How to Watch Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan State Spartans - Big Ten Football
This week on Peacock, No. 25 Northwestern hopes to keep their Big Ten momentum rolling against Michigan State.
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Key Takeaways
- No. 25 Northwestern faces Michigan State on Saturday, October 17, with a 12 p.m. ET kickoff at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, streaming exclusively on Peacock.
- Northwestern enters the matchup ranked in the Top 25 after strong wins over Penn State and Ball State, while Michigan State is trying to end a four-game losing streak under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
- Key players to watch include Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles, who has nine touchdown passes and no interceptions this season, and Michigan State running back Jaziun Patterson, who scored three touchdowns against Illinois last week.
The Big Ten is deep into college football conference play now, and while some teams are thriving, others are struggling... but there's still time to turn things around.
This week on Peacock, we'll see a pair of Big Ten teams with very different starts to the 2026 college football season. In one corner, the Northwestern Wildcats, currently ranked No. 25, are starting to feel like a legitimate threat; while in the other, the Michigan State Spartans are fighting and clawing to notch a win. It's a Big Ten showdown exclusively on Peacock, and here's how you can tune in.
How do I watch Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan State Spartans?
Northwestern and Michigan State kick off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 17, streaming exclusively on Peacock.
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Northwestern vs. Michigan State kickoff time
The Wildcats and the Spartans are set for a 12 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday, October 17, live from Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
No. 25 Northwestern vs. Michigan State preview
Northwestern is playing better than they've looked in years, climbing into the Top 25 this week after back-to-back convincing wins over Penn State and Ball State. Their only loss so far is to defending national champs Indiana, and while they might not be climbing into the Big Ten Championship conversation just yet, they're definitely not far off. A win over Michigan State this week would further that cause, help them climb the rankings, and keep the nation talking about the Wildcats.
Meanwhile, Michigan State is trying to climb out of a four-game losing streak. They won their season opener against Eastern Michigan, but it's been a rough road since, including a heartbreaking overtime loss to Illinois last week. They're still winless in the Big Ten, but there's an opportunity here for the Spartans to make a statement. Their new head coach, Pat Fitzgerald, is a former Northwestern head coach; they're playing at home in East Lansing; and they're still viewed as underdogs. A win on Saturday wouldn't just pull them out of a slump. It would let the entire Big Ten know that the Spartans are still here and ready to play.
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Northwestern vs. Michigan State players to watch
One of Northwestern's big difference makers this season has been the introduction of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who's renowned for his creative and productive playcalling. But playcalling doesn't mean much if you can't execute, and in Aidan Chiles the Wildcats have a quarterback who can get things done. Through five games, he's thrown for nine touchdowns without a single interception, and he's completing more than 70 percent of his passes. He's the cornerstone of the Northwestern offense, and if he can stay productive, the Wildcats will look good on Saturday.
But Michigan State has offensive weapons of their own, and one of them came alive in the loss to Illinois last week. Jaziun Patterson, a former Iowa Hawkeye, brought his talents to East Lansing for his senior year, and he's making that transfer count. Against Illinois, he put up nearly 100 yards on the ground, scoring three total touchdowns along the way. It was a breakout moment, and if he can have another productive game Saturday, the Wildcats will have their hands full.
Who's on the broadcast team for Northwestern vs. Michigan State?
NBC Sports' Paul Burmeister will handle play-by-play duties for this game, with analysis from Yogi Roth, sideline reporting from Caroline Pineda, and rules analysis from Reggie Smith.
