Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan State Spartans

Injuries noted

Northwestern Wildcats: Josh Fussell (out) — DB; condition undisclosed.; Daniel Anderson (out) — RB; condition undisclosed.; Max Mohring (out) — LB; condition undisclosed.; Jason Reynolds II (out) — LB; condition undisclosed.; Callen Campbell (out) — DL; condition undisclosed.; Qayvier Johnson (out) — LB; condition undisclosed.; David Anchondo (out) — OL; condition undisclosed.; Ezomo Oratokhai (out) — OL; condition undisclosed.; Jacob Miller (out) — OL; condition undisclosed.; Chris Petrucci (out) — TE; condition undisclosed.; Amare Jordan (doubtful) — LB; condition undisclosed.; Luke Dehnicke (doubtful) — TE; condition undisclosed.; Robert Fitzgerald (doubtful) — Starting safety; October 16, 16:04 UTC report states he was downgraded from questionable; condition undisclosed.; Damon Walters (questionable) — DB; condition undisclosed.; Braden Turner (probable) — DB; condition undisclosed.; Timi Oke (probable) — DB; condition undisclosed.; Migo Jackson (questionable) — DL; listed questionable on the October 14 initial report, reported October 15. Later designation could not be verified.

Michigan State Spartans: Cam Edwards (out for season) — RB; season-ending knee injury.; Cam Fancher (out) — QB; ruled out for Northwestern; condition unspecified in the official preview.; Tre Bell (out) — CB; five starts; condition undisclosed.; Charles Brantley (out) — CB; four starts; condition undisclosed.; Jordan Hall (out) — LB; four starts; condition undisclosed in the official preview.; Keshawn Williams (out) — CB; condition undisclosed.; Tyran Chappell (out) — CB; two starts; condition undisclosed.; Darrin Jones Jr. (out) — RB; condition undisclosed.; Jay Coyne (out) — FB; condition undisclosed.; Caleb Wheatland (out) — LB; one start; condition undisclosed.; Brady Pretzlaff (out) — LB; five starts; condition undisclosed.; Ben Murawski (out) — Starting left tackle; six starts; condition undisclosed.; Tristan Comer (out) — OL; condition undisclosed.; Joe Caudill (out) — TE; condition undisclosed.; Charles Taplin (questionable) — WR; condition undisclosed; October 15 report names him Charles Taplin III, and October 16 reporting retains questionable status.

QUARTERBACK

• Alessio Milivojevic is MSU's projected starter

  6.78 Y/A

  Alessio Milivojevic is MSU's projected starting quarterback. The October 13 official preview identifies him as the starter in all six 2026 games; the October 16 matchup report discusses him directing the offense against Northwestern. No explicit game-day starter announcement was retrieved. 2026 line: 1037 passing yards, 65.4% completions, 6.78 yards per attempt, 5-3 TD-INT over 6 games.

• Aidan Chiles is NU's projected starter

  10.46 Y/A

  Aidan Chiles is NU's projected starting quarterback. October 14 game-week reporting explicitly describes Chiles facing Michigan State's defense Saturday, and Northwestern's October 15 preview features him at quarterback. No explicit game-day starter announcement was retrieved. 2026 line: 1172 passing yards, 71.4% completions, 10.46 yards per attempt, 9-0 TD-INT over 5 games.

TRENCHES

• NU: 203 rushing yards per game to MSU's 121.7

  81.3 YPG

  Northwestern is running for 203 yards a game over five games, up from 160.2 last season, while Michigan State is at 121.7 over six, almost identical to its 122.8. MSU's number is steady and believable. Northwestern's jump is real progress in five games, though some of it should fade against conference fronts. Northwestern will try to win on the ground in East Lansing, and MSU has shown no sign of matching that volume.

PACE & SCRIPT

• NU: 35.4 points per game to MSU's 21.3

  14.1 PPG

  Northwestern is scoring 35.4 points a game over five games, a big jump from 23.4 last season. Michigan State has dropped from 24.6 to 21.3 over six. A 12-point leap in five games deserves some skepticism until it holds against better defenses. On the road, Northwestern's offense is the side carrying the momentum, while Michigan State has not found much scoring.

• NU: 16.2 points allowed per game to MSU's 25.7

  9.5 PPG

  Northwestern is allowing 16.2 points per game over 5 games, better than last season's 19.8, while Michigan State is at 25.7 over 6, an improvement on its 29.9. Both defenses have tightened, but the gap between them holds from last season. Northwestern brings the steadier defense on the road, a fit for a lower-scoring game where Michigan State has to earn its points.

TURNOVERS

• NU: 1.6 takeaways per game to MSU's 0.5

  1.1 TO

  Northwestern forces 1.6 takeaways a game over 5 games, Michigan State 0.5 over 6. Takeaways swing a lot week to week, so both numbers can move fast. The gap is small in game terms, about one extra turnover, but in a tight road game that can decide field position.

MISMATCH

• NU: 203 rush yards a game to MSU's 121.7

  203 VS 121.7

  Northwestern runs for 203 yards a game over five games, up from 160.2 last season. Michigan State is at 121.7 over six, nearly identical to its 122.8 a year ago. Michigan State's number looks like who it is, while Northwestern's jump could cool somewhat. Michigan State has to slow the run at home, or Northwestern can grind out possessions.

REPLACEMENT

• Cam Edwards (RB) is out for the season for MSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  RB; season-ending knee injury. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13) Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Josh Fussell (DB) is out for NU

  OUT

  DB; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Daniel Anderson (RB) is out for NU

  OUT

  RB; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Max Mohring (LB) is out for NU

  OUT

  LB; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Jason Reynolds II (LB) is out for NU

  OUT

  LB; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Callen Campbell (DL) is out for NU

  OUT

  DL; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Qayvier Johnson (LB) is out for NU

  OUT

  LB; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• David Anchondo (OL) is out for NU

  OUT

  OL; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Ezomo Oratokhai (OL) is out for NU

  OUT

  OL; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Jacob Miller (OL) is out for NU

  OUT

  OL; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Chris Petrucci (TE) is out for NU

  OUT

  TE; condition undisclosed. Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Cam Fancher (QB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  QB; ruled out for Northwestern; condition unspecified in the official preview. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Tre Bell (CB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  CB; five starts; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Charles Brantley (CB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  CB; four starts; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Jordan Hall (LB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  LB; four starts; condition undisclosed in the official preview. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Keshawn Williams (CB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  CB; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Tyran Chappell (CB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  CB; two starts; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Darrin Jones Jr. (RB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  RB; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Jay Coyne (FB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  FB; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Caleb Wheatland (LB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  LB; one start; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Brady Pretzlaff (LB) is out for MSU

  OUT

  LB; five starts; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Ben Murawski (OL) is out for MSU

  OUT

  Starting left tackle; six starts; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13) Michigan State-Northwestern scouting report, prediction: Fitz vs Chiles — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press; AOL publication 09:09 UTC (2026-10-16)

• Tristan Comer (OL) is out for MSU

  OUT

  OL; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

• Joe Caudill (TE) is out for MSU

  OUT

  TE; condition undisclosed. Michigan State Hosts No. 25 Northwestern Saturday in Spartan Stadium (2026-10-13)

TEAM RECORD

• Big Ten game: NU 1-1, MSU 0-3 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big Ten. NU is 1-1 against it, MSU is 0-3. 2026 standings through 2026-10-17.