DeKalb
Northern Illinois
RECORD
0-4
CONFERENCE
Mountain West
PF / PA
55/145
Last 15 games
2-13 in the last 15 · 16.1 scored · 28.0 allowed LOST 9-20 scored 9 · allowed 20 See game LOST 10-38 scored 10 · allowed 38 See game LOST 3-6 scored 3 · allowed 6 See game LOST 14-25 scored 14 · allowed 25 See game LOST 10-16 scored 10 · allowed 16 See game LOST 21-48 scored 21 · allowed 48 See game WON 21-7 scored 21 · allowed 7 See game LOST 3-42 scored 3 · allowed 42 See game WON 45-3 scored 45 · allowed 3 See game LOST 19-35 scored 19 · allowed 35 See game LOST 31-35 scored 31 · allowed 35 See game LOST 0-40 scored 0 · allowed 40 See game LOST 24-28 scored 24 · allowed 28 See game LOST 17-42 scored 17 · allowed 42 See game LOST 14-35 scored 14 · allowed 35 See game
Points scored, win Points scored, loss Points allowed
Data highlights
All-time record
324-356-4
.477 since 1966
Best season
12-2
2013
10-win seasons
7
Latest 2014
Winning seasons
26
of 60 completed
Next games
Air Force 
vs Northern Illinois
vs Northern Illinois Northern Illinois vs 
Wyoming
vs Wyoming Hawai'i 
vs Northern Illinois
vs Northern Illinois Northern Illinois vs 
UNLV
vs UNLV Northern Illinois vs 
San José State
vs San José State Nevada 
vs Northern Illinois
vs Northern Illinois Roster
2Brady DavidsonQB5Taron DickensQB10Bryshawn BrownQB14Jalen MaconQB15Ean HamricQB16Asa JohnsonQB Head coach
Head coachRob Harley Head coach since2026
Record at Northern Illinois0-4
Seasons1
Bowl trips0
Season stats
Points per game13.8 10th
Points allowed36.3 9th
Total yards per game300.3 8th
Yards per play4.6 10th
Rush yards per game79.3 10th
Season
Unit
Offense
55 playersDefense
52 players
Special teams
6 players| No | Player | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | JJ Schlenhardt | PK |
| 39 | Ryan Short | PK |
| 35 | Carter Klementzos | P |
| 36 | Jake Ference | P |
| 41 | Troy Stumbaugh | LS |
| 43 | Jason Evans | LS |
Rosters from CollegeFootballData, by season. Pick a year above.
Depth chart
Northern Illinois's published two-deep, week 3: starters and backups at every position, in the school's own position labels. Source: the school's published depth chart. Full depth chart page
Offense
11 positions| Pos | 1st |
|---|---|
| QB | 14Jalen Macon |
| RB | 45Telly Johnson Jr. |
| WR | 0La’Don Bryant |
| WR | 1DeAree Rogers |
| WR | 9George Dimopoulos |
| TE | 83Jason Fowler |
| LT | 58Ross Liegel |
| LG | 53Luke Skartvedt |
| C | 63Landon Hron |
| RG | 76Tyler Chambers |
| RT | 66Lane Mahnesmith |
Defense
11 positions| Pos | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| DE | 18Jay’shon Thomas | 93Fawzy Omotoso |
| DE | 90Kole Sneed | 97JT King |
| DT | 0Montrel Canion | 50Matthew Scarlett |
| DT | 11Amari Washington | 55Jordan Bellamy |
| N | 2Avery Jones | 12Aaron Warren |
| LB | 44Jack Murray | 25Brady Kerperin |
| LB | 6Jashawn Nelson | 8Cooper Mau |
| CB | 29Romelo Walker | 5Yassine Falke |
| CB | 3Liam Lindo | 9Dev’ion Reynolds |
| S | 14Malik Armstrong | 30Andruw Ellis |
| S | 16Kyon Conyers | 4James Little IV |
Special teams
7 positions| Pos | 1st |
|---|---|
| PK | 33JJ Schlenhardt |
| P | 36Jake Ference |
| LS | 43Jason Evans |
| PR | 1DeAree Rogers |
| HO | 36Jake Ference |
| KO | 39Ryan Short |
| KOR | 9Dev’ion Reynolds |
Recent results
2026-09-12 FINAL L
Illinois State 
28 : 24 Northern Illinois
28 : 24 Northern Illinois 
35 2025-11-18 FINAL L
Western Michigan 
35 : 19 Northern Illinois
35 : 19 Northern Illinois 2025-11-12 FINAL W
Northern Illinois 45 : 3
Massachusetts
45 : 3 Massachusetts 2025-11-05 FINAL L
Northern Illinois 3 : 42
Toledo
3 : 42 Toledo 2025-10-25 FINAL W
Ball State 
7 : 21 Northern Illinois
7 : 21 Northern Illinois 
2025-10-11 FINAL L
Northern Illinois 10 : 16
Eastern Michigan
10 : 16 Eastern Michigan 
25The latest 12 games. Every season: Northern Illinois record by year.
Upcoming
OCT 10 UPCOMING
Air Force vs Northern Illinois
Game page vs Northern Illinois OCT 31 UPCOMING
Northern Illinois vs UNLV
Game page vs UNLV NOV 7 UPCOMING
Northern Illinois vs San José State
Game page vs San José State NOV 14 UPCOMING
Nevada vs Northern Illinois
Game page vs Northern Illinois NOV 21 UPCOMING
Northern Illinois vs 
North Dakota State
Game page vs North Dakota State NOV 28 UPCOMING
UTEP 
vs Northern Illinois
Game page vs Northern Illinois Points per game
13.8
10th in the Mountain West
Points allowed
36.3
9th in the Mountain West
Total yards per game
300.3
8th in the Mountain West
Yards per play
4.6
10th in the Mountain West
Rush yards per game
79.3
10th in the Mountain West
Pass yards per game
221.0
3rd in the Mountain West
First downs per game
17.8
8th in the Mountain West
Third-down rate
31.0%
9th in the Mountain West
Turnover margin
0
3rd in the Mountain West
Takeaways
6
4th in the Mountain West
Sacks
7
7th in the Mountain West
Sacks allowed
17
9th in the Mountain West
Penalty yards per game
49.0
2nd in the Mountain West
Time of possession
29:26
6th in the Mountain West
Season by season
Record
0-4
Conference
In progress
Points for / against
13.8 / 36.3
Postseason
In progress
| Season | Record | PPG | PA | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0-4 | 13.8 | 36.3 | In progress |
| 2025 | 3-9 | 17.1 | 24.3 | No bowl |
| 2024 | 8-5 | 24.5 | 18.5 | Won Famous Idaho Potato Bowl |
| 2023 | 7-6 | 24.9 | 21.0 | Won Camellia Bowl |
| 2022 | 3-9 | 27.3 | 32.8 | No bowl |
| 2021 | 9-5 | 32.2 | 33.7 | Lost Tailgreeter Cure Bowl |
| 2020 | 0-6 | 24.8 | 38.7 | No bowl |
| 2019 | 5-7 | 22.8 | 28.2 | No bowl |
| 2018 | 8-6 | 20.1 | 22.6 | Lost CHERIBUNDI BOCA RATON BOWL |
| 2017 | 8-5 | 28.9 | 22.0 | Lost QUICK LANE BOWL |
| 2016 | 5-7 | 30.5 | 30.3 | No bowl |
| 2015 | 8-6 | 31.1 | 27.6 | Lost SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL |
| 2014 | 11-3 | 31.5 | 25.6 | Lost BOCA RATON BOWL |
| 2013 | 12-2 | 39.6 | 25.1 | Lost SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL |
| 2012 | 12-2 | 38.6 | 19.9 | Lost DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL |
| 2011 | 11-3 | 38.3 | 30.3 | Won GODADDY.com BOWL |
| 2010 | 11-3 | 38.0 | 18.9 | Won uDROVE HUMANITARIAN BOWL |
| 2009 | 7-6 | 28.6 | 21.6 | Lost INTERNATIONAL BOWL |
Who gets the ball: share of plays, 2026 season
The share of Northern Illinois's offensive plays on which each player threw the ball, ran it or was targeted. College programs do not publish snap counts; this is the closest public measure.
| Player | Pos | All plays | Pass plays | Run plays | 3rd down |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taron Dickens | QB | 54.7% | 85.6% | 12.4% | 65.5% |
| Telly Johnson Jr. | RB | 24.2% | 5.9% | 52.4% | 15.5% |
| Jalen Macon | QB | 17.7% | 24.2% | 12.3% | 31.0% |
| DeAree Rogers | WR | 15.5% | 26.8% | 0.0% | 25.9% |
| Rickey Taylor Jr. | WR | 10.3% | 15.6% | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Brady Davidson | QB | 8.8% | 13.3% | 0.0% | 12.5% |
| La'Don Bryant | WR | 8.7% | 15.0% | 0.0% | 6.9% |
| Cam Thompson | WR | 8.0% | 12.4% | 1.4% | 9.1% |
| Elijah Porter | RB | 7.9% | 3.3% | 15.2% | 3.4% |
| Zaire McKinney | WR | 4.4% | 6.7% | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| George Dimopoulos | WR | 4.1% | 7.4% | 0.0% | 2.4% |
| Kelan McInerney | WR | 3.5% | 5.8% | 0.0% | 6.8% |
| Triston White | RB | 3.4% | 0.0% | 8.0% | 0.0% |
| Jaidaun Cranford | RB | 3.0% | 0.0% | 7.6% | 1.7% |
| Jason Fowler | TE | 2.9% | 4.9% | 0.0% | 4.7% |
| Kenji Lewis | WR | 2.4% | 4.0% | 0.0% | 6.5% |
| Glen Weber | TE | 2.4% | 4.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Liam Russo | TE | 2.1% | 3.3% | 0.0% | 3.4% |
| Joe Stein | TE | 1.5% | 2.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Pass plays and run plays: the share of those plays that went through the player. Source: CollegeFootballData via our data hub.
Strength of schedule
Opponents by win total, week by week, with remaining-schedule difficulty
Avg opponent wins, 2025
6.5
FBS average
6.4
Played
7.8
Remaining
5.9
2026 weekly schedule
A · 1 H · 2 
A · 3 
A · 4 BYEWk 5
H · 6 A · 7 H · 8 A · 9 A · 10 H · 11 A · 12 H · 13 BYEWk 14
BYEWk 15
Tougher than average Easier than average · number = opponent's win total
Northern Illinois 2026 opponents
| Wk | Opponent | Site | Opp wins | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | @ | 9 | Played |
| 2 | Illinois State | vs | 12 | Played |
| 3 | Arizona | @ | 9 | Played |
| 4 | Georgia State | @ | 1 | Played |
| 6 | Air Force | vs | 4 | Upcoming |
| 7 | Wyoming | @ | 4 | Upcoming |
| 8 | Hawai'i | vs | 9 | Upcoming |
| 9 | UNLV | @ | 10 | Upcoming |
| 10 | San José State | @ | 3 | Upcoming |
| 11 | Nevada | vs | 3 | Upcoming |
| 12 | North Dakota State | @ | 12 | Upcoming |
| 13 | UTEP | vs | 2 | Upcoming |
Opponent strength = each opponent's win total in 2025, its last full season (records-based, no betting win totals are used). Schedule and records from CollegeFootballData. See the full conference strength-of-schedule ranking.
The Big 12 Report
One conference, in your inbox every Tuesday.
Standings, the title race and one opinion on the Big 12. No filler.
Frequently asked questions
What conference is Northern Illinois in?
Northern Illinois plays in the Mountain West.
Has Northern Illinois ever won a national championship?
No. Northern Illinois has not claimed a national championship.
Who is the Northern Illinois head coach in 2026?
Rob Harley is the Northern Illinois head coach for the 2026 season.