DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team returns to Huskie Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 18, playing host to Western Michigan.
NIU is coming off its strongest performance of the season, defeating UMass on the road, 45-3, thanks in part to a season-high 318 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns from the offense. Redshirt junior quarterback Jalen Macon rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another against the Minutemen. Macon is the first NIU quarterback to rush for three touchdowns since Rocky Lombardi vs. Kent State in the 2021 MAC Championship.
Redshirt senior running back Chavon Wright finished with 86 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown on 12 carries. Redshirt freshman running back Elijah Porter hauled in a short pass over the middle and took it 67 yards to the end zone for the Huskies’ longest passing play of the season.
NIU held UMass to 65 rushing yards and held the Minutemen scoreless until 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter. Redshirt junior cornerback Jacob Finley finished the game with a career-high 14 tackles while redshirt sophomore linebacker Filip Maciorowski posted 11 stops with 1.5 tackles for loss.
The Huskies’ defense has now held two opponents without a touchdown this season.
Western Michigan (6-4, 5-1 MAC) sits atop of the Mid-American Conference standings, ahead of five other teams that are 4-2 in MAC play. The Broncos have won six of their last seven games, with the lone loss coming to Miami on Oct. 25. Western Michigan defeated Ohio, 17-13, last Tuesday.
Quarterback Broc Lowry is the team’s leading rusher with 683 yards and nine touchdowns on 143 carries while adding 1,440 passing yards and seven touchdowns against one interception this season. Over the last five games, the redshirt sophomore is averaging 91.2 rushing yards on 17.6 carries and is responsible for nine touchdowns. Wide Receiver Tailique Williams is the team’s leading receiver with 474 yards on 33 catches.
The Broncos have been stout on defense, ranking top 25 in the FBS in scoring defense (17th, 18.4), total defense (12th, 291.4) and third down defense (23rd, 0.336). Defensive Lineman Nadame Tucker is one of the most productive defensive players in the FBS this season, ranking tied for first in tackles for loss with 16 and tied for third in sacks with 10.5.
NIU has won the last three matchups against Western Michigan and are 7-1 at home against the Broncos since 2009.
NIU’s regular season finale will be at home against Kent State on Friday, Nov. 28 at 11 a.m..
November 17, 2025
