Thomas Hammock
Coastal Carolina running back Braydon Bennett (1) runs the ball against Northern Illinois during the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel via AP)
McCall, Coastal Carolina beat N. Illinois 47-41 in Cure Bowl

By Mark Didtler Dec. 17, 2021 10:21 PM EST

Northern Illinois quarterback Rocky Lombardi reacts towards the fans after scoring on a 1-yard run during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kent State, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
N. Illinois wins MAC championship 41-23 over Kent St.

By Bob Tripi Dec. 04, 2021 03:42 PM EST

FILE - Northern Illinois quarterback Rocky Lombardi (12) throws against Michigan in the first half of a NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept. 18, 2021. Lombardi was looking for a new place to football after deciding to transfer from Michigan State nearly a year ago. Northern Illinois was searching for a quarterback to spark a turnaround. Lombardi and the Huskies proved to be a great match in the Mid-American Conference. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Rocky Lombardi-led N. Illinois faces Kent St. for MAC title

By Larry Lage Dec. 03, 2021 02:00 AM EST

Northern Illinois quarterback Rocky Lombardi (12) throws against Michigan in the first half of a NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Northern Illinois at Michigan 9/18/2021

Sep. 18, 2021 01:33 PM EDT

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh signals a Michigan first down on the sideline during the fourth quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Washington in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
No. 25 Michigan aims to keep momentum against N. Illinois

By Larry Lage Sep. 16, 2021 12:20 PM EDT

Georgia Tech wide receiver Kyric McGowan (2) scores a touchdown as Northern Illinois safety Jordan Hansen (7) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Lombardi lifts Northern Illinois past Georgia Tech, 22-21

By Charles Odum Sep. 04, 2021 11:31 PM EDT

Northern Illinois quarterback Rocky Lombardi (12) throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Northern Illinois at Georgia Tech 9/4/2021

Sep. 04, 2021 09:53 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept 19, 2020, file photo, Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims (10) looks to pass against UCF during an NCAA college football game in Atlanta. Georgia Tech offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dave Patenaude sees a new-found confidence in Jeff Sims as Sims is set to open his second season as the Yellow Jackets' starter against Northern Illinois on Saturday night. Patenaude says he has been amazed by Sims' understanding of the offense and belief in his skills in preseason practice. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)
Georgia Tech's Sims more confident to face Huskies in opener

By Charles Odum Sep. 02, 2021 11:54 AM EDT

New Tennessee NCAA college football head coach Josh Heupel speaks during an introductory press conference at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. (Caitie McLekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Column: Black coaches left behind again during hiring season

By Paul Newberry Jan. 29, 2021 07:22 PM EST

FILE- In this Dec. 12, 2019, file photo, former Florida State coach Willie Taggart is introduced as Florida Atlantic University's new football head coach during a press conference in Boca Raton, Fla. Colleges around the country finished off their football signing classes this week, proudly touting scores of African-American athletes as their next big stars. A review of all 130 FBS schools found shockingly low numbers, with blacks still largely shut out of head coaching positions and even more so the prime coordinator spots. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Column: Shame on college football for lack of black coaches

Feb. 07, 2020 10:06 PM EST

Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (5) carries the ball against Northern Illinois in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vaughn, Neal lead Vanderbilt over Northern Illinois 24-18

By Jim Diamond Sep. 28, 2019 05:50 PM EDT

Northern Illinois wide receiver Tyrice Richie (3) carries the ball against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vaughn, Neal lead Vanderbilt over Northern Illinois 24-18

By Jim Diamond Sep. 28, 2019 05:43 PM EDT

Vanderbilt quarterback Riley Neal (6) passes against LSU in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt hosts Northern Illinois with no time to rest

By Teresa M. Walker Sep. 25, 2019 03:43 PM EDT

Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) breaks from a Northern Illinois tackler in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2019, Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Huntley leads No. 13 Utah past Northern Illinois 35-17

By Matthew Coles Sep. 07, 2019 04:18 PM EDT

Northern Illinois renews rivalry, beats Illinois State 24-10

Aug. 31, 2019 10:46 PM EDT
DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Ross Bowers threw a pair of touchdown passes to Tyrice Ritchie, including a 66-yard fourth-quarter bomb to put the Huskies on top for good, and...

FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2016, file photo, Ohio head coach Frank Solich runs out onto the field with his team before the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game against Western Michigan, in Detroit. Solich is expected to become the Mid-American Conference’s all-time winning coach this season. The former Nebraska coach has won 106 games with the Bobcats over 15 years since Nebraska fired him following a nine-win season. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Ohio's Frank Solich on pace to become MAC's winningest coach

By Larry Lage Aug. 15, 2019 06:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2017 file photo then-Florida head coach Jim McElwain, center, prepares to take the field with players before the first half of an NCAA college football game in Jacksonville, Fla. Central Michigan’s Jim McElwain is one of four coaches entering their first seasons in the Mid-American Conference. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Ex-Florida coach McElwain gets another shot at Cent Michigan

By Larry Lage Jul. 23, 2019 11:56 AM EDT