How to watch No. 25 Northwestern vs. Michigan State: Live stream, TV, preview for Saturday's game

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In a Big Ten matchup of two teams whose coaches and players have significant history, Northwestern and Michigan State will meet Saturday at Spartan Stadium on NBCSN on Peacock.

After entering the Associated Press' Top 25 poll for the first time since January 2021, the Wildcats (1-1 Big Ten, 4-1) will be on the road to face former coach Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired by Northwestern in 2023 amid a hazing scandal.

Fitzgerald, who hired Wildcats head coach David Braun as a defensive coordinator, is in his first season as head coach of the Spartans (0-3, 2-4) after becoming the winningest coach in Northwestern history over his 17 seasons.

Wildcats quarterback Aidan Chiles, who has thrown for 1,172 yards and completed more than 70% of his passes without an interception this season, spent the last two years with Michigan State before transferring.

It's the first meeting between the schools since the 2021 season opener when the Spartans won their third consecutive game in the series.

More information below on how to watch the game and previews for each team:

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Northwestern:

The Wildcats are off to their best start in six years, and their only loss was a 29-23 road defeat to No. 5 Indiana.

Under new offensive coordinator (and former NFL coach) Chip Kelly, Northwestern has become a scoring machine this season, averaging 35.4 points per game and 7.08 yards per play (which ranks third in the Big Ten behind Indiana and Ohio State).

In addition to maximizing production from Chiles (who is averaging a career-high 10.5 yards per pass attempt), Kelly has employed innovative formations such as the Wing-T. That's fostered some major gains for running backs Caleb Komolafe (334 rushing yards, three TDs), Joseph Himon II (319 rushing yards, 13.9 yards per carry, three TDs), and Gavin Sawchuk (194 rushing yards).

"Coach Kelly's a genius," Chiles said. "He knows everything that's going on. He knows everything going on during the play, after the play, before the play."

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr scrambles with the ball during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on

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Wide receiver Griffin Wilde (24 catches, 425 receiving yards, three TDs) has been Chiles' primary target and ranks second in the Big Ten behind Jeremiah Smith for receptions (95) since the start of last season.

Northwestern is allowing 16.2 points per game with a defense under Tim McGarigle, who is in his third season as coordinator after becoming the program's all-time leading tackler as a star linebacker from 2003-05.

Defensive back Robert Fitzgerald returned an interception for a TD and earned the country's highest coverage grade from Pro Football Focus in a 45-14 victory over Ball State last week.

Michigan State:

Fitzgerald has downplayed the emotions of his first time coaching against Northwestern, where he starred as a linebacker from 1993-96 before spending 22 seasons on the coaching staff. Promoted to head coach at 31 in 2006, he was the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the year and led the Wildcats to the conference championship game twice and 10 bowl appearances.

"This week and this game is not about me," said Fitzgerald, who settled a wrongful termination lawsuit against Northwestern for undisclosed terms in August 2025. "It’s about the players on both teams. I’m very proud of my experience as a player (at Northwestern) and the great teammates I had. Very proud of the teams and the coaches I had a privilege to coach there. And very thankful for that experience. But I’m a Spartan. And I’m proud to be a Spartan, and I’m honored to be here.”

He is the third coach in four seasons for Michigan State, which is off to its worst start since 2023 while coming off four consecutive losing seasons.

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During their four-game losing streak, the Spartans have allowed 31.8 points per game, and their offense ranks last in scoring, total yards and yards per play. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, who replaced Chiles as the starter last year, led a rally from 17-0 with scores on six of the final eight drives of a 38-37 overtime loss to Illinois last week.

Iowa transfer Jaziun Patterson (five rushing TDs this season, career-high 93 rushing yards and four TDs against Illinois) has become the featured running back since a season-ending injury last month for UConn transfer Cam Edwards.

A Spartans defense decimated by injuries has been led by redshirt junior safety Devin Vaught, a Maine transfer with a team-high 38 tackles.