The Huskies (8-4, 6-2 MAC) earned a spot in their sixth consecutive MAC Championship this season despite fewer wins compared to years past.

Football finished the regular season with its worst start to a year since 2009-10 when it went 7-5 before losing to USF 27-3 in the International Bowl; however, the team managed to make a comeback despite big-time injuries to many starters.

NIU won its first two games by a combined 39 points, taking two big home wins against UNLV and Murray State. Its quick start came to a halt after a three-game losing streak put the team below .500 for the first time since the 2012-13 season. It was the Huskies’ first time losing three consecutive games in eight years.

Junior quarterback Drew Hare continued his success from the 2014-15 season, leading the Huskies’ offense in his first full year as a starter. He threw for nearly 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games before suffering a season-ending injury to his Achilles in week nine against Toledo.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Graham took the helm following Hare’s injury, and managed to keep things rolling for the Huskies. They reeled off six wins in a row and were playing their best football until the season’s end. All of the wins on their streak were against conference opponents as they started the year 6-1 in MAC play. NIU scored more than 40 points on five occasions and held teams below 20 points in four games.

Graham won two games a starter and seemed to be filling in just fine, but got hurt in the regular season finale in a loss against Ohio. His status going forward is unknown.

Freshman quarterback Tommy Fiedler took over for Graham in his first apperance of the year and threw for more than 100 yards and a touchdown, but wasn’t able to successfully lead a Huskies comeback as they lost 26-21.

The loss put NIU’s MAC Championship fate in the hands of Western Michigan, who played Toledo in its final game of the regular season. The Broncos saved NIU’s season by beating Toledo 35-30 and setting up an NIU-Bowling Green matchup Friday in Detroit.