| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDST
SD State
|
0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
NW
Northwestern
|
7 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 34 |
| Team | ATS (Margin) | O/U (Margin) |
|---|---|---|
|
SDST
SD State
|
+13.5 | 49.5o (2.5) |
|
NW
Northwestern
|
-13.5 (2.5) | 49.5u |
| 1st Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:42 | |
0 - 7 | |
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| 10:50 | |
FG
T. Alvano
21 yard field goal
|
3 - 7 |
| 6:32 | |
FG
J. Kleather
36 yard field goal
|
3 - 10 |
| 1:16 | |
FG
T. Alvano
33 yard field goal
|
6 - 10 |
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| 9:56 | |
FG
T. Alvano
27 yard field goal
|
9 - 10 |
| 7:13 | |
9 - 17 | |
| 2:16 | |
FG
T. Alvano
26 yard field goal
|
12 - 17 |
| 4th Quarter | |||
| 13:32 | |
FG
J. Kleather
38 yard field goal
|
12 - 20 |
| 8:16 | |
Failed Conversion Return
by
D. Walters
|
12 - 22 |
| 8:16 | |
TD
J. Johnson
2 yard run
(2pt attempt failed
)
|
18 - 22 |
| 4:34 | |
18 - 29 | |
| 1:15 | |
18 - 36 | |
| statistical category |
SD State
|
Northwestern
|
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 27 | 19 |
| Rushes-Yards | 40-147 | 31-224 |
| Passing Yards | 285 | 273 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 2-7 | 2-11 |
| Return Yardage | 49 | 40 |
| Passing | 23-48-0 | 14-24-1 |
| Punts-Average | 3-39.7 | 5-24.0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 6-45 | 9-61 |
| Field Goals | 4-5 | 2-2 |
| Time of Possession | 34:08 | 25:52 |
| Passing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | ||||||||||||||
| C. Mason | 23/48 | 285 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Rushing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | ||||||||||||||
| J. Johnson | 19 | 79 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||||
| C. Mason | 13 | 39 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| C. Blair Jr. | 7 | 28 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||
| L. O'Groske | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Receiving | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | |||||||||||||
| G. Goering | 15 | 9 | 117 | 0 | 25 | |||||||||||||
| J. Smith | 9 | 5 | 79 | 0 | 20 | |||||||||||||
| L. O'Groske | 10 | 4 | 60 | 0 | 34 | |||||||||||||
| G. Gannon | 7 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 9 | |||||||||||||
| C. Kuntz | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 13 | |||||||||||||
| C. Blair Jr. | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Interceptions | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | TD | |||||||||||||||
| No Interception Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sacks | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Leiferman | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| C. McShane | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Tackles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TK | AST | ||||||||||||||||
| T. Farr III | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| C. McShane | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| C. Van Tol | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Leiferman | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| D. Ripperda | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | LOST | ||||||||||||||||
| No Fumble Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Punting | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| M. Pelham | 3 | 119 | 48 | |||||||||||||||
| Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| No Punt Return Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kick Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| R. McKinney Jr. | 2 | 49 | 34 | |||||||||||||||
| Passing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | ||||||||||||||
| A. Chiles | 14/24 | 273 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Rushing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | ||||||||||||||
| J. Himon II | 4 | 87 | 1 | 80 | ||||||||||||||
| G. Sawchuk | 8 | 69 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||
| C. Komolafe | 10 | 46 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| A. Chiles | 8 | 18 | 1 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
| D. Wagner | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Receiving | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | |||||||||||||
| G. Wilde | 4 | 3 | 104 | 0 | 71 | |||||||||||||
| D. Wagner | 7 | 3 | 43 | 0 | 22 | |||||||||||||
| L. Dehnicke | 3 | 2 | 41 | 0 | 35 | |||||||||||||
| C. Komolafe | 2 | 2 | 37 | 0 | 25 | |||||||||||||
| A. Honig | 3 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 14 | |||||||||||||
| J. Himon II | 2 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | |||||||||||||
| H. Eligon II | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |||||||||||||
| Interceptions | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | TD | |||||||||||||||
| D. Walters | 1 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Sacks | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Flakes | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Brus | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Tackles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TK | AST | ||||||||||||||||
| K. McKinzie | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Brus | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Flakes | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| T. Gant | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| R. Fitzgerald | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Fussell | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| D. Walters | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | LOST | ||||||||||||||||
| No Fumble Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Punting | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| N. Dugandzic | 5 | 120 | 37 | |||||||||||||||
| Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| D. Wagner | 1 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| Kick Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| J. Himon II | 1 | 16 | 16 | |||||||||||||||
| G. Sawchuk | 1 | 15 | 15 | |||||||||||||||
Location Ryan Field
Temperature 73° Temperature
Attendance 9,574 attendance
| Team | Record | ATS | O/U | Away | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SDST
|
0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
|
NW
|
0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
SDST RecordLast 10
| Date | vs | Result | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, '26 |
STET
|
W 70 - 7 | W -49.5 | o58.5 |
| Dec 06, '25 |
@
MONT
|
L 29 - 50 | -- | -- |
| Nov 29, '25 |
UNH
|
W 41 - 3 | -- | -- |
| Nov 22, '25 |
@
UND
|
W 34 - 31 | -- | -- |
| Nov 15, '25 |
ILST
|
L 21 - 35 | -- | -- |
| Nov 08, '25 |
@
SDAK
|
L 17 - 24 | -- | -- |
| Nov 01, '25 |
INST
|
L 12 - 24 | -- | -- |
| Oct 25, '25 |
NDSU
|
L 7 - 38 | -- | -- |
| Oct 18, '25 |
@
MURR
|
W 35 - 14 | -- | -- |
| Oct 11, '25 |
UNI
|
W 31 - 3 | -- | -- |
SDST Next 3 Games| Date | vs | Last vs | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, '26 |
NEHAV
|
N/A | -- | -- |
| Sep 19, '26 |
YSU
|
W 35-30 | -- | -- |
| Sep 26, '26 |
EIU
|
N/A | -- | -- |
While Northwestern won't christen its newly renovated Ryan Field until Oct. 2, other new wrinkles will be on display when the Wildcats face South Dakota State in the Big Ten team's season opener Saturday night at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Ill.
Atop the list for Northwestern is a multiple attack led by first-year offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, a former head coach with Oregon, UCLA and in the NFL.
Kelly is known for his inventiveness, and that's something the Wildcats lacked last season, when they averaged only 23.4 points and 346.1 yards per game.
Aidan Chiles will start at quarterback Saturday for Northwestern after starting 20 games across two seasons at Michigan State following a stint as an Oregon State backup. Wildcats coach David Braun lauded Chiles for his "consistency" and "comfort" while the QB won an offseason position battle.
Griffin Wilde projects as one of Chiles' top targets. After spending his first two collegiate seasons at South Dakota State, Wilde was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree with 880 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
The running back corps offers a mix of incumbents, including Caleb Komolafe (941 yards and 11 touchdowns last season) and transfer Gavin Sawchuk.
"You get excited to come here every day because the people in this building get you excited about being around them," Kelly said. "You want to be around them. They're good people, and they have the same shared common goal."
A Football Championship Subdivision foe, South Dakota State (1-0) thumped visiting Stetson 70-7 in its season opener last Saturday.
The Jackrabbits rushed for 393 yards while averaging 8.7 yards per carry. James Basinger and Corey Blair both gained over 100 yards on the ground and combined for three touchdowns.
Quarterback Chase Mason connected with Jack Smith on a 73-yard score on the first play from scrimmage to spark South Dakota State.
"We're going to be pumped for next week," Mason said. "Every week, it's a nameless and faceless opponent, so we're just planning on executing our game plan, what the coaches do, and trust in that."
--Field Level Media
South Dakota State's Injuries| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No injuries to report. | ||||
Northwestern's Injuries| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H. Eligon II | WR | Questionable - Lower Body( Sep 05, '26) | Sep 05, '26 | |
| Eligon II is bothered by a lower body injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will be active against Colorado on Saturday, September 19th. | ||||
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.Mason | Aug 29, 2026 | SDST 70 - STET 7 | 157 | 10 | 5 | 50.0 | 15.7 | 1/0 | 0.0 |
| J.Holst | Aug 29, 2026 | SDST 70 - STET 7 | 78 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 78.0 | 1/0 | 0.0 |
| C.Mason | Dec 6, 2025 | MONT 50 - SDST 29 | 356 | 36 | 19 | 52.8 | 9.9 | 1/2 | 133.9 |
| C.Mason | Nov 29, 2025 | SDST 41 - UNH 3 | 230 | 20 | 16 | 80.0 | 11.5 | 3/1 | 216.1 |
| J.Henry | Nov 29, 2025 | SDST 41 - UNH 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 2.0 | 1/0 | 446.8 |
| J.Henry | Nov 22, 2025 | UND 31 - SDST 34 | 132 | 17 | 6 | 35.3 | 7.8 | 2/2 | 0.0 |
| J.Henry | Nov 15, 2025 | SDST 21 - ILST 35 | 254 | 51 | 32 | 62.7 | 5.0 | 1/2 | 0.0 |
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P.Stone | Dec 26, 2025 | NW 34 - CMU 7 | 226 | 31 | 19 | 61.3 | 7.3 | 3/0 | 154.5 |
| R.Boe | Dec 26, 2025 | NW 34 - CMU 7 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 25.0 | 2.5 | 0/1 | -4.0 |
| P.Stone | Nov 29, 2025 | ILL 20 - NW 13 | 163 | 36 | 19 | 52.8 | 4.5 | 1/3 | 83.3 |
| P.Stone | Nov 22, 2025 | NW 38 - MINN 35 | 305 | 30 | 25 | 83.3 | 10.2 | 2/0 | 190.7 |
| R.Boe | Nov 22, 2025 | NW 38 - MINN 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0/0 | 0.0 |
| P.Stone | Nov 15, 2025 | NW 22 - MICH 24 | 184 | 27 | 13 | 48.1 | 6.8 | 0/0 | 105.4 |
| P.Stone | Nov 7, 2025 | USC 38 - NW 17 | 150 | 30 | 20 | 66.7 | 5.0 | 1/0 | 119.7 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Play | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Rush Yds | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Rush Att | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Rush | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Pass Yds | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Pass Att | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Comp | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Comp% | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Comp | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Att | (--) | 0.0 |
| .0 | (--) | QB rating | (--) | .0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 358.0 |
| 5.5 |
| 140.7 |
| 34.6 |
| 4.1 |
| 217.8 |
| 30.3 |
| 18.9 |
| 62.4 |
| 11.5 |
| 7.2 |
| - |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Sacks | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Sack Yds | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Intercepts | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Fumbles | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Penalties | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Penalty Yds | (--) | 0.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 1.8 |
| 11.5 |
| 0.4 |
| 0.5 |
| 6.5 |
| 53.7 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Score | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 1st Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 2nd Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 3rd Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 4th Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 27.0 |
| 5.3 |
| 8.9 |
| 5.9 |
| 7.0 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Punt Ret | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/KO Ret | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | FG Att | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | FG Made | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | FG% | (--) | 0.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 13.8 |
| 23.8 |
| 2.2 |
| 1.7 |
| 75.7 |
