Kent State ends Northern Illinois’ MAC tenure, wins 35-31 in DeKalb

The Northern Illinois Huskies stormed out of the tunnel Friday afternoon in DeKalb, IL to put a bow on a highly-successful era in program history. For the final time, NIU donned the Mid-American Conference patch on its uniforms, wrapping up a 29-year tenure that featured five conference championship victories, five bowl wins, a 2012 Orange Bowl appearance, a top-3 Heisman finisher, and countless memories.

However, the Kent State Golden Flashes spoiled Northern Illinois’ final moment in the Rust Belt-based conference. The Golden Flashes emerged in a back-and-forth 35-31 shootout, ending Mark Carney’s spectacular debut season on a high note.

With 4:11 remaining in the contest, Kent State junior running back Gavin Garcia made a beeline toward the front left corner of the end zone. Garcia, who missed the entire 2024 campaign with a knee injury, ended a fully healthy 2025 in style, recording a 26-yard rushing touchdown to hand the Flashes a late lead. Kent State’s defense held its own as NIU searched for an answer. On a do-or-die 4th and 10 from the Kent State 27-yard line, Huskies quarterback Jalen Macon overthrew Gary Givens, securing the Golden Flashes’ second-straight road victory, which follows a 19-game road losing streak that lasted from 2023 until November.

Garcia was the main character in Friday’s triumph, securing a career-high 151 rushing yards to become Kent State’s first rusher to eclipse 80 all season. Garcia also provided the most production on the ground of any Golden Flash since Marquez Cooper on Nov. 1, 2022, as the Golden Flashes collected a season-best 231 rushing yards as a unit. “Big Play” Cade Wolford added 52 yards on two carries, spinning his way in for a 31-yard touchdown to cut the deficit from 31-20 to 31-28 in the early fourth quarter.

Kent State erased a 21-3 second half deficit to Bowling Green this year, and trailing by 11 in the fourth quarter, it marked the team’s second double-digit comeback in a resurgent season. Quarterback Dru DeShields fired for 207 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 completions, firing three 35+ yard passes to live up to Kent State’s brand as a home run-style offense. In his first year of suiting up collegiately, he produced 18 touchdowns to three interceptions, and his third misfire of the year was a juggling pick by NIU inside linebacker Quinn Urwiler that took incredible concentration to even snag — reminiscent of Julian Edelman’s catch in Super Bowl LII.

Urwiler, who produced 12 tackles to bring his season total to 141, was one of the bright spots in a rare defensive struggle for the Huskies. But what NIU lacked in defense Friday, it made up for offensively. The team exceeded 21 points for the second time all season, generating 307 rushing yards behind the duo of tailback Chavon Wright and quarterback Jalen Macon. Wright chipped in a season-high 185 and two scores, while Macon added 65 and two touchdowns in his third start as a Huskie. NIU only dropped back for 10 passes — completing half for 27 yards — as a dynamic rushing attack nearly led it to a senior day victory.

Northern Illinois (3-9, 2-6 MAC) finishes 3-9 for the first time since 2022 — which also represents the last time the Huskies’ season concluded after 12 games. The Huskies officially concluded their second tenure in the MAC, which ranged from 1997-2025, and they will sport Mountain West gear next time they suit up on the gridiron. The move officially transpires July 1, and the MAC reduces back to 12 teams as NIU sets its sights out West.

Kent State (5-7, 4-4 MAC) finishes .500 in conference play for the first time since 2022, ending the 2025 campaign as one of college football’s most improved teams. After attaining a 1-23 record the prior two years, the Golden Flashes were selected to finish dead last in the conference in the coaches’ preseason poll, but they only missed out on bowl eligibility by one win. Mark Carney shed his interim label in late October, and now the head coach will look to use his successful end of the season as a springboard, as Kent State officially turns the page to the offseason.