Michigan State vs. No. 25 Northwestern: Where and When to Watch
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Who: No. 25 Northwestern Wildcats (4-1, 1-1) at Michigan State Spartans (2-4, 0-3)
Where: Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, noon ET
Watch: Peacock
The Storylines
One of the most anticipated games of Michigan State's season is finally here: the Spartans host Northwestern in a matchup few expected to be a top-25 showdown.
The biggest storyline is the return of Pat Fitzgerald to his alma mater. Fitzgerald spent four years as a linebacker at Northwestern before returning to coach the Wildcats for 17 seasons. After his departure from Northwestern, Fitzgerald eventually found his way to East Lansing, where he now leads the Spartans.
Fitzgerald has publicly stated that this game is not about him, but the return to his former program adds another layer to an already intriguing matchup. Michigan State is still searching for its first Big Ten victory of the season, making this a significant opportunity for the Spartans.
On the other sideline is former Spartan quarterback Aidan Chiles, who has played exceptionally well for Northwestern. Chiles was benched during Michigan State's final four games last season, and following the departure of former head coach Jonathan Smith, he decided his time in East Lansing was over. Now, Chiles returns to Spartan Stadium leading a Wildcats team ranked No. 25 nationally, thanks in large part to its powerful rushing attack.
Michigan State
The Spartans enter Week 7 with just two wins and are riding a four-game losing streak while searching for their first conference victory.
Defensively, Michigan State has struggled to slow opposing offenses. The Spartans allow 192 passing yards per game, the sixth-most in the Big Ten, and 141 rushing yards per game, ranking among the conference's worst teams in that category.
In total, Michigan State allows 334 yards per game, the sixth-most in the Big Ten. The Spartans also surrender 25.7 points per game, the fifth-highest average in the conference, with 154 total points allowed this season.
Offensively, the Spartans have struggled to find consistency. They rank last in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging just 21.3 points per game. With in-state rival Michigan on a bye this week, Michigan State has scored the second-fewest total points in the conference.
The passing game has been particularly concerning. The Spartans average just 165 passing yards per game, the second-lowest mark in the Big Ten, and have thrown only five passing touchdowns, ahead of just UCLA's two.
Michigan State averages 124 rushing yards per game, the fourth-lowest total in the conference.
Northwestern
Northwestern enters the matchup ranked No. 25 nationally with a 4-1 record. Its only loss was a heartbreaking six-point defeat against Indiana, a top-10 team and the defending national champion. The Wildcats are 1-1 in Big Ten play after defeating Penn State last week.
Defensively, Northwestern has allowed just 81 points this season, the fourth-fewest in the Big Ten. Having already played its bye week, the Wildcats average 16.2 points allowed per game, the sixth-best mark in the conference.
However, Northwestern has shown vulnerabilities in both phases of its defense. The Wildcats allow 220 passing yards per game, the third-most in the Big Ten, and 165 rushing yards per game, the fourth-most.
Northwestern's defense has adopted a bend-but-don't-break approach, limiting scoring despite allowing opposing offenses to move the ball.
The Wildcats and Spartans also share a weakness in their pass rush. Northwestern has recorded just eight sacks through five games, while Michigan State has seven through six games.
Fortunately for Northwestern, its offense has helped compensate for those defensive shortcomings. The Wildcats average 35.4 points per game, the sixth-highest mark in the Big Ten.
They aren't particularly reliant on the passing game, averaging 219 passing yards per game, the sixth-lowest total in the conference. Instead, Northwestern leans on its prolific ground attack, averaging 203 rushing yards per game, the third-highest mark in the Big Ten.
Overall
This matchup has all the makings of an old-school, ground-and-pound football game, with plenty of intriguing storylines surrounding Fitzgerald and Chiles.
Both teams will likely look to establish the run, making time of possession and the ability to control the line of scrimmage crucial factors. Whichever team can sustain drives, limit mistakes and keep the opposing offense off the field could have the upper hand.
Michigan State doesn't have many opportunities left to turn its season around, and a home game against a ranked Northwestern team is a chance the Spartans cannot afford to waste. With their first Big Ten win still elusive, the Spartans need to take advantage of playing at home and find a way to come away victorious.
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