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2010 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

2010 Northern Illinois Huskies football
NIU Huskies football.png
MAC West Division champion
Humanitarian Bowl champion
MAC Championship, L 21–26 vs. Miami (OH)
Conference Mid-American Conference
Division West
2010 record 11–3 (8–0 MAC)
Head coach Jerry Kill (10–3)
Tom Matukewicz (1–0)
Home stadium Huskie Stadium (Capacity: 24,000)
Seasons
← 2009
2011 →
2010 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
East Division
Miami x$   7 1         10 4  
Ohio   6 2         8 5  
Temple   5 3         8 4  
Kent State   4 4         5 7  
Bowling Green   1 7         2 10  
Buffalo   1 7         2 10  
Akron   1 7         1 11  
West Division
Northern Illinois x   8 0         11 3  
Toledo   7 1         8 5  
Western Michigan   5 3         6 6  
Ball State   3 5         4 8  
Central Michigan   2 6         3 9  
Eastern Michigan   2 6         2 10  
Championship: Miami 26, Northern Illinois 21
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2010 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Huskies competed in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They were led by first year head coach Jerry Kill in his third season at NIU. The Huskies finished the season 11–3, 8–0 in MAC play to win the West Division Title, but lost to Miami (OH) in the MAC Championship Game. They were invited to the Humanitarian Bowl where they defeated Fresno State 40–17.

Following the MAC Championship game, head coach Jerry Kill resigned to accept the head coaching position at Minnesota. Kill did not coach in the bowl game. Tom Matukewicz coached the Huskies as interim head coach for the bowl game.

The season marked the Huskies third consecutive trip to a bowl game and their first bowl game win since 2004.

Sources:

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Despite being without the services of starting QB Chandler Harnish, the Huskies pulled within a touchdown midway through the 4th quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by backup signal caller DeMarcus Grady. But an Iowa State touchdown drive immediately thereafter put the game away for the Cyclones.

The Huskie defense was scorched on the ground, allowing 319 rushing yards to the Fighting Illini, and NIU star tailback Chad Spann was held to only 15 yards on 13 carries. QB Chandler Harnish had a strong performance, but lost a fumble in Illinois territory in the 4th quarter that proved to be costly.

The win was the third over a Big Ten school in the history of the program, and the second in as many years.

In a matchup of preseason MAC favorites, the Huskies took over in the second half thanks in large part to a dominant and balanced offensive performance that wore the Owls down on a warm day in DeKalb.


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