DeKalb | Even though the football team didn’t make the Mid-American Conference Championship, it will still head to Ford Field Dec. 26 for its bowl game.

NIU and MAC officials announced Sunday the Huskies (8-4, 6-2 MAC) will battle the Duke University Blue Devils (6-6, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) in the 2017 Quick Lane Bowl Dec. 26.

NIU will face an ACC team for the second time in a bowl game and the second time this season after the team lost to Boston College 23-20 in the season opener. This is the first meeting between NIU and Duke.

This is the fifth time Head Coach Rod Carey has guided the Huskies to a bowl game, as Carey made his head coaching debut in the Huskies’ 2013 Orange Bowl matchup against Florida State.

“We’re obviously happy about being in a bowl game, last year we didn’t have a chance to play in a bowl game,” Carey said. “We’ve got a great opponent, we have familiarity with the venue from playing in the MAC Championship, and it will be good for our Michigan guys to have a chance to play at home. I know we’re facing a well-coached team in Duke, and we’ll make it a great experience for our student-athletes.”

Tickets are on sale now for $50 through the NIU Athletics Ticket Office and can be ordered online starting 9 a.m. Monday. NIU will also offer fan packages through the NIU Alumni Association.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. Dec. 26 at Ford Field in Detroit. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.