They are having another good season, although not quite up to recent lofty standards. They are in the hunt for a conference title again. They are the best football team in the state. Still, you see nothing in the local press like there had been over the past few years.

When they move to the Big 12 they'll get more coverage.

AAC or MWC.

They'd be better off staying in the MAC I think.

MWC may be ok but that travel schedule would suck.

I think NIU is trying to position itself to the Big 12 by saying "He, we can deliver Chicago!".

Big 12 needs to deliver itself a network and CG first. Then I'm not sure NIU anyway.

7-2 is still 7-2. With a win over NU and a chance at the conference title, they deserves some publicity.

What is up with MAC attendance? It doesn't look like anyone attends these games. These are big state schools. I would figure they could pull 5,000 kids looking for something to do before going out at night and 5,000 local yokels to make a decent crowd for a nationally televised game.

Nobody goes to the games in Dekalb. The stadium is always half empty. Great idea to pour millions into a stadium that nobody goes to.

The hope here enlies that with the slate of future opponents: Boston College, San Diego State, BYU, Utah, Maryland, etc. they can get some butts in the stands....

Yeah, the idea that it belongs in the Big 12, even in its enfeebled post-Nebraska/CU condition, is really kind of nuts. What NIU does is impressive because it's a mid-major. Bump them up and they'd be an embarrassment, like expanding Huskie Stadium when no one cares about the team.

Nobody has mentioned the biggest reason for empty stands:

Weeknight games in November. NIU had 3 total Saturday home games this year. All in consecutive weeks.




Keep it. It's also been raining at 3 of the 4 MAC games this week. Nice.

Nobody is there on the weekends. I bet attendance is higher for these week night games.

Nobody has mentioned the biggest reason for empty stands:

Weeknight games in November. NIU had 3 total Saturday home games this year. All in consecutive weeks.




Keep it. It's also been raining at 3 of the 4 MAC games this week. Nice.

Have you ever seen a big school's stadium during the rain? It's just as packed as sunny and 70.

It's obvious what NIU needs is a retractable dome.

It's obvious what NIU needs is a retractable dome.

Nobody goes to the games in Dekalb. The stadium is always half empty. Great idea to pour millions into a stadium that nobody goes to.

You don't want students coming anyway if you can get the gen pop out. Students don't pay to get in.

A bigger stadium did no good for basketball, nobody went and packed the place even in the first year of the convo center.

There is no college football program that ever thinks this.