| Year: | 2016 |
| Team: | Northern Illinois Huskies |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-American Conference |
| Division: | West Division |
| Short Conf: | MAC |
| Record: | 5–7 |
| Conf Record: | 5–3 |
| Head Coach: | Rod Carey |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Off Coach: | Mike Uremovich |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Kevin Kane |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Mvp: | Kenny Golladay |
| Captain: | Sean Folliard, Kenny Golladay, Jamaal Payton, Corey Thomas |
| Stadium: | Huskie Stadium |
The 2016 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Rod Carey, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 5–7 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing third in the MAC's West Division. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.
For the second straight year, the Huskies were picked to finish third in the division in 2016 in the poll released during the 2016 MAC Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit.[1]
See also: 2016 Wyoming Cowboys football team.
The Cowboys beat the Huskies in triple overtime, 40–34. NIU quarterback Drew Hare went 24-for-39 for 327 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Receiver Kenny Golladay gained 144 yards on 10 catches with one touchdown and got 82 yards and another touchdown rushing. However, the Huskies had 12 penalties for 108 yards. The game was scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time, but began almost two hours late due to lightning. The game ended at 2:35 a.m. MT, which was 3:35 a.m. for NIU fans back in Illinois.[4] [5]
See also: 2016 South Florida Bulls football team.
See also: 2016 San Diego State Aztecs football team.
See also: 2016 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team.
See also: 2016 Ball State Cardinals football team and Bronze Stalk Trophy.
See also: 2016 Western Michigan Broncos football team.
See also: 2016 Central Michigan Chippewas football team.
See also: 2016 Buffalo Bulls football team.
See also: 2016 Bowling Green Falcons football team.
See also: 2016 Toledo Rockets football team.
The Huskies lost to the Rockets 31–24. The loss eliminated Northern Illinois from bowl game eligibility, ending their conference-record streak of eight straight bowl games. NIU had beaten Toledo in their six previous matchups. This was the first football game ever played at Guaranteed Rate Field, the recently-renamed stadium of the Chicago White Sox.[6]
See also: 2016 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team.
See also: 2016 Kent State Golden Flashes football team.
| Team | Player | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Max Scharping | OL | SO |
| Kenny Golladay | WR | SR | |
| Aregeros Turner | Return Spec. | SR | |
| 2nd | Levon Myers | OL | SR |
| Joel Bouagnon | RB | SR | |
| Shawun Lurry | DB | JR | |