☆Follow

Northwestern Wildcats

2026 season

4th in the Big Ten · 3-1 in the conference

Next: at ORE · Oct 31→

The Northwestern Wildcats are 6-1 in 2026, scoring 34.7 and allowing 16.6 points a game. Next: at Oregon Ducks on Oct 31, 2026.

OverviewScheduleStatsTrends

Season so fariEach game's final margin: green up = win, red down = loss; taller = bigger margin.◷History

6–1 · avg margin 18.1

+16SDST

+34COLO

-6@IU

+21PSU

+31BALL

+3@MSU

+28RUTG

NU · bars scaled to the biggest margin (34).

Offense · strengths and weaknessesiNU's offense: its four best and four worst league ranks (1 = best). Full list on the Stats tab.◷History

of 137 teams

▲ Strengths

Turnovers / game

0.43#3

Passing-down points added?Points added per play in obvious passing situations (2nd & 8+, 3rd/4th & 5+).

+0.60#4

Pass success rate

55%#5

Explosive rush rate?Rushes of 10+ yards. All plays.

19.9%#5

▼ Weaknesses

Interception rate

4.8%#128

Sack rate?Sacks per dropback. Lower is better for an offense; the defense column shows sacks they create.

7.7%#118

Stuff rate?Rushes stopped at or behind the line.

19%#92

Havoc rate faced?TFLs, forced fumbles, interceptions and passes defensed per play.

15.4%#81

Defense · strengths and weaknessesiNU's defense: its four best and four worst league ranks (1 = best). Full list on the Stats tab.◷History

of 137 teams

▲ Strengths

Points / scoring opportunity?Points per drive that reaches the opponent's 40.

2.61#11

Yards / pass attempt

5.9#15

Explosive pass rate?Dropbacks gaining 20+ yards. All plays.

6.8%#15

Red-zone touchdown rate?Drives reaching the 20 that end in a touchdown.

43%#15

▼ Weaknesses

Interceptions forced

0.4%#132

Line yards / rush?Rushing yards credited to the offensive line. Defense column: what it allows.

3.25#119

Stuff rate forced?Rushes stopped at or behind the line.

15%#114

Sack rate generated?Sacks per dropback. Lower is better for an offense; the defense column shows sacks they create.

4.2%#112

How they playiHow the offense plays (pass rate, pace, formation): style, not good or bad.◷History

Pass rate

42%

Standard-down share

71%

Plays / game

60

Early-down pass rate

39%

Neutral-script pass rate

37%

Possession / game

31:11

RatingsiRating: points vs an average team. Talent: recruiting roster rating. Returning: share of last year's production back.

Rating 2026

+5.1

Rating 2025

+5.8

Talent

688

Returning

89%

Records and scoring from final scores; ranks and tendencies from play-by-play. For information only, not betting advice. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.