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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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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 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...

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...

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...

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...

NIU redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton (2) is tackled by North Carolina State University graduate student defensive end Davin Vann (1) after rushing for a 9-yard gain on the final drive of NIU’s 24-17 loss Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hampton finished the game with nine carries for a loss of 19 yards. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Turnovers plague NIU in shortfall at NC State

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 28, 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. – Despite outperforming Power Four foe North Carolina State University in nearly every offensive metric, NIU football dropped to .500 Saturday after coughing up four turnovers. NIU (2-2, 0-1 MAC) lost the turnover battle by four as...

NIU redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton (2) attempts a pass during Saturday’s overtime loss to the University at Buffalo at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Hampton finished 23-of-43 passing for 194 yards and an interception. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

After Buffalo loss, NIU eyes rebound at NC State

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 26, 2024

DeKALB – When NIU football walked off Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium after being knocked off its No. 23 pedestal by the University at Buffalo, it left a bitter taste within the program. After all, the 23-20 overtime loss was only the third time NIU...

NIU redshirt junior running back Justin Lynch is tackled behind the line of scrimmage by University at Buffalo redshirt fifth-year nickel Solomon Brown (7) and junior defensive tackle Tristan Souza (55) in the third quarter of Saturday's 23-20 overtime loss to Buffalo at Huskie Stadium. Lynch was one of nine NIU players to record a catch in the game, finishing with two receptions for 3 yards. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

No. 23 NIU falls to Buffalo in overtime

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 21, 2024

DeKALB – In the aftermath of a 23-20 loss to the University at Buffalo, NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock, redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton and junior defensive end Nevaeh Sanders sat down behind a table inside a classroom in the Yordon...

NIU redshirt senior running back Gavin Williams (21) runs for a 7-yard gain late in the third quarter of the Huskies’ 16-14 win over then-No. 5 University of Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Williams finished the game with 61 rushing yards on 17 attempts. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

No. 23 NIU looks ahead to MAC opener against Buffalo

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 20, 2024

DeKALB – It’s been almost two weeks since NIU shocked the college football world with its upset of then-No. 5 University of Notre Dame. Now, the Huskies have put that historic upset in South Bend, Indiana, in the rear-view mirror as they shift...

Senior running back Antario Brown (1) races to the endzone for an 83-yard touchdown reception. NIU football defeated the University of Notre Dame, who ranked No. 5 in the nation, by a score of 16-14 Saturday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU topples No. 5 Notre Dame in historic upset

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 7, 2024

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – On the eve of NIU football’s first-ever matchup with the University of Notre Dame on a national stage, head coach Thomas Hammock had a dream. “This game’s going to come down to a field goal,” Hammock said he told his coaches. By...

NIU senior running back Antario Brown (1) runs through an open gap in the Western Illinois University defensive line Saturday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Brown finished with eight carries for 69 yards in NIU’s 54-15 blowout victory. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

‘It’s just another game:’ NIU readies for clash with No. 5 Notre Dame

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

DeKALB – Fresh off a resounding win in its season opener, NIU football is gearing up for its next big test: A road game against a top-five ranked opponent at one of the most iconic venues in college football in front of a national audience. This...

Redshirt-senior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph (3) is lifted up in celebration after a touchdown Saturday at Huskie Stadium. Rudolph scored two touchdowns in the first half as NIU defeated Western Illinois University 54-15. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU football pummels Western Illinois in Hampton’s stellar debut

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 31, 2024

DeKALB – NIU football produced one of the best offensive performances in school history Saturday in a 54-15 beatdown of the Western Illinois University Leathernecks at Huskie Stadium, all while led by its newly-named starting quarterback. NIU head...