Seven home games highlight the 2011 NIU football schedule released by NIU and the MAC on Monday afternoon.

Army will travel to DeKalb for the first time to open the season. The Huskies lost the only meeting between the two teams in 1992.

NIU travels to Lawrence, Kan. the following week for its only road non-conference game of the season. The Huskies won their only meeting with the Jayhawks 37-34 in the 1983 season opener. The ‘83 season was also the last time the Huskies captured a MAC Championship.

The following week’s game against Wisconsin is technically a home game, but will be played at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Opening conference play on Oct. 1, NIU will take on Central Michigan on the road. NIU will travel to Buffalo and Bowling Green to round out its schedule of games against the MAC East.

Sept. 3 Army

Sept. 10 @ Kansas

Sept. 17 Wisconsin (Soldier Field, Chicago, IL)

Sept. 24 Cal-Poly

Oct. 1 @ Central Michigan

Oct. 8 Kent State

Oct. 15 Western Michigan (Homecoming)

Oct. 22 @ Buffalo

Nov. 1 @ Toledo (ESPN2)

Nov. 8 @ Bowling Green (ESPN2/ESPNU)

Nov. 15 Ball State (ESPNU)

Nov. 25 Eastern Michigan (ESPNU/ESPN3.com)

Dec. 2 MAC Championship (ESPN2)