NEW ORLEANS — Arkansas State could not convert a potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt with 1:14 to play in an eventual 21-19 loss to Northern Illinois in the Camellia Bowl. 
 
The Red Wolves, who were one of an FBS-leading 12 Sun Belt football programs to compete in Bowl Season, fall to 4-7 in 11 all-time bowl appearances. 
 
Freshman quarterback Jaylen Raynor connected with redshirt sophomore wide receiver Corey Rucker on a 13-yard touchdown strike—the lone score of the second half for either team—but could not hit junior wide receiver Reagan Ealy on the two-point try inside two minutes remaining. 
 
After an offside penalty erased a presumed Red Wolves onside kick recovery, the Huskies recovered the re-kick to secure the win. 
 
Raynor also found Rucker for a 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter, while sophomore kicker Dominic Zvada tacked on a pair of second quarter field goals for the Red Wolves. Northern Illinois led 21-13 at the break, as redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi accounted for two touchdowns to sandwich a fake field goal that redshirt sophomore kicker Kanon Woodill carried in for a 32-yard score. 
 
Raynor completed 16-of-30 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, with five completions for 107 yards and both scores to Rucker. Raynor also rushed for a team-high 49 yards in the ground game. Senior cornerback Samy Johnson and redshirt junior linebacker Dane Motley co-led the Red Wolves with 11 tackles apiece in the first bowl appearance since 2019 for the program. 

With the loss, Arkansas State falls to 6-7 on the year.