Northern Illinois sits at 3–9 after dropping a close one to Kent State 35–31 at home in Week 14. The Huskies, rated at –16.7 by GIE and ranked 128th nationally, have struggled to find consistent footing this season. That loss to a Mid-American Conference rival underscores the gap between where NIU wants to compete and where the roster currently performs. With the regular season winding down, the focus shifts to how the Huskies close out their schedule and what adjustments might stabilize the program heading into the offseason.