Northwestern defeats Michigan State 24-21

Northwestern defeated Michigan State 24-21 in a closely contested matchup. Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles contributed 226 passing yards and one rushing touchdown to lead the Wildcats' offense, which has been shaped by new additions including offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.

The game marked the first appearance for former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald against his former team.

Michigan State's performance was significantly hampered by a high volume of injuries. The Spartans played without their star running back, starting fullback, backup quarterback, starting left tackle, and several key defensive players, including their top three linebackers and top three cornerbacks. These absences forced defensive players NiJhay Burt and Jeremiah Favorite to play all 71 defensive snaps, with Burt returning from a previous injury to assist the depleted secondary.