2021 Cure Bowl

After compiling a record of 0–6 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Northern Illinois Huskies achieved a dramatic turnaround in 2021, finishing the season as the champions of the Mid-American Conference.[7] The Huskies began their season with an upset victory against Georgia Tech, winning off of a two-point conversion with less than a minute remaining in the game.[8] NIU was not able to keep up the momentum; they fell in their next two games, against Wyoming[9] and No. 25 Michigan.[10] From there, Northern Illinois began a streak of five consecutive wins that saw them achieve bowl eligibility by the end of October. The Huskies defeated Maine[11] and Eastern Michigan,[12] the latter on homecoming, before hitting the road to beat Toledo.[13] They returned home, defeating Bowling Green,[14] before beating Central Michigan to secure their place in a bowl.[15] NIU suffered their third loss to begin the month of November; they fell on the road against Kent State,[16] but rebounded with wins against Ball State[17] and Buffalo.[18] They concluded their regular season with a loss to Western Michigan,[19] but they had already secured their place in the 2021 MAC Championship Game, where they defeated Kent State in a rematch the following week to win the MAC Championship.[20] Northern Illinois accepted its Cure Bowl bid the following day, on December 5, 2021; it entered with a record of 9–4 and a 6–2 record in conference play.[21]