The Zeitgeist List · rivalries
Bronze Stalk Trophy
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →The series is dead even at 24–24–1. They've met 49 times since 1968. Northern Illinois once took 10 straight.
Stature & the series, 1968–2025
Both programs’ standing over time in their colors, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won.
all-time
24–24–1
dead even
streak
1
Northern Illinois in a row
longest run
10
Northern Illinois
biggest win
46
Northern Illinois, 2017
first met
1968
49 meetings
biggest crowd
15,318
2024
The coaching duels
Joe Novak vs Bill Lynch4–2
Thomas Hammock vs Mike Neu1–5
Joe Novak vs Brady Hoke3–2
Bill Mallory vs Dwight Wallace1–3
Jerry Pettibone vs Paul Schudel0–4
Jerry Kill vs Stan Parrish2–1
The draft ledger
Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.
draft picks
25–17
Northern Illinois leads
1st-rounders
2–0
since
1967
first CFBD-carried draft class
1960s1–2
1970s5–4
1980s4–0
1990s1–2
2000s7–5
2010s7–2
2020s0–2
Best picks, either side
2009Larry English Defensive EndRd 1, pick 16#16 overall
2014Jimmie Ward SafetyRd 1, pick 30#30 overall
1976Shafer Suggs Defensive BackRd 2, pick 5#33 overall
1969John Spilis Wide ReceiverRd 3, pick 12#64 overall
2009Robert Brewster Offensive TackleRd 3, pick 11#75 overall
1994LeShon Johnson Running BackRd 3, pick 19#84 overall
1978Maurice Harvey Defensive BackRd 4, pick 2#86 overall
Recent meetings
2025Northern Illinois21–7
2024Ball State25–23
2023Ball State20–17
2022Ball State44–38
2021Northern Illinois30–29
2020Ball State31–25
2019Ball State27–20
2018Northern Illinois24–16
2017Northern Illinois63–17
2016Northern Illinois31–24
2015Northern Illinois59–41
2014Northern Illinois35–21
2013Northern Illinois48–27
2012Northern Illinois35–23