2020 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

2020 Northern Illinois Huskies football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	West Division
Record	0–6 (0–6 MAC)
Head coach	Thomas Hammock (2nd season)
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

2020 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
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
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Note: Due to COVID-19, the Mid-American suspended the season on August 8, but later decided to begin play on November 4.[1] Rankings from AP Poll.

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	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPN2	L 30–49	449
November 11	8:00 p.m.	Central Michigan	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPNU	L 10–40	419
November 18	6:00 p.m.	at Ball State	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN (Bronze Stalk Trophy)	ESPNews	L 25–31	0
November 28	11:00 a.m.	at Western Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN+	L 27–30	0
December 5	11:00 a.m.	at Toledo	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPN3	L 24–41	0
December 12	11:00 a.m.	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN3	L 33–41	300
All times are in Eastern time

^[7]

References

1. Wells, Adam (September 25, 2020). "MAC Approves 6-Game College Football Schedule Beginning November 4". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
2. "MAC cancels football: What it means for the Power 5 and more". ESPN.com. August 8, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
3. West, Jenna. "MAC Cancels Fall Sports Seasons, Including Football". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
4. "MAC votes to play college football this fall with a six-game season starting Nov. 4". CBSSports.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
5. 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.
6. Singelais, Mark (July 16, 2020). "Reports: CAA football won't play this fall". Times Union. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
7. "2020 Northern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 10, 2020.