Northwestern Opens as 23.5-Point Underdog Against No. 5 Indiana

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Northwestern has opened the 2026 season with two impressive wins, but the Wildcats will enter their first Big Ten game as one of the biggest underdogs in the country.

The Wildcats are currently 23.5-point underdogs against No. 5 Indiana ahead of Friday night’s matchup in Bloomington. Indiana is listed as a 23.5-point favorite, setting the stage for a major challenge for Northwestern despite its 2-0 start.

Northwestern has looked strong through its first two games.

The Wildcats opened the season with a 34-18 win over South Dakota State before dominating Colorado 41-7 in their final game at the lakefront. Northwestern has scored 75 points through two games and surpassed 400 total yards in both contests, giving the Wildcats plenty of momentum heading into conference play. 

Indiana, however, has been even more dominant.

The Hoosiers enter the matchup at 3-0 after opening the season with a 52-16 win over North Texas, a 55-0 shutout of Howard and a 38-0 victory over Western Kentucky. Indiana has outscored its opponents 145-16 through three games and currently sits at No. 5 in the country.

That production helps explain why the oddsmakers have such a large number attached to Friday’s game.

A 23.5-point spread means Indiana is expected to win by more than three touchdowns, a significant statement considering Northwestern has already shown it can compete at a high level early in the season.

The Wildcats also know what Indiana can do from last season. Indiana defeated Northwestern 41-24 in the teams’ most recent meeting, giving the Hoosiers another reason for confidence heading into Friday’s matchup. 

But this Northwestern team is entering the game with a different level of confidence than it had a year ago.

Aidan Chiles has looked increasingly comfortable in Chip Kelly’s offense through two games, throwing for 514 yards and four touchdowns without an interception while adding three rushing scores. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for five touchdowns in the win over Colorado.

Joseph Himon II has provided another explosive element, while Griffin Wilde has emerged as one of Chiles’ most reliable targets. Northwestern’s defense has also created turnovers and consistently given the offense opportunities to build leads.

Now, all of that will be tested against one of the strongest teams on the schedule.

Indiana has not simply been winning. The Hoosiers have controlled their first three games from start to finish, allowing only 16 total points. Quarterback Josh Hoover has thrown for 649 yards through three games, while running back Turbo Richard has already recorded 315 rushing yards. 

For Northwestern, Friday represents a chance to find out how much the first two weeks really mean.

The Wildcats have played a strong brand of football, protected the football and shown they can make explosive plays on both sides of the ball. But facing a top-five opponent on the road is a completely different challenge.

The 23.5-point spread makes that clear.

It will be interesting to see how Northwestern responds to being given so little credit entering the matchup. The Wildcats have already shown they are capable of surprising people, and a win in Bloomington would immediately become one of the biggest upsets of the young college football season.

More importantly, Northwestern does not need to listen to the number. The Wildcats only need to play the same brand of football that has gotten them to 2-0.

If Chiles continues to make smart decisions, the offense continues to create explosive plays and the defense can force Indiana into mistakes, Northwestern could make Friday night much more competitive than the betting line suggests.

The Wildcats will have their opportunity Friday at 7 p.m. CT in Bloomington. For the first time this season, Northwestern will find out what its 2-0 start looks like against one of the best teams in the country.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos