Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald would certainly love to beat his alma mater, Northwestern, this Saturday. The former Wildcat head man, fired by Northwestern following a hazing scandal and later settling a wrongful termination lawsuit, now faces his old team in a matchup packed with personal stakes and big implications for both squads.
Fitzgerald’s Spartans Face an Uphill Battle
This game is a true rebuilding job for Fitzgerald and the Spartans, and it is not going well right now. Michigan State is reeling from a four-game losing streak, including a heartbreaking overtime loss to Illinois. They have been battling, hanging around for most of their other three losses, but the team is “super banged up.” To make matters worse, the Spartans have a tough road ahead with trips to UCLA and Michigan coming up next. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic needs to be absolutely on point, especially after connecting on 85% of his throws in that Illinois loss and looking sharp in the opener against Toledo. He will have opportunities, as Northwestern is known to give up midrange passing plays.
Northwestern’s Offense Is Gunning For a Hot Start
On the other side, Northwestern is eyeing a potentially massive second half of the season, and a win in East Lansing would push them to an impressive 5-1 start. The Wildcats have shown grit, battling hard in a 29-23 loss to Indiana, and absolutely blowing out Penn State and Ball State. A huge reason for their success? Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has this attack rolling like a freight train. Against Penn State, his offense ran for 413 yards and four scores. In four other games, they posted 240 passing yards or more, all happening without any big mistakes. Former Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles has been fantastic, leading the Big Ten with an incredible 71% completion percentage, nine touchdown passes, and zero picks. He is locked in.
Fitzgerald’s Michigan State team will no doubt come out with fight and desire for this highly anticipated game, but Northwestern is simply playing too well. Their balanced attack is set to get off to a good start and keep Michigan State at arm’s length all game long. The prediction is Northwestern winning it 31-17.
Catch all the action this Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET on Peacock. This is not just another Big Ten game; it is a moment Pat Fitzgerald has surely been looking forward to, but the Wildcats are ready to spoil the party and cement their red-hot start. Northwestern takes on Rutgers next week, followed by a trip to Oregon, and then a home game against Iowa, so keeping this momentum is key.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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