Matt Tarr has become NIU’s late-inning fireman in 2026
In the 2026 season, Tarr has been a high-leverage reliever for Northern Illinois, leading the team with four saves while posting a 2-1 record, 34 strikeouts in 25.2 innings, and a 3.634 GPA in the classroom too. NIU’s own coverage shows trust in the biggest moments: he finished wins over Presbyterian and Miami, and was part of a bullpen trio that shut down Miami over the final six innings in the MAC tournament. He looks like a strike-throwing competitor with real poise under pressure—exactly the kind of arm that can steady a bullpen.
