Northern Illinois

FBS

Mountain West · DeKalb (IL), Chicago, Illinois

Live2026:0-8(0-4 in conference)130–301L8from ESPN, hourly

324-359-4

All-time

0.472

Win %

National titles

Conf titles

Major bowls

Playoff apps

Weeks at #1

Heismans

Greatest games

Northern Illinois's top games of all time by Game Score.

Sort by

MAC Championship Game

#19 Northern Illinois 44-37 #18 Kent State

Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Conf Title

2012 · Nov 30, 2012

0.72

Game Score

Orange Bowl

#16 Northern Illinois 10-31 #13 Florida State

Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida

Major Bowl

2012 · Jan 1, 2013

0.60

Game Score

Northern Illinois 13-20 #1 Ohio State

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

2015 · Sep 19, 2015

0.57

Game Score

#20 Northern Illinois 48-27 Ball State

Huskie Stadium, Chicago, Illinois

Conf Game

2013 · Nov 13, 2013

0.52

Game Score

MAC Championship Game

#16 Northern Illinois 27-47 Bowling Green

Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Conf Title

2013 · Dec 6, 2013

0.52

Game Score

Northern Illinois 8-23 #14 Toledo

Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois

1971 · Nov 6, 1971

0.50

Game Score

Northern Illinois 26-17 #20 Bowling Green

Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois

Conf Game

2002 · Nov 9, 2002

0.49

Game Score

MAC Championship Game

#24 Northern Illinois 21-26 Miami (OH)

Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Conf Title

2010 · Dec 3, 2010

0.48

Game Score

GoDaddy.com Bowl

Northern Illinois 38-20 Arkansas State

Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama

2011 · Jan 8, 2012

0.47

Game Score

#12 Northern Illinois 18-34 #23 Bowling Green

Doyt Perry Stadium, Toledo, Ohio

Conf Game

2003 · Oct 25, 2003

0.47

Game Score

#			Bowl	Match	Designation
1	Nov 30, 2012	2012	MAC Championship Game	#19 Northern Illinois 44-37 #18 Kent State Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan Conf Title	Conf Title	game score 0.72
2	Jan 1, 2013	2012	Orange Bowl	#16 Northern Illinois 10-31 #13 Florida State Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida Major Bowl	Major Bowl	game score 0.60
3	Sep 19, 2015	2015		Northern Illinois 13-20 #1 Ohio State Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio		game score 0.57
4	Nov 13, 2013	2013		#20 Northern Illinois 48-27 Ball State Huskie Stadium, Chicago, Illinois Conf Game	Conf Game	game score 0.52
5	Dec 6, 2013	2013	MAC Championship Game	#16 Northern Illinois 27-47 Bowling Green Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan Conf Title	Conf Title	game score 0.52
6	Nov 6, 1971	1971		Northern Illinois 8-23 #14 Toledo Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois		game score 0.50
7	Nov 9, 2002	2002		Northern Illinois 26-17 #20 Bowling Green Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois Conf Game	Conf Game	game score 0.49
8	Dec 3, 2010	2010	MAC Championship Game	#24 Northern Illinois 21-26 Miami (OH) Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan Conf Title	Conf Title	game score 0.48
9	Jan 8, 2012	2011	GoDaddy.com Bowl	Northern Illinois 38-20 Arkansas State Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama		game score 0.47
10	Oct 25, 2003	2003		#12 Northern Illinois 18-34 #23 Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium, Toledo, Ohio Conf Game	Conf Game	game score 0.47

Season by season

Covers NCAA major, I-AA/FCS and their NCAA precursors (College Division 1962-72, Division II 1973-77) only. NAIA, Division III and club seasons are not included.

Lower-level seasons: 6 (47-12). The record, titles and bowls above count major seasons only.

2026MajorIn progress0-8

Northern Illinois · Mountain West

Conf record

0-4

AP, as of Nov 1

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2025Major3-9

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

2-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2024Major8-5

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

4-4

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

#23

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

2023Major7-6

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

5-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Camellia Bowl (W)

2022Major3-9

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

2-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2021Major9-5

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

7-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Cure Bowl (L)

2020Major0-6

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

0-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2019Major5-7

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

4-4

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2018Major8-6

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

6-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Boca Raton Bowl (L)

2017Major8-5

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

6-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Quick Lane Bowl (L)

2016Major5-7

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

5-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2015Major8-6

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

6-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Poinsettia Bowl (L)

2014Major11-3

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

8-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Boca Raton Bowl (L)

2013Major12-2

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

8-0

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

#16

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Poinsettia Bowl (L)

2012Major12-2

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

8-0

AP final

#22

Coach final

#24

AP high

#16

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

★

Bowl

Orange Bowl (L)MajorBCS

2011Major11-3

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

7-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

★

Bowl

GoDaddy.com Bowl (W)

2010Major11-3

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

8-0

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

#24

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Humanitarian Bowl (W)

2009Major7-6

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

5-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

International Bowl (L)

2008Major6-7

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

5-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Independence Bowl (L)

2007Major2-10

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

1-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2006Major7-6

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

5-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Poinsettia Bowl (L)

2005Major7-5

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

6-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

✓

Conf champ

—

2004Major9-3

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

7-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

Bowl

Silicon Valley Classic (W)

2003Major10-2

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

6-2

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

#12

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2002Major8-4

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

7-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2001Major6-5

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

4-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

2000Major6-5

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

4-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1999Major5-6

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

5-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1998Major2-9

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

2-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1997Major0-11

Northern Illinois · Mid-American (West)

Conf record

0-8

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1996Major1-10

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1995Major3-8

Northern Illinois · Big West

Conf record

3-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1994Major4-7

Northern Illinois · Big West

Conf record

3-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1993Major4-7

Northern Illinois · Big West

Conf record

3-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1992Major5-6

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1991Major2-9

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1990Major6-5

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1989Major9-2

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1988Major7-4

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1987Major5-5-1

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1986Major2-9

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1985Major4-7

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

4-4

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1984Major4-6-1

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

3-5-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1983Major10-2

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

8-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

★

Bowl

California Bowl (W)

1982Major5-5

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

5-4

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1981Major3-8

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

2-7

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1980Major7-4

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

4-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1979Major5-5-1

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

3-3-1

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1978Major5-6

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

2-4

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1977Major3-8

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

2-5

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1976Major1-10

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

0-6

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1975Major3-8

Northern Illinois · Mid-American

Conf record

2-3

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1974Major4-7

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1973Major6-5

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1972Major7-4

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1971Major5-5-1

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1970Major3-7

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1969Major3-7

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1968Major2-8

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

AP final

—

Coach final

—

AP high

—

Champ game

—

Conf champ

—

1967College Division5-5

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

Conf champ

—

1966College Division8-2

Northern Illinois · Independent

Conf record

—

Conf champ

—

1965College Division9-1

Northern Illinois · Interstate IAC

Conf record

—

Conf champ

—

1964College Division7-2

Northern Illinois · Interstate IAC

Conf record

—

Conf champ

—

1963College Division10-0

Northern Illinois · Interstate IAC

Conf record

—

Conf champ

—

1962College Division8-2

Northern Illinois · Interstate IAC

Conf record

—

Conf champ

—

Year	Level	School	Record	Conference	Div	Conf	Champ App	Conf Champ	AP	Coach	High	Bowl / notes
2026In progress	Major	Northern Illinois	0-8	Mountain West		0-4			NRas of Nov 1
2025	Major	Northern Illinois	3-9	Mid-American		2-6
2024	Major	Northern Illinois	8-5	Mid-American		4-4					#23	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
2023	Major	Northern Illinois	7-6	Mid-American	West	5-3						Camellia Bowl (W)
2022	Major	Northern Illinois	3-9	Mid-American	West	2-6
2021	Major	Northern Illinois	9-5	Mid-American	West	7-2	✓	★				Cure Bowl (L)
2020	Major	Northern Illinois	0-6	Mid-American	West	0-6
2019	Major	Northern Illinois	5-7	Mid-American	West	4-4
2018	Major	Northern Illinois	8-6	Mid-American	West	6-2	✓	★				Boca Raton Bowl (L)
2017	Major	Northern Illinois	8-5	Mid-American	West	6-2						Quick Lane Bowl (L)
2016	Major	Northern Illinois	5-7	Mid-American	West	5-3
2015	Major	Northern Illinois	8-6	Mid-American	West	6-2	✓					Poinsettia Bowl (L)
2014	Major	Northern Illinois	11-3	Mid-American	West	8-1	✓	★				Boca Raton Bowl (L)
2013	Major	Northern Illinois	12-2	Mid-American	West	8-0	✓				#16	Poinsettia Bowl (L)
2012	Major	Northern Illinois	12-2	Mid-American	West	8-0	✓	★	#22	#24	#16	Orange Bowl (L)MajorBCS
2011	Major	Northern Illinois	11-3	Mid-American	West	7-1	✓	★				GoDaddy.com Bowl (W)
2010	Major	Northern Illinois	11-3	Mid-American	West	8-0	✓				#24	Humanitarian Bowl (W)
2009	Major	Northern Illinois	7-6	Mid-American	West	5-3						International Bowl (L)
2008	Major	Northern Illinois	6-7	Mid-American	West	5-3						Independence Bowl (L)
2007	Major	Northern Illinois	2-10	Mid-American	West	1-6
2006	Major	Northern Illinois	7-6	Mid-American	West	5-3						Poinsettia Bowl (L)
2005	Major	Northern Illinois	7-5	Mid-American	West	6-2	✓
2004	Major	Northern Illinois	9-3	Mid-American	West	7-1						Silicon Valley Classic (W)
2003	Major	Northern Illinois	10-2	Mid-American	West	6-2					#12
2002	Major	Northern Illinois	8-4	Mid-American	West	7-1
2001	Major	Northern Illinois	6-5	Mid-American	West	4-3
2000	Major	Northern Illinois	6-5	Mid-American	West	4-3
1999	Major	Northern Illinois	5-6	Mid-American	West	5-3
1998	Major	Northern Illinois	2-9	Mid-American	West	2-6
1997	Major	Northern Illinois	0-11	Mid-American	West	0-8
1996	Major	Northern Illinois	1-10	Independent
1995	Major	Northern Illinois	3-8	Big West		3-3
1994	Major	Northern Illinois	4-7	Big West		3-3
1993	Major	Northern Illinois	4-7	Big West		3-3
1992	Major	Northern Illinois	5-6	Independent
1991	Major	Northern Illinois	2-9	Independent
1990	Major	Northern Illinois	6-5	Independent
1989	Major	Northern Illinois	9-2	Independent
1988	Major	Northern Illinois	7-4	Independent
1987	Major	Northern Illinois	5-5-1	Independent
1986	Major	Northern Illinois	2-9	Independent
1985	Major	Northern Illinois	4-7	Mid-American		4-4
1984	Major	Northern Illinois	4-6-1	Mid-American		3-5-1
1983	Major	Northern Illinois	10-2	Mid-American		8-1		★				California Bowl (W)
1982	Major	Northern Illinois	5-5	Mid-American		5-4
1981	Major	Northern Illinois	3-8	Mid-American		2-7
1980	Major	Northern Illinois	7-4	Mid-American		4-3
1979	Major	Northern Illinois	5-5-1	Mid-American		3-3-1
1978	Major	Northern Illinois	5-6	Mid-American		2-4
1977	Major	Northern Illinois	3-8	Mid-American		2-5
1976	Major	Northern Illinois	1-10	Mid-American		0-6
1975	Major	Northern Illinois	3-8	Mid-American		2-3
1974	Major	Northern Illinois	4-7	Independent
1973	Major	Northern Illinois	6-5	Independent
1972	Major	Northern Illinois	7-4	Independent
1971	Major	Northern Illinois	5-5-1	Independent
1970	Major	Northern Illinois	3-7	Independent
1969	Major	Northern Illinois	3-7	Independent
1968	Major	Northern Illinois	2-8	Independent
1967	College Division	Northern Illinois	5-5	Independent
1966	College Division	Northern Illinois	8-2	Independent
1965	College Division	Northern Illinois	9-1	Interstate IAC
1964	College Division	Northern Illinois	7-2	Interstate IAC
1963	College Division	Northern Illinois	10-0	Interstate IAC
1962	College Division	Northern Illinois	8-2	Interstate IAC

Award winners

3 major award winners and consensus All-Americans.

Sutton Smith2017

Consensus All-AmericanDL

Jordan Lynch2013

Heisman FinalistRB

LeShon Johnson1993

Consensus All-AmericanRB

Year	Player	Pos	Award
2017	Sutton Smith	DL	Consensus All-American
2013	Jordan Lynch	RB	Heisman Finalist
1993	LeShon Johnson	RB	Consensus All-American