American college football season
2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football |
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MAC champion MAC West Division co-champion |
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Conference | Mid-American Conference |
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Division | West Division |
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Record | 9–5 (6–2 MAC) |
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Head coach | - Thomas Hammock (3rd season)
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Offensive coordinator | Eric Eidsness (3rd season) |
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Defensive coordinator | Derrick Jackson (3rd season) |
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Home stadium | Huskie Stadium |
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Seasons |
The 2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Thomas Hammock, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 9–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference playing, sharing the MAC's West Division title with Central Michigan. By virtue of a head-to-head win over Central Michigan, Northern Illinois advanced to the MAC Championship Game and defeated Kent State to win the program's six MAC championship.[1] The Huskies invited to the Cure Bowl, where they lost to Coastal Carolina on December 17.[2][3] The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.
On November 9, the school announced that Hammock had signed a contract extension through the 2026 season.[4] With their win over Buffalo on November 17, the Huskies clinched the West Division championship and a berth in the MAC Championship Game.[5]
Offseason
Transfers
As a result of the limited season in 2020 due to COVID-19, the NCAA granted a waiver to allow athletes to transfer to another school and be eligible immediately without having to sit out a season.[6] In April 2021, the NCAA further made one-time transfers for all college athletes to be eligible immediately.[7] As a result, transfers were much more common this year than in prior years.
Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi, who started six games for the Spartans in 2020, announced he would transfer to Northern Illinois.[8][9]
Preseason
In the league's annual preseason poll, the Huskies were picked to finish in last place in the West.[10]
Schedule
The Huskies played Maine and Wyoming at home while traveling to Georgia Tech and Michigan for non-conference games in 2021.[11][12]
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 4 | 6:30 p.m. | at Georgia Tech* | | ACCN | W 22–21 | 33,651 |
September 11 | 12:30 p.m. | Wyoming* | | ESPN+ | L 43–50 | 11,334 |
September 18 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 25 Michigan* | | BTN | L 10–63 | 106,263 |
September 25 | 1:30 p.m. | Maine* | | ESPN3 | W 41–14 | 10,076 |
October 2 | 1:30 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | | ESPN+ | W 27–20 | 10,034 |
October 9 | 11:00 a.m. | at Toledo | | CBSSN | W 22–20 | 21,284 |
October 16 | 2:30 p.m. | Bowling Green | | ESPN+ | W 34–26 | 7,854 |
October 23 | 11:00 a.m. | at Central Michigan | | ESPNU | W 39–38 | 15,232 |
November 3 | 6:00 p.m. | at Kent State | | ESPN2 | L 47–52 | 6,076 |
November 10 | 6:00 p.m. | Ball State | | ESPN2 | W 30–29 | 7,894 |
November 17 | 6:00 p.m. | at Buffalo | | ESPN2 | W 33–27 OT | 13,097 |
November 23 | 6:00 p.m. | Western Michigan | | ESPNU | L 21–42 | 7,156 |
December 4 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. Kent State | | ESPN | W 41–23 | 10,317 |
December 17 | 5:00 p.m. | vs. Coastal Carolina* | | ESPN2 | L 41–47 | 9,784 |
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[13][14]
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes | Week |
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
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AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | |
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Coaches | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
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CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
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Game summaries
At Georgia Tech
Northern Illinois Huskies (0–0) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (0–0)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Northern Illinois | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 22 |
Georgia Tech | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Bobby Dodd Stadium • Atlanta, GA
- Date: Saturday, September 4, 2021
- Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 78°F
- Game attendance: 33,651
- Referee: Marcus Woods
- TV announcers (ACCN): Dave O'Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Kelsey Riggs
- Pregame line: Georgia Tech -19
Game information |
- First Quarter
- (1:56) NIU – Harrison Waylee 35 yard rush, John Richardson kick (Drive: 8 plays, 74 yards, 3:42; NIU 7–0)
- Second Quarter
- (10:17) NIU – Miles Joiner 5 yard pass from Rocky Lombardi, John Richardson kick (Drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 5:22; NIU 14–0)
- (0:47) GT – Kyric McGowan 22 yard pass from Jordan Yates, Brent Cimaglia kick (Drive: 17 plays, 97 yards, 6:00; NIU 14–7)
- Fourth Quarter
- (7:44) GT – Dontae Smith 15 yard rush, Brent Cimaglia kick (Drive: 5 plays, 77 yards, 2:23; 14–14)
- (6:32) GT – Jordan Yates 4 yard rush, Brent Cimaglia kick (Drive: 3 plays, 25 yards, 0:54; GT 21–14)
- (0:38) NIU – Clint Ratkovich 3 yards pass from Rocky Lombardi, Tyrice Richie pass from Rocky Lombardi (Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 2:04; NIU 22–21)
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Statistics | NIU | GT |
First downs | 15 | 25 |
Total yards | 301 | 429 |
Rushes/yards | 42/165 | 52/273 |
Passing yards | 136 | 156 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–17–0 | 15–26–0 |
Time of possession | 28:55 | 31:05 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 11–17, 136 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Harrison Waylee | 27 carries, 144 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Tyrice Richie | 2 receptions, 64 yards |
Georgia Tech | Passing | Jordan Yates | 12–18, 135 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Jahmyr Gibbs | 20 carries, 99 yards |
Receiving | Malachi Carter | 6 receptions, 92 yards |
At Central Michigan
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Northern Illinois | 7 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 39 | Central Michigan | 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 38 | - Date: October 23, 2021
- Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Mount Pleasant, MI - Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 15,232
- Television network: ESPNU
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Pregame line | Over/under |
CMU –6.0 | 56.0 |
Statistics | Northern Illinois | Central Michigan |
First downs | 25 | 25 |
Total yards | 548 | 500 |
Rushing yards | 197 | 189 |
Passing yards | 351 | 311 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 36:09 | 23:51 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 17/27, 348 yards, 3 TDs |
Rushing | Jay Ducker | 31 carries, 183 yards |
Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 6 receptions, 160 yards, 2 TDs |
Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 23/36, 289 yards, 3 TDs |
Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 22 carries, 192 yards, 2 TDs |
Receiving | Kalil Pimpleton | 6 receptions, 130 yards, 1 TD |
At Kent State
Northern Illinois at Kent State | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Northern Illinois | 7 | 14 | 6 | 20 | 47 | • Kent State | 0 | 31 | 14 | 7 | 52 | - Date: November 3, 2021
- Location: Dix Stadium
Kent, OH - Game start: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 6,076
- Television network: ESPN2
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Pregame line | Over/under |
KENT –3.5 | 72.0 |
Statistics | Northern Illinois | Kent State |
First downs | 32 | 31 |
Total yards | 663 | 682 |
Rushing yards | 131 | 360 |
Passing yards | 532 | 322 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 35:04 | 24:56 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 33/57, 532 yards, 3 TDs |
Rushing | Jay Ducker | 19 carries, 101 yards, 2 TDs |
Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 14 receptions, 309 yards, 3 TDs |
Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 20/30, 322 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 23 carries, 173 yards, 2 TDs |
Receiving | Dante Cephas | 5 receptions, 124 yards |
Ball State (Bronze Stalk Trophy)
Bronze Stalk Trophy | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Ball State | 10 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 29 | • Northern Illinois | 0 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 30 | |
Pregame line | Over/under |
BALL –3.0 | 59.0 |
Statistics | Ball State | Northern Illinois |
First downs | 17 | 26 |
Total yards | 372 | 475 |
Rushing yards | 246 | 211 |
Passing yards | 126 | 264 |
Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
Time of possession | 23:16 | 36:44 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Ball State | Passing | Drew Plitt | 11/26, 126 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Carson Steele | 21 carries, 109 yards |
Receiving | Jalen McGaughy | 1 reception, 45 yards |
Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 23/38, 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Jay Ducker | 24 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 8 receptions, 108 yards |
Vs. Kent State (MAC Championship game)
MAC Championship Game | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Kent State | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 23 | • Northern Illinois | 10 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 41 | - Date: December 4, 2021
- Location: Ford Field
Detroit, MI - Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 10,317
- Television network: ESPN
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Pregame line | Over/under |
KENT –3.5 | 75.5 |
Statistics | Kent State | Northern Illinois |
First downs | 24 | 28 |
Total yards | 391 | 368 |
Rushing yards | 195 | 266 |
Passing yards | 196 | 102 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 19:59 | 40:01 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 11/21, 128 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
Rushing | Xavier Williams | 8 carries, 93 yards |
Receiving | Dante Cephas | 7 receptions, 102 yards |
Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 7/15, 102 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Jay Ducker | 29 carries, 146 yards |
Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 3 receptions, 50 yards |
References
- ^ "Northern Illinois easily beats Kent State to win fifth MAC championship". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ Helwick, Steve (December 5, 2021). "Northern Illinois will play Coastal Carolina in the 2021 Cure Bowl". Hustle Belt. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "MAC Champion NIU Huskies to play in Tailgreeter Cure Bowl". MyStateline.com. December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Northern Illinois extends Hammock thru 2026". ESPN.com. November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ "NIU Huskies Beat Buffalo, Clinch Mac West Division". November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ Coleman, Madeline. "NCAA to Grant D-I Transfer Athletes Immediate Eligibility This Year". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ Dellenger, Ross. "The NCAA's Transfer Revolution Is Here". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "Michigan State transfer QB Rocky Lombardi leads Northern Illinois to upset win over Georgia Tech". 247Sports. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ "QB Lombardi transfers to N. Illinois from MSU". ESPN.com. December 27, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ "MAC Announces 2021 Preseason Media Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ Kelley, Kevin (March 9, 2018). "NIU to play at Kentucky in 2022, adds games vs. Maine and EIU". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ "NIU's 2021 Football Schedule Features Six Home Games". NIU Athletics. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Northern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Northern Illinois Huskies Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | - "Huskie Fight Song"
- Huskie Band
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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