DEKALB, Ill. – The NIU football team returns to action on Saturday, Huskie men's and women's soccer will both be in action this week and NIU men's golf travels to Wisconsin for its second tournament of the year to highlight what's upcoming in Huskie Athletics. 

Football
Friday, Sept. 20: at Mississippi State, 3:15 p.m. – SEC Network | Live Audio | Live Stats

NIU football is coming off its bye week and takes on Mississippi State in Starkville this weekend. The Huskies fell on the road to Maryland, 20-9, in week two and enter the game at 1-1 while Mississippi State is 3-0. 

NIU has leaned on the defense early in the year, which is tied for 13th in the FBS in rushing defense (74.0 yards per game). The Huskies have held six straight opponents to 20-points-or-fewer dating back to last season, the longest such streak since 2008. Mississippi State is led by quarterback Blake Shapen and defeated then-No. 12 Arizona, 24-20, on Sept. 6. 

It's the first-ever matchup between the schools and NIU's first SEC opponent since taking on Kentucky and Vanderbilt in 2022.

Men's Soccer
Tuesday, Sept. 16: Eastern Illinois, 7 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats | Free Admission
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Chicago State, 1 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats

The Huskies men's soccer team plays a pair of in-state matches this week, beginning at home on Tuesday night as NIU hosts Eastern Illinois. The Huskies will then travel to meet Chicago State on Sunday afternoon at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep. 

NIU is coming off a 1-0 setback against St. Thomas this past Saturday (Sept. 13). Despite outshooting the Tommies, 17-7, the Huskies suffered their first home loss of the season to drop to 3-2-1. Eastern Illinois brings a 0-3-1 record into Tuesday's matchup in DeKalb while Chicago State comes into the week with a 0-6-0 mark.  

Women's Soccer
Thursday, Sept. 18: at Toledo, 1 p.m. – Live Stats

NIU women's soccer goes on the road for the first time in league play on Thursday as the Huskies travel to Toledo. The Huskies take a 2-4-1 mark on the road to the Glass City after falling to Miami, 2-0, in the league opener this past Sunday (Sept. 14). 

Toledo brings a 3-1-2 record into Thursday's contest, which will be the league opener for the Rockets. 

Men's Golf
Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 22-23: Badger Invitational (Madison, Wis.) 

The NIU men's golf team is back in action Sept. 22-23 at Wisconsin's Badger Invitational at TPC Wisconsin. The Huskies opened the 2025-26 season Sept. 7-8 at the Gopher Invitational hosted by Minnesota, finishing in 15th place. Sophomore Beau Petersen was NIU's top finisher, tying for 45th place at eight-over par. NIU won last year's Badger Invitational by three strokes over Long Beach State and Wisconsin.