Northern Illinois Survives Late Push, Edges Central Michigan 24-16
Northern Illinois held off Central Michigan in a defensive battle that saw four lead changes throughout the contest. The Huskies dominated early, scoring 19 points in the first quarter behind strong performances from their ground game. Telly Johnson Jr. led the rushing attack with 84 yards, while Trayvon Rudolph paced the receiving unit with 97 yards. Central Michigan mounted a second-quarter comeback, scoring all 16 of their points in the period to keep the game competitive. The defenses took over from there, with the third quarter producing just three points combined. Despite a fourth-quarter push by the Chippewas, Northern Illinois held on for the 24-16 victory. Jadyn Glasser led Central Michigan's passing game with 92 yards. The win marked a defensive showcase, with Central Michigan's defense recording several impactful plays in the opening quarter that limited Northern Illinois' offensive output after their hot start. The game finished at exactly the over-under total of 40 points.
AI-generated recap · Aug 27, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Central Michigan | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
 Northern Illinois | 19 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Central Michigan | Northern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 12-25 | 19-30 |
| Pass Yards | 92 | 169 |
| Rush Yards | 112 | 165 |
| Total Yards | 204 | 334 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| 3rd Down | 4-12 | 5-14 |
| Penalties | 7-66 | 3-30 |
| Possession | 26:23 | 33:37 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Marion Lukes run for 1 yd to the CMU 26
Marion Lukes run for no gain to the CMU 26
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Jesse Prewitt III
David Chapeau punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Dane Pardridge at the NIU 34
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 33 yds to the CMU 33 for a 1ST down
Justin Lynch run for 5 yds to the CMU 28
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 2 yds to the CMU 26
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 2 yds to the CMU 24
Gavin Williams 24 Yd Run (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)
Austin Bullock kickoff for 60 yds , Marion Lukes return for 13 yds to the CMU 18
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Tommy McIntosh
Myles Bailey run for 1 yd to the CMU 19
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Myles Bailey for 2 yds to the CMU 21
David Chapeau punt for 15 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the CMU 36
PENALTY NIU False Start 5 yards from CMU36 to CMU41. NO PLAY.
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 7 yds to the CMU 34
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 1 yd to the CMU 33
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
(07:45) Shotgun Hampton,Ethan pass incomplete short right to Thompson,Cam thrown to CMU15 PENALTY CMU Pass Interference 15 yards from CMU33 to CMU18, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 2 yds to the CMU 16
Ethan Hampton 16 Yd Run (Kanon Woodill PAT failed)
B.J. Harris run for 2 yds to the CMU 27
Solomon Davis run for a loss of 8 yards to the CMU 19
B.J. Harris run for a loss of 2 yards to the CMU 17
David Chapeau punt for 55 yds , Dane Pardridge returns for 6 yds to the NIU 34
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 48 yds to the CMU 18 for a 1ST down
PENALTY CMU Offside 5 yards from CMU18 to CMU13. NO PLAY.
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Dane Pardridge for no gain to the CMU 13
Gavin Williams run for 9 yds to the CMU 4 for a 1ST down
Telly Johnson Jr. 4 Yd Run (Kanon Woodill Kick)
Austin Bullock kickoff for 56 yds , Myles Bailey return for 19 yds to the CMU 28
(02:17) No Huddle-Shotgun Glasser,Jadyn pass incomplete short right to Prewitt III,Jesse thrown to CMU38 PENALTY NIU Personal Foul 15 yards from CMU28 to CMU43, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Marion Lukes run for 11 yds to the NIU 46 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for 15 yds to the NIU 31 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for 16 yds to the NIU 15 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for a loss of 1 yard to the NIU 16
Myles Bailey run for 8 yds to the NIU 8
Myles Bailey run for 5 yds to the NIU 3 for a 1ST down
Jesse Prewitt III 3 Yd pass from Jadyn Glasser (Tristan Mattson PAT blocked)
JaVaughn Byrd Defensive PAT Conversion
Cade Graham kickoff for 63 yds , Cam Thompson return for 18 yds to the NIU 20
Jaylen Poe run for 1 yd to the NIU 21
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Cam Thompson for 4 yds to the NIU 25
Ethan Hampton sacked for a loss of 3 yards to the NIU 22
Tom Foley punt for 34 yds, fair catch by Donte Kent at the CMU 44
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Jesse Prewitt III
B.J. Harris run for 4 yds to the CMU 48
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Solomon Davis for 9 yds to the NIU 43 for a 1ST down
B.J. Harris run for 3 yds to the NIU 40
B.J. Harris run for 9 yds to the NIU 31 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for 12 yds to the NIU 19 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for 2 yds to the NIU 17
Jadyn Glasser sacked for a loss of 5 yards to the NIU 22
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Tommy McIntosh
Tristan Mattson 40 Yd Field Goal
Cade Graham kickoff for 57 yds , Cam Thompson return for 19 yds to the NIU 27
Justin Lynch run for no gain to the NIU 27
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 7 yds to the NIU 34
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Gavin Williams
Brock Lampe run for 1 yd to the NIU 35
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Myles Bailey for 9 yds to the NIU 26
Myles Bailey run for 9 yds to the NIU 17 for a 1ST down
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Tommy McIntosh
Myles Bailey run for 2 yds to the NIU 15
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Nathan VanTimmeren for 7 yds to the NIU 8
Jadyn Glasser run for 2 yds to the NIU 6 for a 1ST down
Jesse Prewitt III 6 Yd pass from Jadyn Glasser (Tristan Mattson Kick)
Cade Graham kickoff for 65 yds , Cam Thompson return for 23 yds to the NIU 23
Justin Lynch run for 5 yds to the NIU 28
Justin Lynch run for 5 yds to the NIU 33 for a 1ST down Central Michigan Penalty, Personal Foul (Elijah Rikard) to the NIU 48 for a 1ST down
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Gavin Williams for 9 yds to the CMU 43
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Gavin Williams for 4 yds to the CMU 39 for a 1ST down
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Gavin Williams for 13 yds to the CMU 26 for a 1ST down
Gavin Williams run for 1 yd to the CMU 25
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Cam Thompson
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Jaylen Poe
Kanon Woodill run for no gain to the CMU 25
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Marion Lukes for 20 yds to the CMU 45 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for 11 yds to the NIU 44 for a 1ST down
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Solomon Davis
End of 2nd Quarter
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 4 yds to the NIU 29
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 13 yds to the NIU 42 for a 1ST down
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 3 yds to the NIU 45
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Cam Thompson for 7 yds to the CMU 48 for a 1ST down
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Brock Lampe
Telly Johnson Jr. run for no gain to the CMU 48
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 11 yds to the CMU 37 for a 1ST down
Trayvon Rudolph run for no gain to the CMU 37
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Dane Pardridge for 9 yds to the CMU 28
Brock Lampe run for 2 yds to the CMU 26 for a 1ST down
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 3 yds to the CMU 29
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 9 yds to the CMU 20
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 6 yds to the CMU 14 for a 1ST down
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 5 yds to the CMU 9
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Cam Thompson
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Grayson Barnes
Kanon Woodill 26 Yd Field Goal
Austin Bullock kickoff for 59 yds , Myles Bailey return for 22 yds to the CMU 28
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Solomon Davis
Jadyn Glasser run for 2 yds to the CMU 30 Jadyn Glasser fumbled, recovered by NIU Nate Valcarcel
Telly Johnson Jr. run for a loss of 3 yards to the CMU 33
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 8 yds to the CMU 25
Gavin Williams run for 2 yds to the CMU 23
Kanon Woodill 40 yd FG MISSED
Marion Lukes run for 6 yds to the CMU 29
(03:09) No Huddle-Shotgun Lukes,Marion rush left for 4 yards gain to the CMU33 (Williams,Roy) PENALTY CMU Holding 10 yards from CMU29 to CMU19. NO PLAY.
Jadyn Glasser sacked by Roy Williams for a loss of 5 yards to the CMU 14
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Jesse Prewitt III for 11 yds to the CMU 25
David Chapeau punt for 47 yds , Dane Pardridge returns for 21 yds to the NIU 33
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 17 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Telly Johnson Jr. run for a loss of 1 yard to the NIU 49
(00:09) Shotgun Hampton,Ethan pass incomplete short right to Rudolph,Trayvon thrown to CMU38 PENALTY CMU Holding 10 yards from NIU49 to CMU41, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Justin Lynch run for no gain to the CMU 41
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Andrew McElroy for 14 yds to the CMU 27 for a 1ST down
Justin Lynch pass incomplete to Jaylen Poe
Telly Johnson Jr. run for a loss of 1 yard to the CMU 28
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Andrew McElroy for 7 yds to the CMU 21
Grayson Barnes run for 16 yds to the CMU 37 Grayson Barnes fumbled, recovered by NIU Kanon Woodill
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Travis Ambrose
B.J. Harris run for 6 yds to the CMU 43
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to B.J. Harris for 7 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
B.J. Harris run for a loss of 2 yards to the CMU 48
Jadyn Glasser pass intercepted Jacob Finley return for 4 yds to the NIU 36
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 4 yds to the NIU 40
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 1 yd to the NIU 41
Ethan Hampton pass complete to Grayson Barnes for 5 yds to the NIU 46 for a 1ST down
Justin Lynch run for no gain to the NIU 46
(07:48) Shotgun Hampton,Ethan pass incomplete short right to McElroy,Andrew thrown to CMU47 PENALTY CMU Pass Interference 6 yards from NIU46 to CMU48, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Gavin Williams run for 15 yds to the CMU 33 for a 1ST down
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 1 yd to the CMU 32
Telly Johnson Jr. run for a loss of 1 yard to the CMU 33
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
Myles Bailey run for 3 yds to the CMU 36
Marion Lukes run for 2 yds to the CMU 38
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Jesse Prewitt III for 8 yds to the CMU 46 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for 1 yd to the CMU 47
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Solomon Davis
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Jordyn Williams
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Jesse Prewitt III for 9 yds to the NIU 44 for a 1ST down
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Nathan VanTimmeren for 1 yd to the NIU 43
Marion Lukes run for 2 yds to the NIU 41
(02:00) No Huddle-Shotgun Glasser,Jadyn pass complete short right to Davis,Solomon caught at NIU30, for 11 yards to the NIU30, out of bounds at NIU30 PENALTY CMU Ineligible Downfield on Pass 5 yards from NIU41 to NIU46. NO PLAY.
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Jordyn Williams
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Solomon Davis
Telly Johnson Jr. run for 3 yds to the NIU 49
Telly Johnson Jr. run for a loss of 1 yard to the NIU 48
Gavin Williams run for 14 yds to the CMU 38 for a 1ST down
E. Hampton takes a knee
E. Hampton takes a knee