Ball State Cardinals vs Northern Illinois Huskies
Series timeline
▲ Ball State Cardinals ahead (peak +11)
▼ Northern Illinois Huskies ahead (peak +4)
Ball State Cardinals Northern Illinois Huskies Tie Postseason One meeting per cell
Longest streaks: Ball State Cardinals 9 (1974–1982), Northern Illinois Huskies 10 (2009–2018). Current: Northern Illinois Huskies 1.
Splits
| Split | Ball State Cardinals record |
|---|---|
| Regular season | 24-24-1 |
| Hosted by Ball State Cardinals | 11-12 |
| Hosted by Northern Illinois Huskies | 13-12-1 |
| Last 10 seasons (2016 to 2025) | 5-5 |
| Largest Ball State Cardinals win | 42-0 (1979) |
| Largest Northern Illinois Huskies win | 63-17 (2017) |
In the record book
- Closest rivalries#2 in College Football#24 across all leagues
Every meeting
2020s
| Season | Date | Winner | Score | Site | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Oct 25, 2025 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 21-7 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 9 |
| 2024 | Oct 26, 2024 | Ball State Cardinals | 25-23 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 9 |
| 2023 | Nov 7, 2023 | Ball State Cardinals | 20-17 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 12 |
| 2022 | Oct 1, 2022 | Ball State Cardinals | 44-38 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 6 |
| 2021 | Nov 10, 2021 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 30-29 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 12 |
| 2020 | Nov 18, 2020 | Ball State Cardinals | 31-25 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 12 |
2010s
| Season | Date | Winner | Score | Site | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Oct 5, 2019 | Ball State Cardinals | 27-20 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 7 |
| 2018 | Oct 6, 2018 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 24-16 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 7 |
| 2017 | Nov 9, 2017 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 63-17 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 12 |
| 2016 | Oct 1, 2016 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 31-24 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 6 |
| 2015 | Oct 10, 2015 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 59-41 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 6 |
| 2014 | Nov 5, 2014 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 35-21 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 11 |
| 2013 | Nov 13, 2013 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 48-27 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 12 |
| 2012 | Oct 6, 2012 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 35-23 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 6 |
| 2011 | Nov 15, 2011 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 41-38 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 12 |
| 2010 | Nov 20, 2010 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 59-21 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 12 |
2000s
| Season | Date | Winner | Score | Site | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Nov 12, 2009 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 26-20 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 11 |
| 2008 | Nov 5, 2008 | Ball State Cardinals | 45-14 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 11 |
| 2007 | Nov 24, 2007 | Ball State Cardinals | 27-21 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 13 |
| 2006 | Sep 30, 2006 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 40-28 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 5 |
| 2005 | Oct 29, 2005 | Ball State Cardinals | 31-17 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 9 |
| 2004 | Oct 30, 2004 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 38-31 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 10 |
| 2003 | Nov 1, 2003 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 48-23 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 11 |
| 2002 | Oct 5, 2002 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 41-29 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 7 |
| 2001 | Nov 17, 2001 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 33-29 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 12 |
| 2000 | Sep 30, 2000 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 43-14 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 6 |
1990s
1980s
| Season | Date | Winner | Score | Site | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Oct 29, 1988 | Ball State Cardinals | 18-17 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 10 |
| 1987 | Oct 31, 1987 | Ball State Cardinals | 42-17 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 10 |
| 1986 | Aug 30, 1986 | Ball State Cardinals | 20-10 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 1 |
| 1985 | Oct 5, 1985 | Ball State Cardinals | 29-0 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 6 |
| 1984 | Sep 29, 1984 | Ball State Cardinals | 15-14 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 6 |
| 1983 | Oct 1, 1983 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 27-14 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 6 |
| 1982 | Oct 2, 1982 | Ball State Cardinals | 14-7 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 5 |
| 1981 | Oct 3, 1981 | Ball State Cardinals | 23-0 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 5 |
| 1980 | Sep 13, 1980 | Ball State Cardinals | 18-17 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 3 |
1970s
| Season | Date | Winner | Score | Site | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Nov 17, 1979 | Ball State Cardinals | 42-0 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 12 |
| 1978 | Nov 18, 1978 | Ball State Cardinals | 31-13 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 12 |
| 1977 | Oct 15, 1977 | Ball State Cardinals | 31-6 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 7 |
| 1976 | Oct 30, 1976 | Ball State Cardinals | 33-7 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 9 |
| 1975 | Oct 25, 1975 | Ball State Cardinals | 3-0 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 8 |
| 1974 | Nov 9, 1974 | Ball State Cardinals | 31-21 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 10 |
| 1973 | Oct 20, 1973 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 45-17 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 8 |
| 1971 | Oct 23, 1971 | Tie | 10-10 | at Northern Illinois Huskies | Week 7 |
| 1970 | Oct 24, 1970 | Northern Illinois Huskies | 31-14 | at Ball State Cardinals | Week 9 |