2026 schedule
Northern Illinois Huskies
2026 season so far
Northern Illinois is 0-7 against the 59th-toughest schedule so far, scoring 15.1 and allowing 38.6 points per game (-23.5 per game).
In our opponent-adjusted ratings Northern Illinois ranks 135th of 139 FBS teams overall — 129th on offense and 134th on defense. The offense carries this team more than the defense does.
Next up: at UNLV in Week 9. We project Northern Illinois 17, UNLV 36 — Northern Illinois wins 11% of the time.
Projections are statistical estimates for entertainment and analysis only. They are not betting advice and nothing here guarantees any result.
Regular season
12 gamesMarket lines · Source: The Odds API, ESPN, Action Network · Updated Oct 29, 9:25 AM UTC. Shown for information; not an input to our projections.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
- at
#22 Iowa Hawkeyes
1-0 · SOS #39
Loss 0-40
Week 1
Our number· pregame
Iowa by 19.7
Total 45.5
DraftKings
IOWA -31.5
Total 44.5
Final Iowa by 40. Iowa beat the spread. 40 points — under the 44.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Iowa -31.75 (open Iowa -29.5) · O/U 44.5 (open 43.5) · ML +3750 / -55000 · Iowa 97% no-vig · model vs market -12.0 pts, -7 pct pts (Iowa view)
BTN Kinnick Stadium - vs
Illinois State Redbirds
3-0 · SOS #89
Loss 24-28
Week 2
Our number· pregame
Northern Illinois by 12.8
Total 48.8
DraftKings
ILST -2.5
Total 47.5
Final Illinois State by 4. Illinois State beat the spread. 52 points — over the 47.5. The book was closer. Our total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Illinois State -2.5 (open Illinois State -4.75) · O/U 47.75 (open 48.25) · ML -179 / +149.5 · Northern Illinois 39% no-vig · model vs market +15.3 pts, +41 pct pts (Northern Illinois view)
MW+ Huskie Stadium - at
Arizona Wildcats
2-1 · SOS #78
Loss 17-42
Week 3
Our number· pregame
Arizona by 8.1
Total 47.7
DraftKings
ARIZ -34.5
Total 50.5
Final Arizona by 25. Northern Illinois beat the spread. 59 points — over the 50.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Arizona -34.5 (open Arizona -35) · O/U 50.25 (open 49.75) · ML +2000 / -6500 · Arizona 95% no-vig · model vs market -26.4 pts, -25 pct pts (Arizona view)
TNT Casino Del Sol Stadium - at
Georgia State Panthers
3-1 · SOS #126
Loss 14-35
Week 4
Our number· pregame
Georgia State by 7.3
Total 56.5
DraftKings
GAST -8.5
Total 56.5
Final Georgia State by 21. Georgia State beat the spread. 49 points — under the 56.5. The book was closer. Both totals were equally close.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Georgia State -8.75 (open Georgia State -9.25) · O/U 56.5 (open 54.75) · ML +282.5 / -362.5 · Georgia State 75% no-vig · model vs market -1.5 pts, -7 pct pts (Georgia State view)
ESPN+ Center Parc Stadium - vs
Air Force Falcons
4-1 · SOS #105
Loss 7-28
Week 6
Our number· pregame
Air Force by 4.8
Total 50.6
DraftKings
AFA -7
Total 48.5
Final Air Force by 21. Air Force beat the spread. 35 points — under the 48.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Air Force -7 (open Air Force -9.5) · O/U 48.5 (open 47) · ML -389 / +295 · Northern Illinois 25% no-vig · model vs market +2.2 pts, +13 pct pts (Northern Illinois view)
CBSSN Huskie Stadium - at
Wyoming Cowboys
4-3 · SOS #130
Loss 23-41
Week 7
Our number· pregame
Wyoming by 3.7
Total 39.1
DraftKings
WYO -7
Total 42.5
Final Wyoming by 18. Wyoming beat the spread. 64 points — over the 42.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Wyoming -7.5 (open Wyoming -7.25) · O/U 42.25 (open 39.25) · ML +232.5 / -285 · Wyoming 71% no-vig · model vs market -3.8 pts, -12 pct pts (Wyoming view)
CW War Memorial Stadium - vs
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
2-6 · SOS #100
Loss 21-56
Week 8
Our number· pregame
Northern Illinois by 1.3
Total 46.3
DraftKings
HAW -3
Total 48.5
Final Hawai'i by 35. Hawai'i beat the spread. 77 points — over the 48.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Hawai'i -3 · O/U 49.5 · ML -148 / +124 · Northern Illinois 39% no-vig · model vs market +4.3 pts, +14 pct pts (Northern Illinois view)
MW+ Huskie Stadium - at
UNLV Rebels
4-3 · SOS #82
Sun, Nov 1, 2:30 AM
Week 9
Proj 17-36 · 11%
Our number
UNLV by 19
Total 53
DraftKings
UNLV -23.5
Total 53.5
We're 4.5 points higher on Northern Illinois than the book. Shown for comparison only.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: UNLV -24 · O/U 53.5 · ML +1200 / -2500 · UNLV 92% no-vig · model vs market -5.0 pts, -3 pct pts (UNLV view)
CBSSN Allegiant Stadium - at
San José State Spartans
4-4 · SOS #121
Sat, Nov 7, 9:00 PM
Week 10
Proj 20-30 · 26%
Our number
San José State by 10
Total 50
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
MW+ CEFCU Stadium - vs
Nevada Wolf Pack
3-4 · SOS #112
Sat, Nov 14 · TBD
Week 11
Proj 21-30 · 27%
Our number
Nevada by 9
Total 51
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
MW+ Huskie Stadium - at
North Dakota State Bison
6-2 · SOS #123
Sat, Nov 21, 9:00 PM
Week 12
Proj 11-37 · 4%
Our number
North Dakota State by 26
Total 48
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
CW Fargodome - vs
UTEP Miners
1-6 · SOS #76
Sat, Nov 28 · TBD
Week 13
Proj 30-23 · 67%
Our number
Northern Illinois by 7
Total 53
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
MW+ Huskie Stadium
Times shown in your local time
Northern Illinois Huskies stats: basic, advanced and situational
Power rating
-19.5
134th in FBS
Adj. offense
17.2
pts vs avg defense
Adj. defense
36.7
pts allowed vs avg offense
Basic stats
Box-score numbers per game.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points per gameEvery point scored, every game. | 15.1 | 135 / 138 |
| Points allowed per gameEvery point conceded, every game. | 38.6 | 136 / 138 |
| Yards per playScrimmage yards divided by scrimmage plays (sacks count as pass plays). | 5.21 | 125 / 138 |
| Yards per play allowedThe same measure for opponents. | 6.69 | 131 / 138 |
| Rushing yards per gameDesigned runs and scrambles. | 115.6 | 132 / 138 |
| Net passing yards per gamePassing yards minus sack yardage. | 198.0 | 96 / 138 |
| Rushing yards allowed per gameOpponents' rushing yards. | 229.1 | 135 / 138 |
| Net passing yards allowed per gameOpponents' net passing yards. | 215.0 | 86 / 138 |
| Turnovers per gameInterceptions thrown and fumbles lost. | 0.86 | 67 / 138 |
| Takeaways per gameInterceptions and fumble recoveries. | 1.00 | 60 / 138 |
| Sacks per gameSacks by this defense. | 1.14 | 127 / 138 |
| Sacks allowed per gameSacks taken by this offense. | 3.29 | 134 / 138 |
Advanced stats
Efficiency from play-by-play, garbage time removed: expected points added (EPA), success rate, explosiveness, havoc, finishing drives, field position and pace.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| EPA per playExpected points added per snap, garbage time removed. Zero is average; +0.10 is very good. | +0.05 | 89 / 138 |
| EPA per play allowedExpected points the defense gives up per snap. Lower is better. | +0.20 | 128 / 138 |
| Success rateShare of plays that stay on schedule: 50% of the distance on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, all of it on 3rd and 4th. | 37.8% | 126 / 138 |
| Success rate allowedOpponents' success rate. | 53.2% | 137 / 138 |
| Explosive play rateRuns of 12+ yards and passes of 16+ yards, as a share of plays. | 11.2% | 108 / 138 |
| Explosive plays allowedThe same rate for opponents. | 14.4% | 124 / 138 |
| Havoc rateShare of snaps with a tackle for loss, sack, forced fumble, interception or pass break-up. | 9.7% | 137 / 138 |
| Havoc allowedHow often this offense suffers a havoc play. | 14.4% | 103 / 138 |
| Points per scoring opportunityFinishing drives: points per possession that reaches the opponent's 40. | 2.97 | 130 / 138 |
| Points per opportunity allowedHow well the defense holds once opponents cross its 40. | 4.86 | 134 / 138 |
| Average starting field positionWhere this offense's drives begin, on average. | own 27 | 128 / 138 |
| Opponents' starting field positionWhere opponents' drives begin. | own 31 | 109 / 138 |
| Offensive plays per game (pace)Scrimmage snaps per game; a tempo measure. | 60.1 | 121 / 138 |
Situational stats
Run vs pass splits, passing downs, third downs and the red zone.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing EPA per playExpected points added on runs. | +0.13 | 42 / 138 |
| Passing EPA per playExpected points added on dropbacks, sacks included. | +0.00 | 106 / 138 |
| Rushing EPA allowedRun defense, per play. | +0.16 | 128 / 138 |
| Passing EPA allowedPass defense, per dropback. | +0.26 | 126 / 138 |
| Rushing success rateShare of runs that stay on schedule. | 41.8% | 93 / 138 |
| Passing success rateShare of dropbacks that stay on schedule. | 35.0% | 125 / 138 |
| Run stuff rateRuns stopped at or behind the line. | 18.9% | 97 / 138 |
| Passing-down success rateSuccess on 2nd-and-8+ and 3rd/4th-and-5+. | 23.5% | 132 / 138 |
| Passing-down success allowedHow often opponents escape long-yardage downs. | 42.6% | 137 / 138 |
| Third-down conversion rateThird downs converted by the play itself. | 33.0% | 126 / 138 |
| Third-down rate allowedOpponents' third-down conversions. | 61.5% | 138 / 138 |
| Red-zone touchdown rateDrives reaching the 20 that end in a touchdown. | 47.1% | 129 / 138 |
| Red-zone TD rate allowedOpponents' red-zone touchdown rate. | 75.9% | 132 / 138 |
Power rating = projected margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field, from our opponent-adjusted efficiency model. How it works and how accurate it has been.
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