| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 7 | 12 | 21 | 14 | 54 |
| Michigan State | 14 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 40 |
Game flow
Northwestern won by 14 · 16 scoresLead changes
1
0 times tied
MSU biggest lead
+14
Q1 8:31
NW biggest lead
+17
Q4 5:02
Time in front
MSU 30% · NW 61%
tied 9% · 18:11 vs 36:42 of game clock
The lead after every score: above the line Michigan State is ahead, below it Northwestern. Each dot is a score in the scoring team's colour; hover one.
Scoring summary
1st quarter
9:53
TD Josiah Price 15 Yd pass from Brian Lewerke (Michael Geiger Kick)3 plays, 39 yds, 1:21 · from NU 39
NW 0–7 MSU8:31
TD Justin Layne 43 Yd Interception Return (Michael Geiger Kick)
NW 0–14 MSU3:32
TD Justin Jackson 29 Yd Run (Jack Mitchell Kick)8 plays, 61 yds, 2:43 · from NU 39
NW 7–14 MSU2nd quarter
14:15
FG Michael Geiger 41 Yd Field Goal 9 plays, 52 yds, 4:17 · from MSU 25
NW 7–17 MSU10:04
TD Austin Carr 9 Yd pass from Clayton Thorson (Jack Mitchell Kick)12 plays, 75 yds, 4:06 · from NU 25
NW 14–17 MSU9:23
SF Joe Gaziano Safety
NW 16–17 MSU6:42
FG Jack Mitchell 33 Yd Field Goal 7 plays, 33 yds, 2:37 · from MSU 49
NW 19–17 MSU3rd quarter
13:28
TD Flynn Nagel 57 Yd pass from Clayton Thorson (Jack Mitchell Kick)4 plays, 75 yds, 1:32 · from NU 25
NW 26–17 MSU6:49
TD Clayton Thorson 9 Yd Run (Jack Mitchell Kick)10 plays, 86 yds, 3:28 · from NU 14
NW 33–17 MSU5:54
TD R.J. Shelton 59 Yd pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger Kick)3 plays, 75 yds, 0:55 · from MSU 25
NW 33–24 MSU2:08
TD R.J. Shelton 86 Yd pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger Kick)1 play, 86 yds, 0:11 · from MSU 14
NW 33–31 MSU1:53
TD Solomon Vault 95 Yd Kickoff Return (Jack Mitchell Kick)
NW 40–31 MSU4th quarter
8:25
TD Justin Jackson 26 Yd Run (Jack Mitchell Kick)13 plays, 91 yds, 6:18 · from NU 9
NW 47–31 MSU7:10
TD Donnie Corley 9 Yd pass from Tyler O'Connor (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)5 plays, 76 yds, 1:09 · from MSU 24
NW 47–37 MSU5:02
TD Austin Carr 29 Yd pass from Clayton Thorson (Jack Mitchell Kick)6 plays, 47 yds, 2:07 · from MSU 47
NW 54–37 MSU0:56
FG Michael Geiger 35 Yd Field Goal 7 plays, 11 yds, 1:26 · from NU 29
NW 54–40 MSUDrives
MSU 7/15 scoredNW 9/17 scored| Q | Start | Team | From | Plays | Yds | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 15:00 | MSU | MSU 25 | 6 | 38 | 2:30 | Punt |
| Q1 | 12:30 | NW | NU 1 | 3 | 4 | 1:16 | Punt |
| Q1 | 11:14 | MSU | NU 39 | 3 | 39 | 1:21 | Touchdown |
| Q1 | 9:53 | NW | NU 35 | 3 | 4 | 1:22 | Interception Touchdown |
| Q1 | 8:31 | NW | NU 25 | 3 | 3 | 0:43 | Punt |
| Q1 | 7:48 | MSU | MSU 10 | 3 | 7 | 1:33 | Punt |
| Q1 | 6:15 | NW | NU 39 | 8 | 61 | 2:43 | Touchdown |
| Q1 | 3:32 | MSU | MSU 25 | 9 | 52 | 4:17 | Field Goal |
| Q2 | 14:10 | NW | NU 25 | 12 | 75 | 4:06 | Touchdown |
| Q2 | 9:58 | MSU | MSU 5 | 3 | -5 | 0:35 | Safety |
| Q2 | 9:19 | NW | MSU 49 | 7 | 33 | 2:37 | Field Goal |
| Q2 | 6:37 | MSU | MSU 20 | 3 | 2 | 1:08 | Punt |
Win probability
Northwestern 100% · pregame line Michigan State −6.5 (closing line)The pregame line (TDC's for this week's games, the closing betting line for past ones), blended with the score, clock and field position (calibrated on every 2024–25 FBS play). Gold dots mark the biggest swings; hover one.
Box score
| Passing | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Thorson | 27/35 | 281 | 8.0 | 3 | 1 | 81.3 |
| Rushing | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Jackson | 34 | 188 | 5.5 | 2 | 29 |
| Clayton Thorson | 5 | 12 | 2.4 | 1 | 9 |
| John Moten IV | 8 | 12 | 1.5 | 0 | 5 |
| Solomon Vault | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Team | 3 | -4 | -1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Receiving | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Carr | 11 | 130 | 11.8 | 2 | 29 |
| Flynn Nagel | 5 | 81 | 16.2 | 1 | 57 |
| Andrew Scanlan | 2 | 32 | 16.0 | 0 | 20 |
| Macan Wilson | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 0 | 8 |
| Justin Jackson | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 0 | 8 |
| Solomon Vault | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | 7 |
| Garrett Dickerson | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 5 |
| Interceptions | INT | YDS | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jared McGee | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kicking | FG | PCT | LONG | XP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Mitchell | 1/1 | 100.0 | 33 | 7/7 | 10 |
| Punting | NO | YDS | AVG | TB | In 20 | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Niswander | 5 | 214 | 42.8 | 0 | 0 | 62 |
Biggest plays
MSU +37% Q3 2:08 Tyler O'Connor pass complete to R.J. Shelton for 86 yds for a TD, (Michael Geiger KICK)
NW +36% Q3 1:53 Kevin Cronin kickoff for 60 yds , Solomon Vault return for 95 yds for a TD, (Jack Mitchell KICK)
NW +26% Q3 13:28 Clayton Thorson pass complete to Flynn Nagel for 57 yds for a TD, (Jack Mitchell KICK)
MSU +20% Q3 5:54 Tyler O'Connor pass complete to R.J. Shelton for 59 yds for a TD, (Michael Geiger KICK)
NW +19% Q2 10:04 Clayton Thorson pass complete to Austin Carr for 9 yds for a TD MICHIGAN ST Penalty, offside defense ( Yards) declined, (Jack Mitchell KICK)
Team stats
| Stat | NW | MSU |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 26 | 18 |
| 3rd down efficiency | 10-19 | 5-16 |
| 4th down efficiency | 1-1 | 0-1 |
| Total Yards | 490 | 475 |
| Passing | 281 | 424 |
| Comp/Att | 27/35 | 27/42 |
| Yards per pass | 8.0 | 10.1 |
| Rushing | 209 | 51 |
| Rushing Attempts | 51 | 23 |
| Yards per rush | 4.1 | 2.2 |
| Penalties | 4-25 | 5-34 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 1 |
| Interceptions thrown | 1 | 1 |
| Possession | 35:34 | 24:26 |
Play by play
Q4 0:00 End of 4th Quarter
Q4 0:56 2nd & 11 at MSU 38 TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the MchSt 39
Q4 0:56 1st & 10 at MSU 37 TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the MchSt 38
Q4 0:56 Kevin Cronin kickoff for 7 yds
Q4 0:56 Timeout NORTHWESTERN, clock 00:56
Q4 0:56 4th & 0 at NU 18 Michael Geiger 35 yd FG GOOD
Q4 1:14 3rd & Goal at NU 25 Tyler O'Connor pass complete to Monty Madaris for 7 yds to the Nwest 18
Q4 1:14 Timeout NORTHWESTERN, clock 01:14
Q4 2:22 2nd & Goal at NU 10 Tyler O'Connor sacked by Ifeadi Odenigbo for a loss of 15 yards to the Nwest 25
Q4 2:22 1st & Goal at NU 10 Tyler O'Connor pass incomplete to Monty Madaris
Q4 2:22 3rd & 4 at NU 23 Tyler O'Connor pass complete to Jamal Lyles for 13 yds to the Nwest 10 for a 1ST down
Q4 2:22 2nd & 10 at NU 29 Tyler O'Connor pass complete to R.J. Shelton for 6 yds to the Nwest 23
Q4 2:22 1st & 10 at NU 29 Tyler O'Connor pass incomplete to Donnie Corley
Q4 2:31 4th & 4 at NU 49 Hunter Niswander punt blocked by Edward Barksdale blocked by Edward Barksdale Jalen Watts-Jackson return for 13 yds to the Nwest 29
Q4 2:31 Timeout MICHIGAN ST, clock 02:31
Q4 4:09 3rd & 8 at NU 45 John Moten IV run for 4 yds to the Nwest 49
Q4 4:09 2nd & 11 at NU 42 John Moten IV run for 3 yds to the Nwest 45
Q4 4:09 1st & 10 at NU 43 John Moten IV run for a loss of 1 yard to the Nwest 42
Q4 5:02 4th & 3 at NU 43 Tyler O'Connor pass incomplete to R.J. Shelton, broken up by Kyle Queiro
Q4 5:02 3rd & 3 at NU 43 Tyler O'Connor pass incomplete to Monty Madaris, broken up by Montre Hartage
Q4 5:02 2nd & 10 at 50 Tyler O'Connor run for 7 yds to the Nwest 43
Q4 5:02 1st & 10 at 50 Tyler O'Connor pass incomplete to Donnie Corley
Q4 5:02 1st & 10 at MSU 25 R.J. Shelton pass complete to Donnie Corley for 25 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Q4 5:02 Jack Mitchell kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
Q4 5:02 4th & 6 at MSU 29 Clayton Thorson pass complete to Austin Carr for 29 yds for a TD, (Jack Mitchell KICK)