The 2021 season's largest margin: Northern Illinois 41, Maine 14. A 27-point win — the year's high-water mark.
2021 — The Winning Chapter
Northern Illinois's 2021 season (9-4) is a middle chapter: table-stakes progress, no crown in the ledger, the program still writing the book.
The Shape — week-by-week · cumulative W–L below
Who carried it
- Rocky LombardiQB2,597 passing yards
- Jevyon DuckerRB1,184 rushing yards
- Harrison WayleeRB574 rushing yards
- Antario BrownRB538 rushing yards
- Trayvon RudolphWR892 receiving yards
- Cole TuckerWR575 receiving yards
- Tyrice RichieWR540 receiving yards
- CJ BrownDB107 tackles
- Lance DeveauxLB74 tackles
- Nick RattinLB70 tackles
- Devonte O'MalleyDT4 sacks
- Jaden DolphinLB2.5 sacks
- James EsterDT2 sacks
Season leaders, 2021.
The season's deepest loss: Northern Illinois 10, Michigan 63. A 53-point margin the season is remembered by.
The season's last act: Northern Illinois fell to Coastal Carolina 41-47 in the postseason.
"Forward, Together Forward"
2021 is a middle chapter for Northern Illinois — neither a crown year nor a crisis. It is the kind of season that fills the ledger between the named ones and gives the arc its shape.