RankTeamVotes
1Toledo7
2Ohio4
3Buffalo1

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 211:00 a.m.at Boston College *
 ACCN W 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 *
 FS1 L 11–3586,875
September 2311:00 a.m. Tulsa *
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
 CBSSN L 14–2210,321
September 302:30 p.m.at Toledo
ESPNU L 33–3523,417
October 72:30 p.m.at Akron
ESPN+W 55–148,216
October 143:00 p.m. Ohio Dagger-14-plain.png
  • 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 Michigan
ESPNUL 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 State
ESPN+W 37–275,427
December 2311:00 a.m.vs. Arkansas State *
 ESPN W 21–1911,310

[6] [7]

Game summaries

at Boston College

Northern Illinois (0–0) @ Boston College (0–0)
Quarter1234OTTotal
Huskies0777627
Eagles00714324

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.
StatisticsNIUBC
First downs2119
Plays–yards78–33866–314
Rushes–yards48–16628–146
Passing yards172168
Passing: comp–att–int14–30–017–38–1
Time of possession36:5323:07
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NIUPassing Rocky Lombardi 13/29, 165 yds
RushingGavin Williams15 rushes, 61 yds
ReceivingKacper Rutkiewicz5 receptions, 46 yds
BCPassing Thomas Castellanos 13/28, 138 yds, 2 TDs, INT
RushingThomas Castellanos9 rushes, 74 yds, TD
ReceivingLewis Bond4 receptions, 40 yds, TD

Southern Illinois

Southern Illinois (1–0) at Northern Illinois (1–0)
Quarter1234Total
Salukis707014
Huskies003811

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.
StatisticsSIUNIU
First downs1219
Plays–yards50–21772–360
Rushes–yards26–7334–63
Passing yards144297
Passing: comp–att–int16–24–023–38–3
Time of possession24:0135:59
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SIUPassingNic Baker16/24, 144 yds
RushingRo Elliott9 rushes, 62 yds
ReceivingAidan Quinn2 receptions, 47 yds
NIUPassingRocky Lombardi23/38, 297 yds, TD, 3 INTs
Rushing Antario Brown 22 rushes, 66 yds
ReceivingKacper Rutkiewicz6 receptions, 139 yds, TD

at Nebraska

Northern Illinois (1–1) at Nebraska (0–2)
Quarter1234Total
Huskies300811
Cornhuskers7771435

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)
StatisticsNIUNeb
First downs1223
Plays–yards149382
Rushes–yards22–2644–224
Passing yards123158
Passing: comp–att–int17–36–114–24–0
Time of possession23:4336:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NIUPassingRocky Lombardi11/28, 73 yds, 1 INT
RushingAntario Brown8 carries, 16 yds
ReceivingDavis Patterson2 rec, 30 yds
NebPassing Heinrich Haarberg 14/24, 158 yds, 2 TD
RushingHeinrich Haarberg21 carries, 98 yds
Receiving Thomas Fidone II 4 rec, 42 yds, 1 TD

vs Tulsa

Tulsa (1–2) at Northern Illinois (1–2)
Quarter1234Total
Golden Hurricane2731022
Huskies077014

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
    StatisticsTulNIU
    First downs1718
    Plays–yards–281–295
    Rushes–yards48–17941–167
    Passing yards102128
    Passing: comp–att–int8–20–217–29–2
    Time of possession27:4832:12
    TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
    TulPassing Cardell Williams 8–20, 102 yards, 2 INT
    RushingAnthony Watkins23 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD
    ReceivingKamdyn Benjamin4 receptions, 53 yards
    NIUPassing Ethan Hampton 13–23, 97 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
    RushingJustin Lynch8 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD
    ReceivingGrayson Barnes3 receptions, 40 yards

    at Toledo

    at Akron

    vs Ohio

    Ohio Bobcats(5–1) vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (2–4)
    Quarter1234Total
    Bobcats3100013
    Huskies7010623

    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)
    StatisticsOhioNorthern Illinois
    First downs1613
    Total yards254302
    Rushes/yards159172
    Passing yards159172
    Passing: Comp–Att–Int22–36–315–23–0
    Time of possession28:1531:45
    TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
    OhioPassing Kurtis Rourke 23/36, 159 yards, 3 INT
    RushingO'Shaan Allison11 rushes, 43 yards
    Receiving Sam Wiglusz 4 receptions, 37 yards
    Northern IllinoisPassing Rocky Lombardi 15/23, 172 yards, 1 TD
    RushingGavin Williams10 rushes, 55 yards, 1 TD
    ReceivingGrayson Barnes2 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD

    vs Eastern Michigan

    at Central Michigan

    vs Ball State

    vs Western Michigan

    at Kent State

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    References

    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.
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