Big Ten · FBS
Northwestern 6-2
2026 season · Wildcats
No. 47 toughest schedule of 138 — see full rankings
Northwestern is 6-2 under head coach David Braun. Its eight opponents were a combined 18-16 before playing the Wildcats and are 14-10 since. The best win was over Colorado, which was 2-0 going in.
Next game: vs. Iowa,
Data last updated
Open a row to see that opponent's season, split into games before Northwestern, the game itself, and games after. Total includes the game vs. Northwestern.
Wk 1·
South Dakota State
Home · MVFC · FCS
W 34-18
- Before
- 1-0
- After
- 6-1
- Total
- 7-2
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Wk 1
South Dakota State
Home · MVFC · FCS
Show South Dakota State's seasonHide South Dakota State's season
W 34-18
1-0
6-1
7-2
Wk 1·
South Dakota State
Home · MVFC · FCS
W 34-18
- Before
- 1-0
- After
- 6-1
- Total
- 7-2
Show South Dakota State's seasonHide South Dakota State's season
Wk 1
South Dakota State
Home · MVFC · FCS
Show South Dakota State's seasonHide South Dakota State's season
W 34-18
1-0
6-1
7-2
Wk 5·
Home · Big Ten
W 34-13
- Before
- 3-1
- After
- 1-2
- Total
- 4-4
Show Penn State's seasonHide Penn State's season
Wk 5
W 34-13
3-1
1-2
4-4
Wk 5·
Home · Big Ten
W 34-13
- Before
- 3-1
- After
- 1-2
- Total
- 4-4
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Wk 5
W 34-13
3-1
1-2
4-4
Wk 6·
Home · Mid-American
W 45-14
- Before
- 1-4
- After
- 2-0
- Total
- 3-5
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Wk 6
W 45-14
1-4
2-0
3-5
Wk 6·
Home · Mid-American
W 45-14
- Before
- 1-4
- After
- 2-0
- Total
- 3-5
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Wk 6
W 45-14
1-4
2-0
3-5
Wk 7·
Away · Big Ten
W 24-21
- Before
- 2-4
- After
- 0-1
- Total
- 2-6
Show Michigan State's seasonHide Michigan State's season
Wk 7
W 24-21
2-4
0-1
2-6
Wk 7·
Away · Big Ten
W 24-21
- Before
- 2-4
- After
- 0-1
- Total
- 2-6
Show Michigan State's seasonHide Michigan State's season
Wk 7
W 24-21
2-4
0-1
2-6
Wk 11·
Upcoming
- Before
- 6-2
- After
- —
- Total
- 6-2
Show Ohio State's seasonHide Ohio State's season
Wk 11
Upcoming
6-2
—
6-2
Wk 11·
Upcoming
- Before
- 6-2
- After
- —
- Total
- 6-2
Show Ohio State's seasonHide Ohio State's season
Wk 11
Upcoming
6-2
—
6-2
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Head coach
- David Braun
- Stadium
- Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium, seats 12,023, Evanston, Illinois
- NFL draft
- 2 picked in the 2026 NFL draft, earliest in round 3
Receipt insights
- Northwestern is 0-1 vs. currently ranked teams, with 2 more on the schedule.
- Best win by opponent record: South Dakota State, now 7-2 (won 34-18, Wk 1).
Combined opponents
Across 8 completed games · 4 upcoming left out
0-1 vs. teams ranked that week
Before playing Northwestern
18-16
52.9%
vs. Northwestern
2-6
25.0%
After playing Northwestern
14-10
58.3%
Total (including vs. Northwestern)
34-32
51.5%
Teams we beat21-28total (42.9%)
Before playing Northwestern 11-13 · after 10-9
Teams that beat us13-4total (76.5%)
Before playing Northwestern 7-3 · after 4-1
How we count
Records are summed once per game on this schedule, so an opponent who shows up twice is counted twice. Before playing Northwestern uses only that opponent's games completed before the kickoff. vs. Northwestern is the opponents' combined record in those head-to-head games. After playing Northwestern uses only games completed later. Total adds the three together. Canceled, postponed, and vacated games are excluded. Winning percentage counts a tie as half a win.
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