2019 NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY HUSKIES 2019 SCHEDULE Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 - 7 PM CT GAME Toledo, Ohio Day, Date Opponent (TV) Time (CT) 10 Glass Bowl (26,038) Sat., Aug. 31 ILLINOIS STATE (ESPN+) W, 24-10 TV RADIO Sat., Sept. 7 at Utah (Pac-12 Networks) L, 35-17 Sat., Sept. 14 at Nebraska (FS1) L, 44-8 Sat., Sept. 28 at Vanderbilt (SEC Network) L, 24-18 Sat., Oct. 5 BALL STATE* (ESPN3) L, 27-20 Sat., Oct. 12 at Ohio* (ESPN+) W, 39-36 NIU Huskies Sat., Oct. 19 at Miami* (ESPN+) L, 27-24 (3-6, 2-3 MAC) Sat., Oct. 26 AKRON* (ESPN3) W, 49-0 Sat., Nov. 2 at Central Michigan* (CBSSN) L, 48-10 Head Coach: Thomas Hammock (3-6, First Season) Wed., Nov. 13 at Toledo* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. VS Tues., Nov. 19 EASTERN MICHIGAN* (ESPN2/U) 6:30 p.m. Tues., Nov. 26 WESTERN MICHIGAN* (ESPNU/+) 6 p.m. Sat., Dec. 7 MAC Championship (ESPN/ESPN2) 11 a.m. Toledo Rockets Ford Field, Detroit, Mich. (6-3, 3-2 MAC) *Mid-American Conference Game; All Times Central. Head Coach: Jason Candle (34-16, Fourth Season) HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS HUSKIE BITES • The NIU Huskies close out their 2019 regular season road trips and open Head Coach ...................................................... Thomas Hammock the midweek #MACtion portion of their schedule with a Wednesday night Alma Mater/Year ............................................................ NIU ‘02 contest at Toledo. Record at NIU/Years ...........................................3-6/First Season • Always one of the season’s marquee #MACtion match-ups, the NIU-Toledo Career Record/Years ...........................................3-6/First Season contest will air on ESPN2 for the ninth time in the last nine seasons. Basic Offense/Defense ..............................................Multiple/4-3 • Including the game at Toledo, Huskies have played seven of their last nine First Year of Football ................................................................. 1899 games on the road. 2018 Record/MAC Record/Finish ........................... 8-6/6-2/1st • Although Toledo owns a 31-15 margin in the all-time series, the Huskies All-Time Record .............................................................590-499-51 have won seven of the last nine meetings dating back to 2010. Last Bowl Game ............... 2018 Cheribundi Roca Raton Bowl ...............................................................................UAB 37, NIU 14 • Quarterback Ross Bowers returned to action at Central Michigan and Bowl Appearances (FBS) ............................................................... 13 threw for 221 yards on 18-of-29 passing to up his season totals to 1,947 yards with a 57.9 completion percentage. MAC Championship Appearances, Last ...................... 8, 2018 MAC Championships, Last ..................................................5, 2018 • Even after giving up 48 points (38 in the first half) at Central Michigan, the Letterwinners Returning/Lost ...............................................52/24 Huskies rank third in the MAC in total defense (372.7 yards/game) and are Starters Returning .... 16 (7 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialists) second in the MAC in team passing efficiency defense (132.22). Starters Lost ................. 10 (5 offense, 4 defense, 1 specialist) • Three Huskies recorded double-digit tackles at CMU, including a pair of young linebackers, freshmen Nick Rattin (10) and sophomore Vinny Labus (10), who have been pressed into action after season-ending injuries NIU FACTS sidelined senior linebackers Antonio Jones-Davis and Kyle Pugh. Location ......................................................................DeKalb, Illinois • The Huskies have scored four non-offensive touchdowns in 2019 after Founded......................................................................................... 1895 Trayshon Foster and Nick Rattin scored versus Akron on a fumble recovery in the end zone and an interception return, respectively. NIU also has a TD Enrollment..................................................................................17,169 on a blocked punt return (at Ohio) and a Jalen McKie interception return. Affiliation ................................NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Conference .................................Mid-American (West Division) • NIU’s tight ends and fullbacks have made 62 catches for 799 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. Marcus Childers’ three touchdown passes versus Colors ...................................................................Cardinal and Black Akron went to three different members of that position group. Nickname .................................................................................Huskies Stadium .................................. Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium • Thomas Hammock was named head coach at his alma mater in January 2019 after five years coaching running backs for the Baltimore Ravens. Surface/Capacity .......................................... FieldTurf /23,595 Hammock, the only two-time first-team Academic All-American in NIU President ...............................................................Dr. Lisa Freeman football history, recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons as a Assoc. VP/Athletic Director ................................. Sean T. Frazier player. He coached at Wisconsin and Minnesota prior to going to the NFL. Alma Mater, Year .................................................. Alabama ‘92 • Fifteen true freshmen have seen action in at least one game this season. Tickets ............................................................815-753-PACK (7225) NIUHuskies.com | Twitter: @NIUAthletics | Facebook & Instagram: NIU Huskies 1 2019 NIU FOOTBALL — WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE — THIS WEEK’S GAME SERIES HISTORY: Toledo holds a 31-15 advantage in the series between the two MONDAY MAC COACHES’ TELECONFERENCE • NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock will be available on schools, and has won two of the last three contests. NIU posted a 38-15 victory over the Rockets last season in DeKalb. Toledo owns a 19-6 advantage in games played the MAC Coaches’ Call every Monday from 8:46-8:54 at the Glass Bowl, winning the last meeting in Toledo, 27-17 on Nov. 2, 2017. The a.m. (CT). Huskies’ last victory on the Rockets’ home field was Nov. 3, 2015 when NIU rallied • A replay is available Monday on getsomemaction.com. for a 32-27 victory. • For schedule and media call-in number, contact NIU or the Mid-American Conference. THE LAST TIME WE MET: The Huskies rushed for 296 yards, as tailbacks Tre Harbison and Marcus Jones rushed for 139 and 103 yards, respectively, en route NIU WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE to a 38-15 victory over Toledo at Huskie Stadium on Nov. 7, 2018. NIU scored 28 • NIU will host a weekly press conference with Thomas of the final 34 points in the contest and the Huskie defense totaled 11 tackles for Hammock and several Huskie players throughout the loss and five sacks. Defensive tackle Jack Heflin accounted for 3.5 tackles for loss, season. including 2.5 sacks. • The press conference prior to the Toledo game will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7, beginning at 12:15 p.m. CT MIDWEEK MACTION: NIU is 21-5 in league games played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays since 2010, including a 9-2 mark in MACtion road in the McCareins Auditorium (2nd floor) of the Yordon games. The Huskies have faced Toledo in midweek contests every year since 2010 Center. and are 7-2 versus the Rockets in those games. Western Michigan is NIU’s second- • Telephone access is available. Contact the NIU Athletics most faced opponent in MACtion contests at four meetings in the last nine years. Communications staff for the number. The Huskies are 3-1 versus the Broncos in those games. • Watch the press conference live on Facebook and later on NIUHuskies.com. MACTION THREE-PEAT: The Huskies’ remaining three games – at Toledo (Nov. 13), vs. Eastern Michigan (Nov. 19) and vs. Western Michigan (Nov. 26) – will all NIU PLAYER & COACH AVAILABILITY be midweek games. NIU has played at least three MACtion games each year since • Huskie players and coaches are available for interviews 2013, including four in 2015 and 2017. after practice (approximately 6 pm) on select days. • Prior to the Toledo game, availability will be Tuesday CONFERENCE CALL through Thursday, November 5-7. • Contact the NIU Athletics Communications Office to NIU VS. MAC WEST: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 72-43 versus teams from the MAC West, including a 36-11 mark in the division since arrange either in-person or phone interviews. 2010. The Huskies, who were 4-1 against divisional foes last season, suffered a • Please provide 24-hour notice for phone requests. 27-20 setback to Ball State (Oct. 5) in this season’s MAC opener and fell at Central • Contact Joe Summins (players) or Donna Turner Michigan last weekend. (coaches) to arrange interviews. HUSKIES IN THE MAC: After a 48-10 setback at Central Michigan, NIU fell to 154- PRACTICE COVERAGE 104-2 all-time in MAC play and 118-59 (.667) in league action since 1997. Since • NIU practices, held at Huskie Stadium or the Chessick 2010, NIU is 63-14 against MAC foes and has recorded three undefeated campaigns Practice Center, are open to the media on select days. and two one-loss seasons, winning six-straight division championships and seven • Media are asked to remain in the end zone and to overall during that stretch. The Huskies are in their 34th season as a member of the inform NIU Athletics Communications in advance if you Mid-American Conference in 2019-20, including an initial stint in the league from plan to