2020 Mid-American Conference, NIU football schedule released
October 7, 2020
DeKALB — The Mid-American Conference and NIU announced their modified six-game schedule for the 2020 football season, with the Huskies announcing their plans for how they will fill the stands.
The Huskies open their season on Nov. 4 at Huskie Stadium against the University at Buffalo Bulls. The contest will be the first meeting of the two programs since NIU’s comeback 30-29 win in the 2018 MAC Championship game.
NIU will stay in DeKalb for game two on Nov. 11. The Huskies host the defending West Division champions, the Central Michigan University Chippewas.
The Battle for the Bronze Stalk will happen, as the team heads to Muncie, Indiana to face the Ball State University Cardinals on Nov. 18. The Huskies look to reclaim the Bronze Stalk after the Cardinals broke NIU’s 10-game winning streak last season.
In a move that flips tradition of the MAC, the first half of the season will have weekday matchups and the second half of the season will all be Saturday contests. The first Saturday contest of the season for NIU comes two days after Thanksgiving on Nov. 28, playing on the road against the Western Michigan Broncos.
The final NIU home game comes on Dec. 5 in a meeting of two conference powerhouses. The Huskies host the University of Toledo Rockets, with each school having two wins apiece in their last four meetings.
The Huskies close out the regular season against the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Dec. 12. Thethe MAC Championship game is scheduled for Dec. 18 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
NIU Athletics announced in their Wednesday news release that immediate family members of players will be allowed into the stadium for their three home games. The MAC has announced general admission will not be made available at any games. Those who have purchased NIU season tickets have been instructed to contact the department about redirection of the funds before Nov. 1.
Details are also scheduled to come out on how fans can be present at games through the purchase of a life-sized cardboard cutout to be in the stands, according to the NIU Athletics news release.
The full MAC schedule is available on the conference’s website.
