Northern Illinois Top 25 Games of the 2010s
A 2010s ranking built from game-time AP poll strength, final-score closeness, overtime, and the featured team's result.
- Games ranked
- 25
- Highest score
- 54/100
- Ranked matchups
- 5
2010s ranking
Top 25 games of the 2010s in the database
Wins receive a small preference, but exceptional losses and ties remain eligible. Select any game for its available box score and statistics.
- 2012Week 14Neutral site2OT
W 44-37 vs. Kent State
No. 18 Kent State vs. No. 19 Northern Illinois · 7-point margin
Ranking 15/50 · Closeness 23/30 · Overtime 11/15 · Win 5/5
54
Game score
Full Game · 2012 Kent State vs. Northern Illinois (MAC Football Championship Game Full Game)
- 2018Week 14Neutral site
W 30-29 vs. Buffalo
Unranked Buffalo vs. Unranked Northern Illinois · 1-point margin
Ranking 0/50 · Closeness 29/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
34
Game score
Full Game · 2018 Buffalo vs. Northern Illinois (MAC Football Championship Game Full Game)
- 2012DISCOVER ORANGE BOWLNeutral site
L 10-31 vs. Florida State
No. 13 Florida State vs. No. 16 Northern Illinois · 21-point margin
Ranking 23/50 · Closeness 9/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 0/5
32
Game score
Full Game · 2012 Florida State vs. Northern Illinois (Orange Bowl Full Game)
- 2011Week 14Neutral site
W 23-20 vs. Ohio
Unranked Northern Illinois vs. Unranked Ohio · 3-point margin
Ranking 0/50 · Closeness 27/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
32
Game score
Full Game · 2011 Northern Illinois vs. Ohio (MAC Football Championship Game Full Game)
Methodology
How each game earns up to 100 points
AP ranking, 50 points: each team earns 26 minus its game-week AP rank. Unranked teams receive zero ranking points.
Closeness, 30 points: the score margin is subtracted from 30, with margins of 30 or more receiving zero.
Overtime, 15 points: overtime starts at nine points and rises by two per additional period, capped at 15.
Result, 5 points: a featured-team win receives five points; losses and ties receive zero.
Regular-season rankings are matched to the AP Top 25 for the game's recorded week. Postseason games use the final regular-season AP poll published before bowl and playoff results. Overtime uses period scoring when available, then explicit overtime notes as a fallback. Older games and smaller programs may have less complete poll or period data.
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