To usher in the new year of 2013, the Northern Illinois Huskies would earn the opportunity of a lifetime.
Ranked No. 15 in the final BCS Poll, the Huskies earned an automatic qualification to participate in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. The up-and-coming NIU program would be pitted against the ACC champions, Jimbo Fisher and the No. 12 Florida State Seminoles.
NIU breezed through the 2012 season with a 12-1 record, rattling off 12-straight victories after a 1-point Week 1 loss to Iowa in Chicago. The Huskies finished their impressive streak by topping No.