Northwestern opens the 2026 football season against South Dakota State at home. The Wildcats went 7-6 last year, including 4-5 in the Big Ten.
Current 2026 Win Total Odds
Northwestern’s win total for 2026 is 5.5.
The Wildcats have won at least seven games two of the last three years. They most recently failed to win seven games in 2024 (4-8).
2026 Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule
Northwestern’s non-conference schedule begins in Week 1 with a home game vs. South Dakota State. The Hawkeye’s road opener is Sept. 25, a conference game against Indiana.
Northwestern’s first conference game is the aforementioned Sept. 25 matchup at Indiana.
Non-Conference Matchups
- Sept. 5: vs. South Dakota State
- Sept. 19: vs. Colorado
- Oct. 10: vs. Ball State
Of Northwestern’s non-conference opponents, South Dakota State won the most games in 2025; the Jackrabbits went 9-5.
Big Ten Conference Matchups
- Sept. 25: at Indiana
- Oct. 2: vs. Penn State
- Oct. 17: at Michigan State
- Oct. 24: vs. Rutgers
- Oct. 31: at Oregon
- Nov. 7: vs. Iowa
- Nov. 14: at Ohio State
- Nov. 21: at Minnesota
- Nov. 28: vs. Illinois
Of Northwestern’s conference opponents, Indiana won the most games; the Hoosiers went 16-0, including 9-0 in the Big Ten.
2025 Northwestern Football Results
Northwestern went 6-6 during the 2025 regular season. They beat Central Michigan in the Gameabove Sports Bowl to finish 7-6.
- Aug. 30: at Tulane – Loss (23-3)
- Sept. 5: vs. Western Illinois – Win (42-7)
- Sept. 13: vs. Oregon – Loss (34-14)
- Sept. 27: vs. UCLA – Win (17-14)
- Oct. 4: vs. ULM – Win (42-7)
- Oct. 11: at Penn State – Win (22-21)
- Oct. 18: vs. Purdue – Win (19-0)
- Oct. 25: at Nebraska – Loss (28-21)
- Nov. 7: at USC – Loss (38-17)
- Nov. 15: vs. Michigan – Loss (24-22)
- Nov. 22: vs. Minnesota – Win (38-35)
- Nov. 29: at Illinois – Loss (20-13)
- Dec. 26: vs. Central Michigan* – Win (34-7)
*neutral site
Visit the online sportsbook to bet on Northwestern odds and more college football odds throughout the year.
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