Northern Illinois isn’t that far removed from an 8-5 season and its third bowl appearance in four years, but the Huskies are in disarray as they leave the MAC and join the Mountain West.
They went 3-9 last season, and they’re entering the 2026 campaign with an interim coach in Rob Harley after former head coach Thomas Hammock left in February to coach the Seattle Seahawks running backs.
Harley has a monumental task ahead of him preparing the Huskies for what should be a much more competitive conference while also replacing the bulk of last season’s starters. Northern Illinois, North Dakota State and UTEP are new to the Mountain West this year. Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State and Utah State are gone, leaving a void at the top of the conference.
Northern Illinois won six MAC championships since 1983, claiming its most recent title in 2021. Can the Huskies compete for a title in Year 1 in the Mountain West?
Northern Illinois Football Season Preview
The Huskies have some key pieces back on offense, but their offensive line starters will be mostly new and they’re looking for a new starting quarterback. On defense, they’re hoping a rebuilt secondary will help the unit improve.
A Two-Horse Race At QB?
The Huskies are looking for a new starting quarterback for the fourth season in a row and after leading passer Josh Holst transferred to South Dakota State.
It seems like a two-horse race as fall camp is set to begin. Senior Jalen Macon and sophomore Brady Davidson both return after seeing action last fall. Davidson played in eight games and put up slightly better stats: 40-for-87 passing, 384 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and a 46% completion rate.
Macon started the final three games of last season and finished the year with just nine completions, 109 passing yards and one touchdown. But that lone touchdown was one of the Huskies’ longest of the season – a 67-yard TD pass to running back Elijah Porter. Macon also rushed for 216 yards and five touchdowns in 2025.
University of Charleston transfer Ean Hamric may make it a three-way race. He joined the team with 17 career starts after throwing for a combined 2,967 yards and 30 touchdowns and adding 957 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground in 2024 and 2025.
Experience At Skill Positions
The Huskies will have at least three new starters on the offensive line, but there is plenty of experience back at wide receiver and running back.
Last season’s leading receiver, DeAree Rogers, returns after catching 46 passes for 506 yards and three touchdowns. Speedster Cam Thompson is back in town after a season at Mississippi State. In 2024, he was No. 2 on the team at NIU with 391 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Fellow receivers George Dimopoulos, Rickey Taylor Jr. and La’Don Bryant all started games for the Huskies last season.
Running back Telly Johnson Jr. is expected to carry the load after finishing No. 2 on the team with 712 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. Porter is also back after seeing spot duty.
A Secondary Full Of Transfers
The Huskies turned to the portal to rebuild their secondary, and the unit might be the strength of the defense.
Cornerbacks Liam Lindo (Bryant) and Yassine Falke (Marian University) join redshirt sophomore Dev’ion Reynolds, who saw action in all 12 games last fall. Bryant and Falk are both 6-3 and should make an immediate impact.
Converted wide receiver Malik Armstrong is set to step into a starting role at free safety. Newcomers Justin Harris (Central State) and Tyrese Stanley (Morehouse) are competing to start next to him.
Where Is The Pass Rush?
The Huskies managed just 14 sacks last season, and no player on the roster finished with more than 2.5.
Redshirt junior Jay’Shon Thomas should lead the group after posting the first two sacks of his career last season. He’ll be joined by a pair of transfers in Kole Sneed, who posted 10 sacks at St. Thomas last fall, and James Bradley (Mississippi Valley State). Freshman JT King could be a sleeper after he had a strong spring.
Northern Illinois Breakout Candidate
LB Jack Murray – The biggest piece the Huskies have to replace from last season is linebacker Quinton Urwiler, who ranked No. 4 in the country with 141 tackles last season. In steps Murray, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound true freshman middle linebacker, who is already being trusted to relay defensive play calls.
Northern Illinois Mountain West Championship Betting Odds
Northern Illinois’ college football betting odds to win the Mountain West championship are +8000, according to BetMGM. UNLV and New Mexico are the favorites at +275.
Northern Illinois Betting Odds & Over/Uner Win Total
- Northern Illinois’ Over/Under win total is 3.5 games, via BetMGM.
- The Over is at +100.
- The Under is at -125.
2026 Northern Illinois Schedule
Sept. 5 at Iowa
Sept. 12 vs. Illinois State
Sept. 19 at Arizona
Sept. 26 at Georgia State
Oct. 10 vs. Air Force
Oct. 17 at Wyoming
Oct. 24 vs. Hawaii
Oct. 31 at UNLV
Nov. 7 at San Jose State
Nov. 14 vs. Nevada
Nov. 21 at North Dakota State
Nov. 28 vs. UTEP
Bold indicates Mountain West games
Northern Illinois Season Prediction
I predict Northern Illinois will not win the Mountain West championship, but the Huskies will win more than 3.5 games. That’s based entirely on their strength of schedule. Illinois State, Georgia State, San Jose State, Nevada and UTEP are all winnable games.
The Huskies have to get the running game going and stretch the field with their passing attack. More importantly, a defense full of new starters has to jell quickly and stop the run after giving up 183 rushing yards a game last fall.
