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. The Huskies invited to the Cure Bowl, where they lost to Coastal Carolina on December 17. 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. With their win over Buffalo on November 17, the Huskies clinched the West Division championship and a berth in the MAC Championship Game.
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. In April 2021, the NCAA further made one-time transfers for all college athletes to be eligible immediately. 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.
Preseason In the league's annual preseason poll, the Huskies were picked to finish in last place in the West.
Schedule The Huskies played Maine and Wyoming at home while traveling to Georgia Tech and Michigan for non-conference games in 2021.
Rankings
Game summaries At Georgia Tech
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 StatisticsNorthern 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 yardsGeorgia 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
Statistics Northern IllinoisCentral 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
Statistics Northern IllinoisKent 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)
Statistics Ball StateNorthern 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)
Statistics Kent StateNorthern 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