Weekly Notes | Holy Cross Football at Northern Illinois

Holy Cross (0-0 PL) at Northern Illinois (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Saturday, Aug. 30
3:30 p.m. ET Kickoff
Huskie Stadium | DeKalb, Ill.

The Holy Cross football team kicks off its 2025 season with an FBS matchup against Northern Illinois on Saturday, Aug. 30.

This is the earliest game that Holy Cross has played to start a fall season in more than a decade; the Crusaders kicked off the year against Albany on Aug. 30, 2014.

The Crusaders enter the 2025 campaign after winning a share of the Patriot League crown last season — marking an unprecedented sixth straight league championship. This marks the 12th Patriot League title in Holy Cross history; no other team in league history has ever won six consecutive conference titles. The Crusaders went 5-1 in conference play, with a 6-6 record overall in 2024.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be the first-ever meeting between Holy Cross and Northern Illinois.

WITH A WIN, HOLY CROSS WOULD…

Win its fifth season opener in the last six seasons
Earn its third win over an FBS opponent since 2021
Earn its first-ever win in the state of Illinois
Earn its second win over a MAC opponent since 2022
Earn its first win in the month of August in program history (0-6 all-time)

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 

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