Northern Illinois University and the University of Toledo will play in the “Huskie Chi-Town Showdown” at U.S. Cellular Field on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. According to a news release, it will be the first football game in the 25-year history of U.S. Cellular Field. The game will air nationally on an ESPN Network at a time to be determined.
The release says over the last several months, NIU worked with the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA) and the Chicago White Sox to bring the game to U.S. Cellular Field. NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier, ISFA Chief Executive Officer Lou Bertuca and Chairman of the Board Manny Sanchez, and Brooks Boyer, White Sox Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing were on hand Wednesday to make the official announcement.
Frazier estimates there are 145,000 NIU alumni living and working in Chicagoland.
NIU's head football coach Rod Carey has a 31-12 career record over three seasons.
NIU has played three games in Chicago over the past decade, with games at Soldier Field in 2007 (versus Iowa), 2011 (versus Wisconsin) and 2012 (versus Iowa).
The release says NIU is coming off an 8-6 season in 2015 that saw the Huskies win their sixth consecutive MAC West Championship and play in a bowl game for a MAC-record eighth consecutive year.