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The Northwestern Wildcats won their home opener against South Dakota State this past Saturday, 34-18, and now have a week of rest ahead of them with Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes headed to Evanston, Ill. for a 7:30 pm kickoff on Sept. 19 

The Wildcats and their fans have been busy digesting and breaking down their opening win, which included a 17-point fourth quarter explosion that helped David Braun's team secure the victory.

Jackrabbits quarterback Chase Mason was a thorn in Northwestern's side for much of the game, passing for 285 yards, but his efficiency took a hit as he completed less than half of his passes (23-of-48) on the evening. 

Wildcats safety Robert Fitzgerald helped lead the defense against Mason, showcasing his talents in an impressive performance that still has people talking. 

Fitzgerald Surpasses Big Ten DBs With 14 Tackles

Fitzgerald recorded 14 combined tackles and one pass break-up against Mason and the Jackrabbits, helping him to surpass all of his contemporaries among Big Ten defensive backs with a remarkable statistical achievement. 

"Since the 2025 season began, there have been five performances of 13+ tackles and 1+ PBU (pass breakups) by a Big Ten player," reporter Charle Spungin of Northwestern Athletics wrote. 

"Northwestern's Robert Fitzgerald owns THREE of those five games," he added, listing the 2025 Michigan and Purdue games along with this past Saturday's games as his three such performances. 

Fitzgerald's willingness to play from the back line of the Wildcats' defense to the first and second levels helps him to impact the game in ways most other safeties could never dream of, and the stats clearly bear it out so far during his career.

Sanders, Buffaloes Run Game Up Next

Sanders and the Buffaloes' offense will present a big challenge for Fitzgerald and Tim McGarigle's Wildcats defense as they are coming off of a big road win against Georgia Tech and gunning for another big win. 

The Buffaloes' rushing attack helped to control the clock vs. the Yellow Jackets as Sanders' team held the ball for over eight minutes longer than their opponents. 

Running backs Damian Henderson and Micah Welch combined for over 100 yards and a touchdown in the 14-13 Buffaloes win. 

Fitzgerald and a stout Wildcats defensive front will be tasked with slowing down the Buffaloes' multi-faceted running attack in what will be the final home game at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. 

For the star Wildcats safety and his teammates, the game represent a chance to continue positive momentum heading into the long-awaited debut of the new Ryan Field on Oct. 2 against Penn State, and a chance to prove themselves against their first big name opponent of the 2026 season. 

Expect another big performance from Fitzgerald as he continues to lift his Wildcats teammates to new levels for coach Braun's team. 

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