The 1972 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University in the 1972 college football season. The Huskies competed in the highest division of football at the time: Division I, also known as the University Division, where they competed among the Independents schools of the league. They were led by head coach Jerry Ippoliti, his second season with the team and the first NIU coach with a winning record in Division I football. They played their home games at Huskie Stadium.