Football | April 21
DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team is set to hit the field for the first time in 2026 in front of fans this Saturday. The Spring Showcase is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. at Huskie Stadium and will be structed like a normal game with regular clock rules in the first half and a running clock in the second.
The roster will be broken into two teams, NIU (home team, black jerseys) and Huskies (away team, white jerseys), and teams will be drafted this week. Quarterbacks will captain the teams with redshirt seniors
Jalen Macon and
Ean Hamric leading team NIU while sophomore
Brady Davidson and freshman
Bryshawn Brown guiding team Huskies.
Since taking over the role, interim head coach
Rob Harley and the locker room have emphasized "Us vs. Them", a motto and phrase that can be heard throughout the building and practices.
"It's not derogatory in anyway, not attacking in anyway. It's about highlighting us, highlighting the unit in this building and obviously most directly, the players in these seats, because I don't exist without them," said Harley. "(We) just want to highlight the togetherness we want to play with, the togetherness within our community, with our alumni, DeKalb and Sycamore and all these places around us. They are a member of us and highlighting that family atmosphere."
The first 11 practices have been filled with high energy and competitiveness, both between units and within position groups. During a heavy team period practice on the Saturday before the Spring Showcase those common trends stood out.
"I would say the competition, I thought it was back-and-forth," said Harley. "Early on, offense drives and the defense bows up. Then we went into third downs, offense won that. We went into the redzone and the offense won that … defense came up with some take backs in the middle of that. The speed and the pace in which we practice is very high."
Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach
Tony Petersen has focused on the offense improving small details during the opening weeks of install. With a mix of experience and skillsets in the quarterback room, Petersen has enjoyed the progression of the group thus far.
"They're all doing a good job with the processing," said Petersen. "All quarterbacks are different … but they all have to play in the system within themselves. I always ask them, 'Are you making good decisions? Are you throwing the ball on time? Are you accurate?' If we're doing those three things, we're probably doing pretty well."
Petersen has over 30 years of experience in coaching and comes to NIU after helping Illinois State reach the FCS title game. The RedBirds offense in 2025 averaged 30.8 points per game and 390.3 yards per game, including a 3,500 yard passer at quarterback with 40 passing touchdowns and 1,300 yard rusher, both top 10 in the FCS.
"It really comes down to taking care of the football, being able to run the football and produce explosive plays. And that comes in the running game and passing game," said Petersen. "You can't score enough touchdowns nowadays just methodically moving down the field. You have to take care of the football, because that'll lose you games, be able to run the ball and have explosive plays. Especially explosive plays for touchdowns."
On the defensive side of the ball, Harley said the group been able to create takeaways throughout practices.
"We've taken the ball back … we've been attacking the football," said Harley. "The four things we pointed to in the (spring) press conference was takeaways, field position, stopping the run and explosive plays … they're playing together and communicating."
The Huskies will have to replace a key piece from the defensive unit in linebacker
Quinn Urwiler. The Illinois native and former walk-on earned all-conference honors last season after posting 141 tackles, the most by an NIU player since 1992, and led the nation in solo tackles per game (5.92).
Linebackers Coach / Special Teams Coordinator
Cory Connolly praised the current group for bringing an eagerness to learn every day. While the room is taking the spring to develop positive habits, they've been able to display a key trait for the position.
"This group has a certain level of physicality to it, which I love as a linebackers coach," said Connolly. "Going into my second year, there's more guys in the room I've had a hand in recruiting and bring here to be Huskies and something we've been looking for, increase our physicality as a room."
Saturday will have a host of events for NIU fans, including the NIU Athletics Equipment Surplus Sale and Victor E. Threads apparel store, NIU men's and women's soccer exhibitions, NIU football taking the field at noon and NIU baseball hosting Eastern Michigan at 2 p.m. More
details about the events can be found here.
Parking Information
Free Spring Showcase parking will be available in the following locations:
Important Parking Notes:
- The Convocation Center will be hosting a Vintage Market event and parking in the C Lots will be paid parking.
- If you park in the C Lots, you will be charged to park.
- Lots K/L will be closed to Showcase parking due to an event at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center.
Season ticket renewals and new season tickets starting at $102 are now available for the 2026 NIU Football season online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets. For more information, call the NIU Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225) weekdays between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or email
huskiestickets@niu.edu.
Road tickets to Iowa and Arizona will be on sale for HAF members on Saturday. Huskie fans are encouraged to participate in this limited opportunity as NIU begins competition in the Mountain West Conference. HAF renewals are now live for the 2026-2027 season. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Huskie Athletic Fund at 815-753-1923.
