Despite what the final score on the scoreboard reads, it may have been a bit too close for comfort for Northwestern.
The Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 B1G) opened the 2026 season with a 34-18 victory over South Dakota State on Saturday, and it was a hard-fought one. Northwestern was well-balanced on offense with 273 yards through the air and another 224 on the ground for 497 yards in total. And it started with a bang.
After holding the Jackrabbits to a 22-yard, six-play drive to open the game, the Wildcats took over at their own 18-yard line. Aidan Chiles, the transfer quarterback from Michigan State, wasted no time as he connected on a 71-yard bomb to wideout Griffin Wilde. On the second play of 2026, Chiles connected with fellow transfer Alex Honig for the 11-yard score, putting Northwestern up early, 7-0.
“I think we’ve been building a great chemistry the offseason,” Chiles says about connecting with Wilde three times for 104 yards. “Just had to get the real-life reps. Came out, it took me a second to really get under my feet, but after I did I found him and I feel like we’ve got where we needed to get.”
Things quieted down a bit after that opening drive, however, with both teams trading field goals.
Tristan Alvano notched a 21-yard kick early in the second quarter to cut into the deficit, but Northwestern answered with a 36-yard Jackson Kleather field goal. With 1:16 left in the half, Alvano put away a 33-yard kick to make it 10-6 at the half.
On their first possession of the second half, SDSU made it a one-point game when Alvano recorded his third field goal on a 27-yarder.
Under three minutes later, Northwestern struck back when Caleb Komolafe rushed for the seven-yard score to make it 17-9.
Alvano notched his fourth and final field goal with 2:16 left, making it 17-12.
Northwestern responded with a drive down field that allowed Kleather to extend the lead by another three early in the fourth. SDSU running back Josiah Johnson scored the Jackrabbits’ only touchdown on the day on a two-yard rush, and in an attempt to tie the game, they went for and failed the two-point conversion.
From there, Northwestern finally took control. Chiles scored on the ground with a 14-yard carry, and then with 1:15 left, Joseph Himon bolted 80 yards down field to make it 34-18.
Chiles took responsibility for the offense slowing down after that opening drive.
“First half, I was probably trying to do too much and thinking a little too much,” he said. “I wasn’t there mentally. Came back the second half, we talked and we all did the right thing, made the adjustments.”
Head coach David Braun addressed the slow down as well as the Jackrabbits put up 432 yards of offense on their end.
“Just because the first drive goes well doesn’t mean the rest of the day is going to go well,” said Braun. “I think where was just so much emotion and excitement after that first drive. You know, two plays touchdown. And then we just got out of sync a little bit.”
The bye week comes early for Northwestern, as the Wildcats get a week off before they host Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 19 in the final game at the Lakefront.
