Northern Illinois Wins Bronze Stalk Ends Six-Game Losing Streak vs Ball State

Northern Illinois University (NIU) ended a six-game losing streak against Ball State by winning the final Bronze Stalk rivalry game before NIU moves to the Mountain West Conference in 2026. NIU secured a 21-7 victory with a dominant rushing attack, totaling 305 yards led by Chavon Wright's career-high 166 yards and Telly Johnson Jr.'s 100 yards and a touchdown. The Huskies' defense was formidable, forcing three turnovers and holding Ball State to single digits, complemented by a strong time-consuming drive culminating in two touchdown runs by quarterback Josh Holst. This win marks NIU's first double-digit victory margin over Ball State since 2017 and the first time the Bronze Stalk trophy will remain in DeKalb for an extended period due to conference realignment. The Huskies showed resilience despite three turnovers of their own, with head coach Thomas Hammock praising the team's determination and improvement. Ball State managed to tie the game early but missed critical scoring opportunities, including a failed field goal and interceptions that shifted momentum to NIU.