2021 Cure Bowl

The 2021 Cure Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 17, 2021, at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The seventh edition of the Cure Bowl, the game featured the Northern Illinois Huskies of the Mid-American Conference and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers of the Sun Belt Conference. The game began at 6:00 p.m. EST and aired on ESPN2. It was one of the 2021–22 bowl games concluding the 2021 FBS football season. Sponsored by digital marketplace Tailgreeter, the game was officially known as the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl.

Northern Illinois entered the game with a 9–4 record while Coastal Carolina entered with a 10–2 record. Northern Illinois came into the game following a win in the 2021 MAC Championship Game. Coastal Carolina would enter the game with a two-game winning streak. Coastal Carolina was favored to win the game, as they entered the game favored to win by 9.5 points. The game was expected to be a close game between Northern Illinois's and Coastal Carolina's rushing offenses, both of which finished top ten in the FBS.^[3]

On the first drive of the game, Northern Illinois would score a touchdown. This would be the first of eight straight drives that resulted in scores. The first possession of the game not to result in a score was the last drive of the first half, where half time prematurely ended the possession. Northern Illinois would lead at half time by seven points. The second half started by four straight touchdown drives. With 0:54 to go in the third quarter, Coastal Carolina punted for the first time in the game by either team. Northern Illinois would respond with a field goal that would be their last score of the game. Coastal Carolina would score two more touchdowns and force a turnover on downs and fumble. On the last possession of the game, Northern Illinois would advance to Coastal Carolina's five yard line before time ran out. Coastal Carolina defeated Northern Illinois 47–41, to claim their first bowl win in program history.^[4]