2024 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

2024 Northern Illinois Huskies football
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champion
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, W 28–20 2OT vs. Fresno State
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record8–5 (4–4 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorWesley Beschorner (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorNick Benedetto (3rd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumHuskie Stadium
2024 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Miami (OH) y  7 1   9 5  
Ohio y$  7 1   11 3  
Buffalo  6 2   9 4  
Bowling Green  6 2   7 6  
Western Michigan  5 3   6 7  
Toledo  4 4   8 5  
Northern Illinois  4 4   8 5  
Akron  3 5   4 8  
Eastern Michigan  2 6   5 7  
Central Michigan  2 6   4 8  
Ball State  2 6   3 9  
Kent State  0 8   0 12  
Championship: Ohio 38, Miami (OH) 3
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant

The 2024 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Huskies were led by Thomas Hammock in his sixth year as the head coach. The Huskies played home games at Huskie Stadium, located in DeKalb, Illinois.

On September 7, the Huskies notched their first-ever win over a top-10 ranked team, beating No. 5 Notre Dame 16–14 in South Bend, Indiana. As a result, the Huskies were ranked No. 25 in the AP poll released on September 9, the first time an NIU team had been ranked since December of 2013. This upset would become even more shocking as the year went on, as this would prove to be Notre Dame's only loss until the Fighting Irish lost to Ohio State in the national championship game on January 20, 2025. NIU meanwhile was unable to significantly build on the win as they finished 8-5, 4-4 in MAC play.