On Friday December 17, the Northern Illinois Huskies play the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the Cure Bowl at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Northern Illinois finished the regular season 9-4 and was a 41-23 winner over the Kent State Golden Flashes in its final game. Northern Illinois is scoring an average of 31.5 points per game and allowing an average of 32.7 points per game.
During the regular season quarterback Rocky Lombardi passed for 2,416 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The leading rusher was Jay Ducker with 1,038 yards and three touchdowns and an average of 5.4 yards per carry. Trayvon Rudolph was the leading receiver with 877 yards and seven touchdown receptions. On defense, the leading tackler was CJ Brown with 103 and the leader in quarterback sacks was Devonte O'Malley with 4.0.
Coastal Carolina ended its regular season at 10-2 and finished second in the Sun Belt Conference. The Chanticleers defeated South Alabama 27-21 in their final game of the regular season. Coastal Carolina finished tied with Georgia State for second in the East division of the Sun Belt, one game behind Appalachian State. Coastal Carolina scored an average of 40.4 points per game and allowed an average of 20.0 points again.
Grayson McCall passed for 2,558 yards with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions. Sherman Jones was the leading rusher with 988 yards and 13 touchdowns, while the leading receiver was Jaivon Heiligh with 1,034 yards and seven touchdown receptions, Isaiah Likely had 816 yards receiving and 10 touchdown receptions. On defense, Silas Kelly was the leading tackler with 95 and Josaiah Stewart was the leader in quarterback sacks with 12.5.
