Northwestern Wildcats 2026 stats and results
The Northwestern Wildcats (Big Ten) are 4-1 in the 2026 season through October 10, 2026, scoring 35.4 points per game and allowing 16.2.
Leading players: Aidan Chiles (234.4 passing yards per game); Caleb Komolafe (66.8 rushing yards per game); Griffin Wilde (85 receiving yards per game). College football stat leaders.
Next game: Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan State Spartans
October 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET. Season figures for both teams side by side; the rank in parentheses is among 136 College football teams (1st = the most). Michigan State Spartans stats and results. Full game preview.
| NU | MSU | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 4-1 | 2-4 |
| Points per game | 35.4 (37th) | 21.3 (111th) |
| Points allowed per game | 16.2 (115th) | 25.7 (48th) |
| Passing yards per game | 234.4 (65th) | 185.8 (107th) |
| Passing yards allowed per game | 233.4 (37th) | 193.7 (87th) |
| Rushing yards per game | 203 (33rd) | 121.7 (114th) |
| Rushing yards allowed per game | 147.2 (58th) | 146.3 (60th) |
| Rushing attempts per game | 39.4 (34th) | 37.2 (56th) |
| Rushing attempts allowed per game | 33.8 (87th) | 34.5 (72nd) |
| Completions per game | 16 (104th) | 18.2 (85th) |
| Completions allowed per game | 23.8 (7th) | 15.8 (111th) |
Record
| Split | Record |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4-1 |
Scoring: season, home, road and recent form
| Split | Games | Record | Points for per game | Points against per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 5 | 4-1 | 35.4 | 16.2 |
| Home | 4 | 4-0 | 38.5 | 13 |
| Road | 1 | 0-1 | 23 | 29 |
| Last 5 regular-season games | 5 | 4-1 | 35.4 | 16.2 |
| Last 10 regular-season games (includes 2025) | 10 | 6-4 | 30.1 | 20.5 |
Points per game: 35.4, ranked 62nd of 318 (1st is the highest). Points allowed per game: 16.2, ranked 33rd of 318 (1st is the lowest). Point differential per game: 19.2, ranked 25th of 318 (1st is the highest).
Team box score per game, 2026
| Per game | NU | Opponents |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 234.4 | 233.4 |
| Rushing yards | 203 | 147.2 |
| Rushing attempts | 39.4 | 33.8 |
| Completions | 16 | 23.8 |
| Pass attempts | 22.8 | 39 |
| Interceptions thrown | 0 | 1.2 |
| Sacks | 1.6 | 1.8 |
| Tackles for loss | 9 | 5 |
Averages over 5 regular-season games with a stored box score. Opponent figures are each opponent’s own box score in those games.
Efficiency per attempt, 2026
| Figure | NU | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 234.4 | 107th of 263 |
| Rushing yards | 203.0 | 46th of 263 |
| Passing yards allowed | 233.4 | 179th of 263 |
| Rushing yards allowed | 147.2 | 130th of 263 |
| Plays per game (college: pass and rush attempts) | 62.2 | 196th of 263 |
| Yards per pass or rush attempt | 7.03 | 16th of 263 |
| Yards per pass attempt | 10.28 | 5th of 263 |
| Completion % | 70.2% | 16th of 263 |
| Yards per carry | 5.15 | 55th of 263 |
| Pass play rate | 36.7% | 239th of 263 |
| Interception rate thrown | 0.0% | 1st of 263 |
| Yards allowed per pass or rush attempt | 5.23 | 92nd of 263 |
| Yards allowed per pass attempt | 5.98 | 35th of 263 |
| Opponent completion % | 61.0% | 140th of 263 |
| Yards per carry allowed | 4.36 | 151st of 263 |
| Interception rate made | 3.1% | 78th of 263 |
| Sacks | 1.6 | 164th of 263 |
Ranks are among the teams in the table: 1st is the best (the lowest where less is better, such as turnovers or points allowed per drive). For pace, plays, time of possession and pass rate, which are neither good nor bad, 1st is the highest.
Results
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2026 | vs Ball State Cardinals | W | 45-14 |
| Oct 2, 2026 | vs Penn State Nittany Lions | W | 34-13 |
| Sep 25, 2026 | @ Indiana Hoosiers | L | 23-29 |
| Sep 19, 2026 | vs Colorado Buffaloes | W | 41-7 |
| Sep 5, 2026 | vs South Dakota State Jackrabbits | W | 34-18 |
| Dec 26, 2025 | vs Central Michigan Chippewas | W | 34-7 |
| Nov 29, 2025 | @ Illinois Fighting Illini | L | 13-20 |
| Nov 22, 2025 | vs Minnesota Golden Gophers | W | 38-35 |
| Nov 15, 2025 | vs Michigan Wolverines | L | 22-24 |
| Nov 7, 2025 | @ USC Trojans | L | 17-38 |
| Oct 25, 2025 | @ Nebraska Cornhuskers | L | 21-28 |
| Oct 18, 2025 | vs Purdue Boilermakers | W | 19-0 |
Next game
As of October 15, 2026 at 10:07 PM ET: at the Michigan State Spartans, scheduled for October 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET. Status changes after this update are not reflected here; open the game in StatsNext for its live status.
Northwestern Wildcats player stats
Quarterbacks
- Aidan Chiles (QB)
Running backs
- Caleb Komolafe (RB)
- Gavin Sawchuk (RB)
- Joseph Himon II (RB)
Receivers and tight ends
- Alex Honig (TE)
- Drew Wagner (WR)
- Griffin Wilde (WR)
- Luke Dehnicke (TE)
- Ricky Ahumaraeze (WR)
Northwestern Wildcats head-to-head
- Northwestern Wildcats vs Penn State Nittany Lions (2 meetings)
Big Ten
- UCLA Bruins (5-0)
- Indiana Hoosiers (6-0)
- USC Trojans (6-1)
- Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1)
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (5-1)
- Wisconsin Badgers (4-1)
- Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2)
- Oregon Ducks (3-2)
- Michigan Wolverines (3-2)
- Purdue Boilermakers (3-3)
- Illinois Fighting Illini (3-3)
- Washington Huskies (3-3)
- Penn State Nittany Lions (3-3)
- Michigan State Spartans (2-4)
- Maryland Terrapins (2-4)
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-4)
How to read these numbers
- Records and averages are regular-season games through the date above.
- Small samples early in a season move quickly.
This page shows statistics and results only. It contains no sportsbook prices or betting lines. Current markets, hit rates against the line and StatsNext research are in the app.
Research in StatsNext
- Northwestern Wildcats in StatsNext: Team Research and Matchup Research with current markets
- All College football teams
- College football team stats: offense, defense, home and road
- Completed College football games
- How to research spreads, totals and moneylines