Northern Illinois University announced Monday that its 2027 home football game against USF has been moved to Week Zero.
Originally slated for Week 4 on Saturday, September 25, the matchup will now kick off on Saturday, August 28, 2027, at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill. The contest will mark the fifth all‑time meeting between the two programs.
The shift follows the NCAA’s June decision to adopt a standardized 14‑week regular‑season format beginning in fall 2027. Under the new structure, FBS teams can open most seasons in Week Zero—the weekend prior to Labor Day—and conclude play the week after Thanksgiving.
Previously, only Hawaii, teams traveling to Hawaii, and their opponents were permitted to schedule Week Zero games. FCS programs could also participate if the matchup was nationally televised, though that exception has been removed beginning this fall.
The 2027 Bulls-Huskies game is the second leg of a home‑and‑home series that began in 2016, when USF defeated Northern Illinois 48-17 in Tampa, Fla.
Northern Illinois’ 2027 non‑conference schedule also features Nebraska on the road on Sept. 4, Stony Brook at home on Sept. 11, and a road trip to face Colorado on Sept. 18.
USF’s remaining non‑conference slate for 2027 includes Louisville at home on Sept. 4, a road trip to Boise State on Sept. 11, and a home date with Florida A&M on Sept. 18.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES