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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

NIU junior safety Jasper Beeler (22) intercepts a bobbled pass from San Diego State University junior quarterback Jayden Denegal during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. NIU suffered its third consecutive loss with a 6-3 defeat by the Aztecs. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Offense falls flat against San Diego State in 6-3 slugfest

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 27, 2025

DeKALB — Call it a rock fight. Call it a slog. Call it whatever you want. Just don’t call it pretty. In a football game where punts outnumbered points, NIU already had the distinction of being one of the nation’s worst offenses. Once San Diego...

NIU junior wide receiver DeAree Rogers (6) makes a leaping catch over Mississippi State University redshirt senior safety Hunter Washington during the second quarter of Saturday’s non-conference football game at Davis Wade Stadium in Mississippi State, Mississippi. Rogers finished with six receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown in the Huskies’ 38-10 loss. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Huskies suffer 38-10 beatdown by Bulldogs in Starkville

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 21, 2025

For one half of football, the NIU Huskies looked like a team that could compete in one of the country’s toughest conferences. They trailed by just four points at halftime on the road against the unbeaten Mississippi State Bulldogs. But unfortunately,...

NIU redshirt senior running back Chavon Wright rushes past University of Maryland freshman defensive back Messiah Delhomme (33) during the second quarter of NIU's road opener on Sept. 5 at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland. Senior Sports Reporter Skyler Kisellus picked Wright as NIU's top offensive performer through two games. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

KISELLUS: Look on the bright side of NIU football

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 16, 2025

I’m not going to sit here and tell you NIU has played great football this season. I won’t pretend to be as confident in the Huskies on Tuesday morning as I was more than a week ago — on a dark, humid Friday night in Maryland. After hearing all...

NIU redshirt junior left tackle Evan Malcore (54) throws a block against University of Maryland freshman defensive lineman Sidney Stewart (29) during the fourth quarter of NIU's road opener on Friday night at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland. Pro Football Focus graded Malcore as one of the Huskies' top offensive players for the game. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU PFF grades: Offensive line shows out in loss to Maryland

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 11, 2025

Each week during the college football season, the Northern Star will recap the most interesting NIU grades published by Pro Football Focus, a sports analytics company that evaluates every player on every play of every game. Season and single-game grades...

NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock shouts at redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst (15) near the sideline after Holst committed an intentional grounding penalty in the fourth quarter of the Huskies’ road opener against the University of Maryland on Friday night at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland. Holst finished 14-of-22 passing for 91 yards and no touchdowns. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU win streak snapped by Terps in Friday night shortfall

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 6, 2025

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — It’s a dark, humid Friday night under the lights at SECU Stadium. The Mighty Sound of Maryland roars in triumph after a home victory in front of a crowd of 35,331. Inside a workroom nearby, NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock...

NIU redshirt senior safety Muhammed Jammeh (4) celebrates after tackling College of the Holy Cross senior wide receiver Max Mosey (13) for no gain during the first quarter of NIU’s season opener on Saturday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Jammeh recorded NIU’s only takeaway of the game with an interception off a tipped pass in the first quarter. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU survives season-opening scare by Holy Cross

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 30, 2025

DeKALB — For most of his tenure as NIU’s head football coach, Thomas Hammock didn’t enjoy wins. Not even Notre Dame. But after the Huskies’ latest victory, Hammock said he plans to appreciate them a lot more. NIU survived a season-opening scare...

NIU football sophomore wide receiver George Dimopoulos (9) prepares to catch the ball during a NIU football practice. The Northern Star Sports staff shares their predictions for the outcomes of five college football games scheduled to take place this weekend. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Weekly CFB picks: Huskies snag home opener, Toledo upsets Kentucky

By Northern Star Sports Staff | August 30, 2025

Week 1 of the college football season has officially kicked off, beginning the most exciting time of the year for football fans at all levels.  With 80 total games throughout the first week of action, there’s a lot to keep track of.  From NIU...

NIU redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst (15) throws a pass during practice on Aug. 13 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Holst will be NIU's starting quarterback in 2025 after starting three games last season. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Football season predictions: Will NIU make good on storybook MAC ending?

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 28, 2025

As it prepares to close the book on its near-30-year run in the Mid-American Conference, the NIU football team has one departing wish: to stand atop the mountaintop of MACtion, one last time. After an intense overhaul to the roster and coaching staff,...

NIU redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst (15) takes a snap during 11-on-11 drills in NIU’s Spring Showcase on Saturday at Huskie Stadium. Holst, who started three games in 2024, has been NIU’s presumed starting quarterback during spring practices. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Offense shines at NIU football’s spring showcase

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | April 27, 2025

DeKALB – The NIU football team hosted its annual spring showcase Saturday, giving the Huskie fanbase its first look at the team’s new-look lineups. After opening the practice with warm-ups and position drills, the Huskies spent most of the day...

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst (left) and redshirt junior quarterback Jalen Macon drop back to pass during NIU’s first spring football practice on Thursday inside the Chessick Practice Center in DeKalb. Holst and Macon are two of the top contenders to be the Huskies’ starting quarterback in 2025. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

3 takeaways from NIU football’s first spring practice

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | March 27, 2025

NIU football kicked off its 15-practice spring schedule Thursday morning with a nearly two-hour session inside the Chessick Practice Center. The practice was open to the media and featured familiar and fresh faces on the roster and coaching staff.  As...

A graphic shows NIU student-athletes from various sports with arrows indicating highs and lows. Sports Editor Edison Miller shared the best and worst moments for Huskie sports over winter break. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

MILLER: Highs and lows for Huskie sports over winter break

By Edison Miller, Sports Editor | January 14, 2025

While NIU’s students were relinquished of their duties for winter break, the Huskies’ student athletes continued business as usual.  Over the break, some teams shined while others couldn’t catch a break.   HIGH: FOOTBALL WINS FAMOUS IDAHO...

Members of the NIU football team celebrate, posing for a picture after defeating Fresno State University 28-20 on Monday in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The win improved NIU to a 2-1 bowl record under Hammock’s leadership. (Kenna Harbison | Boise State University Athletics)

Josh Holst leads NIU to double overtime victory in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | December 23, 2024

Three weeks after closing out a regular season that saw NIU pull off one of the largest upsets in college football history, the Huskies put a bow on their up-and-down season with a double overtime thriller in their final game of 2024. The Huskies (8-5,...

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