DeKALB – Saturday’s gridiron matchup between the Huskies and the University of Toledo Rockets will mark NIU’s 117th Homecoming celebration.
With two of the Mid-American Conference’s elite set to square off at Huskie Stadium, the matchup promises to add to an exciting history of Homecoming football.
Since the tradition began in 1903 with an alum football game, the Huskies are 75-31-10 all time – a 64.7 winning percentage – in their Homecoming football games. NIU has won 22 of the past 25 games. At Huskie Stadium, NIU boasts a 41-15-2 record, including a 23-13 victory over Ohio University last season.
When looking at the bigger picture, there’s not much of a better choice of opponent than Toledo. The contests between the two fierce MAC rivals are almost always competitive. Since 2011, NIU has only outscored Toledo by a total of eight points, 409-401.
As a bonus, there will be a revenge factor at play as the Huskies seek redemption from the last time the Rockets came to town in 2022. In that game, Toledo pummeled NIU with a four-interception performance against then-redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Hampton.
This time around, NIU will seek to return the favor as it looks to maintain momentum after last week’s win at Bowling Green State University. The Huskies will also catch the Rockets fresh off a loss to the University at Buffalo where Toledo struggled to move the ball for most of the game.
But whatever happens Saturday, it’s not going to top arguably the most iconic NIU Homecoming Game in school history. In the 91st Homecoming Game in 1998, NIU defeated Central Michigan University 16-6 to snap a 23-game losing streak – the longest in the nation at the time – and the fans hoisted a goal post into the East Lagoon.
While one shouldn’t expect to see any goal posts come down this weekend, another chapter in the Huskie-Rocket rivalry should come with plenty of scoring and the customary close-fought result.
