2020 Northern Illinois Huskies football team
| 2020 Northern Illinois Huskies football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| West Division | |
| Record | 0–6 (0–6 MAC) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Eric Eidsness (2nd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Derrick Jackson (2nd season) |
| Base defense | 4–2–5 |
| MVP | Tyrice Richie |
| Captain | Daniel Crawford, James Ester, Matt Ference |
| Home stadium | Huskie Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 25 Buffalo xy | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent State | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miami (OH) | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Akron | 1 | – | 5 | 1 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23 Ball State xy$ | 5 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan | 4 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toledo | 4 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Michigan | 3 | – | 3 | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Michigan | 2 | – | 4 | 2 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Ball State 38, Buffalo 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rankings from AP Poll.
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The 2020 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by second-year head coach Thomas Hammock in a season shorted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 0–6 with an identical mark in MAC play, placing last out of six teams in the West Division. It was the first winless season for the Huskies since 1997. Northern Illinois played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.
COVID-19 effects on season
On August 8, 2020, the MAC announced that it was postponing the 2020 football season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The conference announced it would explore playing a season in the spring of 2021. It was the first major football conference to announce the postponement of the season.[3]
On September 25, the conference voted to reinstate the football season beginning on November 4. The conference was the last major conference to reinstate football.[4]
Schedule
Northern Illinois had games scheduled against Iowa, Maryland, and Rhode Island, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6] As a result, the team played a conference-only schedule.[4]
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Buffalo | ESPN2 | L 30–49 | 449 | |
| November 11 | 8:00 p.m. | Central Michigan |
| ESPNU | L 10–40 | 419 |
| November 18 | 6:00 p.m. | at Ball State | ESPNews | L 25–31 | 0 | |
| November 28 | 11:00 a.m. | at Western Michigan | ESPN+ | L 27–30 | 0 | |
| December 5 | 11:00 a.m. | at Toledo |
| ESPN3 | L 24–41 | 0 |
| December 12 | 11:00 a.m. | at Eastern Michigan | ESPN3 | L 33–41 | 300 | |
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References
- ^ Wells, Adam (September 25, 2020). "MAC Approves 6-Game College Football Schedule Beginning November 4". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ^ "MAC cancels football: What it means for the Power 5 and more". ESPN.com. August 8, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ West, Jenna. "MAC Cancels Fall Sports Seasons, Including Football". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ a b "MAC votes to play college football this fall with a six-game season starting Nov. 4". CBSSports.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Myerberg, Paul. "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ Singelais, Mark (July 16, 2020). "Reports: CAA football won't play this fall". Times Union. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Northern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 10, 2020.