1983 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1983 Northern Illinois Huskies football Mid-American Conference MAC 10–2 8–1 Bill Mallory 4th Joe Novak 4th Tim Tyrrell Scott Bolzan Steve Hirsch Jim Mukite Huskie Stadium MAC championCalifornia Bowl champion California Bowl W 20–13 vs. Cal State Fullerton The 1983 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Bill Mallory in his fourth and final season as head coach, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 10–2 with a mark of 8–1 in conference play, winning he MAC title. Northern Illinois was invited to the California Bowl, where they beat played Cal State Fullerton. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois. The Huskies won their conference championship since 1965, since the 1965 team won the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) title during the final years of the conference's existence. The Huskies' trip to the California Bowl was also their first bowl game since 1965 and first bowl win since the 1963 team won the Mineral Water Bowl and was ranked atop the AP small college football rankings. Schedule Central September 3 w y y Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS 37–34 26,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-n-illinois-stun/166548953/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch N. Illinois stuns KU by 37–34 September 4, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com September 10 l y y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 9–37 56,941 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marion-star-badgers-trample-northern/166616011/ The Marion Star Badgers trample Northern Illinois September 11, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 w y Kent State Dix Stadium Kent, OH 38–7 8,321 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-wesk-kent-state-stumbles/166622195/ St. Petersburg Times Weak Kent State stumbles to 16th straight loss 38–7 September 25, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 1 w y Ball State Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN rivalry 27–14 15,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-northern-illinois/166622374/ The South Bend Tribune Northern Illinois runner shreds Ball State, 27–14 October 2, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 8 w Western Michigan Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL 27–3 26,250 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-home-is-sweet-for-northe/166622549/ Chicago Tribune Home is sweet for Northern October 9, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 15 w y Eastern Michigan Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI 34–15 8,010 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-chronicle-richardson-huskies/166622656/ The Daily Chronicle Richardson, Huskies clip E. Mich. October 16, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 w y Bowling Green Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL 24–23 18,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-northern-illinois-ra/166622805/ The Courier-Journal Northern Illinois rallies past Bowling Green 24–23 October 23, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 29 w y Miami (OH) Yager Stadium Oxford, OH 17–0 27,866 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-chronicle-defense-paves-way-fo/166622946/ The Daily Chronicle Defense paves way for red-hot NIU October 30, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 5 l y Central Michigan Perry Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI 14–30 19,274 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-northern-illinois-feel/166623202/ The Flint Journal Northern Illinois feels CMU's fury November 6, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 12 w Toledo Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL 26–10 27,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-huskies-cut-down/166623306/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Huskies cut down Toledo November 13, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 w Ohio Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL 41–17 21,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-niu-is-california-bound/166623573/ Chicago Tribune NIU is California-bound November 20, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com December 17 w y y Cal State Fullerton Bulldog Stadium Fresno, CA California Bowl 20–13 20,464 Northern Illinois gambles and beats Fullerton, 20–13 The Los Angeles Times John Weyler December 18, 1983 III-6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8880823/northern_illinois_gambles_and_beats/ Newspapers.com February 11, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/northern-illinois/1983-schedule.html 1983 Northern Illinois Huskies Schedule and Results References Northern Illinois Category:Northern Illinois Huskies football seasons Category:Mid-American Conference football champion seasons Northern Illinois Huskies football