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Sept. 19 NIU-Ohio State clash set for broadcast on ABC

June 12, 2015
The last time NIU was featured on an ABC broadcast, Garrett Wolfe led NIU in the 2006 season opener at Ohio State.

The last time NIU was featured on an ABC broadcast, Garrett Wolfe led NIU
in the 2006 season opener at Ohio State.

An ABC television audience will see the Northern Illinois University Huskies take on defending national champion and projected 2015 preseason No. 1 Ohio State, the Big Ten Conference announced Friday.

The Sept. 19 game has been selected for ABC broadcast with an ESPN2 reverse mirror for the national airing and will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. ET from Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

NIU will make its third appearance all-time on ABC and its first since a Garrett Wolfe-led and Joe Novak-coached Huskie team opened the 2006 campaign versus No. 1 Ohio State. In that game, Wolfe had a huge day, rushing for 171 yards on 26 carries and catching five passes for 114 yards and a score in a 35-12 NIU loss. The Huskies originally appeared on ABC at Michigan in the 2005 season opener (a 33-17 loss).

Earlier this week, NIU announced that five 2015 Huskie football games were already possible selections for national broadcasts through the Mid-American Conference television agreement. That begins with the Sept. 5 season-opening game at Huskie Stadium versus UNLV, which will be televised by CBS Sports Network and including four November midweek games on ESPN2 or ESPNU.

Over the last five seasons, the Huskies have played 31 games on national television, including 26 on an ESPN over-the-air network (ESPNU, ESPN2, ESPN). NIU played on ESPN six consecutive times to close out the 2014 season, including the Marathon MAC Championship game on ESPN2 and the Boca Raton Bowl on ESPN.

Tickets to see NIU battle the Buckeyes in Columbus are now available to all Huskie Athletic Fund donors, NIU Football season ticket holders and current (Fall 2015) NIU students through the NIU Athletics Ticket Office through Friday, Aug. 14 (depending on availability).

Current donors (2015) to the Huskie Athletic Fund may purchase up to 12 tickets, depending on their donation level, while season ticket holders and students can purchase a maximum of two tickets each. Tickets are priced at $79 each.

Drew Hare

Drew Hare

Tickets to the Ohio State game are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be located within the NIU fan sections. Specific locations will be determined based on the current donor level and then on priority points within each level.

To purchase Ohio State tickets, call 815-753-PACK (7225) and press 1 for the NIU Athletics Ticket Office or stop by the Ticket Office located in the NIU Convocation Center during business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday). Tickets will go on sale beginning at 9 a.m. (CDT) on Monday. Donation level will be checked before your ordes are processed, and the actual tickets will be sent out in August.

Number of NIU-Ohio State tickets available to purchase by Huskie Athletic Fund donor level:

  • $100 (Pack Level): 2 tickets
  • $300 (Varsity Level): 4 tickets
  • $500 (Pride Level): 6 tickets
  • $1,000 (Coaches Level): 8 tickets
  • $2,500 (Director’s Level): 8 tickets
  • $5,000 (Loyalty Level): 10 tickets
  • $10,000 + (Champions Circle): 12 tickets

Any remaining tickets in NIU’s allotment are on sale to NIU football season ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis. Season ticket holders (who are not Huskie Athletic Fund donors) can purchase two (2) tickets to the NIU-Ohio State game at that time (pending availability).

NIU also is making a limited number of tickets to the Ohio State game available to NIU students who are enrolled for Fall 2015. Students can purchase up to two (2) tickets to the game at the $79 rate. Students must provide valid student identification numbers when ordering; student tickets will be picked up at the Convocation Center in September.

For more information on NIU football and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.