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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 redshirt junior cornerback Jacob Finley (3) wraps up College of the Holy Cross senior wide receiver Max Mosey (13) for a tackle in the fourth quarter of the Huskies’ season opener on Aug. 30 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. NIU will host San Diego State University on Saturday in the seventh all-time meeting between the schools. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Home, sweet home: Football looks to rebound against San Diego State

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

DeKALB — On paper, NIU and San Diego State seem like polar opposite football teams. The Huskies are 1-2 after a blowout road loss to Mississippi State, while the Aztecs sit at 2-1 following a 34-0 home trouncing of previously-unbeaten California....

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 junior cornerback Jacob Finley (3) celebrates after helping force an incomplete pass during the third quarter of a non-conference football game against the University of Maryland on Sept. 5 at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland. The Huskies' next opponent will be Mississippi State University on Saturday in Starkville, Mississippi. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

‘We have nothing to lose:’ Huskies head south to face unbeaten Mississippi State

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 18, 2025

DeKALB — The NIU football team is just days away from making its first-ever trip to Starkville, Mississippi, to face the unbeaten Mississippi State Bulldogs, but you can already hear the cowbells coming from Huskie Stadium. Wait, cowbells? In DeKalb?...

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 sophomore quarterback Josh Holst (15) points from the line of scrimmage during the first quarter of NIU's season opener against Holy Cross on Saturday at Huskie Stadium. Holst will make his fifth career start Friday, when the Huskies face the University of Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU sets sights on Big Ten clash with Maryland

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 4, 2025

DeKALB — Thursday marks 21 years since the last time NIU and Maryland met on the gridiron. On Sept. 4, 2004, the Huskies trailed the 22nd-ranked Terrapins 23-20 in College Park, Maryland, with one last chance left on offense and 2:04 left to play. Backup...

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...

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (88) makes a touchdown catch past Los Angeles Rams safety Nate Valcarcel (43) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Former Huskies face new paths after NFL roster cuts

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

DeKALB — Each year, many NFL players are faced with the same harsh reality: They won’t live out their dream of playing on Sundays. Nearly 1,200 players are displaced by the league’s annual cutdown process as all 32 teams slash their rosters from...

NIU redshirt senior safety Muhammed Jammeh (4) and senior defensive end Roy Williams celebrate during practice on April 5 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Jammeh and Williams are listed as starters on NIU's defense heading to Saturday's season opener against Holy Cross. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Football readies for season-opening clash with Crusaders

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

DeKALB — When NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock watched Holy Cross nearly pull off an upset at Boston College two years ago, he remembers thinking to himself, “Now, who would put Holy Cross on our schedule?” Just a week earlier, the Huskies...

NIU redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst (15) scans the field as head coach Thomas Hammock (left) looks on during the team's Spring Showcase on April 15 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Holst is a frontrunner to be the Huskies' starting quarterback in 2025 after starting three games last season. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Football ready to embark on MAC farewell tour

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

DeKALB — The long wait is almost over. Football season is upon us once again. Months after capping an 8-5 season with a thrilling double-overtime victory in Idaho, NIU football returns to the gridiron this week. The Huskies will kick off their 124th...

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...

NIU football players run onto the field ahead of their non-conference game against North Carolina State University on Sept. 28 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. On Wednesday, NIU released its football schedule for the 2025 season, which will be its last in the Mid-American Conference. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

MAC farewell tour: NIU unveils 2025 football schedule

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | March 5, 2025

DeKALB – With its final season in the Mid-American Conference on the horizon, NIU released its 2025 football schedule Wednesday, which features matchups with two Power Four opponents and both of last season’s MAC championship contenders. NIU, who...

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