Charcoal grills, tailgating, face paint, bone crunching hits.

It must be football season.

Not quite, but a preview of things to come this fall will take place today at 7 p.m. when Huskie Stadium hosts NIU’s annual Intra-Squad Game.

“A lot of people don’t do it anymore [spring game],” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “A lot of people just have another day of practice but I think it’s a fun way to end the practice time.”

Open to everyone for free, this game will be different from past years.

In earlier seasons, NIU would play the first team offense against the first team defense.

This year, both first teams will play against the second teams.

“This way gets the best teams out there playing together,” Novak said. “We can see where they are at and it builds confidence.”

Many of the names synonymous with last year’s MAC West Co-Championship team will be missing from tonight’s game.

Quarterback Josh Haldi will sit out, recovering from thumb surgery on his throwing hand.

The nation’s leading returning major college rusher, Michael Turner, will be on the sidelines along with defensive backs Randee Drew and Lionel Hickenbottom and wide receiver P.J. Fleck. Fleck missed most of last season with a hamstring injury.

Turner, who made five all-American teams last season, is not injured but is sitting out for precautionary reasons.

Mark Orszula, who missed all of last season after a non-football-related injury also will miss the game.

Orszula, whose future was in doubt after the injury to his right leg, is expected to return to the Huskies’ lineup in the fall.

“The doctors didn’t want him to have contact yet,” Novak said. “We’ve got every indication that he can play in the fall.”

Also missing from Thursday’s game will be All-MAC performer Travis Moore.

Moore missed most of spring practice with a knee injury. Moore physically is able to play, but is staying out to give his knee more rest.

“My knee is about 85 percent,” Moore said. “The coaches think I need all the recovery time I can get.”

The game will be a little different from the actual games that will be played in the fall.

The team is scheduled to play four 12-minute quarters, but the times are flexible. More time could be added or subtracted, Novak said.

Kickoffs will be played live until the returner catches the ball. After the catch the ball will be placed at the 35-yard line. Punts also will be played live but all will be fair caught.

What the game will provide is a chance for younger players to emerge, Novak said.

“A lot of guys we have questions about,” Novak said. “I know what Michael Turner can do, but we got a lot of other young kids that can show us where they’re at.”

The game is the last of 15 spring practices for the team.