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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 President Lisa Freeman (left), Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier and head football coach Thomas Hammock speak to the media during a Jan. 7 press conference announcing NIU football will join the Mountain West Conference in 2026. The move marks the second time in school history that NIU will leave the Mid-American Conference. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

KISELLUS: NIU’s Mountain West move isn’t 1980s déjà vu

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 13, 2025

Once upon a time, NIU made the daring decision to leave the confines of the Mid-American Conference and venture out into the great unknown of independence. What followed was an embarrassing saga that eventually brought the Huskies back to where they started. Four...

Sophomore guard Quentin Jones (1) drives past University at Buffalo sophomore Ryan Sabol (2) during NIU’s 73-67 loss to Buffalo on Saturday night inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Jones was one of four Huskies to score in double-digits against the Bulls. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Sluggish start hampers Huskies in setback against Buffalo

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 12, 2025

DeKALB – Three days earlier, NIU men’s basketball allowed an 11-point halftime lead to slip away. On Tuesday, it battled back from an identical deficit against the University at Buffalo. But upon the blare of the final buzzer, the result was the same...

NIU wrestling redshirt sophomore Landen Johnson, bleeding in the mouth, holds Purdue redshirt sophomore Kade Law to the ground at the Convocation Center on Jan. 12. After claiming an overtime victory against University at Buffalo redshirt junior Kaleb Burgess on Friday, Johnson earned Mid-American Conference West Wrestler of the Week honors. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Overtime victory earns Johnson MAC Wrestler of the Week

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 11, 2025

NIU wrestling No. 31-ranked 157-pound redshirt sophomore Landen Johnson earned this week’s Mid-American Conference West Wrestler of the Week after claiming an overtime victory over a nationally ranked opponent Friday. Johnson matched up against previously...

A graphic shows NIU women's tennis freshman Lucia Yecora as this week's Huskie of the Week. With a 6-4 singles victory against the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Saturday, Yecora also earned this week's Mid-American Conference singles player of the week. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

Huskie of the Week: Yecora downs Badger foe

By Northern Star Sports Staff | February 4, 2025

After being named the Mid-American Conference Co-Singles Player of the Week and defeating an opponent from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, NIU women’s tennis freshman Lucia Yecora has been named the Northern Star’s Huskie of the Week.   In...

NIU men's basketball sophomore guard Quentin Jones dribbles the ball past University of Akron redshirt junior guard Nate Johnson Tuesday at the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Jones had 25 points in NIU's 80-70 loss against Akron. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Limited depth plagues NIU in loss to MAC leader Akron

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 29, 2025

DeKALB – NIU sophomore guard Quentin Jones and senior guard James Dent Jr. each scored 20-plus points in a losing effort as NIU men’s basketball came up short against the Mid-American Conference’s top team in the University of Akron on Tuesday night. The...

NIU women's tennis freshman Irmak Budak returns the shot close to the net during her doubles match against Lewis University at the Huskie Invitational on Nov. 2 in DeKalb. This week, Budak was named Mid-American Conference Singles Player of the Week. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Budak named MAC Singles Player of the Week

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor | January 27, 2025

Freshman Irmak Budak has been named the Mid-American Conference Singles Player of the week, the conference announced on Monday.  Burdak went 2-0 over the weekend in the Huskies’ 7-0 victories against the University of Northern Iowa and Eastern Illinois...

NIU senior guard James Dent Jr. (14) attempts a 3-pointer against Ball State University sophomore guard Joey Hart (20) during a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game between the Huskies and Cardinals on Saturday inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Dent finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds to achieve the first double-double of his NIU career. (Erin Marie Barker | Northern Star)

‘It’s about time:’ Men’s basketball ends 6-game slide with win over Ball State

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 25, 2025

DeKALB – In the early hours of Saturday morning, NIU men’s basketball head coach Rashon Burno got the news that junior forward Ethan Butler would be unavailable for the team’s game against Ball State University later that day. The University...

NIU men’s basketball sophomore guard Quentin Jones (1) drives toward the hoop while fending off a Kent State University defender in the Huskies’ 68-50 loss to Kent State on Jan. 7. Jones had 17 points Tuesday in NIU’s 72-70 loss against Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Second-half NIU comeback falls short at Western Michigan

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 22, 2025

After trailing by 15 early in the second half, NIU men’s basketball battled back to have a chance at victory in the final seconds, but ultimately fell to Mid-American Conference foe Western Michigan University 72-70 on Tuesday night at University Arena...

NIU President Lisa Freeman (left), NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier and NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock pose for a photo after a press conference held in the McCareins Auditorium inside the Yordon Center in DeKalb. NIU’s membership agreement with the Mountain West Conference, which the school will join as a football-only affiliate in 2026, was obtained by the Northern Star on Thursday. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

Looking inside NIU’s membership agreement with Mountain West

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 17, 2025

DeKALB — The Northern Star has obtained a copy of NIU’s membership agreement with the Mountain West Conference through a Freedom of Information Act request to NIU.  However, the agreement has been heavily redacted. NIU cited Section 7(1)(g) of...

NIU sophomore guard Quentin Jones (1) drives past Miami Universirty sophomore guard Evan Ipsaro (2) during the Huskies’ 84-69 loss to the RedHawks on Tuesday night inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Jones led the game with 21 points, crossing the 20-point threshold for the sixth time this season. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Injury-riddled Huskies fall at home to MAC-leading RedHawks

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 15, 2025

DeKALB – NIU men’s basketball remains winless in Mid-American Conference play after suffering its fourth-consecutive loss Tuesday night against Miami University at the Convocation Center. In their first game of the new semester, the Huskies (4-12,...

NIU football players run onto the field before the Huskies’ 117th Homecoming game against the University of Toledo on Oct. 19 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. NIU will play its final season in the Mid-American Conference in 2025 before joining the Mountain West Conference as a football-only affiliate. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

BREAKING: NIU to join Mountain West as football affiliate in 2026

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 7, 2025

Editor’s note: This is an ongoing breaking news story. This story will be updated when more information becomes available. DeKALB – NIU will officially join the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member starting in 2026, leaving the Mid-American...

NIU redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Holst (15) takes a snap during the Huskies’ 28-20 victory over Mountain West Conference foe Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 23 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. NIU is poised to join the Mountain West as a football-only member in 2026, pending approval from the NIU Board of Trustees at Tuesday’s special meeting. (Kenna Harbison | Boise State University Athletics)

NIU set to join Mountain West as football-only member

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 3, 2025

DeKALB – After nearly four decades in the Mid-American Conference and months of speculation regarding its future, NIU appears poised to join the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member. According to the agenda for Tuesday’s special meeting...

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