Northern Illinois Football Team Profile

Northern Illinois Huskies (@NIU_Football)

Rob Harley (1st year) (0-0) #77
Record: 0 - 0 (0 - 0) | Proj: 0 - 12 (#94) | SOS: (#75)
Roster Schedule Scoreboard Drives Portals Croots Map

Preview
Overview
Schedule
Stats
Roster
Notes
Records
Recruiting
Bowls

Northern Illinois's 2026 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/5	Northern Illinois at Iowa	+35
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/19	Northern Illinois at Arizona	+28.5

Record Prediction: 0 - 12 #94
Schedule Rating: #75
Future 2027 Schedule

Northern Illinois's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/30	Northern Illinois vs Holy Cross	-13.5	48.5	W 19 - 17	U	N
Fri 9/5	Northern Illinois at Maryland	+17.0	44.5	L 9 - 20	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/20	Northern Illinois at Mississippi State	+23.5	48.5	L 10 - 38	U	N
Sat 9/27	Northern Illinois vs San Diego State	+1.5	41.5	L 3 - 6	U	N
Sat 10/4	Northern Illinois vs Miami (OH)	+4.5	38.5	L 14 - 25	O	N
Sat 10/11	Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan	-1.5	48.5	L 10 - 16	U	N
Sat 10/18	Northern Illinois at Ohio	+10.5	41.5	L 21 - 48	O	N
Sat 10/25	Northern Illinois vs Ball State	-6.5	41.5	W 21 - 7	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/5	Northern Illinois at Toledo	+14.5	42.5	L 3 - 42	O	N
Wed 11/12	Northern Illinois at Massachusetts	-8.5	43.5	W 45 - 3	O	Y
Tue 11/18	Northern Illinois vs Western Michigan	+7.0	39.5	L 19 - 35	O	N
Fri 11/28	Northern Illinois vs Kent State	-5.0	45.0	L 31 - 35	O	N

2025 Schedule Rating: #111
2025 Record: 3 - 9 (MWC: 2 - 6)
Spread Record 3 - 9 - 0 | O/U 6 - 6

Opponents: Elite, Good, Avg, Bad, Poor

Reg Season Opponents: 0 Elite, 1 Good, 3 Avg, 2 Bad, 5 Poor

Show Past Schedules

Northern Illinois's 2024 Schedule
Sat 8/31	Northern Illinois vs Western Illinois	-36.5	55.5	W 54 - 15	O	Y
Sat 9/7	Northern Illinois at Notre Dame	+28.5	46.5	W 16 - 14	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/21	Northern Illinois vs Buffalo	-13.0	42.5	L 20 - 23	O	N
Sat 9/28	Northern Illinois at NC State	+7.0	46.0	L 17 - 24	U	Y
Sat 10/5	Northern Illinois vs Massachusetts	-14.0	41.0	W 34 - 20	O	N
Sat 10/12	Northern Illinois at Bowling Green	+3.0	46.5	W 17 - 7	U	Y
Sat 10/19	Northern Illinois vs Toledo	-3.0	42.5	L 6 - 13	U	N
Sat 10/26	Northern Illinois at Ball State	-13.5	47.5	L 23 - 25	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/6	Northern Illinois at Western Michigan	-2.5	51.5	W 42 - 28	O	Y
Wed 11/13	Northern Illinois vs Akron	-14.0	43.5	W 29 - 16	O	N
Tue 11/19	Northern Illinois at Miami (OH)	+1.5	43.0	L 9 - 20	U	N
Sat 11/30	Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan	-16.5	41.5	W 24 - 16	U	N
Mon 12/23	Northern Illinois vs Fresno State	-2.0	41.0	W 28 - 20	O	Y

Northern Illinois's 2023 Schedule
Sat 9/2	Northern Illinois at Boston College	+8.0	50.0	W 27 - 24	O	Y
Sat 9/9	Northern Illinois vs Southern Illinois	-6.5	58.5	L 11 - 14	U	N
Sat 9/16	Northern Illinois at Nebraska	+11.5	42.5	L 11 - 35	O	N
Sat 9/23	Northern Illinois vs Tulsa	-3.5	54.5	L 14 - 22	U	N
Sat 9/30	Northern Illinois at Toledo	+13.0	48.0	L 33 - 35	O	Y
Sat 10/7	Northern Illinois at Akron	-4.0	42.5	W 55 - 14	O	Y
Sat 10/14	Northern Illinois vs Ohio	+5.5	45.0	W 23 - 13	U	Y
Sat 10/21	Northern Illinois vs Eastern Michigan	-11.5	43.5	W 20 - 13	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Tue 10/31	Northern Illinois at Central Michigan	-3.0	48.0	L 31 - 37	O	N
Tue 11/7	Northern Illinois vs Ball State	-9.5	43.5	L 17 - 20	U	N
Tue 11/14	Northern Illinois vs Western Michigan	-4.5	55.5	W 24 - 0	U	Y
Sat 11/25	Northern Illinois at Kent State	-20.5	44.5	W 37 - 27	O	N
Sat 12/23	Northern Illinois vs Arkansas State	+2.5	54.0	W 21 - 19	U	Y

Northern Illinois's 2022 Schedule
Thu 9/1	Northern Illinois vs Eastern Illinois	-35.0	55.5	W 34 - 27	O	N
Sat 9/10	Northern Illinois at Tulsa	+6.5	63.0	L 35 - 38	O	Y
Sat 9/17	Northern Illinois vs Vanderbilt	-2.5	58.5	L 28 - 38	O	N
Sat 9/24	Northern Illinois at Kentucky	+27.0	52.5	L 23 - 31	O	Y
Sat 10/1	Northern Illinois at Ball State	-3.5	58.5	L 38 - 44	O	N
Sat 10/8	Northern Illinois vs Toledo	+6.5	59.0	L 32 - 52	O	N
Sat 10/15	Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan	+3.5	64.5	W 39 - 10	U	Y
Sat 10/22	Northern Illinois at Ohio	-2.5	65.5	L 17 - 24	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/2	Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan	-4.5	54.0	L 22 - 35	O	N
Wed 11/9	Northern Illinois at Western Michigan	-1.0	49.0	W 24 - 21	U	Y
Wed 11/16	Northern Illinois vs Miami (OH)	-1.0	44.0	L 23 - 29	O	N
Sat 11/26	Northern Illinois vs Akron	-9.5	51.5	L 12 - 44	O	N

Northern Illinois's 2021 Schedule
Sat 9/4	Northern Illinois at Georgia Tech	+19.0	57.0	W 22 - 21	U	Y
Sat 9/11	Northern Illinois vs Wyoming	+7.0	44.0	L 43 - 50	O	Y
Sat 9/18	Northern Illinois at Michigan	+27.5	54.5	L 10 - 63	O	N
Sat 9/25	Northern Illinois vs Maine	-21.5	62.0	W 41 - 14	U	Y
Sat 10/2	Northern Illinois vs Eastern Michigan	+0.0	62.5	W 27 - 20	U	Y
Sat 10/9	Northern Illinois at Toledo	+13.0	51.5	W 22 - 20	U	Y
Sat 10/16	Northern Illinois vs Bowling Green	-9.0	44.5	W 34 - 26	O	N
Sat 10/23	Northern Illinois at Central Michigan	+6.0	56.0	W 39 - 38	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/3	Northern Illinois at Kent State	+3.5	72.0	L 47 - 52	O	N
Wed 11/10	Northern Illinois vs Ball State	+3.0	59.5	W 30 - 29	U	Y
Wed 11/17	Northern Illinois at Buffalo	-2.0	59.5	W 33 - 27	O	Y
Tue 11/23	Northern Illinois vs Western Michigan	+6.5	60.0	L 21 - 42	O	N
Sat 12/4	Northern Illinois vs Kent State	+3.5	75.5	W 41 - 23	U	Y
Fri 12/17	Northern Illinois vs Coastal Carolina	+11.0	63.0	L 41 - 47	O	Y

2026 class: 182 points   #84
2025 class: 167 points   #73
2024 class: 150 points   #106
2023 class: 131 points   #114
2022 class: 142 points   #77

Average Class Ranking:   #91
Average Recruiting Points: 154

Four Year Crootin Profile
Consistent Average G5
4 Year Class: #90 - Best: #73 Worst: #114

CFB Crootin Averages
Mountain West Class: 168  #104
Group of 5 Class: 169  #101
FBS Class: 198  #70

2021 class: 147 points   #101
2020 class: 155 points   #94
2019 class: 135 points   #101
2018 class: 142 points   #91
2017 class: 123 points   #111

Average Class Ranking:   #100
Average Recruiting Points: 140

Transfer Portal Classes
2026 Portal Class #128 - 17 players, 84 Avg
2025 Portal Class #128 - 13 players, 83 Avg
2024 Portal Class #122 - 7 players, 84 Avg
2023 Portal Class #110 - 4 players, 0 Avg

Transfer Portal Classes

Transfer Portal Classes
2022 Portal Class #156 - 4 players, 80 Avg
2021 Portal Class NR - players, 0 Avg
2020 Portal Class NR - players, 0 Avg
2019 Portal Class NR - players, 0 Avg

Offensive Coordinator Quinn Sanders (in his first season) #67

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Josh Holst	78	130	60%	689	4	3	5.3
Brady Davidson	40	87	46%	384	3	3	4.4

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Chavon Wright	196	875	5	4.5	45
Telly Johnson Jr.	124	690	4	5.6	80
Jalen Macon	45	216	5	4.8	36
Lazaro Rogers	33	189	1	5.7	76

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Rickey Taylor Jr.	9	134	1	14.9	41
Telly Johnson Jr.	16	97	0	6.1	17
Elijah Porter	1	67	1	67.0	67
George Dimopoulos	11	58	0	5.3	19

(Tr) - new transfer in 2026

Defensive Coordinator Rob Harley (in his first season) #130

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Mark Hensley	31	5	1	1	0
Donte Harrison	30	2	0	0	5
Jay'Shon Thomas	19	3	2	5	0
James Finley	15	0	0	0	2

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS
Jay'Shon Thomas	19	3	2	5
Mark Hensley	31	5	1	1
Landon Tate	3	0	0	0
Malik Armstrong	1	0	0	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PD
Donte Harrison	30	2	5
Dev'ion Reynolds	13	0	3
James Finley	15	0	2

Returning Production
Overall Returning Production: 49% #125
Offense Returning Production: 69% #62
Defense Returning Production: 29% #135
Northern Illinois's Official Roster

Transfer Portal
2026 Portal Class #128
17 Commits, 83.7 Avg Rating
7% of 2026 Roster from Portal, 3% TY

Team Talent
2026 Talent Rating: 564.00 #104
Offense Talent #99 | Defense Talent #103
2025 #113 | 2024 #91 | 2023 #120 | 2022 #110

2026 - 2023 Records
2026 Record: 0 - 0
2026 Conf Record: 0 - 0
Spread: 0 - 0 - 0 | Totals: 0 - 0

2025 Record: 3 - 9
2025 Conf Record: 2 - 6
Spread: 3 - 9 - 0 | Totals: 6 - 6

2024 Record: 8 - 5
2024 Conf Record: 4 - 4
Spread: 5 - 6 - 2 | Totals: 7 - 6

2023 Record: 7 - 6
2023 Conf Record: 5 - 3
Spread: 6 - 7 - 0 | Totals: 6 - 7

Four Year Record: 18 - 20
Four Year Record vs. Spread: 14 - 22 - 2
Four Year Conference Record: 11 - 13

2022 - 2019 Records
2022 Record: 3 - 9
2022 Conf Record: 2 - 6
Spread: 4 - 8 - 0 | Totals: 9 - 3

2021 Record: 9 - 5
2021 Conf Record: 7 - 2
Spread: 9 - 4 - 1 | Totals: 8 - 6

2020 Record: 0 - 6
2020 Conf Record: 0 - 6
Spread: 2 - 4 - 0 | Totals: 3 - 3

2019 Record: 5 - 7
2019 Conf Record: 4 - 4
Spread: 7 - 5 - 0 | Totals: 7 - 5

Eight Year Record: 35 - 47
Eight Year Record vs. Spread: 36 - 43 - 3
Eight Year Conference Record: 29 - 31

Northern Illinois Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2024	Potato Bowl	Northern Illinois vs Fresno State	-2.0	41.0	W 28 - 20
2023	Camellia Bowl	Northern Illinois vs Arkansas State	+2.5	54.0	W 21 - 19
2021	Cure Bowl	Northern Illinois vs Coastal Carolina	+11.0	63.0	L 41 - 47
2018	Raton Bowl	Northern Illinois vs UAB	+1.0	41.5	L 13 - 37
2017	Lane Bowl	Northern Illinois vs Duke	+4.5	48.0	L 14 - 36

Power Ranking Stats (2025)

Teams	Offense PPA	Offense Expl	Offense Success	Offense Pts Per Opp	Avg Start FP	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Defense PPA	Defense Expl	Defense Success	Defense Pts Per Opp	Opponent FP
2025	.04 (126)	1.26 (57)	34% (132)	3.04 (121)	27.3 (118)	32%	59%	.19 (86)	1.2 (40)	44% (100)	3.45 (49)	31.4 (122)

Teams	Offense PPA	Offense Expl	Offense Success	Offense Pts Per Opp	Avg Start FP	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Defense PPA	Defense Expl	Defense Success	Defense Pts Per Opp	Opponent FP
2024	.16 (86)	1.23 (96)	42% (79)	3.39 (113)	30.4 (37)	42%	45%	.06 (11)	1.2 (37)	38% (19)	3.08 (12)	30.4 (108)

More Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs
2025	12	29:13	15	32%	59%	4.3	38	0.9	1.1	3.3	1.2	1

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs
2024	13	33:20	21.5	42%	45%	4.2	42.8	1.2	1.1	5.4	2.5	1

Overall Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	PPG	Home	Road	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
2025 Offense	12	17.1	17.8	16.3	34.5% (132)	3.04 (121)	0.9	15	284	186	99	4.5	65% (6)	34% (131)	38% (116)	28% (136)	13% (29)	.04 (126)
2025 Defense	12	24.3	20.8	27.8	44.1% (100)	3.45 (49)	1.1	-	-	-	-	-	58% (132)	40% (5)	46% (111)	41% (65)	11% (132)	.19 (86)

Teams	Games	PPG	Home	Road	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
2024 Offense	13	24.5	27.8	20.7	42.1% (79)	3.39 (113)	1.2	21	383	204	179	4.8	59% (11)	41% (124)	44% (72)	40% (86)	15% (44)	.16 (86)
2024 Defense	13	18.5	17.2	19.7	37.7% (19)	3.08 (12)	1.1	-	-	-	-	-	49% (44)	51% (93)	41% (52)	35% (9)	17% (48)	.06 (11)

Run Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
2025 Offense	12	65% (6)	38% (116)	41.4	185.6	4.5	16 (122)	.11 (73)	2.84 (84)	69% (85)	10% (87)	1.11 (15)
2025 Defense	12	58% (132)	46% (111)	-	-	-	-	.17 (107)	3.18 (117)	72% (78)	7% (134)	0.95 (62)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
2024 Offense	13	59% (11)	44% (72)	42.8	204.2	4.8	22 (55)	.14 (66)	3.25 (33)	72% (83)	9% (60)	1 (54)
2024 Defense	13	49% (44)	41% (52)	-	-	-	-	.08 (45)	3.06 (79)	74% (73)	11% (53)	0.9 (33)

Pass Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
2025 Offense	12	34% (131)	28% (136)	10.8	20.3	98.8	4.9	9.2	8 (128)	6 (60)	(134)	1.6 (32)	34% (116)	23% (132)	.13 (127)	3% (4)	2.1 (46)
2025 Defense	12	40% (5)	41% (65)	-	-	-	-	-	-	9 (55)	.19 (45)	1.5 (55)	28% (120)	36% (130)	.5 (134)	5% (114)	2.1 (108)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
2024 Offense	13	41% (124)	40% (86)	16.5	28.5	179.1	6.3	10.8	16 (87)	8 (40)	.23 (84)	1.6 (58)	31% (68)	30% (89)	.17 (117)	5% (39)	1.9 (116)
2024 Defense	13	51% (93)	35% (9)	-	-	-	-	-	-	9 (76)	.04 (4)	1.5 (55)	36% (15)	25% (10)	.18 (16)	7% (37)	2 (67)

Team Notes
(3/3) QB Holst is back, but there's nothing good here ❌
(3/3) RBs Wright & Johnson productive duo, have depth ❌
(3/3) WR unit may be worst in CFB on paper. ❌
(3/3) OL has 1.5 starters back, have bodies, very young ❌
(3/3) F7 lacks experience, size, production ❌
(3/3) DBs have exp and some depth. ❌

Injury Notes

Staff/Schedule Notes
(3/3) Vibes: HC left, only 2 portals? Moved to MWC? ❌
(3/3) Program is flailing and lost. Rather depressing ❌
(2/18) DC Rob Harley Int HC, Hammock left for NFL. ❌

Overall

Team Info

Power #128SP+ #128

Record Prediction: Schedule Not Releaased Yet

Coaching staff Rank #113

2025 Record

3 - 9
MWC 2 - 6

Vs Spread3 - 9 - 0Totals6 - 6

One Score Games '25: (1-3)(0-0 under R.H.)

5 Year Profile

Declining Below Avg G5

'26 Profile

Up to Poor G5

Performance #116

Special Teams #88

Returning Production

From 2025

42% #134

25 QB Josh Holst returns (New OC)

Offense 69% #62

Defense 29% #135

Returning Starters: 9 (Off: 7) - (Def: 2)

Proj Portal Starters: 0 (Off: 0) - (Def: 0)

Exp'd Depth: 7 (Off: 4) - (Def: 3)

OL Prod: 47% #851 starters, 1 exp'd depth

OL Snaps: 1,385 #129From Portal: 0 #123

Rush Prod: 97% #25

Rec Prod: 37% #111

Front Seven: 22% #135

Secondary: 39% #119

Roster

Talent Info

Talent #104

Blue Chips (0%) #103

Offense Talent #99

Defense Talent #103

Portal Class #12817 players (84 Avg)

Crootin '26 Class #844 YR Class Rating #90

Talent Profile

Consistent Average G5

7% of Roster from Portal, 3% TY

30% of '26 Roster are New (Fr + Portals)

(OC) Quinn Sanders 1

#67

(DC) Rob Harley 1

#130

2026 Schedule

Information

SOS #75

Northern Illinois plays 0 opps off a bye

OppsElite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

2025 Record: 3 - 9 (3 - 9 - 0) (MWC: 2 - 6)

2024 Record: 8 - 5 (5 - 6 - 2) (MWC: 4 - 4)

Win History

Past 5 years 5.6

4 Yr Record (18 - 20)

8 Yr Record (35 - 47)

Notes

Live Team Notes

Vibes: HC left, only 2 portals? Moved to MWC?

QB Holst is back, but there's nothing good here

RBs Wright & Johnson productive duo, have depth

WR unit may be worst in CFB on paper.

OL has 1.5 starters back, have bodies, very young

F7 lacks experience, size, production

DBs have exp and some depth.

Program is flailing and lost. Rather depressing

DC Rob Harley Int HC, Hammock left for NFL.

Roster Experience

Snaps & Starter Info

Snaps Returning

7,095 (42%) #133

54%of Snaps by Upperclass

Offense: 4,040 #124

Defense: 3,055 #134

Players with Starting Exp (17) 11 on Off, 6 on Def

Upperclass

Starters 6 of 22 (27.3%)2-Deep 9 of 44 (20.5%)

Senior/Gr starters: 1 (4.5%) (Off: 1, Def: 0)

Upperclass Two-Deep: 9 of 44 (20.5%)

Upperclass on Roster: 30.9%(34 of 110)

Portals

Top '26 Incoming Portals

Avery Jones (S)3★ (.84)

Mathias Davis (EDGE)3★ (.80)

Mathias Smith-Davis (EDGE)0★ (.00)

Top Players

Top Performers on Roster

Landon Hron (C)(C+ Block Grade)

Chavon Wright (RB)(875 Yds, 5 TD)

Donte Harrison (CB)(1 Int, 5 Pd)

Mark Hensley (DT)(31 Tac, 5 TFL)

Avery Jones (S)(0 Int, 0 Pd)

Ross Liegel (T)(B- Block Grade)

Jay'shon Thomas (DE)(19 Tac, 3 TFL)

Telly Johnson Jr. (RB)(690 Yds, 4 TD)

Recruits

Top '26 Incoming Recruits

Deacon King (S)3★ (.86)

Bryshawn Brown (QB)3★ (.86)

Ross Ogden (LB)3★ (.86)

Jack Murray (LB)3★ (.86)

Troy Garner (S)3★ (.86)

Champ Smith (S)3★ (.85)

Jaiduan Cranford (RB)3★ (.85)

Brendan Grabot (IOL)3★ (.85)

Overall

Four Year Ratings Profile

Offense

Four Year Ratings Profile

Defense

Four Year Ratings Profile