The 1998 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by third-year head coach Joe Novak, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 2âÂÂ9 with a mark of 2âÂÂ6 in conference play, placing fifth in the MAC's West Division. Northern Illinois played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois. On October 17, the Huskies ended the longest active losing streak at the time, beating Central Michigan.