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Western Illinois at Northwestern

Friday, September 5, 2025

Northwestern beat Western Illinois 42–⁠7. It was their second meeting; Northwestern leads the series 2–⁠0.

AwayWestern Illinois4–⁠8 in 2025
7
HomeNorthwestern7–⁠6 in 2025
42

Final at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium, EvanstonTV: BTNAttendance 9,647

At kickoff
63°F, clear, wind 7 mph from the westWeather: NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network hourly; Chicago Palwaukee Airport, 21 km from the stadium, 22 minutes after kickoff
Official
Jeremy ValentineGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Western Illinois00077
Northwestern15761442

Standouts

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Western Illinois

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Chris Irvin5/182701
Cason Carswell6/85210
Christian Anaya1/13100
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Markell Holman1352012
Brinston Williams21107
Cason Carswell3809
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Demari Davis346031
Brandon Lanier226014
Christian Anaya31718
Alex Williams216013
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Justin Richardson11100
Christian Pierce10000
Malini Ti’a10000
Buju Aumua-Tuisavura9000
Peyton Bradford1110

Northwestern

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Preston Stone21/2924530
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Cam Porter1291143
Caleb Komolafe1163024
Ryan Boe158158
Joseph Himon II840016
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Griffin Wilde594046
Ricky Ahumaraeze352020
Hunter Welcing234128
Cam Porter323012
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Carmine Bastone41.51.50
Michael Kilbane40.50.50
Mac Uihlein4001
Dillon Tatum4000
Robert Fitzgerald40.500

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

Western IllinoisNorthwestern
181Total yards526
110Passing yards245
71Rushing yards281
4.1Yards per pass8.4
3.1Yards per rush6.9
10First downs24
2–⁠12Third downs8–⁠16
0–⁠0Fourth downs1–⁠1
1Turnovers1
3–⁠13Penalties6–⁠54
24:06Possession35:54
1Sacks (by defense)2

Efficiency

Western IllinoisNorthwestern
30%Success rate47%
−0.03EPA per play0.30
1.48Explosiveness1.38
0.36Rushing EPA0.20
−0.14Passing EPA0.56
22%Passing-down success31%
−0.02First-down EPA−0.22
−0.07Second-down EPA0.24
0.02Third-down EPA1.27
16%Havoc by its defense24%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Northwestern 86% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

Northwestern −30.5, over/under 48.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Northwestern 99%, Western Illinois 1%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

Northwestern end zoneWestern Illinois end zoneQ1 NorthwesternTouchdown, 6 playsQ1 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 playsQ1 NorthwesternTouchdown, 5 playsQ1 Western IllinoisInterception, 6 playsQ1 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 2 playsQ1 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 playsQ1 NorthwesternPunt, 6 playsQ2 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 playsQ2 NorthwesternPunt, 7 playsQ2 Western IllinoisPunt, 10 playsQ2 NorthwesternPunt, 4 playsQ2 Western IllinoisPunt, 3 playsQ2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 13 playsQ2 Western IllinoisTurnover on downs, 1 playQ3 Western IllinoisTurnover on downs, 5 playsQ3 NorthwesternField goal, 9 playsQ3 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 playsQ3 NorthwesternField goal, 7 playsQ3 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 playsQ3 NorthwesternTouchdown, 10 playsQ4 Western IllinoisPunt, 3 playsQ4 NorthwesternTouchdown, 3 playsQ4 Western IllinoisTouchdown, 10 playsQ4 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 4 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Northwestern drives left to right, Western Illinois right to left.
  1. Q1 NorthwesternTouchdown, 6 plays, 30 yards
  2. Q1 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 plays, 6 yards
  3. Q1 NorthwesternTouchdown, 5 plays, 73 yards
  4. Q1 Western IllinoisInterception, 6 plays, 19 yards
  5. Q1 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 2 plays, 16 yards
  6. Q1 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 plays, 2 yards
  7. Q1 NorthwesternPunt, 6 plays, 21 yards
  8. Q2 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 plays, 0 yards
  9. Q2 NorthwesternPunt, 7 plays, −8 yards
  10. Q2 Western IllinoisPunt, 10 plays, 40 yards
  11. Q2 NorthwesternPunt, 4 plays, 0 yards
  12. Q2 Western IllinoisPunt, 3 plays, −5 yards
  13. Q2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 13 plays, 77 yards
  14. Q2 Western IllinoisTurnover on downs, 1 play, 8 yards
  15. Q3 Western IllinoisTurnover on downs, 5 plays, 47 yards
  16. Q3 NorthwesternField goal, 9 plays, 53 yards
  17. Q3 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 plays, 0 yards
  18. Q3 NorthwesternField goal, 7 plays, 64 yards
  19. Q3 Western IllinoisPunt, 4 plays, 0 yards
  20. Q3 NorthwesternTouchdown, 10 plays, 53 yards
  21. Q4 Western IllinoisPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  22. Q4 NorthwesternTouchdown, 3 plays, 67 yards
  23. Q4 Western IllinoisTouchdown, 10 plays, 67 yards
  24. Q4 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 4 plays, 13 yards

Play by play

1st quarter7 drives, then Northwestern 15, Western Illinois 0
Northwestern Touchdown, 6 plays
14:112nd & 8 at own 27Preston Stone pass to Cam Porter for 4 yds to the NU 31
13:313rd & 4 at own 31Preston Stone pass to Ricky Ahumaraeze for 19 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
13:121st & 10 at the 50Cam Porter run for 1 yd to the WIU 49
12:392nd & 9 at opp 49Cam Porter run for 6 yds to the WIU 43
11:583rd & 3 at opp 43Cam Porter 43 Yd Run (Luke Akers Kick)Northwestern 7, Western Illinois 0
Western Illinois Punt, 4 plays
11:541st & 10 at own 35Henry Helms kickoff for 53 yds to the WIU 27, Fabian Báez returns for 15 yds to the WIU 27
11:361st & 10 at own 27Chris Irvin pass to Christian Anaya for 4 yds to the WIU 31
11:132nd & 6 at own 31Markell Holman run for 2 yds to the WIU 33
10:253rd & 4 at own 33Chris Irvin run
9:534th & 4 at own 33Luke Droegemueller punt for 47 yds to the NU 22, Drew Wagner returns for 2 yds to the NU 22
Northwestern Touchdown, 5 plays
9:391st & 10 at own 22Preston Stone pass to Griffin Wilde for 46 yds to the WIU 32 for a 1ST down
8:541st & 10 at opp 32Preston Stone pass to Griffin Wilde for 12 yds to the WIU 20 for a 1ST down
8:151st & 10 at opp 20Cam Porter run for 14 yds to the WIU 6
7:521st & goal at opp 6Cam Porter run
7:212nd & goal at opp 6Cam Porter run for 1 yd to the WIU 5
6:443rd & goal at opp 5Hayden Eligon II 5 Yd pass from Preston Stone (Lawson Albright Run for Two-Point Conversion)Northwestern 15, Western Illinois 0
Western Illinois Interception, 6 plays
6:441st & 10 at own 35Henry Helms kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
6:361st & 10 at own 25Chris Irvin run for 1 yd to the WIU 26
6:032nd & 9 at own 26Markell Holman run for 4 yds to the WIU 30
5:153rd & 5 at own 30Chris Irvin pass to Demari Davis for 9 yds to the WIU 39 for a 1ST down
4:501st & 10 at own 39Markell Holman run for 4 yds to the WIU 43
4:172nd & 6 at own 43Chris Irvin run for 1 yd to the WIU 44
3:373rd & 5 at own 44Chris Irvin pass intercepted, Mac Uihlein return for 7 yds to the WIU 47
Northwestern Turnover on downs, 2 plays
3:191st & 10 at opp 47Preston Stone pass to Griffin Wilde for 16 yds to the WIU 31 for a 1ST down
2:501st & 10 at opp 31Preston Stone pass to Chase Farrell for a loss of 3 yards to the WIU 35, to Justin Richardson
Western Illinois Punt, 4 plays
2:421st & 10 at own 34Markell Holman run for 3 yds to the WIU 37
2:032nd & 7 at own 37Markell Holman run for a loss of 1 yards to the WIU 36
1:173rd & 8 at own 36Chris Irvin pass incomplete
1:154th & 8 at own 36Luke Droegemueller punt for 38 yds to the , Drew Wagner returns for 4 yds to the NU 26, Northwestern Penalty, illegalblockinback (10 Yards)
Northwestern Punt, 6 plays
0:521st & 10 at own 20Preston Stone pass to Joseph Himon II for 1 yd to the NU 21
0:252nd & 9 at own 21to Ricky Ahumaraeze for 20 yds to the NU 41 for a 1ST down, Preston Stone pass
Q2 14:501st & 10 at own 41Caleb Komolafe run
Q2 14:112nd & 10 at own 41to Griffin Wilde, Preston Stone pass incomplete
Q2 14:013rd & 10 at own 41Preston Stone pass incomplete
Q2 13:534th & 10 at own 41Luke Akers punt for 44 yds to the NU , punt out-of-bounds at the NU
2nd quarter7 drives, then Northwestern 22, Western Illinois 0
Western Illinois Punt, 4 plays
13:471st & 10 at own 15Chris Irvin pass incomplete
13:432nd & 10 at own 15Chris Irvin pass incomplete
13:383rd & 10 at own 15Chris Irvin pass incomplete
13:304th & 10 at own 15Luke Droegemueller punt for 33 yds to the WIU , punt out-of-bounds at the WIU
Northwestern Punt, 7 plays
13:251st & 10 at opp 48Preston Stone pass incomplete
13:222nd & 10 at opp 48Preston Stone pass to Hayden Eligon II, Northwestern Penalty, ineligibledownfieldonpass (Martes Lewis)
12:512nd & 15 at own 47Cam Porter run, Northwestern Penalty, holding (Evan Beerntsen)
12:132nd & 25 at own 37Preston Stone pass to Lawson Albright for 5 yds to the NU 42
11:253rd & 20 at own 42Preston Stone pass to Cam Porter for 7 yds to the NU 49
11:074th & 13 at own 49Northwestern Penalty, falsestart (Robert Fitzgerald)
10:474th & 18 at own 44Luke Akers punt for 41 yds to the NU
Western Illinois Punt, 10 plays
10:401st & 10 at own 15Markell Holman run for 12 yds to the WIU 27
10:011st & 10 at own 27Chris Irvin pass to Christian Anaya for 5 yds to the WIU 32
9:312nd & 5 at own 32Chris Irvin pass to Demari Davis for 6 yds to the WIU 38 for a 1ST down
9:091st & 10 at own 38Chris Irvin pass incomplete
9:072nd & 10 at own 38Chris Irvin pass incomplete, Northwestern Penalty, roughingthepasser (Anto Saka)
8:531st & 10 at opp 47Markell Holman run for 4 yds to the NU 43
8:202nd & 6 at opp 43Chris Irvin pass incomplete
8:203rd & 6 at opp 43Western Illinois Penalty, delayofgame (5 Yards)
7:573rd & 11 at opp 48Chris Irvin pass to Joel Salien for 3 yds to the NU 45
7:464th & 8 at opp 45Luke Droegemueller punt for 35 yds to the WIU
7:524th & 8 at own 45Timeout Northwestern, clock 07:52
Northwestern Punt, 4 plays
7:361st & 10 at own 10Cam Porter run for a loss of 3 yards to the NU 7
6:482nd & 13 at own 7Preston Stone pass to Drew Wagner for 4 yds to the NU 11
5:553rd & 9 at own 11Preston Stone sacked by Peyton Bradford for a loss of 1 yards to the NU 10
5:384th & 10 at own 10Luke Akers punt for 42 yds to the NU
Western Illinois Punt, 3 plays
5:301st & 10 at own 48Markell Holman run
4:532nd & 10 at own 48Chris Irvin sacked by Michael Kilbane for a loss of 3 yards to the WIU 43
4:143rd & 15 at own 43Chris Irvin pass incomplete
4:024th & 15 at own 43Luke Droegemueller punt for 40 yds to the WIU
Northwestern Touchdown, 13 plays
3:571st & 10 at own 17Joseph Himon II run for 10 yds to the NU 27
3:131st & 10 at own 27Joseph Himon II run for 5 yds to the NU 32
2:332nd & 5 at own 32Joseph Himon II run for 10 yds to the NU 42
1:581st & 10 at own 42Joseph Himon II run for a loss of 4 yards to the NU 38
1:502nd & 14 at own 38Preston Stone pass to Cam Porter for 12 yds to the 50 yard line
1:453rd & 2 at the 50Cam Porter run for 1 yd to the WIU 49
1:503rd & 2 at the 50Timeout Western Illinois, clock 01:50
1:414th & 1 at opp 49Cam Porter run, Western Illinois Penalty, offside (Esteban Guillory)
1:454th & 1 at own 49Timeout Western Illinois, clock 01:45
1:311st & 10 at opp 44Preston Stone pass to Griffin Wilde for 16 yds to the WIU 28 for a 1ST down
1:201st & 10 at opp 28Preston Stone pass to Ricky Ahumaraeze for 13 yds to the WIU 15 for a 1ST down
1:111st & 10 at opp 15Preston Stone pass incomplete
1:022nd & 10 at opp 15Caleb Komolafe run for 9 yds to the WIU 6
0:353rd & 1 at opp 6Caleb Komolafe run
0:284th & 1 at opp 6Hunter Welcing 6 Yd pass from Preston Stone (Luke Akers Kick)Northwestern 22, Western Illinois 0
0:334th & 1 at opp 6Timeout Northwestern, clock 00:33
Western Illinois Turnover on downs, 1 play
0:231st & 10 at own 35Henry Helms kickoff for 62 yds to the WIU 12, Chikala Warden returns for 9 yds to the WIU 12
0:211st & 10 at own 12Markell Holman run for 8 yds to the WIU 20
Q3 10:572nd & 1 at own 0
3rd quarter6 drives, then Northwestern 28, Western Illinois 0
Western Illinois Turnover on downs, 5 plays
14:541st & 10 at own 35Henry Helms kickoff for 52 yds to the WIU 21, Fabian Báez returns for 8 yds to the WIU 21
14:461st & 10 at own 21Markell Holman run for 10 yds to the WIU 31
13:541st & 10 at own 31Christian Anaya pass to Demari Davis for 31 yds to the NU 38 for a 1ST down
13:331st & 10 at opp 38Markell Holman run for 2 yds to the NU 36
12:582nd & 8 at opp 36Markell Holman run for 4 yds to the NU 32
12:163rd & 4 at opp 32Chris Irvin run for 3 yds to the NU 29
12:233rd & 4 at opp 32Timeout Western Illinois, clock 12:23
11:194th & 1 at opp 29Antonio Chadha 48 yd FG MISSED
Northwestern Field goal, 9 plays
11:111st & 10 at own 30Cam Porter run for 6 yds to the NU 36
10:372nd & 4 at own 36Preston Stone pass incomplete
10:003rd & 4 at own 36Preston Stone run, Preston Stone run for 13 yds to the
9:361st & 10 at own 49Cam Porter run for 9 yds to the WIU 42
9:042nd & 1 at opp 42Cam Porter run for 11 yds to the WIU 31
8:311st & 10 at opp 31Preston Stone pass to Hayden Eligon II for 12 yds to the WIU 19 for a 1ST down
8:011st & 10 at opp 19Preston Stone pass incomplete
7:522nd & 10 at opp 19Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the WIU 17
7:103rd & 8 at opp 17Preston Stone pass incomplete
7:064th & 8 at opp 17Luke Akers 35 Yd Field GoalNorthwestern 25, Western Illinois 0
Western Illinois Punt, 4 plays
7:011st & 10 at own 35Henry Helms kickoff for 59 yds to the WIU 21, Chikala Warden returns for 15 yds to the WIU 21
6:541st & 10 at own 21Chris Irvin pass incomplete
6:462nd & 10 at own 21Markell Holman run
6:103rd & 10 at own 21Chris Irvin pass incomplete
5:574th & 10 at own 21Luke Droegemueller punt for 50 yds to the WIU
Northwestern Field goal, 7 plays
5:431st & 10 at own 29Preston Stone pass to Griffin Wilde for 4 yds to the NU 33
5:062nd & 6 at own 33Joseph Himon II run for 16 yds to the NU 49
4:251st & 10 at own 49Preston Stone pass to Joseph Himon II for 14 yds to the WIU 37 for a 1ST down
3:461st & 10 at opp 37Preston Stone pass to Hunter Welcing for 28 yds to the WIU 9 for a 1ST down
3:001st & goal at opp 9Joseph Himon II run for 5 yds to the WIU 4
2:222nd & goal at opp 4Preston Stone run for a loss of 3 yards to the WIU 7
1:443rd & goal at opp 7Preston Stone pass incomplete
1:404th & goal at opp 7Luke Akers 25 Yd Field GoalNorthwestern 28, Western Illinois 0
Western Illinois Punt, 4 plays
1:351st & 10 at own 35Henry Helms kickoff for 59 yds to the WIU 22, Chikala Warden returns for 16 yds to the WIU 22
1:321st & 10 at own 22Chris Irvin pass incomplete
1:262nd & 10 at own 22Chris Irvin pass incomplete
1:193rd & 10 at own 22Chris Irvin pass incomplete
1:104th & 10 at own 22Luke Droegemueller punt for 32 yds to the NU 43, Drew Wagner returns for a loss of 3 yards to the NU 43
Northwestern Touchdown, 10 plays
1:011st & 10 at own 43Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the NU 44
0:242nd & 9 at own 44Caleb Komolafe run for 7 yds to the WIU 49
Q4 14:513rd & 2 at opp 49Caleb Komolafe run for 12 yds to the WIU 37
Q4 14:311st & 10 at opp 37Caleb Komolafe run for 24 yds to the WIU 13
Q4 13:511st & 10 at opp 13Caleb Komolafe run for 6 yds to the WIU 7
Q4 13:062nd & 4 at opp 7Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the WIU 5
Q4 12:253rd & 2 at opp 5Caleb Komolafe run, Western Illinois Penalty, unsportsmanlikeconduct (3 Yards)
Q4 11:481st & goal at opp 2Joseph Himon II run for a loss of 2 yards to the WIU 4
Q4 11:142nd & goal at opp 4Joseph Himon II run
Q4 10:433rd & goal at opp 4Drew Wagner 4 Yd pass from Preston Stone (Jack Olsen Kick)Northwestern 35, Western Illinois 0
4th quarter4 drives, then Northwestern 42, Western Illinois 7
Western Illinois Punt, 3 plays
10:431st & 10 at own 35Henry Helms kickoff for 64 yds to the NU 35
10:171st & 10 at own 25Cason Carswell pass to Markell Holman for 2 yds to the WIU 27
9:532nd & 8 at own 27Cason Carswell sacked by Carmine Bastone for a loss of 9 yards to the WIU 18
9:163rd & 17 at own 18Cason Carswell pass to Brandon Lanier for 12 yds to the WIU 30
8:394th & 5 at own 30Luke Droegemueller punt for 36 yds to the NU 33, Drew Wagner returns for a loss of 1 yards to the NU 33
Northwestern Touchdown, 3 plays
8:171st & 10 at own 33Daniel Anderson run for 4 yds to the NU 37
7:492nd & 6 at own 37Daniel Anderson run for 5 yds to the NU 42
7:073rd & 1 at own 42Ryan Boe 58 Yd Run (Jack Olsen Kick)Northwestern 42, Western Illinois 0
Western Illinois Touchdown, 10 plays
7:071st & 10 at own 35Henry Helms kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
6:541st & 10 at own 25Brinston Williams run for 4 yds to the WIU 29
6:192nd & 6 at own 29Cason Carswell pass to Alex Williams for 13 yds to the WIU 42 for a 1ST down
5:381st & 10 at own 42Cason Carswell run for 9 yds to the NU 49
5:022nd & 1 at opp 49Cason Carswell pass to Brandon Lanier for 14 yds to the NU 35 for a 1ST down
4:411st & 10 at opp 35Cason Carswell pass incomplete
4:332nd & 10 at opp 35Brinston Williams run for 7 yds to the NU 28
3:533rd & 3 at opp 28Cason Carswell run for 8 yds to the NU 20
3:201st & 10 at opp 20Cason Carswell pass to Alex Williams for 3 yds to the NU 17, Northwestern Penalty, facemask (Jalen Lewis)
2:531st & goal at opp 8Cason Carswell pass incomplete
2:472nd & goal at opp 8Christian Anaya 8 Yd pass from Cason Carswell (Antonio Chadha Kick)Northwestern 42, Western Illinois 7
Northwestern Turnover on downs, 4 plays
2:471st & 10 at own 35Antonio Chadha kickoff for 61 yds to the WIU 35, punt out-of-bounds at the WIU 35
2:371st & 10 at own 35Dashun Reeder run for 3 yds to the NU 38
1:482nd & 7 at own 38Dashun Reeder run for 4 yds to the NU 42
1:083rd & 3 at own 42Dashun Reeder run for 6 yds to the NU 48
0:371st & 10 at own 48Ryan Boe takes a knee

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Western Illinois–Northwestern game

Northwestern leads 2–⁠0 in two meetings.

Recent meetings
2025Northwestern 42, Western Illinois 7
2014Northwestern 24, Western Illinois 7

Around this game

Western Illinois

Northwestern