NIU To Play Arkansas 10/3/12

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois has scheduled a football game versus the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark. on Sept. 20, 2014, NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Jeff Compher announced Wednesday.

The single game will be played at Arkansas' Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium at a time to be determined.

Arkansas defeated NIU, 30-27, in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 1994, in the only previous meeting between the teams.

Northern Illinois will play a team from the Southeastern Conference in the regular season for the first time since 2008, when the Huskies fell to Tennessee, 13-9, in Knoxville. All-time, the Huskies are 1-8 versus teams that currently make up the SEC, including a landmark 19-16 victory over No. 21 Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2003.

Compher said the game against the Razorbacks fits into the Huskies' overall scheduling philosophy.

"It's always good to play elite schools from other conferences," Compher said. "This is a place we haven't been to for quite some time and provides a great opportunity to showcase our program in an SEC venue. It's a game our players and our fans will look forward to. I want to thank [Arkansas AD] Jeff Long and his staff for working with us to get this game on the 2014 schedule."

Northern Illinois completed home-and-home series with Kansas and Army in 2012 and will play Iowa, Purdue, Idaho and Eastern Illinois in non-conference play next season. The Huskies have also announced a home-and-home series with Wyoming in 2015 and 2016.