Northern Illinois entered the 2021 season picked to finish last in their division by the media in the preseason MAC poll. Undaunted, they defied the odds en route to a nine-win, conference championship season — in large part due to a rushing attack that net the Huskies over 3,000 yards on the ground this year.
While the season was already a massive success entering their Cure Bowl matchup with Sun Belt runner-up Coastal Carolina, the manner in which they fell to the Chants will undoubtedly haunt them till next season.
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