Written by
The MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO Desk
Conference Newsroom · Independent Mountain West coverage since 2026
The house desk of MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO - independent researchers tracking every Mountain West game, stat and storyline.
Mountain West Matchups
Northern Illinois vs Ball State
Who wins Northern Illinois vs Ball State?
Tap your pick, it saves on this device.
Head-to-head on record
| Team | Wins | Series |
|---|---|---|
 Northern Illinois Huskies | 24 | Series level |
 Ball State Cardinals | 24 |
Meetings since 1968: 49, including 1 tie. Source: CollegeFootballData game log.
The series in numbers
24-24-1 Regular season
5-5 Last 10
26-24 Avg score
10 Longest Northern Illinois win run
Biggest Northern Illinois win 63-17 in 2017, a 46-point margin.
Biggest Northern Illinois loss 0-42 in 1979, a 42-point margin.
Every Northern Illinois vs Ball State meeting
| Season | Result | Site | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 21-7 |
| 2024 | Ball State win | Muncie | 23-25 |
| 2023 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 17-20 |
| 2022 | Ball State win | Muncie | 38-44 |
| 2021 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 30-29 |
| 2020 | Ball State win | Muncie | 25-31 |
| 2019 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 20-27 |
| 2018 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 24-16 |
| 2017 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 63-17 |
| 2016 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 31-24 |
| 2015 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 59-41 |
| 2014 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 35-21 |
| 2013 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 48-27 |
| 2012 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 35-23 |
| 2011 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 41-38 |
| 2010 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 59-21 |
| 2009 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 26-20 |
| 2008 | Ball State win | Muncie | 14-45 |
| 2007 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 21-27 |
| 2006 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 40-28 |
| 2005 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 17-31 |
| 2004 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 38-31 |
| 2003 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 48-23 |
| 2002 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 41-29 |
| 2001 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 33-29 |
| 2000 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 43-14 |
| 1999 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 37-17 |
| 1998 | Ball State win | Muncie | 13-18 |
| 1997 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 14-21 |
| 1988 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 17-18 |
| 1987 | Ball State win | Muncie | 17-42 |
| 1986 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 10-20 |
| 1985 | Ball State win | Muncie | 0-29 |
| 1984 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 14-15 |
| 1983 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 27-14 |
| 1982 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 7-14 |
| 1981 | Ball State win | Muncie | 0-23 |
| 1980 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 17-18 |
| 1979 | Ball State win | Muncie | 0-42 |
| 1978 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 13-31 |
| 1977 | Ball State win | Muncie | 6-31 |
| 1976 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 7-33 |
| 1975 | Ball State win | DeKalb | 0-3 |
| 1974 | Ball State win | Muncie | 21-31 |
| 1973 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 45-17 |
| 1971 | Tie | Muncie | 10-10 |
| 1970 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 31-14 |
| 1969 | Northern Illinois win | DeKalb | 17-13 |
| 1968 | Northern Illinois win | Muncie | 40-20 |
Scores from the Northern Illinois perspective. Source: CollegeFootballData game log, since 1968.
Matchup stats
Last five games
Completed results from CollegeFootballData via the CFB Data Hub
The series since 1968 is level at 24-24-1. Here is the series on record and how to watch when Northern Illinois and Ball State meet.
How to watch Northern Illinois vs Ball State
When Northern Illinois and Ball State are scheduled, here is how to find the game.
- National TV National windows are set by Set weekly by the conference TV partners (ESPN, ABC, FOX, FS1).
- Streaming ESPN+ and the FOX Sports app stream the national windows.
- Radio Listen on the Northern Illinois radio network.
- Confirm kickoff Kickoff and the exact channel are set by the networks before game week. Check the match center for the Northern Illinois vs Ball State time and line.
The live time, line and how-to-watch details land on the match center and how to watch pages once the game is scheduled.
The Northern Illinois this season
Follow Northern Illinois in the title race on the Mountain West standings, and model the finish with the title race calculator. For the conference series that define the year, see the Mountain West rivalry pages, or browse every Mountain West matchup.
About the author and reviewer
Fact-checked by
MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO Coverage Review
Fact & Data Review · Primary-source verification
Every stat and historical claim on data pages is checked against official box scores and the live feed before publication.
Independence: MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO was not paid by any school, network or sportsbook for this page. Corrections are logged in our editorial policy.
Northern Illinois vs Ball State: the essentials
Northern Illinois Huskies vs Ball State Cardinals is a non-conference matchup that sets the Mountain West against the Mid-American (Group of 6). The series since 1968 is level at 24-24-1. Across 49 meetings on record the series is level, and whenever the two programs are scheduled this page carries the Northern Illinois vs Ball State head-to-head record, the matchup numbers for both sides, and how to watch on TV and streaming. It sits alongside the Northern Illinois Huskies team hub, the Mountain West this week round-up and the live conference standings. For Ball State against the whole conference, see Ball State vs the Mountain West.
The Mountain West Report
One conference, in your inbox every Tuesday.
Standings, the title race and one opinion on the Mountain West. No filler.
Frequently asked questions
What is the all-time record between Northern Illinois and Ball State?
The series since 1968 is level at 24-24-1. The two programs have met 49 times on record.
How can I watch Northern Illinois vs Ball State?
National windows are set by Set weekly by the conference TV partners (ESPN, ABC, FOX, FS1). Kickoff time and the exact channel are set by the networks before game week.
Are Northern Illinois and Ball State in the same conference?
No. Northern Illinois plays in the Mountain West. Ball State plays in the Mid-American (Group of 6). This is a non-conference game.