Here is the official gamethread for week 6 matchup with our NIU Huskies vs Air Force Academy in Huskie Stadium.

NIU vs AF at 6:30pm CT/7:30pm ET on CBS Sports Network

Go Huskies!!

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Quote:Saturday, October 10, 2026 is the 119th NIU Homecoming.

Starting this season, fans can help welcome the Huskie Football Team to Huskie Stadium by participating in The Dog Walk. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., the football team will make its way down the east-side stadium pathway between the East Lawn and East Stadium Stands, passing through a tunnel created by The Pride of the Midwest, NIU Marching Band, before entering the stadium to prepare for kickoff against Air Force. All fans are encouraged to line the route, cheer on the Huskies, and show their Huskie Pride as the team makes its game-day entrance. The Dog Walk will take place at every home game this season, two hours prior to kickoff.

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NIU's home slate in 2026 features all five games on Saturdays, beginning with the home opener on Sept. 12 against Illinois State, which will be NIU's annual Salute to Service Day and Family Day. The Mountain West opener for the Huskies will take place on Oct. 10, as Air Force comes to DeKalb when NIU celebrates its 119th Homecoming. Hawai'i visits NIU on Oct. 24 for Hall of Fame Weekend and Ag Day before the Huskies host Nevada for Scout Day on Nov. 14 and UTEP on Senior Day on Nov. 28.

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Single game football tickets are on sale, with east side general admission seats starting at just $35. West side general admission seats are $40 while west side reserved seating will begin at $42. All single-game football ticket prices will increase by $5 on game day.

Season tickets for the inaugural season of Huskie football in the Mountain West start at just $102. Tickets are available online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).

Single game parking for NIU football is on sale with presale parking in Convocation Center parking lots, as well as accessible parking in lot L, available for $30. Parking will increase to $35 on game day for both Convocation Center parking lots and accessible parking in lot L. 

Huskie fans can receive season-long parking by giving to the Huskie Athletic Fund starting at the $100 level, which provides parking access in the Convocation Center lots. For information regarding full season parking access in other locations, please contact the HAF at 815-753-1923 or [email protected].

Donor Lots (in color on map below): Open five (5) hours prior to kickoff on Saturdays.

RV parking is only allowed in designated areas of the West Lawn, East Lawn and Lot PS. No re-entry once you have entered the lot.

General Public Parking: Open five (5) hours prior to kickoff on Saturdays. Single-game parking is available in all lots. You can prepay for discounted single-game parking in all lots or pay upon arrival. Game day parking is cashless. No re-entry once you have entered the lot. Discounted membership rates are available for season parking.

Accessible Parking: Available in Lot L on the East side of Huskie Stadium. $100 for a season parking pass or $35 day of for single-game parking.
RV, Bus and Motor Home Parking: Contact the Huskie Athletic Fund for details.

Game Day Shuttles:

General Shuttle: Route begins 3 hours prior to kickoff on Saturdays and 90 mintutes prior to kick off for November weekday night games. Shuttle stops are located at Entrances 2 and 5 at the Convocation Center and the Southwest corner of Huskie Stadium on Stadium Drive South. Shuttles run approximately every 10-15 minutes.

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https://niuhuskies.com/news/2026/9/11/fo...adium.aspx

Quote:Updated Signage at Huskie Stadium
Signage and entry gates to Huskie Stadium have received a facelift prior to the 2026 season, thanks to a privately-funded initiative. Entry gate and ticket window signage have been reimagined and improved to help fans entering the stadium.

In addition, a number of elements have been added to celebrate the tradition of Huskie football, including a medallion celebrating NIU's conference champions as well as permanent graphics honoring NIU's College Football Hall of Famers, George Bork and Jordan Lynch as well as in-stadium placement of retired numbers.

Shop Victor E Threads on Saturday
The best place to shop for all your Huskie gear is Victor E Threads, the Official Apparel Store of NIU Athletics. With locations on both the east and west sides of Huskie Stadium, Victor E Threads is the best place to purchase Huskie apparel, whether you are looking for classic favorites or this season's newest styles. The expanded, privately funded west side location offers a more expansive selection of product for Huskie fans this season. 

George Bork and Jordan Lynch jerseys will be available buy one, get one for 50 percent off, so show your Huskie Pride and honor a pair of NIU legends by picking up jerseys this Saturday.

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Huskie fans can also sign up for MW+ to catch live games, replays, extra content and more. Subscriptions to MW+ by Huskie fans will also directly support NIU Athletics.

https://watch.themw.com/northern-illinois

has anybody been inside the yard? Specifically the tent for athletic fund people?

I think you have to bench the freshman kicker and let the Butler kicker get his first start. The freshman is really bad and if this team is going to have so many drives stall out between 20-30 yd line then they need someone who can make FGs.

(10-02-2026 07:55 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I think you have to bench the freshman kicker and let the Butler kicker get his first start. The freshman is really bad and if this team is going to have so many drives stall out between 20-30 yd line then they need someone who can make FGs.

Harley seems to have a real hard time making changes.

What are guesses on attendance? Is showing as good as ISU? I think the bye week will help bring some renewed excitement... The hard part for me is how good this team has looked for single quarters then has quickly fallen apart... I don't understand. Maybe young guys getting tired? I can't figure it out.

(10-02-2026 08:51 AM)NIU_Fan_2 Wrote:  What are guesses on attendance? Is showing as good as ISU?

We are 0-4 and 17-22 at home since 2019. We lose too many home games to expect good attendance.

If we lied about our attendance it would be 24,000 sellout, but because we are honest about our attendance I predict between 12k-14k.

NIU is the only school not to play a MW conference game yet.

Please for the love, win on Homecoming this Saturday!!

Have we talked about how bad the defense is - and Harley calling plays from the sideline for them?

He needs to let that go. Again, he has to be open to change - nothing is working out how he thinks it would.

(10-04-2026 09:47 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  Have we talked about how bad the defense is - and Harley calling plays from the sideline for them?

He needs to let that go. Again, he has to be open to change - nothing is working out how he thinks it would.

They should let the special teams coach call the defense. It is obvious he's got plenty of capacity to do the job since there is clearly no coaching happening on that phase.

I think with the Air Force offense our defense can step up. They’re not out there slinging it by any means from the two games I’ve watched them on. If offense can do what they did against Arizona and having two weeks to prep some scripted drives we will win.

I’m with chilla on Lindo though. He should not see the field.

(10-04-2026 11:44 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I think with the Air Force offense our defense can step up. They’re not out there slinging it by any means from the two games I’ve watched them on. If offense can do what they did against Arizona and having two weeks to prep some scripted drives we will win.

I’m with chilla on Lindo though. He should not see the field.

Not to jump on a kid but you won’t stop a triple option with Armstrong as a safety. He’s not a willing tackler - he seems Ok being blocked. A real coach would see that and make a change.

(10-04-2026 11:44 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  I think with the Air Force offense our defense can step up. They’re not out there slinging it by any means from the two games I’ve watched them on. If offense can do what they did against Arizona and having two weeks to prep some scripted drives we will win.

I’m with chilla on Lindo though. He should not see the field.

If he can play run D , he might be ok against AF. Against teams that have a passing , he has to sit after 1st down.

(10-02-2026 08:51 AM)NIU_Fan_2 Wrote:  What are guesses on attendance? Is showing as good as ISU? I think the bye week will help bring some renewed excitement... The hard part for me is how good this team has looked for single quarters then has quickly fallen apart... I don't understand. Maybe young guys getting tired? I can't figure it out.

I’m guessing it will be well-attended. It’s a night game, nice weather, homecoming, our first Mountain West game, an opponent people recognize. That all helps despite our record. Probably ideal conditions for high attendance other than the team sucking.

(10-04-2026 03:29 PM)Rawdog10 Wrote:  

(10-02-2026 08:51 AM)NIU_Fan_2 Wrote:  What are guesses on attendance? Is showing as good as ISU? I think the bye week will help bring some renewed excitement... The hard part for me is how good this team has looked for single quarters then has quickly fallen apart... I don't understand. Maybe young guys getting tired? I can't figure it out.

I’m guessing it will be well-attended. It’s a night game, nice weather, homecoming, our first Mountain West game, an opponent people recognize. That all helps despite our record. Probably ideal conditions for high attendance other than the team sucking.

A victory with 16k+ in the stands would go a long way right now...

AF has lost their starting QB for the rest of the season due to a leg injury.

Szarka was a pretty good player…….very big loss.

https://x.com/chrisvannini/status/210719...qsyn5erw5A

(10-05-2026 02:57 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  AF has lost their starting QB for the rest of the season due to a leg injury.

Szarka was a pretty good player…….very big loss.

https://x.com/chrisvannini/status/210719...qsyn5erw5A

I have too much trauma of watching some random MAC backup QB throw for 300 yards against us to believe this makes a difference. AF has its system and it won't change no matter the QB. Szarka only had 38 pass attempts in 4 games (or an average of less than 10 passes per game).

(10-05-2026 03:09 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(10-05-2026 02:57 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  AF has lost their starting QB for the rest of the season due to a leg injury.

Szarka was a pretty good player…….very big loss.

https://x.com/chrisvannini/status/210719...qsyn5erw5A

I have too much trauma of watching some random MAC backup QB throw for 300 yards against us to believe this makes a difference. AF has its system and it won't change no matter the QB. Szarka only had 38 pass attempts in 4 games (or an average of less than 10 passes per game).

He was also averaging right at 100 rushing yards a game in their triple option. He is leading the MW in rushing yardage. Passing yardage is pretty much immaterial in that offense. If you have watched him play, very good player.

I expect Bryant to have a big game, with Rogers being Rogers. Would love to see the FR RB used in passing game. Hopefully Fowler redeems himself this week and makes some plays which I believe he can.

We opened as a home dog +13.5 , it is now +7.5. Money line is +260 and over /under 46.5. I like the money line and hedge with + the points.

(10-05-2026 03:16 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(10-05-2026 03:09 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(10-05-2026 02:57 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  AF has lost their starting QB for the rest of the season due to a leg injury.

Szarka was a pretty good player…….very big loss.

https://x.com/chrisvannini/status/210719...qsyn5erw5A

I have too much trauma of watching some random MAC backup QB throw for 300 yards against us to believe this makes a difference. AF has its system and it won't change no matter the QB. Szarka only had 38 pass attempts in 4 games (or an average of less than 10 passes per game).

He was also averaging right at 100 rushing yards a game in their triple option. He is leading the MW in rushing yardage. Passing yardage is pretty much immaterial in that offense. If you have watched him play, very good player.

I'm sure that's good for AF and he is a good player. But I'm a Navy fan and I remember their better QBs often rushing for over 1,500 per season. AF has also played an extremely weak schedule thus far too. With that said, I'm sure they still beat us because we can't score, we don't have a kicker, and our special teams is horrendous and gives up at least one kick or punt return every game.