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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Holst (15) throws a pass on Saturday at Huskie Stadium. Holst passed for 210 yards in his first career start as NIU football lost 13-6 to the University of Toledo Rockets on Saturday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU succumbs to Toledo in low-scoring 117th Homecoming Game

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 19, 2024

DeKALB – Playing in front of a home crowd of more than 18,000 for the second time this season, NIU football had the University of Toledo beat on paper in Saturday’s 117th Homecoming Game. The Huskies ran 92 plays, put up 391 yards of offense and...

NIU Athletics Hall of Fame members and inductees gather on stage on Friday in the Duke Ellington Ballroom. Seven new members of the Hall of Fame were inducted as part of the 36th induction ceremony. (Skyler Kisellus | Northern Star)

NIU Athletics celebrates 2024 Hall of Fame inductees

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 19, 2024

DeKALB – On the eve of the 117th Homecoming Football game, former NIU men’s track and field star Matt Byrnes stood at the podium. Still wearing the same handlebar mustache he rocked in his athletic hayday in the 1970s, Byrnes regaled the audience...

The Huskies' defense returns to its sideline celebrating after redshirt junior defensive end Jalonnie Williams (11) recovered a fumble during the second quarter of NIU's 17-7 win against Bowling Green State University at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Huskies trailed 7-3 in the first quarter before scoring 14 unanswered to earn the road victory. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU gears up for Homecoming clash with Toledo

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 17, 2024

DeKALB – The Mid-American Conference’s top scoring offense and top scoring defense face off on the gridiron Saturday as NIU hosts the University of Toledo Rockets for NIU’s 117th Homecoming Game. With both teams sitting at 4-2 halfway into the...

A graphic shows redshirt junior defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard as Huskie of the Week. Gill-Howard had a career-best 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in NIU football's 17-7 victory over Bowling Green State University on Saturday. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Skyler Gill-Howard bags Huskie of the Week

By Northern Star Sports Staff | October 14, 2024

After being crowned Mid-American Conference Co-Defensive Player of the week on Monday, NIU football redshirt junior defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard also picked up this week’s Huskie of the Week Award.  Gill-Howard logged a career-best 3 tackles...

NIU redshirt junior defensive tackle Skyler GIll-Howard (0) celebrates after tackling Bowling Green State University redshirt freshman quarterback Lucian Anderson III in the fourth quarter of the Huskies' 17-7 win against the Falcons at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio. Gill-Howard was named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career Monday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Skyler Gill-Howard named MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week

By Northern Star Sports Staff | October 14, 2024

DeKALB – NIU redshirt junior defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard has been named the Mid-American Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday. Gill-Howard led NIU’s strong defensive effort in Saturday’s...

NIU redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Holst (15) rushes past Bowling Green State University senior cornerback Jacorey Benjamin (7) en route to the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of NIU’s 17-7 upset of Bowling Green at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio. Holst’s rushing touchdown was the first of his collegiate career. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Shorthanded Huskies earn first MAC win at Bowling Green

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 12, 2024

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – A dominant defensive performance and a young quarterback’s first college touchdown helped NIU football come away with a 17-7 upset win over Bowling Green State University on Saturday at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green. NIU...

The NIU offense and the University of Massachusetts defense line up at the line of scrimmage during the first quarter of the Huskies’ 34-20 win against the Minutemen on Saturday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. NIU’s victory boosted it to a 3-1 non-conference record, its best finish against non-league opponents since 2014. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Football heads to Bowling Green for MAC road opener

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 10, 2024

DeKALB – Looking to keep rolling after a much-needed home win, NIU football (3-2, 0-1 MAC) resumes Mid-American Conference play with its first road trip to Bowling Green State University (2-3, 1-0 MAC) since 2017. NIU finished its non-conference...

A graphic shows redshirt freshman running back Jaylen Poe as Huskie of the Week. Poe rushed for 2 touchdowns and had an 89-yard kick return in NIU football's 34-20 victory over the University of Massachusetts on Saturday. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Two rushing touchdowns earn Poe HOTW

By Northern Star Sports Staff | October 7, 2024

After rushing for 2 touchdowns during NIU football’s 34-20 victory on Saturday against the University of Massachusetts, redshirt freshman Jaylen Poe was awarded his first career HOTW. Replacing senior starting running back Antario Brown late in the...

Multiple NIU players surround University of Massachusetts freshman running back Da'Marion Alberic after he was tackled by senior linebacker Jaden Dolphin short of the line of scrimmage. NIU defeated UMass 34-20 at Huskie Stadium on Saturday. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

No Brown, no problem: NIU runs over UMass in home triumph

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 5, 2024

DeKALB – A tone-setting touchdown 50 seconds into regulation and a 367-yard rushing performance by NIU – despite being without its top running back for most of the game – played vital Saturday as the Huskies breezed past the University of Massachusetts...

University of Massachusetts sophomore running back CJ Hester (33) rushes for a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of UMass' 28-14 loss to Eastern Michigan University on Aug. 31 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst, Massachusetts. Massachusetts Daily Collegian Head Sports Editor Dean Wendel highlights Hester as a UMass player to watch in Saturday's game against NIU at Huskie Stadium. (Devin Lippman | Massachusetts Daily Collegian)

Behind enemy bylines: Massachusetts

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 4, 2024

In the midst of a two-game slump, NIU football is back home this weekend to host the University of Massachusetts for the final game of the Huskies’ non-conference schedule. NIU enters Saturday with a sluggish offense and one of the best defenses in...

NIU senior linebacker Jaden Dolphin (26) and redshirt junior defensive end Pierce Oppong (99) force a fumble by North Carolina State University freshman quarterback CJ Bailey (16) on NC State’s opening possession in Saturday’s game at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Huskies lost the turnover battle by four after losing two fumbles and tossing two interceptions. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU looks to end losing skid in home clash with UMass

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 3, 2024

DeKALB – After dropping a tight-fought contest with North Carolina State University, NIU football remains hungry for a win as the Huskies prepare to host a future Mid-American Conference cohort Saturday to close out the non-conference schedule. NIU...

A graphic shows NIU student-athletes from various sports with arrows pointing up and down. Sports Editor Lucas Didier summarized the best and worst moments for Huskie sports in September. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Highs and lows for Huskie sports in September

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | October 2, 2024

After the first full month of collegiate athletics, the Huskies have put fans through a range of emotions. From historic performances to embarrassing shortcomings, these are the most exciting and dejecting incidents from the last month of NIU Athletics. HIGH:...