2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

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] The Northern Illinois Huskies football team drew an average home attendance of 9,456 in 2023.^[5]

2023 Northern Illinois Huskies football
Camellia Bowl champion
Camellia Bowl, W 21–19 vs. Arkansas State
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	West Division
Record	7–6 (5–3 MAC)
Head coach	Thomas Hammock (5th season)
Offensive coordinator	Eric Eidsness (5th season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Derrick Jackson (5th season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Nick Benedetto (2nd season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Huskie Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

2023 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	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

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.^[6]

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

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	11:00 a.m.	at Boston College*	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA	ACCN	W 27–24 OT	30,122
September 9	2:30 p.m.	No. 24 (FCS) Southern Illinois*	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPN+	L 11–14	13,114
September 16	6:00 p.m.	at Nebraska*	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	FS1	L 11–35	86,875
September 23	11:00 a.m.	Tulsa*	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	CBSSN	L 14–22	10,321
September 30	2:30 p.m.	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPNU	L 33–35	23,417
October 7	2:30 p.m.	at Akron	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN+	W 55–14	8,216
October 14	3:00 p.m.	Ohio	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPNU	W 23–13	11,143
October 21	2:30 p.m.	Eastern Michigan	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPN+	W 20–13	9,458
October 31	6:00 p.m.	at Central Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	ESPNU	L 31–37	9,625
November 7	6:00 p.m.	Ball State	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL (Bronze Stalk Trophy)	CBSSN	L 17–20	6,282
November 14	6:00 p.m.	Western Michigan	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPNU	W 24–0	6,417
November 25	11:00 a.m.	at Kent State	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	ESPN+	W 37–27	5,427
December 23	11:00 a.m.	vs. Arkansas State*	Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL (Camellia Bowl)	ESPN	W 21–19	11,310
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings (after November 2) released prior to game All times are in Central time

^[7][8]

Game summaries

at Boston College

See also: 2023 Boston College Eagles football team

Northern Illinois (0–0) @ Boston College (0–0)

Quarter	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

See also: 2023 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

Southern Illinois (1–0) at Northern Illinois (1–0)

Quarter	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

at Nebraska

See also: 2023 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Northern Illinois (1–1) at Nebraska (0–2)

Quarter	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

vs Tulsa

See also: 2023 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

Tulsa (1–2) at Northern Illinois (1–2)

Quarter	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	17	18
Plays–yards	–281	–295
Rushes–yards	48–179	41–167
Passing yards	102	128
Passing: comp–att–int	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

at Akron

vs Ohio

See also: 2023 Ohio Bobcats football team

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

Quarter	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

at Central Michigan

vs Ball State

vs Western Michigan

at Kent State