Northwestern
2026 record
6-2
Against the spread
5-3 ATS
Over / Under
6-2 O/U
Top performers — 2026
Season leaders in each category, by yards. Box-score totals — site context only, never used by the model.
Passing
Aidan Chiles QB
1,898 yds · 13 TD · 202 att
Rushing
Caleb Komolafe RB
618 yds · 5 TD · 104 car
Receiving
Griffin Wilde WR
761 yds · 5 TD · 44 rec
Team stats
National rank in parentheses (1 of 138 FBS teams). Green is good, red is bad, on each stat's own scale.
Plain box-score averages, 2026 season. No opponent adjustment — a soft schedule flatters these numbers.
| Category | Offense | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 34.7 (35th) | 16.6 (22nd) |
| Total yards per game | 433.1 (35th) | 369.3 (77th) |
| Rushing yards per game | 203.7 (25th) | 157.4 (90th) |
| Passing yards per game | 229.4 (67th) | 211.9 (75th) |
| Yards per play | 6.97 (13th) | 5.49 (58th) |
| Third-down conversions | 47.6% (25th) | 38.8% (67th) |
Opponent-adjusted efficiency — the model’s own 2026 ratings.
| Category | Offense | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Overall efficiency (EPA/play) | 0.23 (12th) | 0.15 (43rd) |
| Success rate | 9.0% (7th) | 1.7% (91st) |
| Explosive plays (15+ yds, all) | 4.0% (2nd) | 1.0% (65th) |
| Explosive RUN plays | 2.4% (22nd) | -1.3% (118th) |
| Pass-game success rate | 13.5% (7th) | 5.8% (38th) |
| Line yards per carry | 3.0 (65th) | 3.1 (111th) |
| Stuff rate (runs at/behind line) | 19.1% (85th) | 16.9% (99th) |
| Power-run success (3rd/4th & short) | 82.0% (21st) | 72.5% (91st) |
| Havoc rate (TFL/sack/PBU/FF) | 15.5% (81st) | 16.5% (60th) |
2026 results
ATS = covered the closing spread · O/U = hit the closing total. Graded after the fact, never fed into the model.
| Opponent | Result | ATS | O/U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 9 | @ Oregon | L 26–34 | ✗ | O |
| Wk 8 | vs Rutgers | W 42–14 | ✓ | U |
| Wk 7 | @ Michigan State | W 24–21 | ✗ | U |
| Wk 6 | vs Ball State | W 45–14 | ✗ | O |
| Wk 5 | vs Penn State | W 34–13 | ✓ | O |
| Wk 4 | @ Indiana | L 23–29 | ✓ | O |
| Wk 3 | vs Colorado | W 41–7 | ✓ | O |
| Wk 1 | vs South Dakota State | W 34–18 | ✓ | O |
Team fingerprint
NorthwesternPercentile vs all FBS · 2026 season. Dashed ring = FBS median.