Where to watch Illinois State vs Northern Illinois: Matt Rodewald and Clay Harbor on Mountain West+ for Huskies home opener
Match date:
The Illinois State Redbirds visit the Northern Illinois Huskies in an in-state College Football clash on Mountain West+, with Matt Rodewald leading the commentary and Clay Harbor alongside him as co-commentator.[5][6][16] The game is set for Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois, and the listing shows a kickoff at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, 12 September 2026, which is 7 p.m. UK time as shown by the published match schedules.[5][8][10]
For viewers in the UK and US, the key broadcast point is straightforward: this is a Mountain West+ stream, rather than a fixture on ESPN, Fox, CBS, NBC, Sky or ITV, and Illinois State’s own coverage page also confirms the same TV/streaming designation.[5][6] Northern Illinois’ official schedule likewise lists the game on MW+, reinforcing that the matchup is being carried through the conference’s streaming platform.[8]
Matt Rodewald is a familiar play-by-play voice in college sports broadcasting, and his assignment here places him on the Huskies’ home opener coverage.[16] Clay Harbor, the former NFL tight end, adds name recognition and player insight in the booth; his background as a professional athlete gives the broadcast an ex-player perspective that often appeals to fans looking for analysis beyond the basics.[16] The pairing should make the stream feel polished and accessible for both American and British audiences following the Redbirds and Huskies.
On the field, Illinois State arrives with strong early-season momentum, while Northern Illinois is still searching for a reset after a difficult opening result.[5][7][8] Illinois State’s official preview notes that the Redbirds are ranked No. 4 and enter at 2-0, while NIU are 0-1 heading into the matchup.[5] That contrast gives the game a clear narrative: an unbeaten FCS contender taking on a Group of Five programme in front of a home crowd in DeKalb.
The venue itself adds context, with Huskie Stadium listed at a capacity of 38,211 on the Redbirds’ game preview.[5] Illinois State’s athletics coverage page also points fans toward radio options through WJBC and The Varsity Network, while NIU’s own schedule confirms local radio via WDKB 94.9 FM and the NIU Huskies App.[5][6][8] For supporters unable to attend, the streaming and radio mix ensures there are several ways to follow the game.
There is also a longstanding regional edge to this matchup. Illinois State’s preview says NIU leads the series 26-22-9, and the Huskies won the most recent meeting by 24-10 in 2019.[5] That history adds a touch of rivalry flavour to a game that sits firmly in the early-season schedule but still carries local bragging rights.
Illinois State fans are also being encouraged to make a day of it, with official tailgate information available through the university’s event listing.[11] That underlines the importance of this fixture as more than just a live stream; it is a full game-day occasion for one of the most established football programmes in the state. More background on the Northern Illinois Huskies can be found on the team’s official athletics page at NIU football schedule.
For British viewers, the timing is unusually convenient for a late-evening watch, while American audiences will get a standard Saturday night college football slot.[5][8] With a known commentary team, a clear platform and two Illinois programmes with plenty to play for, this is an easy game to track whether you are watching from DeKalb, Normal, or across the Atlantic.
Article generated: 12 September 2026, 12:12 GMT