2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football
MAC champion
MAC West Division co-champion
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record9–5 (6–2 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorEric Eidsness (3rd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorDerrick Jackson (3rd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumHuskie Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Kent State xy   6 – 2     7 – 7  
Miami (OH)   5 – 3     7 – 6  
Ohio   3 – 5     3 – 9  
Bowling Green   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Buffalo   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Akron   1 – 7     2 – 10  
West Division
Northern Illinois xy$   6 – 2     9 – 5  
Central Michigan x   6 – 2     9 – 4  
Toledo   5 – 3     7 – 6  
Ball State   4 – 4     6 – 7  
Eastern Michigan   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Western Michigan   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Championship: Northern Illinois 41, Kent State 23
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

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

[edit]

Transfers

[edit]

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

[edit]

In the league's annual preseason poll, the Huskies were picked to finish in last place in the West.[10]

Schedule

[edit]

The Huskies played Maine and Wyoming at home while traveling to Georgia Tech and Michigan for non-conference games in 2021.[11][12]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 46:30 p.m.at Georgia Tech*
ACCNW 22–2133,651
September 1112:30 p.m.Wyoming*
ESPN+L 43–5011,334
September 1811:00 a.m.at No. 25 Michigan*
BTNL 10–63106,263
September 251:30 p.m.Maine*
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPN3W 41–1410,076
October 21:30 p.m.Eastern Michigandagger
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPN+W 27–2010,034
October 911:00 a.m.at Toledo
CBSSNW 22–2021,284
October 162:30 p.m.Bowling Green
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPN+W 34–267,854
October 2311:00 a.m.at Central Michigan
ESPNUW 39–3815,232
November 36:00 p.m.at Kent State
ESPN2L 47–526,076
November 106:00 p.m.Ball State
ESPN2W 30–297,894
November 176:00 p.m.at Buffalo
ESPN2W 33–27 OT13,097
November 236:00 p.m.Western Michigan
  • Huskie Stadium
  • DeKalb, IL
ESPNUL 21–427,156
December 411:00 a.m.vs. Kent State
ESPNW 41–2310,317
December 175:00 p.m.vs. Coastal Carolina*
ESPN2L 41–479,784

[13][14]

Rankings

[edit]
Further information: 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP——————————————RV
Coaches———————————————
CFPNot released——————Not released

Game summaries

[edit]

At Georgia Tech

[edit]
See also: 2021 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
Northern Illinois Huskies (0–0) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Northern Illinois 7 7 0822
Georgia Tech 0 7 01421

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)
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

[edit]
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan
1 234Total
• Northern Illinois 7 111110 39
Central Michigan 14 1473 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
See also: 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team
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

[edit]
Northern Illinois at Kent State
1 234Total
Northern Illinois 7 14620 47
• Kent State 0 31147 52
  • Date: November 3, 2021
  • Location: Dix Stadium
    Kent, OH
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 6,076
  • Television network: ESPN2
See also: 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team
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)

[edit]
Bronze Stalk Trophy
1 234Total
Ball State 10 793 29
• Northern Illinois 0 17310 30
See also: 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team and Bronze Stalk Trophy
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)

[edit]
MAC Championship Game
1 234Total
Kent State 0 01013 23
• Northern Illinois 10 7717 41
See also: 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team and 2021 MAC Championship Game
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

[edit]
  1. ^ "Northern Illinois easily beats Kent State to win fifth MAC championship". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Helwick, Steve (December 5, 2021). "Northern Illinois will play Coastal Carolina in the 2021 Cure Bowl". Hustle Belt. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  3. ^ "MAC Champion NIU Huskies to play in Tailgreeter Cure Bowl". MyStateline.com. December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "Northern Illinois extends Hammock thru 2026". ESPN.com. November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "NIU Huskies Beat Buffalo, Clinch Mac West Division". November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Coleman, Madeline. "NCAA to Grant D-I Transfer Athletes Immediate Eligibility This Year". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Dellenger, Ross. "The NCAA's Transfer Revolution Is Here". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "Michigan State transfer QB Rocky Lombardi leads Northern Illinois to upset win over Georgia Tech". 247Sports. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  9. ^ "QB Lombardi transfers to N. Illinois from MSU". ESPN.com. December 27, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "MAC Announces 2021 Preseason Media Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Kelley, Kevin (March 9, 2018). "NIU to play at Kentucky in 2022, adds games vs. Maine and EIU". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "NIU's 2021 Football Schedule Features Six Home Games". NIU Athletics. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "2021 Northern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "2021 Northern Illinois Huskies Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
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