Western Illinois at Northwestern - 2025 Matchup Preview

Western Illinois Leathernecks at Northwestern Wildcats

Friday, September 5th 2025 (7:30 PM EDT)
Northwestern -30.5 (48.5) (-50000) Open: -28.0 | 51.5
Northwestern 42 - Western Illinois: 7

Leathernecks (0 - 2) (0 - 2 - 0)
Coach ( - )
Avg Score : 5 - 47 (5 - 47 on Road)
Wins: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
Losses: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

WIU 2nd straight Road Game
Our Line: Northwestern -2 (SP+ NW -4)
NW Win prob: 96% | Cover: 54%

Wildcats (1 - 2) (2 - 1 - 0)
Coach David Braun (12 - 13)
Avg Score : 20 - 21 (28 - 21 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 3.6 - 8.4 (#122)
Wins: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)
Losses: (Elite: 0) (Good: 1) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: 5) (Good: 2) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 4)

Matchup
Schedules
WIU Players
NW Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Western Illinois's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Fri 8/29	Western Illinois at Illinois	+48.5	62.5	L 3 - 52	U	N
Fri 9/5	Western Illinois at Northwestern	+30.5	48.5	L 7 - 42	O	N

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Western Illinois's Schedule

Northwestern's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/30	Northwestern at Tulane	+6.5	47.5	L 3 - 23	U	N
Fri 9/5	Northwestern vs Western Illinois	-30.5	48.5	W 42 - 7	O	Y
Sat 9/13	Northwestern vs Oregon	+25.5	50.5	L 14 - 34	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/27	Northwestern vs UCLA	-8.5
Sat 10/4	Northwestern vs UL Monroe	-22.5
Sat 10/11	Northwestern at Penn State	+33
Sat 10/18	Northwestern vs Purdue	-6.5
Sat 10/25	Northwestern at Nebraska	+20.5
	BYE WEEK
Sat 11/8	Northwestern at USC	+28.5
Sat 11/15	Northwestern vs Michigan	+20.5
Sat 11/22	Northwestern vs Minnesota	+11
Sat 11/29	Northwestern at Illinois	+23.5

Total: Elite: 5, Good: 3, Avg 0, Bad 2, Poor 2
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 1, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 5, Good: 2, Avg 0, Bad 2, Poor 2
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 1, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Northwestern's Schedule

Important Stats (2025)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
WIU		0%	5	0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%	47	0%	0%	0	0	0	0
NW	#124 (.03)	44% (69)	19.7	47% (53)	2.79 (88)	178	44% (70)	180	0.3 (135)	#53 (.08)	38% (55)	21.3	47% (103)	28% (15)	2 (15)	33.3	2.7	0.7

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
WIU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
NW	#129 (.02)	37% (123)		39% (113)	2.63 (124)	99	36% (116)	186	3.02 (127)	#57 (.15)	45% (106)		44% (80)	46% (117)	3.74 (64)	38.8	1.5	1.3

Overall Stats 2025

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
WIU Offense	2	5	5	0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
NW Defense	3	21.3	20.5	37.5%	2	0.7	-	-	-	-	-	52%	47%	47%	28%	15%	.08

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
WIU Defense	2	47	47	0%	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
NW Offense	3	19.7	28	43.7%	0.3	2.7	19	359	178	180	5.1	43%	54%	47%	44%	19%	.03

Additional Stats 2025

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Western Illinois	2	0:00	0	NAN%	0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	100
Northwestern	3	31:37	19.3	41%	43%	4.7	33.3	2.7	0.7	3.3	1	0	26.5

Run Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
WIU Offense	2	0%	0%	0	0	0	0		0	0%	0%	0
NW Defense	3	52% (89)	47% (103)	-	-	-	-	.28 (123)	3.6 (133)	75% (80)	5% (131)	1.1 (99)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
WIU Defense	2	0%	0%	-	-	-	-		0	0%	0%	0
NW Offense	3	43% (109)	47% (53)	35	178.3	5.1	4 (79)	.06 (92)	2.79 (88)	71% (67)	10% (88)	0.87 (93)

Pass Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
WIU Offense	2	0%	0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0%	0%		0%	0
NW Defense	3	47% (46)	28% (15)	-	-	-	-	-	-	2 (56)	-.03 (18)	1.4 (42)	33% (66)	32% (91)	.33 (85)	11% (6)	1.9 (61)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
WIU Defense	2	0%	0%	-	-	-	-	-	-	0		0	0%	0%		0%	0
NW Offense	3	54% (41)	44% (70)	17	29	180.3	6.2	10.6	3 (90)	6 (132)	.14 (104)	1.2 (120)	25% (26)	20% (124)	.12 (113)	9% (131)	1.6 (116)

Western Illinois's Power Ratings
Western Illinois's Power Rating: #NR
Western Illinois's Offense Rating: #NR
Western Illinois's Defense Rating: #NR
2025 Talent Rating: #
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #NR
Western Illinois's 2025 Expected Record: -
Western Illinois's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: #N/A
Western Illinois's Offense SP+ Rating: #N/A
Western Illinois's Defense SP+ Rating: #N/A

Average Talent
Average MVFC Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.85

Power Ratings Matchup
Western Illinois: Northwestern: 2.23

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Western Illinois: Northwestern: -4.3

Northwestern's Power Ratings
Northwestern's Power Rating: 2.23 #69
Northwestern's Offense Rating: 2.81 #116
Northwestern's Defense Rating: -0.96 #25
2025 Talent Rating: 840.00 #41
Blue Chip Ratio: 3 #65
Northwestern's 2025 Expected Record: 3.6 - 8.4
Northwestern's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: -4.3 #83
Northwestern's Offense SP+ Rating: 17.9 #124
Northwestern's Defense SP+ Rating: 22.1 #41

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 906.67
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.85

Western Illinois Scoring
Offense: 5 PPG
Offense on Road: 5
Defense: 47 PPG
Defense on Road: 47

Western Illinois's 2025 Record
Record: 0 - 2
Record vs Spread: 0 - 2 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 2
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 2 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 0 - 2 - 0
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 0 - 2 - 0

Projected Score
Northwestern 25
Western Illinois 23

Total Points: 48

Northwestern Scoring
Offense: 19.7 PPG
Offense at Home: 28
Defense: 21.3 PPG
Defense at Home: 20.5

Northwestern's 2025 Record
Record: 1 - 2
Record vs Spread: 2 - 1 - 0
Record at home: 1 - 1
Record vs Spread at home: 2 - 0 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 1 - 0 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 1 - 0 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Winner	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2025	09/05	Northwestern	42	Western Illinois	7	Northwestern	Northwestern -30.5	Northwestern	48.5	Over
2014	09/20	Northwestern	24	Western Illinois	7	Northwestern	Northwestern -23	Western Illinois	0

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Northwestern	2	1	1 Overs
Western Illinois	0	1	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	2 - 0	1 - 1	1 - 1	0 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 2	1 - 1	0 - 0	1 - 1

(#NR) Western Illinois Info
Power Rating: #NR
Offense Rating: #NR
Defense Rating: #NR
Overall SP+ Rating: #N/A
Offense SP+ Rating: #N/A
Defense SP+ Rating: #N/A
Talent Rating: #
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #NR
Expected Record: -

Western Illinois has lost 1 straight
Western Illinois has lost 1 straight on the Road
Record on Road: 0 - 2 (0 - 2 - 0 vs Spread )

Western Illinois Highlights

Western Illinois Deficiencies
Western Illinois has a really bad Offense
Western Illinois Defense Gives up a Lot of Points

Performance GradesPerf Grades
CategoryCat	NW	WIU
OverallOver	#72	—
OffenseOff	#45	—
DefenseDef	#97	—
Special TeamsST	#98	—
PassingPass	#111	—
RushingRush	#29	—
Run BlockRBLK	#2	—
Pass BlockPBLK	#62	—
Route RunningWR Rt	#84	—
TacklingTkl	#115	—
Run DefenseR Def	#101	—
Pass Rush DefPRush	#56	—
Coverage DefCov	#82	—

Rematch from Week 2
Northwestern -30.5 (48.5)
Northwestern won vs Western Illinois this year (42-7)

Weather Forecast
Playing in L&S Martin Stadium (Temp)
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Team Information
Injuries: WIU | NW
Depth Chart: WIU | NW
Rosters: WIU | NW

(#69) Northwestern Info
Power Rating: 2.23 #69
Offense Rating: 2.81 #116
Defense Rating: -0.96 #25
Overall SP+ Rating: -4.3 #83
Offense SP+ Rating: 17.9 #124
Defense SP+ Rating: 22.1 #41
Talent Rating: 840.00 #41
Blue Chip Ratio: 3 #65
Expected Record: 3.6 - 8.4

Team Profile
Pass heavy Offense 54%, Run: 43%
Bad Offense Success Rate of 44%
Awful Offensive Explosiveness
Awful in Scoring Position 0.3 PPO
Avg Run Success 47%
Bad Pass Success 44%
Good OL Grades, Bad OL Yds Per Rush
Bad DL Grades, Awful Sacks/Turnovers
Avg Defense Success Rate of 38%
Great in Scoring Position 2 PPO
Poor Run Def Success 47%
Great Pass Def Success 28%
Bad Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Bad Field Position

Northwestern has lost 1 straight
Record at home: 1 - 1 (2 - 0 - 0 vs Spread)

Northwestern Notes
(9/9) Top RB Cam Porter out for the season, ouch
(8/30) Stone 4 Int vs Tulane, Run Off & Run Def awful
(7/23) QB is Stone (SMU), no depth, Lausch retired
(5/21) Can WR Wilde (FCS SDSU) bring hope?
(5/21) DL is light, but has exp and some pass rush
(5/21) CBs exp'd but avg, Safeties are good though
(5/21) WR complete rebuild. Depth looks meh, huge ?
(5/21) OL 3/5 back, awful LY. 3 portals, OT Tiernan great
(4/4) RB Porter back, some depth. Run game awful LY
(4/4) Def good LY, returns a lot. 3 portal adds

Northwestern Highlights
Northwestern is Undefeated vs Spread at Home

Northwestern defense is really good in red zone (#15)
Northwestern has a good pass defense (#15)
Northwestern Secondary is very good (#6)

Northwestern Deficiencies
Northwestern has a really bad Offense
Northwestern has a bad TO Margin (#131)
Northwestern throws a Lot of Interceptions (#132)
Northwestern offense is not Explosive (#115)
Northwestern offense is bad in Scoring Opportunities (#135)
Northwestern does not Sack the QB (#112)
Northwestern Does Not Stuff Runs (#130)
Northwestern has a bad defensive line (#133)

Western Illinois's OC

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Chris Irvin	32	67	48%	408	3	2	6.1
Cason Carswell	6	8	75%	52	1	0	6.5

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Markell Holman	40	146	1	3.7	18
Brinston Williams	11	76	1	6.9	21
Tanner Zolnosky	6	50	0	8.3	24
Chris Irvin	22	28	1	1.3	20

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Demari Davis	12	217	1	18.1	36
Christian Anaya	6	74	1	12.3	30
Brandon Lanier	6	73	1	12.2	18
Alex Williams	5	45	1	9.0	17

View Western Illinois's Full Roster

Western Illinois's DC

Top Def	Tack	TFL	PD
Malini Ti'a	16	0	0
Buju Aumua-Tuisavura	16	0	0
Christian Pierce	16	1	0
Esteban Guillory	15	0	1

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS
David Dunston	3	1	1
Jalen Nicolas	1	1	1
Peyton Bradford	5	1	1
Payne Miller	5	2	1

Pass D	Tack	PD
Chikala Warden	5	1
Esteban Guillory	15	1
Jaylen Olokun	4	1

Northwestern's OC Zach Lujan

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Preston Stone (Tr)	51	86	59%	541	3	6	6.3
Frank Covey IV	0	1	0%	0	0	0	0.0

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Caleb Komolafe	36	150	1	4.2	24
Joseph Himon II	28	137	0	4.9	16
Cam Porter	18	137	1	7.6	43
Dashun Reeder	4	92	1	23.0	79

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Griffin Wilde (Tr)	15	213	0	14.2	46
Ricky Ahumaraeze	4	73	0	18.3	21
Joseph Himon II	7	59	0	8.4	14
Hunter Welcing	5	55	1	11.0	28

View Northwestern's Full Roster

Northwestern's DC Tim McGarigle

Top Def	Tack	TFL	PD
Robert Fitzgerald	27	1	0
Mac Uihlein	21	2	0
Braydon Brus	12	0	2
Garner Wallace	9	0	1

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Carmine Bastone	9	2	2	0	1
Aidan Hubbard	9	2	1	2	0
Michael Kilbane	7	2	1	1	0
Robert Fitzgerald	27	1	0	0	0

Pass D	Tack	PD
Josh Fussell	4	4
Fred Davis II (Tr)	6	3
Braydon Brus	12	2