---

  DOG TREATS  

• NIU opens Mid-American Conference play with the first of two back-to-back trips to Ohio when the Huskies take on MAC preseason favorite Toledo on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
• Traditionally a #MACtion game, NIU has not opened conference play versus Toledo since 2001. 
• While the Rockets own the edge in the all-time series dating back to 1967, the Huskies have enjoyed recent success in the Glass Bowl with five wins in the last six trips to Toledo, including two straight.
• The winner of the NIU-Toledo match-up has gone on to play in the MAC Championship game 15 times in the 26-year history of the game.  
• NIU's defensive numbers are the best in head coach Thomas Hammock's five-year tenure through the first five games as NIU ranks 24th nationally in total defense, 16th in team passing efficiency defense and third in the country in fewest passing yards allowed. Huskie opponents are averaging 23.8 points per game.
• Senior defensive end Ray Thomas' 11 tackles last week versus Tulsa were the most by a NIU defensive lineman in 10 seasons, since Ken Bishop made 11 stops versus Toledo on Nov. 20, 2013. 
• NIU recorded the longest drive - in number of plays and time elapsed - in FBS football this season with a 20-play, 11:03 minute drive for its first touchdown versus Tulsa. Ethan Hampton connected with Trayvon Rudolph for a six-yard score. 
• The "Voice of the Huskies" - radio play-by-play broadcaster Bill Baker - will retire following the 2023 football season, his 44th behind the mic for NIU. The Toledo game will mark Baker's 512th NIU football broadcast. 
• NIU's 2023 roster includes 18 players who have seen action in more than 30 games during their Huskie careers, including two (Nolan Potter, James Ester) with at least 40 games of experience; there are 13 players who have made at least 15 starts for NIU. 
• Over the last 15 years - since 2008 - every freshman class has left NIU with at least one MAC Championship. The Huskies' five MAC Championship game victories are more than any other current league member and NIU has made a record nine appearances in the game.  
• The Huskies were ranked third in the West Division in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. See the complete poll on page 2.
• Next: NIU's two-game MAC road swing continues as the Huskies travel to Akron, Ohio for the first time since 2018 for a 2:30 pm (CT) match-up with the Zips.

---

  NIU FOOTBALL FACTS  
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-2-5
First Year of Football: 1899
2022 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 3-9/2-6/6th
All-Time Record: 605-524-51
Last Bowl Game: 2021 Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 14
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 9, 2021
MAC Championships, Last: 6, 2021
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 49/27
Starters Returning: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialist)
Starters Lost: 11 (4 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
 

---

  ROCKETS' FACTS  
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Jason Candle (Mount Union, 2003)
Record at Toledo/Years: 57-33/8th
Career Record/Years: Same
2022 Record: 9-5
Conference Record/Finish: 5-3/T1st-West
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Enrollment: 17,070
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Midnight Blue and Gold 
Stadium: Glass Bowl
Surface/Capacity: Field Turf/26,038
President: Dr. Gregory Postel
Athletic Director: Bryan B. Blair
Athletics Website: utrockets.com
Twitter: @ToledoRockets

Toledo Schedule & Results
 

---

  NIU-TOLEDO SERIES  
Overall: UT leads 33-17
In Toledo: UT leads 19-8
In DeKalb: UT leads 13-9
In Chicago: UT leads 1-0
In MAC Games: UT leads 22-14
Streak: UT, 1
First Meeting: Nov. 11, 1967; UT 35, NIU 0 (A)
Last Meeting: Oct. 8, 2022; UT 52, NIU 32 (H)
 

---

  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  

TV: NIU AT TOLEDO ON ESPNU

• Watch the NIU-Toledo game on ESPNU. The Huskies make their first appearance on the network in 2023 and play on a national over-the-air  network for the fourth tme this season.  
• The Huskies are playing on ESPNU for the 27th time and the 11th time in the last six seasons. NIU is 14-12 all-time in games broadcast on ESPNU. 
• Jay Alter (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst) will be on the call for ESPNU.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the Toledo game begins 90 minutes before kickoff, at 1 p.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB with the Toyota Pre-Game Tailgate Show.
• Coverage on NIU network affiliate SportsFan AM 1330 and on The Varsity Network app begins 30 minutes before the game, at 10:30 am (CT).
• Hear the broadcast on mobile devices via the free NIU Huskies mobile app or The Varsity Network app. 
• Bill Baker is in his 44th and final season (see note) as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo is alongside for the the 39th consecutive season, while Andy Garcia is in his 11th year on the sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show each Wednesday at 6 pm. 
• The show is held at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).
• Listen live on the NIU Huskies or The Varsity Network mobile app and hear the show live on 94-9 WDKB and on SportsFan AM 1330 in Rockford.
• Host Andy Garcia welcomes NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock each week, along with Huskie players and special guests. 

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE

• Host Andy Garcia talks NIU football, basketball and more with the Huskie head coaches and administrators, including a weekly spotlight on Huskie Football. Get all the latest news and updates in this fast-paced 30 minute show.
• Also, hear from Huskie legend Bill Baker in each episode with a special "Looking Back with Bill Baker" segment.  
• Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics YouTube Channel on Thursdays. 

NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, special features, game highlights, NIU Weekly and more.
• Subscribe for FREE and click the bell to be notified every time NIU posts a new video.
• Search "NIU Athletics" on YouTube or go to YouTube.com/NIUAthleticsOfficial. 
• Archived videos and highlights, replays of some of the greatest games in school history and special features are also available 24/7 on YouTube.  

NIU HUSKIES MOBILE APP

• Download the free NIU Huskies mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
• Link to the NIU radio broadcasts, live stats, complete team rosters, digital game programs and more.
• Connect to the NIU social media channels and sign up for notifications on any Huskie team.

---

  NEWS & NOTES  

SECOND SEASON: The NIU Huskies begin 2023's "second season" when they open Mid-American Conference play, and begin a two-game MAC road trip, Saturday at Toledo. The Rockets play their second league opponent after starting their title defense with a win over Western Michigan last week. 

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: The Huskies enter the 2023 Mid-American Conference season, their 38th as a member of the league, with a record of 164-119-2 all-time in league play. The Huskies are 129-74 (.635) versus MAC foes since re-joining the league in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 73-29 (.716) against the MAC with three undefeated campaigns, two one-loss seasons, seven division championships, including a run of six-straight (2010-15). NIU originally competed in the MAC from 1975-85.

MAC OPENERS: The Huskies are 17-20 all-time in their 37 previous Mid-American Conference openers, and are 13-13 in their first MAC games of the season since re-joining the league in 1997. NIU is 2-2 in MAC openers under Thomas Hammock.

SERIES HISTORY: While Toledo has won 33 of the 50 meetings in the series, NIU has won five of the last six games played in the Glass Bowl dating back to the "birth of #MACtion" game in 2011 - a 63-60 NIU win and including a 22-20 win at Toledo in 2021. The Huskies are 9-4 against Toledo since 2010 with a six-game winning streak from 2010-15. The Rockets won 15 of the first 21 series games between 1967-89, then defeated NIU 11 times from 1990-2004.      

THE LAST MEETING: Toledo took a 21-7 lead after the first quarter, extended it to 35-7 by halftime and never looked back en route to a 52-32 win at Huskie Stadium on October 8, 2022. Quinyon Mitchell scored two of the Rockets' first half touchdowns, bringing back two of his record four interceptions for touchdowns. Helped in part by two successful onside kicks, the Huskies scored 25 fourth-quarter points and finished the game with 424 yards on 90 plays with quarterback Ethan Hampton completing 30-of-49 passes for 284 yards while running back Harrison Waylee caught 10 passes for 96 yards.  

NIU ON THE MAC ROAD: The Huskies are 25-13 in conference road games since 2013 and 89-99-1 all-time in league games away from Huskie Stadium for a 47 percent win percentage. A year ago, NIU posted a 2-2 road record versus MAC opponents with wins at Eastern Michigan and at Western Michigan, a double overtime loss at Ball State and a seven-point defeat at Ohio.

MAC WEST MARK: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 80-51 (.611) versus teams from the MAC West, including a 43-20 mark in the division since 2010 for a 68.2 winning percentage. The Huskies went 2-3 against the MAC West in 2022.

HUSKIE LEGEND: The 2023 season marks the 44th and final year behind the mic for the "Voice of the Huskies," legendary play-by-play man Bill Baker. Baker will call his 512th NIU football game this week, and has missed just one game since making his NIU debut when the Huskies faced Long Beach State in Anaheim, Calif. on Sept. 5, 1980. He also has called more than 1,200 NIU basketball games – including several years when he called both men's and women's games. Baker, who ranks tied for sixth in longevity for FBS play-by-play voices, was honored during halftime of the Huskies' 2023 home opener versus Southern Illinois on Sept. 9. 

ABOUT LAST WEEK: After falling behind Tulsa 9-0 to start the game, NIU took a 14-9 lead with touchdowns by Trayvon Rudolph and Justin Lynch before the Golden Hurricane roared back to score the game's final 13 points and claim a 22-14 victory at Huskie Stadium. TU took advantage of excellent field position and three Huskie turnovers, while the NIU defense limited Tulsa to 102 yards on 8-of-20 passing with a pair of interceptions.  

LAND OF LINCOLN LEADERS: Since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program among Illinois' seven Division I football programs. The Huskies are 1-1 versus in-state FBS programs with a 2014 win over Northwestern and a 2010 loss at Illinois, and are 4-1 versus in-state FCS opponents over the last 12 seasons, including wins over Illinois State (2019) and Eastern Illinois (2022) under Thomas Hammock. 

Illinois' Division I Schools Since 2010

Team	W	L	Pct.
NIU	104	67	.608
Illinois State	92	61	.601
Northwestern	85	80	.515
Southern Illinois	70	80	.467
Eastern Illinois	58	90	.392
Illinois	63	98	.391
Western Illinois	52	98	.347

MORE THAN SOLID START: The NIU defense continued its strong play last week versus Tulsa, holding the Hurricane to 20 points, just two touchdowns with only one scoring drive of longer than 50 yards. Through four games, the Huskies are ranked 24th nationally in total defense (298.5), are 16th in team passing efficiency defense (104.0) and are THIRD in the country in fewest passing yards allowed (143.0). To date, NIU opponents are averaging just 23.8 points per game. NIU's defensive numbers are the best in head coach Thomas Hammock's tenure through the first four games. 
 

	Total Defense	Pass Efficiency Defense	Passing Yards Allowed	Scoring Defense
2019	385.8	140.7	219.3	28.3
2020	382.5	155.0	199.5	37.5
2021	430.0	142.0	190.0	33.5
2022	426.0	182.3	289.0	33.5
2023	298.5	104.0	143.0	23.8

PASSING D: NIU's defense gave up a season low 102 passing yards while holding Tulsa to 8-of-20 completions (40.0 percent). It was the lowest passing yardage total by a Huskie opponent since Akron gained just 51 yards passing in a 49-0 Huskie win on October 26, 2019. Versus Tulsa, NIU held an opponent to less than 10 completions for the first time in 39 games, since Akron completed seven passes in 26 attempts in that 2019 contest.  

GOOD COMPANY: Defensive end Ray Thomas' 11 tackles versus Tulsa, including seven solo stops and four assists, a tackle for loss and half a sack, put the senior in select company. The last NIU defensive lineman to register double digit tackles was consensus All-American Sutton Smith with 10 stops in the 2018 MAC Championship win over Buffalo (11-30). The last Huskie defensive lineman to tally at least 11 tackles in a game was defensive tackle Ken Bishop, a 2013 first team All-MAC selection who had 11 versus Toledo (11-20-13). The last NIU defensive lineman to total more than 11 tackles in a game? Two-time MAC MVP and NFL first round draft choice Larry English, who recorded 12 tackles, forced a fumble and had a NIU record five sacks at Idaho (9-22-07) in one of the best performances by a defensive lineman in school history.  

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION: After two seasons playing a hybrid tight end/wide receiver position for NIU, redshirt sophomore George Gumbs made the transition to defensive end following 2023 spring practices. He saw his first action at the position in the season opener at Boston College and recorded his first career sacks with 1.5 takedowns a week later versus Southern Illinois. Gumbs added a sack and forced a fumble at Nebraska and now leads NIU in quarterback sacks with 2.5, is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 3.5 and has made 13 tackles on the season. 

TRANSFER to WALK-ON to TOP TACKLER: Safety Nate Valcarcel has developed into another of the walk-on success stories that have become so prevalent in the Huskie program. Valcarcel came to NIU as a transfer from South Dakota in the summer of 2021 and spent two seasons contributing primarily on special teams. He entered the 2023 season with 15 career tackles in 26 games to earn a scholarship. Named NIU's most improved player on defense following 2023 spring practices, he claimed a starting safety spot during fall camp. Valcarcel led NIU with nine tackles at Nebraska, made his first career interception versus Tulsa and ranks second on the team with 19 tackles.    

GROUP EFFORT: The NIU defense has relied on its depth in 2023 with 24 different players seeing significant snaps, including 10 defensive linemen, four linebackers, six safeties and four cornerbacks. Ten Huskies have collected tackles for loss, eight have been in on a quarterback sack and seven have pass break-ups. Through four games, 11 players have made at least 10 tackles.

LONGEST DRIVE: Trayvon Rudolph's six-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter versus Tulsa came on the 20th play of a drive that began 11 minutes and three seconds earlier. The drive is the longest recorded by any team in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) this year in both number of plays and in time. Quarterback Ethan Hampton led the 75-yard drive that included 15 rushing and five passing plays, and began with nine consecutive runs. The Huskies converted on third down three times and on fourth down twice, including on the touchdown pass. NIU last had a drive of over 10 minutes versus Bowling Green on October 25, 2008 with a 17-play, 80-yard, 10:06 drive culminating in a Chad Spann touchdown run.  

LYNCH ON THE LOOSE: Running back Justin Lynch recorded the Huskies' longest running plays of the season versus Tulsa with runs of 30 and 29 yards, the latter a touchdown for his first rushing score of 2023. Lynch finished the game as NIU's leading rusher with 84 yards on eight carries, the most yards by a Huskie back in a single game this year. He enters the Toledo game third on the team in rushing with 96 yards on 11 carries and completed a touchdown pass to Antario Brown in NIU's win at Boston College. Lynch is averaging 8.7 yards per carry. 

TWICE AS NICE: In 47 games under Thomas Hammock, the Huskies have attempted 24 two point conversions and been successful on 12, including a two-for-two mark in 2023. NIU has converted on two-point conversions in each of its last two games, with Trayvon Rudolph hitting quarterback Rocky Lombardi versus SIU and Ethan Hampton completing a pass to Billy Dozier at Nebraska. NIU is 2-for-4 on two-point attempts rushing and is 10-of-20 passing on two-pointers since 2019. Rudolph's completed conversion pass was the second of his career in four attempts. Huskie two-pointers year-by-year under Hammock. 
 

Year	Games	Run	Pass	Total
2023	3	0-0	2-2	2-2
2022	12	1-3	3-5	4-8
2021	14	0-0	3-7	3-7
2020	6	1-1	1-3	2-4
2019	12	0-0	1-3	1-3
Total	47	2-4	10-20	12-24

MAXIMUM DISTRIBUTION: NIU's 17 pass completions versus Nebraska went to 13 different receivers, the most Huskie players to catch a pass in a game in AT LEAST 30 seasons as records were researched back to 1993. The catches at NU were made by eight wide receivers, three tailbacks, a fullback and a tight end. No player caught more than two passes with Davis Patterson's 30 yards leading the way. 

CATCHING FIRSTS: NIU's final completion at Nebraska - from back-up quarterback Ethan Hampton to Chris Carter - was good for a four-yard touchdown, the first of Carter's NIU tenure. Hampton also connected with Kendrell Flowers, Dane Pardridge, Keyshaun Pipkin and Billy Dozier on the fourth quarter drive with each of those players recording their first catches of the season and Flowers, Pardridge and Pipkin making their first career grabs in the game.  

KACPER CONNECTION: Senior Kacper Rutkiewicz has caught 14 passes for 204 yards to lead NIU in receiving, including a career high six-catch, 139-yard day versus Southern Illinois. Rutkiewicz' total receiving yards versus SIU ranks as the third highest total in a game in the MAC this season and included a 62-yard touchdown, the ninth of his NIU career. He ranks fifth in the MAC in receiving yards per game. 

ON THE LINE: The Huskies returned one of the most experienced offensive line groups  in the country as they began the year with 118 career starts among the six players who started at least six games a year ago. However, 32-game starter Logan Zschernitz has yet to play in a game in 2023, and tackle Evan Buss - with 13 career starts - has missed the last two games. Redshirt sophomore Drew Hoth saw his first action as a Huskie as the starting left tackle at Nebraska and now has two games as a starter under his belt. Right tackle Nolan Potter, a sixth-year senior, leads all current Huskie players with 34 career starts and 47 games played. Guards J.J. Lippe (25 starts/30 games played) and John Champe (19/36) along with sophomore center Pete Nygra (15/19) make up the rest of the unit with redshirt freshman Evan Malcore in the "sixth man" role.  
 
RETURN RECEIVERS: Huskie receivers Kacper Rutkiewicz and Trayvon Rudolph have been pulling double duty as the Huskies' primary punt and kickoff returners, respectively.  Rutkiewicz has already surpassed NIU's 2022 team total for punt return yards with four returns for 37 yards, a 9.2 average. The Huskies finished the 2022 season with six total punt returns for 13 yards. Rutkiewicz' 19-yard return in the second quarter versus SIU was NIU's longest since Tyrice Richie's 23-yard punt return versus Toledo in 2021. Rudoph has returned three kickoffs for 72 yards for a 24.0-yard average. He already ranks sixth on NIU's all-time charts for kickoff returns (51), kickoff return yards (1,240) and KOR average (24.3).
  
THEY'RE ALL HUSKIES NOW: Transfers are a way of life in college football in 2023 and NIU added 16 new transfers this offseason to the eight returnees who started their collegiate careers elsewhere. NIU attracted players from nearly every level of college football from junior colleges to "Power 5" and Group of 5 schools, HBCUs, FCS, Division II and Division III. Eighteen of the 24 total transfer Huskies have played and nine, including two specialists, have started at least one game in 2023. The list of transfers who have played with returning players in bold and career NIU games started under GS. 
 

No.	Name	Pos.	Elig.	GS	Hometown (Previous School
16	Gabriel Amegatcher	CB	Sr.-R		Romeoville, Ill. (Nebraska-Kearney
81	Grayson Barnes	WR	Jr.		Rocklin, Calif. (American River CC)
11	Chris Carter	TE	Jr.	1	Detroit, Mich. (Howard)
12	Cam'Ron "Shaad" Dabney	CB	Jr.		Atlanta, Ga. (Kansas)
98	Tom Foley	P	Jr.-R	15	Peoria, Ill. (Minnesota)
23	DaRon Gilbert	LB	Sr.	3	Detroit, Mich. (Lafayette)
58	Skyler Gill-Howard	DT	So.-R		Milwaukee, Wis. (Upper Iowa)
0	Tyler Jackson	LB	Sr.-R		Alief, Texas (Lamar)
12	Rocky Lombardi	QB	Sr.-R	18	Clive, Iowa (Michigan State)
5	Justin Lynch	RB	Jr.	3	Chicago, Ill. (Temple)
9	Davis Patterson	WR	Sr.-R		Arlington, Va. (Notre Dame College)
37	Joey Rattin	LB	Jr.		Palatine, Ill. (Upper Iowa)
8	Kacper Rutkiewicz	WR	Sr.	1	Mount Prospect, Ill. (Illinois State)
28	Nevaeh Sanders	DE	Jr.		Flint,Mich. (Iowa Western CC)
30	Jake Seibert	K	So.R	3	Cincinnati, Ohio (Ohio State)
32	Quinn Urwiler	LB	Jr.-R		Mooseheart, Ill. (North Dakota)
9	Nate Valcarcel	S	Jr.	3	Greenfield, Wis. (South Dakota)
21	Gavin Williams	RB	Jr.-R		Altoona, Iowa (Iowa)

LEADERS OF THE PACK: Five players were named 2023 permanent team captains. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi, offensive tackle Nolan Potter, safety C.J. Brown, linebacker Jaden Dolphin and defensive tackle James Ester were chosen in voting by the Huskie team. Lombardi and Ester were named captains for the third consecutive season, while Potter is in his second year in the role. They will be joined by a different teammate selected each game.

GRADS: NIU's 2023 roster includes 16 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees in fields including  - either at NIU or from another institution. The complete list with school and major.

CB Gabe Amegatcher (Nebraska-Kearney) Major: General Studies; Minors: Construction Management, Mathematics
LB Keshon Artis (Virginia Tech) Major: Business Information Technology
TE Chris Carter (Howard) Major: Strategic, Legal & Management Communications
DT James Ester (NIU) Major: Communication, Media Studies
RB Kendrell Flowers (South Carolina State) Major: Family & Consumer Sciences
P Tom Foley (NIU) Degrees: B.S. in Accountancy; M.S. Finance
LB DaRon Gilbert (Lafayette) Major: Economics; Minor: Anthropology & Sociology
LB Tyler Jackson (Lamar) Majors: Industrial Engineering and Business
QB C.J. Jordan (Idaho) Major: Psychology; Minor: Communication
OL J.J. Lippe (NIU) Major: Leadership & Management
QB Rocky Lombardi (Michigan State) Major: History
WR Davis Patterson (Notre Dame College) Major: Strategic Communications & Public Relations
OT Nolan Potter (NIU) Major: Organizational & Corporate Communications
WR Kacper Rutkiewicz (NIU) Major: General Emphasis
DT Demond Taylor Jr. (NIU) Major: Communication, Media Studies
TE Tristen Tewes (NIU) Major: Environmental Studies

GAME EXPERIENCE: The 2023 Huskies bring plenty of experience to the field with 18 players on the roster who have seen action in at least 30 games during their NIU careers, and another eight who have played in at least 20 games. There are nine Huskies who have started 20 or more games and four additional with more than 15 starts. Offensive tackle Nolan Potter (47 games/34 starts) and James Ester (40 games/33 starts) top the list of both games played and starts on either side of the ball.

FILLING THE BONEYARD: With its 27-24 overtime win over Boston College in the 2023 season opener, NIU earned its 18th "Boneyard Win," defined as wins over prominent opponents and teams from leagues now designated?as "Power 5." The Boneyard tradition began in 1983 and NIU has collected 10 Boneyard Wins in the last 15 years, including in back-to-back games versus ACC opponents and in 2017 at Nebraska. All-time, the Huskies have Boneyard Wins over teams from the ACC (4), SEC (1), Big 12 (5) and Big Ten (7), as well as over independent BYU. 

WATCH-LISTED: Five Huskies were named to preseason watch lists in 2023. Running back Antario Brown earned a spot on the Doak Walker Award Watch List for the second consecutive year. Wide receiver/return man Trayvon Rudolph was on the Paul Hornung Award list, while defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley and offensive tackle Nolan Potter were named to the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy Watch Lists, respectively. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi earned a spot on the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. 

THE POWER OF THREE: Over the years, good things have happened for NIU Football in years that have ended in the number "3". 

• The 1963 Huskies finished 10-0, won the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and were voted College Division National Champions by the Associated Press.
• In 1983, NIU won its first Mid-American Conference Championship and finished the season with a 10-2 record after winning its first bowl game as a "Major College" (now FBS) program.
• In 1993, NIU running back LeShon Johnson - a native of Haskell, Oklahoma - led NCAA Division I-A in rushing with 1,976 yards on 327 carries with 2,028 all-purpose yards to become the first consensus All-American in school history; Johnson finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.  
• The 2003 Huskies defeated No. 15 Maryland (20-13 OT), No. 21 Alabama (19-16) and Iowa State (24-16) to open the season and were ranked as high as No. 12 in the country (AP) behind eventual All-Pro running back Michael Turner. 
• Quarterback and Heisman finalist Jordan Lynch finished third in voting for the Trophy in 2013. He earned AP All-America honors after leading NIU to an undefeated regular season, setting NCAA quarterback records for rushing (1,920) and touchdowns (23).

DOGS IN OT: NIU's season opening win at Boston College in overtime marked the Huskies' 10th, improving its all-time overtime record to 10-5. The Huskies have now won five of their last six overtime games after its four-game winning streak in OT was snapped at Ball State last year. NIU is 4-3 in overtime games on the road and is 1-0 in neutral site OT games. The Huskies have won three of four overtime games versus non-conference opponents and are 7-4 when MAC games go to extra periods.  

NEW FACES: NIU welcomed four new members to the Huskie coaching staff in 2023. Cornerbacks coach D.J. Bland, tight ends coach Cory White, linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Adam Breske, and running backs coach and passing game coordinator Wesley Beschorner are the newest members of the NIU staff. Bland joined the Huskies from Eastern Illinois, White was at San Diego and Breske came to NIU from Washington State. Beschorner was the head coach at Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the last three seasons.

THIS & THAT: With a seven-yard receiving and a two-yard rushing touchdown at Boston College, running back Antario Brown became the first NIU back to score touchdowns both receiving and rushing in the same game since Jordan Huff versus Ball State in 2017 (Nov. 9)....NIU punter Tom Foley punted a career high nine times at Nebraska for a 40.9 yard average with three punts inside the 20 and four of 50 yards or longer... the winner of the NIU-Toledo game has gone on to represent the MAC West in the league championship game 15 times...the Huskies' 2023 roster includes players from 18 different states stretching from coast to coast, as well as Canada.Huskie kicker Kanon Woodill is a member of the ROTC program at NIU.