The 2026 Northwestern Wildcats football team will represent Northwestern University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They are led by fourth-year head coach David Braun. The team will play its first two home games at a temporary facility constructed at the university's Martin Stadium, while playing their final five home games at Ryan Field after construction is finished, debuting on October 2.
Schedule
Game summaries
vs. No. 2 (FCS) South Dakota State
Statistics SDSTNU First downs 27 19 Plays–yards 88–432 55–497 Rushes–yards 40–147 31–224 Passing yards 285 273 Passing: –– 23–48–1 14–24–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 34:08 25:52 Team Category Player Statistics South Dakota State Passing Chase Mason 23/48, 285 yards, INT Rushing Josiah Johnson 19 carries, 79 yards, TD Receiving Grahm Goering 9 receptions, 117 yards Northwestern Passing Aidan Chiles 14/24, 273 yards, TD Rushing Joseph Himon II 4 carries, 87 yards, TD Receiving Griffin Wilde 3 receptions, 104 yards
vs. Colorado
Statistics COLONU First downs 18 21 Plays–yards 62–348 73–423 Rushes–yards 33–180 51–182 Passing yards 168 241 Passing: –– 19–29–2 17–22–0 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 23:07 36:53 Team Category Player Statistics Colorado Passing Julian Lewis 19/29, 158 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing JaQuail Smith 8 carries, 91 yards Receiving DeAndre Moore Jr. 7 receptions, 56 yards Northwestern Passing Aidan Chiles 17/22, 241 yards, 3 TD Rushing Caleb Komolafe 11 carries, 49 yards Receiving Griffin Wilde 5 receptions, 85 yards
at No. 5 Indiana
Statistics NUIU First downs 21 24 Plays–yards 57–325 69–472 Rushes–yards 27–32 40–271 Passing yards 293 201 Passing: –– 22–30–0 19–29–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 25:13 34:47 Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern Passing Aidan Chiles 22/29, 293 yards, 2 TD Rushing Aidan Chiles 13 carries, 43 yards, TD Receiving Luke Dehnicke 7 receptions, 140 yards Indiana Passing Josh Hoover 19/29, 201 yards, TD Rushing Lee Beebe 24 carries, 203 yards, TD Receiving Charlie Becker 7 receptions, 98 yards
vs. Penn State
Statistics PSUNU First downs 20 25 Plays–yards 63–291 69–506 Rushes–yards 22–48 55–413 Passing yards 243 93 Passing: –– 26–41–2 10–14–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 23:55 36:05 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Rocco Becht 26/41, 243 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Carson Hansen 4 carries, 19 yards, TD Receiving Chase Sowell 5 receptions, 68 yards, TD Northwestern Passing Aidan Chiles 10/14, 93 yards Rushing Caleb Komolafe 25 carries, 188 yards, TD Receiving Griffin Wilde 2 receptions, 36 yards
vs. Ball State
Statistics BALLNU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving
at Michigan State
Statistics NUMSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving Michigan State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Rutgers
Statistics RUTGNU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Rutgers Passing Rushing Receiving Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving
at Oregon
Statistics NUORE First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving Oregon Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Iowa
Statistics IOWANU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving
at Ohio State
Statistics NUOSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving Ohio State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Minnesota
Statistics NUMINN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Illinois
Statistics ILLNU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving
References