Northern Illinois University will play host to Mid-American Conference opponents Central Michigan, Toledo, Akron and Buffalo in 2024 and will take on Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Miami and Ball State on the road as the MAC office released the home and road opponents for every league team for the next three seasons Thursday.

“The MAC is a competitive conference year in and year out, and you have to play your best football to win in this league,” said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. “It’s good to have this piece of the puzzle in terms of who we’re playing and where. Now, we’re looking forward to seeing how the full schedule lays out when that comes out next month.”

Exact dates for the Huskies’ 2024 conference schedule will be released at the end of February. NIU’s non-conference schedule for 2024 begins August 31 when the Huskies take on Western Illinois in Huskie Stadium. NIU will play Notre Dame in South Bend for the first time in school history on September 7 and will travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face N. C. State on September 28. NIU will also play Massachusetts on October 4 in non-conference play.

In November, the MAC announced that the league would be eliminating divisions and moving to a new scheduling model beginning in 2024. In the new model, NIU will face protected opponents Toledo and Bowling Green annually and will face all 11 conference opponents home and away at least once during a three-year cycle.

“In the MAC, you never know which teams are going to be at the top,” Hammock said. “Overall, there is a lot of balance and I think that’s why this new scheduling model works. Next year will be new for everyone with the pods. Obviously, Toledo and Bowling Green already have a rivalry, so we’re excited to become a part of that and know that those teams will be on our schedule every year.”

The Huskies’ conference home and road conference opponents for 2025 and 2026 break down as follows:

2025 Home Games: Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Ohio, Miami

2025 Road Games: Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Kent State, Buffalo

2026 Home Games: Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Kent State, Ball State

2026 Road Games: Central Michigan, Bowling Green, Akron, Ohio

The Huskies are currently accepting $24 deposits toward 2024 season tickets with season ticket renewals set to go live on February 5th. In addition to taking advantage of the lowest prices, season ticket members enjoy multiple benefits, including earning priority points to purchase away game tickets, like the 2024 contests at Notre Dame and N.C. State, as well as invitations to exclusive season ticket member events featuring Huskie coaches and student-athletes. With the Build Your Membership Plan the already low price to see all six 2024 games can be paid all at once or over as many as nine months.

For more information on NIU Football season tickets, the Build Your Membership Plan as well as premium seating, parking and more, go to HuskieAthleticFund.com, email huskiestickets@niu.edu or call 815-753-PACK (7225).