Northern Illinois University Athletics

Northern Illinois competes in NCAA Division I, meaning big-time college sports with full scholarships and serious athletic competition. The Huskies field 17 varsity teams with 415 total athletes, representing about 3.7% of the student body. NIU belongs to the Mid-American Conference, where they regularly battle rivals like Western Michigan and Central Michigan. The football program made national headlines with its memorable 2012 Orange Bowl appearance, though the team has struggled in recent years. Basketball draws decent crowds to the Convocation Center, but this isn't a sports-crazy campus like you'd find at major state universities. With nearly $7.5 million in athletic scholarships distributed annually, NIU takes its sports seriously even if the fan base remains modest compared to Big Ten neighbors.