| Team | Record | ATS | O/U | Away | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WIU
|
0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-0-0 |
NW
|
0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-0-0 |
WIU RecordLast 10
| Date | vs | Result | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, '25 |
@
ILL
|
L 3 - 52 | L 48.5 | u62.5 |
| Nov 23, '24 |
WEBB
|
W 45 - 28 | W 6.5 | o67.0 |
| Nov 16, '24 |
@
SEMO
|
L 45 - 54 | W 21.5 | o63.5 |
| Nov 09, '24 |
TNST
|
L 20 - 45 | L 4.5 | o61.5 |
| Nov 02, '24 |
@
EIU
|
L 38 - 45 | L 5.5 | o61.5 |
| Oct 26, '24 |
@
LIN
|
L 38 - 49 | L 9 | o60.0 |
| Oct 19, '24 |
TNTC
|
W 37 - 21 | W 9.5 | u60.5 |
| Oct 12, '24 |
UTM
|
L 17 - 45 | L 21.5 | o59.5 |
| Oct 05, '24 |
@
CHSO
|
W 31 - 20 | W 13.5 | u52.5 |
| Sep 28, '24 |
MCKE
|
W 49 - 32 | -- | -- |
WIU Next 3 GamesLast Meeting ( Sep 20, 2014 ) Western Illinois 7, Northwestern 24
Northwestern coach David Braun lauded his team's resolve, if not the result, after the Wildcats' season-opening, 23-3 loss at Tulane.
"We talked about how adversity's going to hit," Braun said. "Well, adversity punched us in the mouth on Saturday. Here it is. How are we going to respond? So far, I've been really impressed with our leadership."
Northwestern will look to translate intangibles into intensity -- and, ideally, touchdowns -- during Friday night's home opener against FBS foe Western Illinois.
Struggles on the line of scrimmage must subside for the Wildcats to earn a victory and mount momentum ahead of a visit from powerhouse Oregon next week.
The Wildcats allowed 269 rushing yards at Tulane. Meanwhile, the Green Wave defense sacked Wildcats quarterback Preston Stone three times while forcing two fumbles, including one that was lost.
Stone, an SMU transfer, was 19-for-36 passing for 161 yards and a career-high four interceptions.
"He knows he needs to play better," Braun said. "You know, it was our first time in the arena with him in a game-day arena to recognize the way that he sees the game in a competitive, live format. And maybe we need to rein things in here a little bit or clarify. Like, ‘Preston, you know you don't have to do it all for us, right? Just play your game and just be you.'"
Northwestern hopes to get healthier in the secondary. Ore Adeyi practiced Monday while Braun said Damon Walters remains "week to week." Both missed the Tulane game.
Western Illinois (0-1) is out to improve in the second leg of a season-opening road trip against in-state Big Ten foes. The Leathernecks absorbed a 52-3 drubbing at then-No. 12 Illinois on Aug. 29, getting outgained 440-163.
Illinois scored the first 38 points before Antonio Chadha connected on a 20-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, allowing the Leathernecks to avoid a shutout.
Those points marked the first by an Illinois FCS school against the Fighting Illini since 2018, and Western Illinois quarterback Chris Irvin knows they were well-earned.
"They were pretty physical up front and got to me quickly," Irvin said. "I had to get the ball out of my hands."
Protecting Irvin, who made his first start after serving as backup in 2024, will be key against the Wildcats. Western Illinois allowed four sacks and four quarterback hurries.
--Field Level Media
Western Illinois's Injuries| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No injuries to report. | ||||
Northwestern's Injuries| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. Strong | DL | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Strong is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| M. Smith | LB | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Smith is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| B. Blueitt | WR | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Blueitt is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| T. Crane | WR | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Crane is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| D. Roberts | DL | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Roberts is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| J. Fussell | CB | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Fussell is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| J. Lewis | CB | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Lewis is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| M. Keeler | OG | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Keeler is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| T. Williams Jr. | CB | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Williams Jr. is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| M. Jackson | DL | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Jackson is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| J. Borcherding | OG | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Borcherding is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| D. Walters | CB | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 27, '25) | Sep 27, '25 | |
| Walters is dealing with an undisclosed issue and is uncertain to take the field for the Wildcats. | ||||
| C. Porter | RB | Out - Lower Body( Sep 08, '25) | Sep 08, '25 | |
| Porter is dealing with a lower-body injury and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season. | ||||
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.Irvin | Aug 29, 2025 | ILL 52 - WIU 3 | 134 | 29 | 14 | 48.3 | 4.6 | 0/0 | 87.1 |
| N.Lamb | Nov 23, 2024 | WIU 45 - WEBB 28 | 352 | 33 | 23 | 69.7 | 10.7 | 2/1 | 0.0 |
| N.Lamb | Nov 16, 2024 | SEMO 54 - WIU 45 | 449 | 39 | 24 | 61.5 | 11.5 | 3/3 | 0.0 |
| T.Zolnosky | Nov 16, 2024 | SEMO 54 - WIU 45 | 51 | 3 | 3 | 100.0 | 17.0 | 1/0 | 0.0 |
| N.Lamb | Nov 9, 2024 | WIU 20 - TNST 45 | 266 | 45 | 24 | 53.3 | 5.9 | 1/0 | 0.0 |
| C.Irvin | Nov 9, 2024 | WIU 20 - TNST 45 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 11.5 | 0/0 | 0.0 |
| A.McKay Jr. | Nov 9, 2024 | WIU 20 - TNST 45 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0/1 | 0.0 |
| N.Lamb | Nov 2, 2024 | EIU 45 - WIU 38 | 309 | 43 | 29 | 67.4 | 7.2 | 3/0 | 0.0 |
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P.Stone | Aug 30, 2025 | TULN 23 - NW 3 | 161 | 36 | 19 | 52.8 | 4.5 | 0/4 | 68.1 |
| J.Lausch | Nov 30, 2024 | NW 28 - ILL 38 | 287 | 48 | 25 | 52.1 | 6.0 | 2/2 | 107.7 |
| R.Boe | Nov 30, 2024 | NW 28 - ILL 38 | 42 | 13 | 4 | 30.8 | 3.2 | 0/1 | 42.5 |
| J.Lausch | Nov 23, 2024 | MICH 50 - NW 6 | 106 | 21 | 10 | 47.6 | 5.0 | 0/2 | 71.0 |
| R.Hilinski | Nov 23, 2024 | MICH 50 - NW 6 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 66.7 | 3.7 | 0/0 | 97.5 |
| J.Lausch | Nov 16, 2024 | NW 7 - OSU 31 | 201 | 35 | 21 | 60.0 | 5.7 | 0/0 | 108.2 |
| J.Lausch | Nov 2, 2024 | PUR 20 - NW 26 | 250 | 35 | 23 | 65.7 | 7.1 | 1/0 | 135.1 |
| R.Hilinski | Nov 2, 2024 | PUR 20 - NW 26 | 52 | 4 | 2 | 50.0 | 13.0 | 0/1 | 109.2 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 163.0 | (--) | Yards | (--) | 421.0 |
| 3.0 | (--) | Yards/Play | (--) | 5.7 |
| 29.0 | (--) | Rush Yds | (--) | 269.0 |
| 26.0 | (--) | Rush Att | (--) | 42.0 |
| 1.1 | (--) | Yards/Rush | (--) | 6.4 |
| 134.0 | (--) | Pass Yds | (--) | 152.0 |
| 29.0 | (--) | Pass Att | (--) | 32.0 |
| 14.0 | (--) | Comp | (--) | 18.0 |
| 48.3 | (--) | Comp% | (--) | 56.2 |
| 9.6 | (--) | Yards/Comp | (--) | 8.4 |
| 4.6 | (--) | Yards/Att | (--) | 4.8 |
| 87.1 | (--) | QB rating | (--) | 106.5 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 350.0 |
| 5.4 |
| 149.2 |
| 35.3 |
| 4.2 |
| 201.3 |
| 29.7 |
| 18.3 |
| 61.7 |
| 11.0 |
| 6.8 |
| - |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | (--) | Sacks | (--) | 1.0 |
| 17.0 | (--) | Sack Yds | (--) | 9.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Intercepts | (--) | 0.0 |
| 1.0 | (--) | Fumbles | (--) | 0.0 |
| 8.0 | (--) | Penalties | (--) | 5.0 |
| 59.0 | (--) | Penalty Yds | (--) | 55.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 1.9 |
| 12.3 |
| 0.6 |
| 0.5 |
| 6.1 |
| 51.0 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | (--) | Score | (--) | 23.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 1st Q | (--) | 7.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 2nd Q | (--) | 13.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 3rd Q | (--) | 3.0 |
| 3.0 | (--) | 4th Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 24.8 |
| 5.3 |
| 7.5 |
| 5.3 |
| 6.5 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Punt Ret | (--) | 1.5 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/KO Ret | (--) | 18.0 |
| 1.0 | (--) | FG Att | (--) | 3.0 |
| 1.0 | (--) | FG Made | (--) | 3.0 |
| 100.0 | (--) | FG% | (--) | 100.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 11.2 |
| 21.6 |
| 8.3 |
| 6.6 |
| 79.2 |
