It’s been three years since the Northern Illinois Huskies lifted the Mid-American Conference crown, and some elements of the fanbase are getting restless despite a bowl win last fall. Can Thomas Hammock’s team push on and challenge for the title in the upcoming season? The Northern Illinois 2024 football schedule will determine whether the Huskies head to Detroit.
Northern Illinois 2024 Football Schedule
- vs. Western Illinois Leathernecks
Saturday, August 31, time TBA - at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Saturday, September 7, time TBA - vs. Buffalo Bulls
Saturday, September 21, time TBA - at NC State Wolfpack
Saturday, September 28, time TBA - vs. UMass Minutemen
Saturday, October 5, time TBA - at Bowling Green Falcons
Saturday, October 12, time TBA - vs. Toledo Rockets
Saturday, October 19, time TBA - at Ball State Cardinals
Saturday, October 26, time TBA - at Western Michigan Broncos
Wednesday, November 6, time TBA - vs. Akron Zips
Wednesday, November 13, time TBA - at Miami (OH) Bobcats
Tuesday, November 19, time TBA - vs. Central Michigan Chippewas
Saturday, November 30, time TBA
According to the CFN Strength of Schedule, the Northern Illinois 2024 football schedule is the fourth most difficult in the MAC. Only the Akron Zips, Ball State Cardinals, and Kent State Golden Flashes have a tougher slate of games, and while the Huskies will face two of those in MAC play, the out-of-conference schedule is a significant factor in the difficulty level for Hammock’s team.
After welcoming non-FBS Western Illinois to Huskie Stadium in Week 1, the Northern Illinois 2024 football schedule features road games against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and NC State Wolfpack on either side of their MAC opener against the Buffalo Bulls. Although the Huskies beat Power Five opposition last fall, the Irish and the Wolfpack are a very different proposition.
They round out non-conference play with a future MAC opponent in the UMass Minutemen, who will join the conference in 2025. The Huskies are 2-0 against Don Brown’s team, and a win should propel them into MAC play, where they face a tough back-to-back against the Bowling Green Falcons and Toledo Rockets, with the bonus of being at home to the latter.
KEEP READING: 2024 MAC Weekly Football Schedule
While they host that particular contender, the Northern Illinois 2024 football schedule features a road game against the reigning MAC champions, which is also a rivalry game for the Huskies. In fact, both the Bronze Stalk Trophy rivalry (Ball State Cardinals) and the Mallory Cup rivalry (Miami (OH) RedHawks) are on the road, giving an additional level of complexity.
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