Northwestern Wildcats Football

Northwestern opens the 2026 season against South Dakota State on Saturday, Sep 5 at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium.

The Read

Northwestern opens a 12.5-point favorite. Our model gives Northwestern a 78% chance.

WIN PROBABILITY

NU 78% SDST 22%

PROJECTED FINAL

Northwestern

30

South Dakota State

17

NU win
78% One-score game
30%

What's driving the model

Home-field edge NU

Market lean NU

Model projection NU

Each game samples a margin around the market spread and a final total around the market total.

Sim the game South Dakota St @ Northwestern

Your sims:Sims: NU 0, SDST 0

SDST@

South Dakota St @ Northwestern

Sat, Sep 5 · 7:00 PM CDT

CFB VIBES MODELNU 78% to win

BTNSIM NOW →

@

Colorado @ Northwestern

Sat, Sep 19 · 6:30 PM CDT

CFB VIBES MODELNU 69% to win

SIM NOW →

@#6

Northwestern @ Indiana

Fri, Sep 25 · 8:00 PM EDT

CFB VIBES MODELIU 93% to win

FOXSIM NOW →

#18@

Penn State @ Northwestern

Fri, Oct 2 · 7:00 PM CDT

CFB VIBES MODELPSU 66% to win

FOXSIM NOW →

Standings

Full standings →

Place	TEAM	CONF	OVERALL
12	MINNMinnesotaMINN	0–0	0–0
13	NEBNebraskaNEB	0–0	0–0
14	NUNorthwesternNU	0–0	0–0
15	PURPurduePUR	0–0	0–0
16	RUTGRutgersRUTG	0–0	0–0

Rankings

All rankings →

Rank	AP TOP 25
1	OSUOhio StateOSU
2	OREOregonORE
3	UGAGeorgiaUGA
4	NDNotre DameND
–	NUNorthwesternNU

Rank	COACHES
1	OSUOhio StateOSU
2	OREOregonORE
3	UGAGeorgiaUGA
4	TEXTexasTEX
–	NUNorthwesternNU