NBC has a double-header this week starting at 12 PM ET: Rutgers (2-4) visits #24 Northwestern (5-1) as the Wildcats look to build on a season-high three-game winning streak. Rutgers is coming off a bye week that followed up its first road win of the season. These squads have played three times since 2018, with Northwestern winning twice, but Rutgers stealing the latest meeting in 2023. Let’s see if Rutgers can win another in this series as +16.5-point underdogs.
Northwestern has beaten Penn State (34-13), Ball State (45-21), and Michigan State (24-21) during this three-game winning streak. Northwestern has played five straight games and won't have a bye week for the rest of the season. Fatigue could be a factor any given week for Northwestern, but it wasn’t last week. Northwestern beat Michigan State 24-21 in their last outing as Aidan Chiles got his revenge over his former team. Chiles threw for 226 yards and ran for another 25 yards, plus a touchdown. Northwestern went down 21-13 to Michigan State in the fourth quarter and bounced back with a 77-yard nine-play drive and the two-point conversion to tie it up. Jackson Kleather booted a 34-yard field goal with two seconds left to win the game, so the Wildcats are riding high.
Coming off the bye week, Rutgers had an extra week to prepare for Northwestern. Rutgers beat Maryland 37-30 thanks to a massive second half before the break. Maryland led 23-13 at the half, but Rutgers went on a 24-0 run (37-23) before the Terps scored a late touchdown. Rutgers dominated the time of possession battle (35:52-24:08) and put up 442 yards of offense to get their first road win of the year. Rutgers will be underdogs in their next five games- maybe six- so their odds of making a bowl game will be next to zero if they lose this game.
Let’s dive into the schools on both sides of the ball, look at a few key players, and see where the numbers take us.
Game Details and How to Watch Rutgers vs Northwestern
- Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Time: 12:00 PM Eastern
- Site: Ryan Field
- City: Evanston, IL
- TV/Streaming: NBC | Peacock
Game Odds for Northwestern vs Rutgers
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
- Moneyline: Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+550), Northwestern Wildacats (-800)
- Spread: Northwestern -16.5 (-112)
- Total: 58.5 points
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Head Coach: Greg Schiano
2026 Record: 2-4 (1-2)
Offensive Points Per Game: 31.2 (T-58th)
Defensive Points Per Game: 31.9 (119th)
2026 Strength of Schedule: 54th
2026 Remaining Strength of Schedule: 33rd
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Offense:
Rutgers needed a big second half to pull out the win against Maryland, and their best players delivered. KJ Duff scored on a nine-yard reception in the third quarter, Clay Thevenin scored twice in the second-half, and Antwan Raymond rushed in from two yards out to seal the win late in the fourth quarter. Duff ended with nine receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Duff ranks sixth nationally with 741 yards and tied for third at nine touchdowns. Thevenin has scored in four straight games and may see his role increase if Raymond continues playing the way he is.
Rutgers Player to Watch on Offense: RB Antwan Raymond
After three consecutive games of at least 100 rushing yards, Antwan Raymond has been held to 31 and 29 against Indiana and Maryland. His longest rush in those two games is six yards. That's completely unacceptable if you're Rutgers. Rutgers fell behind against both teams, yet he still had 27 total carries, but it only amounted to a measly 60 rushing yards. If Rutgers wants to keep this close or upset Northwestern, Raymond will have to run for 100-plus yards.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Defense:
Coming out of the bye week, Rutgers better have a solid game plan to stop Northwestern's rushing attack. Rutgers allowed Maryland to run for 115 yards (4.4 ypc) and two touchdowns, Indiana to gain 329 yards (8.4 ypc) and two scores on the ground, and USC put up 184 rushing yards (5.9 ypc) and two touchdowns. Rutgers also has six turnovers forced and seven sacks through six games, which hasn't helped their cause. It could be a long Saturday for Rutgers if the front seven isn't on their P's and Q's.
Rutgers Player to Watch on Defense: DB Bradlee Jones
Bradlee Jones leads Rutgers in tackles (31), interceptions (2), and forced fumbles (1) through six games. Jones has 20 of his 31 tackles in three Big Ten games, including nine versus Indiana and six at Maryland over the last two games. He will have his hands full with the Northwestern run game, but I'd expect another high tackle performance in conference action. Rutgers doesn't have much of a pass rush and often falls behind, so they’re facing the run more than the pass. Jones' two picks came against Howard, so it's safe to say Rutgers doesn't have many ball hawks in the secondary.
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#24 Northwestern Wildcats
Head Coach: David Braun
2026 Record: 5-1 (2-1)
Offensive Points Per Game: 33.5 (T-40th)
Defensive Points Per Game: 17.0 (26th)
2026 Strength of Schedule: 38th
2026 Remaining Strength of Schedule: 22nd
The Northwestern Wildcats Offense:
The Northwestern offense has been revitalized thanks to Chip Kelly. The Wildcats have more rushing touchdowns (14) than passing (9) and 250 fewer yards (1,398 passing vs 1,148 rushing). Against Michigan State, Northwestern ran 42 times and threw 29. Versus Penn State, Northwestern ran the ball 55 times to 14 passes. Northwestern wants to establish the run, and Rutgers is a good opponent to run up and down. The Knights’ rushing defense ranks 105th nationally and ninth-worst overall in P4.
Northwestern Player to Watch on Offense: QB Aidan Chiles
Aidan Chiles is coming off an emotional win for Northwestern. Chiles ran for a touchdown and threw for 226 yards against his former team in the 24-21 win at Michigan State. He not only beat his old team, but did it in East Lansing too. Now Chiles returns home where Northwestern has been perfect. Chiles has thrown for at least 225 yards in five out of six games after only doing it four times with Michigan State last year. Chiles also had six rushing touchdowns last year and already surpassed that with seven this season — scoring at least one rushing touchdown in all six games. Chiles also has a streak of 139 consecutive passes without an interception going.
The Northwestern Wildcats Defense:
Northwestern held Michigan State to 89 rushing yards on 27 carries (3.3 ypc) and won the money downs. The Wildcats held the Spartans to 3-of-12 on third downs and went 7-of-14 themselves. The Wildcats recorded one sack versus Michgian State, and it produced the only turnover: a fumble that led to a Northwestern field goal in the first quarter. Northwestern will be in the hunt for sacks against the Rutgers 61st-ranked pass protection.
Northwestern Player to Watch on Defense: LB Brayden Brus
Brayden Brus had a career-high 15 tackles against Michigan State a week ago and may be in for another big day if Robert Fitzgerald isn't able to play (questionable). Brus leads Northwestern in tackles with 50 and sacks at 3.0. Brus has been all over the field with at least seven tackles in five out of six games and 32 combined tackles in the past three games. Rutgers' lead running back Antwan Raymond hasn't been the strongest in the last two games, so Brus will be a catalyst in keeping his cold streak going.
Rutgers and Northwestern Stats, Betting Trends
- Rutgers is 3-3 ATS and 5-1 to the Over
- Northwestern is 4-2 ATS and 5-1 to the Over
- Northwestern is an NCAA-best 4-0 to the Over at home
- Northwestern is 4-0 on the ML and 3-1 ATS at home
- Rutgers is 1-1 ATS, 1-1 on the ML, and 1-1 to the Over as the road team
- Northwestern is 12-7-2 ATS following a win and 12-9 to the Under with Braun
- Rutgers is an NCAA-best 22-11 to the Under as the road team with Schiano
- Rutgers is 18-10 to the Under as a road underdog with Schiano
- Rutgers is 18-12-3 ATS as a road team with Schiano
- Rutgers is 15-10-3 ATS as a road underdog with Schiano
- Northwestern is 8-6 to the Over a home favorite with Braun
- Northwestern is 13-1 on the ML and 8-6 ATS as a home favorite under Braun
- Rutgers is 8-5 ATS and 7-6 on the ML following a bye week with Schiano (7-6 to Over)
Rotoworld Best Bets
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Under 58.5 points:
"Both of these teams being 5-1 to the Over this season surely makes me lean toward the Under on this noon kickoff. Rutgers is an NCAA-best 22-11 to the Under as the road team since Greg Schiano has taken over, and I don't expect fireworks from this offense. Northwestern loves to run the ball and eat the clock, which will happen here as three-possession favorites. Northwestern has a road trip to Oregon next week, then comes back home for #15 Iowa, then goes to #3 Ohio State. This is a look-ahead and trap spot for Northwestern as Rutgers comes off the bye week and Oregon awaits the Wildcats. I like the Under 58.5 and lean Rutgers if I were forced to pick, but thank god I'm not."
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