Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Northwestern Wildcats Final — October 24, 2026
RUTGOffense2026 regular season to dateNU
RUTGDefenseNURUTGRecent formNURUTGHome and roadseason to dateNURUTGLast 10 gamesNURest & travelrest and travel
RUTGRest & travelNUAbout these numbers
2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (138 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.
Last five results this season, oldest to newest. Records are season to date, with home and road splits. Against-the-spread (ATS) and over–under records use the consensus closing line.
Margin of each of the last 6 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
The pre-game matchup
Rutgers (1-4) visited Northwestern (4-1) on Saturday, October 24 at 12:00 PM ET.
Rutgers has the 109th-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 107th-ranked defense (ranks among the 138 teams with play-by-play data). Meanwhile, Northwestern has the 3rd-ranked offense and the 64th-ranked defense. When Rutgers has the ball, a 109th-ranked offense (−0.050 EPA per play) meets a 64th-ranked defense (+0.054 allowed); when Northwestern has it, a 3rd-ranked offense (+0.327) meets a 107th-ranked defense (+0.169 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the Rutgers offense is at 49.1% (45th) and the Northwestern offense at 54.7% (4th). Rutgers scores 25.8 points per game (70th) and allows 36.8 (125th); Northwestern scores 33.4 (28th) and allows 16.8 (15th).
Rutgers is 2-4 and 3-3 against the spread; its last game was a 37-30 win over Maryland. Northwestern is 5-1 and 4-2 against the spread; its last game was a 24-21 win over Michigan State.
Northwestern closed as a 15.5-point favorite at home against Rutgers. The spread opened at Northwestern -16.5. The total closed 58.5, unchanged from the open. After removing the vig, the closing moneyline (Rutgers +525, Northwestern -750) prices Rutgers at 15% and Northwestern at 85%.
Written from the numbers available before kickoff.
Result
Final score and result vs the closing line
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 14, Northwestern Wildcats 42
Northwestern Wildcats won by 28.
- Against the closing spread (Northwestern Wildcats -15.5): Northwestern Wildcats covered.
- Combined score 56 vs the closing total of 58.5: Under.
- Northwestern Wildcats closed at -750 on the moneyline (a 85% no-vig market-implied chance).
Before the game: market and G&W
From open to close the market moved 2 points toward Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Market numbers are the consensus moneyline with the bookmaker margin removed.
Win probability
Each team's chance of winning through the game, starting from the market's closing price (Rutgers Scarlet Knights 15%, Northwestern Wildcats 85%) and moving with every snap until the final.
Game DNA
| Rutgers | Points added | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| -5.9 | Passingdropbacks | +1.1 |
| +1.4 | Rushingdesigned runs | -0.5 |
| +15.1 | Explosive plays5 plays · 6 plays | +21.1 |
| -8.3 | Turnovers2 giveaways · 1 giveaways | -5.5 |
| +3.0 | Special teamskicks, punts and returns | -0.6 |
| -1.4 | Penaltiespre-snap and dead-ball | -1.9 |
| -11.6 | Red zoneTDs on trips: 0 of 3 · 4 of 4 | +5.9 |
| -7.7 | All plays | +19.6 |
The biggest single gap: red zone, worth about 17.4 points to Northwestern Wildcats. The final margin was 28.
Points added: what each team's plays added to its expected points, credited to the team with the ball. Each play counts once.
The official play, graded
The official play on this game, at the price it was sent, graded against the final score.
Every official play is logged and graded, wins and losses alike. Full track record.
Line review
Northwestern Wildcats closed as the market favourite at 85% and won.
The line moved toward Rutgers Scarlet Knights before kickoff, and they lost.
Market
Closing line and line movement
Rutgers +16.5 (-110)
Rutgers +15.5 (-112)
Northwestern -902 86%
Northwestern -750 85%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. Open = first line after both teams' previous games; Close = consensus at kickoff. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Members
G&W Line
G&W’s own number for this game, next to the market. Analytics
Matchup
Players to watch
- Attempts127
- Completion %58.3%180th
- Passing yards1,066168th
- Yards per attempt8.456th
- TD–INT10–6
- Rushing yards49844th
- Season line105 carries, 498 yds, 5 TD
- Receiving yards7415th
- Season line42 catches, 741 yds, 9 TD
- Tackles30427th
- Attempts139
- Completion %70.5%15th
- Passing yards1,39895th
- Yards per attempt10.18th
- TD–INT9–0
- Rushing yards40187th
- Season line75 carries, 401 yds, 4 TD
- Receiving yards48240th
- Season line30 catches, 482 yds, 3 TD
- Tackles5249th
Season passing totals from public box scores, captured before kickoff. Ranks among the 262 quarterbacks with at least 60 attempts. Rushing, receiving and tackle leaders: season totals captured October 21, 5:34 a.m. ET; ranks among FBS players.
Success by situation
| Situation | Rutgers | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| Early-down success rateRutgers offense vs Northwestern defense | 46.6%26th | 44.1%87th |
| Early-down success rateNorthwestern offense vs Rutgers defense | 44.3%89th | 49.3%10th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateRutgers offense vs Northwestern defense | 42.3%53rd | 41.4%79th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateNorthwestern offense vs Rutgers defense | 39.6%61st | 46.9%29th |
| Explosive play rateRutgers offense vs Northwestern defense | 5.6%105th | 6.6%62nd |
| Explosive play rateNorthwestern offense vs Rutgers defense | 8.8%125th | 9.2%15th |
| Pass rateshare of plays that are passes or sacks | 50.7%71st-highest | 43.7%116th-highest |
On 3rd down Rutgers converts 42.3% (53rd) against a Northwestern defense allowing 41.4% (79th).
On 3rd down Northwestern converts 46.9% (29th) against a Rutgers defense allowing 39.6% (61st).
2026 regular season before kickoff, from play-by-play with garbage time removed; ranks among the 138 teams in the play-by-play data (defense: 1st = allows the least). Success = a play that gains expected points.
Coaching staff
| Staff | Rutgers | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Greg Schiano | David Braun |
| Tenureat this school | 7th season | 4th season |
| Record at schoolthis season included, as of the date below | 101–112 | 24–20 |
| Career recordas an FBS head coach | 101–112 | 24–20 |
| Offensive coordinator | Kirk Ciarrocca | Chip Kelly |
| Defensive coordinator | Travis Johansen | Tim McGarigle |
Staff list as of October 20, 6:50 a.m. ET.
Head-to-head
The teams have met 2 times since 2021: Rutgers won 1 and Northwestern 1.
| Date | Score | Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2023 | Northwestern 7, Rutgers 24 Rutgers won | ||
| Oct 16, 2021 | Rutgers 7, Northwestern 21 Northwestern won |
Meetings since 2021, most recent first. Line and total are the consensus closing numbers where line history is available.
Teams
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights team stats
- Michigan Wolverines at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Oct 31)
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37, Maryland Terrapins 30 (Oct 17)
- Indiana Hoosiers 47, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 15 (Oct 3)
- USC Trojans 42, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 35 (Sep 19)
Northwestern Wildcats
- Northwestern Wildcats team stats
- Northwestern Wildcats at Oregon Ducks (Oct 31)
- Northwestern Wildcats 24, Michigan State Spartans 21 (Oct 17)
- Ball State Cardinals 14, Northwestern Wildcats 45 (Oct 10)
- Penn State Nittany Lions 13, Northwestern Wildcats 34 (Oct 2)
Gridiron & Wine graded a pick on this game: see the archived pick.
More NCAAF games on October 24, 2026
- LSU Tigers 38, Auburn Tigers 17 (Oct 24)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders 24, Cincinnati Bearcats 37 (Oct 24)
- Rice Owls 49, Florida Atlantic Owls 51 (Oct 24)
- Pittsburgh Panthers 23, Miami Hurricanes 52 (Oct 24)
- Indiana Hoosiers 13, Michigan Wolverines 6 (Oct 24)
- California Golden Bears 20, SMU Mustangs 59 (Oct 24)
- West Virginia Mountaineers 24, TCU Horned Frogs 20 (Oct 24)
- Western Michigan Broncos 38, Toledo Rockets 45 (Oct 24)
- Miami (OH) RedHawks 28, Central Michigan Chippewas 27 (Oct 24)
- Baylor Bears 24, Kansas Jayhawks 25 (Oct 24)
- Akron Zips 20, Kent State Golden Flashes 35 (Oct 24)
- Oregon Ducks 10, Illinois Fighting Illini 21 (Oct 24)
- Texas A&M Aggies 20, Alabama Crimson Tide 31 (Oct 24)
- Sacramento State Hornets 17, Ball State Cardinals 34 (Oct 24)
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