The 2001 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Joe Novak, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 4–3 in conference play, sharing the MAC's West Division title with Ball State and Toledo. Northern Illinois played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.