You've been there. It’s a chilly Friday morning in late November, the kind where the air in DeKalb feels like it’s trying to bite through your jacket, and you're just hoping for one last win to take into the long winter. But if you were looking for a happy ending to the 2025 season, the northern illinois huskies football score against Kent State probably left you staring blankly at the turf.
NIU lost that finale 35-31.
It wasn't just a loss. It was a 3-9 season slamming the door shut. Honestly, following this team lately has been a rollercoaster that mostly goes down, but that doesn't mean there aren't things worth talking about. Let's look at what actually happened and where the points went.
The Finale: Northern Illinois Huskies Football Score Breakdown
The Huskies walked into Huskie Stadium on November 28, 2025, facing a Kent State team that wasn't exactly a powerhouse. On paper, this was supposed to be the "get right" game. Chavon Wright was a beast, putting up 185 yards on the ground. He was basically the entire offense for a while there.
But points are a funny thing. You can have all the yards in the world, but if you can’t stop a late-game surge, the score doesn't care.
Kent State put up 35. NIU stayed at 31.
Basically, the defense couldn't get off the field when it mattered. The Huskies had a lead, they felt like they were in control, and then the wheels just sort of wobbled off. Jalen Macon was under center for that one, but he only threw for 27 yards. Yeah, 27. When your passing game is that quiet, you’re asking your running backs to carry the weight of a whole city, and against Kent State, it just wasn't enough.
A Season of "What Ifs"
The 2025 schedule started with so much hope. Remember the Holy Cross game? A tight 19-17 win. It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win. Then the reality of the schedule hit.
- Maryland (9-20): A defensive slog where the offense just couldn't find the end zone.
- Mississippi State (10-38): A predictable SEC beatdown, though NIU kept it closer than the final score looks for about a quarter and a half.
- UMass (45-3): The absolute peak. Everything clicked. Macon was running, Wright was scoring, and the defense looked like the 2011 squad.
But for every UMass, there was a Toledo (3-42) or an Ohio (21-48). The northern illinois huskies football score fluctuated wildly because the team lacked a consistent identity at quarterback. We saw Josh Holst, Brady Davidson, and Jalen Macon all take snaps. It's hard to build rhythm when the guy taking the snap changes every few weeks due to performance or injury.
The Offensive Struggle by the Numbers
If you look at the season stats, the Huskies averaged about 17 points per game. In modern college football, that's basically playing with one hand tied behind your back. Their opponents averaged over 24. You don't need to be a math genius to see why they finished 3-9.
Chavon Wright finished the year with 875 rushing yards. Telly Johnson Jr. added 712. Between them, they were a formidable duo. But the passing game? It barely cleared 1,100 yards for the entire year. That is a tough way to live in the MAC.
What Most People Get Wrong About NIU Football
People see a 3-9 record and assume the program is in total freefall. Kinda, but not exactly. Thomas Hammock has been through these cycles before. The problem in 2025 wasn't necessarily a lack of talent—it was a lack of explosive plays.
The Huskies are built to grind. They want to run the ball 50 times and win 17-14. But when the other team scores 21 in the first half, that game plan goes out the window. You’ve probably noticed that when the northern illinois huskies football score got away from them early, they almost never recovered. They aren't built for track meets.
Where the Huskies Go From Here
Looking toward the 2026 season, the "actionable" part of being a fan is watching the transfer portal. The quarterback room needs a spark. Relying on a sub-55% completion rate isn't going to win the MAC West, or even get them to a bowl game.
If you’re tracking scores next season, keep an eye on these specific areas:
- Red Zone Efficiency: NIU settled for too many field goals in 2025.
- Third Down Defense: Opponents converted way too easily, keeping NIU's tired defense on the field.
- The QB Battle: Whether it’s a returning Macon or a portal addition, someone has to own the job.
The 2025 season is in the books. It was a tough watch, especially that final 35-31 heartbreaker. But in DeKalb, the expectations remain higher than three wins.
Check the local recruiting boards and portal entries this month. The roster for the next season is being built right now, and that's where the next winning score will actually come from.