Northern Illinois is entering a new chapter in 2026-27, with the Huskies beginning their first season as a Pac-12 affiliate member and preparing for a schedule that features new conference opponents and familiar regional rivals.
With home duals against Northern Colorado, Northwestern, Air Force and Cal Poly, NIU will have several opportunities to make a statement in DeKalb. The Huskies will also host the annual Huskie Duals in December, bringing multiple teams to town for a full day of competition.
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From returning NCAA qualifier Markel Baker to a new conference schedule, here are the reasons to watch Northern Illinois' home duals this season on FloWrestling.
Markel Baker Returns After NCAA Championship Appearance
One of the biggest reasons to follow Northern Illinois this season is the return of Markel Baker, who qualified for the 2026 NCAA Championships after winning the Mid-American Conference title at 133 lbs.
Baker gives the Huskies an experienced competitor to build around as they enter a new conference era. His performance will be worth watching as NIU takes on a demanding schedule and looks to extend its streak of qualifying at least one wrestler for the NCAA Championships.
Northern Illinois has sent at least one wrestler to the NCAA Championships for 55 consecutive years, a streak the program will look to continue in 2026-27.
Bellarmine Opens The Home Schedule
Northern Illinois will host Bellarmine on Nov. 15 at DeKalb High School for its first home dual of the season.
The matchup offers fans an early opportunity to see the Huskies compete in dual-meet action before the schedule shifts toward conference competition.
The home opener gives the Huskies a chance to establish momentum as they begin a season with new conference challenges.
The Huskie Duals Bring Three Opponents To DeKalb
Northern Illinois will host the Huskie Duals on Dec. 19, featuring CSU Bakersfield, Harper and St. Ambrose.
The event offers fans multiple matchups in one day and provides the Huskies with an opportunity to test their lineup against different opponents. It also marks NIU's first meeting with Cal State Bakersfield in program history, adding another storyline to the event as the teams begin competing in the Pac-12 together.
With the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational earlier in December and the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships later in the month, the Huskie Duals will be a key part of NIU's busy winter schedule.
Northern Colorado And Northwestern Headline January
Northern Illinois returns home in January to host Northern Colorado on Jan. 16 and Northwestern on Jan. 28.
The dual against Northern Colorado will be part of NIU's conference schedule, while Northwestern provides a regional rivalry matchup outside the Pac-12 slate.
The two duals give the Huskies important opportunities to compete at home as the season moves toward its final month. With the Pac-12 Championships in March, the January matchups will help NIU continue preparing its lineup for the postseason.
Air Force And Cal Poly Close The Regular Season
Northern Illinois will finish its regular-season home schedule with two conference opponents in February.
The Huskies host Air Force on Feb. 12 before welcoming Cal Poly on Feb. 21. Both matchups will give NIU opportunities to compete against Pac-12 opponents as the conference season winds down.
The Air Force dual will be the first meeting between the programs in Northern Illinois history, adding a new matchup to the schedule. Cal Poly will visit for the Huskies' final scheduled home dual before the team turns its attention to the postseason.
The Pac-12 Championships are scheduled for March 4-5 in Little Rock, Arkansas, followed by the NCAA Championships on March 18-20 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Northern Illinois Wrestling Home Dual Schedule 2026-27
- Sunday, Nov. 15: Bellarmine, 1 p.m. ET
- Saturday, Dec. 19: Huskie Duals — Cal State Bakersfield, Harper and St. Ambrose, 11 a.m. ET
- Saturday, Jan. 16: Northern Colorado, 1 p.m. ET
- Thursday, Jan. 28: Northwestern, 7 p.m. ET
- Friday, Feb. 12: Air Force, 7 p.m. ET
- Sunday, Feb. 21: Cal Poly, 1 p.m. ET
FloWrestling Archived Footage
Video footage from the events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.
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