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Northwestern

Fearless Forecast: Northwestern vs. Western Illinois

by: Matthew Shelton09/05/25M_Shelton33
Preston Stone Caleb Komolafe
Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone (8) hands the ball off to running back Caleb Komolafe (5) against Tulane. Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Northwestern’s season got off to a disastrous start last week with a 23-3 loss to Tulane on the road.

The Wildcats are home now, licking their wounds, with a short week and an FCS opponent, Western Illinois, in town under Friday night lights at Martin Stadium, with a 6:30 pm CT kick.

The Leathernecks had an even worse start to their season, a resounding 52-3 defeat at No. 11 Illinois.

The Wildcats want to hit restart and get quarterback Preston Stone in a rhythm after he threw four interceptions in NOLA, and their defense to play fast and physical after allowing 269 rushing yards to the Green Wave.

This is by no means a gimme game, however. In-state FCS teams have plagued Northwestern in the past: the Wildcats lost to Southern Illinois in 2022 and Illinois State in 2016.

Can the Wildcats get back on track with a win over Western? Or will another directional Illinois school from a lower division shock them once again? Our staff weighs in with their picks.

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Matt Shelton (0-1)

There has been plenty of discourse around David Braun and this team in the aftermath of Tulane, but he has taken care of business in these games during his tenure. His Wildcats are 2-0 against FCS teams, and 4-0 against teams outside the Power Five at home.

Last season, the offense was abysmal and they still handled Eastern Illinois, 31-7, with quarterback Jack Lausch making his starting debut. Stone was able to deliver with a clean pocket last week against Tulane, going 17-for-26 for 138 yards, per PFF, when he wasn’t pressured. The offensive line should be able to give him plenty of those opportunities against an FCS squad.

Similarly, on defense, edge rusher Anto Saka should be able to make his presence felt after making just one tackle at Tulane. The list of players with something to prove after last week is lengthy. Western Illinois is the perfect chance to take out some of their frustrations and get some semblance of a rhythm.

Still, Northwestern’s offense has yet to score 40 points with Zach Lujan at offensive coordinator. I pick the Wildcats to win comfortably but not authoritatively.

Prediction: Northwestern 34, Western Illinois 7

MORE FROM WESTERN ILLINOIS WEEK: Know your opponent: Western Illinois | Stone, Wilde keeping faith in the offense after struggles at Tulane | PFF Grades | PFF Snaps | Notebook: Braun clarifies Tulane jersey controversy, tries to steady the ship | The 3-2-1 after Northwestern’s ugly season opener

Louie Vaccher (0-1)

No matter what happens against Western Illinois, the Wildcats’ won’t be able to completely rinse the bad taste out of their mouths from last week’s ugly 20-point loss at Tulane. Nothing they do against an FCS opponent will completely restore faith in this team.

However, they can build some confidence and establish some things they can rely on before No. 5 Oregon comes to town next week. This is what I’d like to see from the Wildcats on Friday night:

  • Stone to regain his mojo. No one in the country has more interceptions than the grad transfer from SMU, who needs to make some strong, accurate throws from a clean pocket to feel like himself again.
  • The O-line to impose its will. Northwestern’s rebuilt offensive line struggled last week against Tulane. They should be able to push around a smaller Leathernecks’ front to both protect Stone and, more critically, run the ball down their throats.
  • The D-line to wreak some havoc. Illinois sacked WIU QB Chris Irvin five times last week and racked up 14 TFL. Let’s see if Northwestern’s front can dominate the line of scrimmage and make life difficult for the Leathernecks.

We all know that there’s no such thing as a pushover for Northwestern after watching Wildcat teams lose three times to FCS foes under former coach Pat Fitzgerald. It would be great to see the Wildcats stomp on the Necks’ necks, cover the 28.5-point spread and run them off the field. But it probably won’t be that easy.

Prediction: Northwestern 31, Western Illinois 13

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