DeKALB, Ill. – the Northern Illinois University gymnastics team unveiled its 2026 schedule, featuring matchups against two 2025 NCAA Regional teams and five home meets at the NIU Convocation Center.
Head coach Nita Teague stated, “Our first two meets are on the road, and we are looking forward to bonding time at the start of the season.” She added, “We have five home meets this year. We love the energy at the Convo and the athletes feed off the energy there.”
The Huskies will kick off the season on the road against kent State, the 2025 MAC regular season champions, on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 12 p.m. They than travel to Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m.to face the 2025 MAC Tournament runner-up.
NIU’s home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. against Ball State. February includes a meet against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (Feb. 1 at 1 p.m.) and Western Michigan (Feb.6). A dual at Bowling Green is set for Feb. 15, followed by a home tri-meet against Southeast Missouri State and Wilberforce on Friday, feb. 20 – the annual Beauty and the Beast Meet, held concurrently with a NIU wrestling match against SIUE. The huskies then travel to Illinois state on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.
The team will host Central Michigan, the 2025 MAC Tournament Champions, on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. The regular season concludes with a quad-meet at Iowa on Friday, March 6, also including Central Michigan and SEMO, and a dual at Minnesota on sunday, March 15. Minnesota finished the 2025 regular season ranked 10th and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.
All home meets will have free entry for fans. The annual Red-Black intrasquad meet will be held on Friday, Dec. 19 at the NIU Convocation Center.
The 2026 MAC Championship will be hosted by Bowling Green on March 21, and NCAA Regionals are scheduled for April 1-5. NIU has qualified for NCAA Regionals for 11 consecutive seasons, with senior Kiera O’Shea competing on vault at the 2025 Tuscaloosa Regional hosted by Alabama.
