All things were perfectly balanced Saturday in Northwestern’s win over South Dakota State at the Lakefront.
The Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 B1G) threw for 273 yards and gained 224 on the ground, as eight different receivers saw targets and five recorded at least one carry. Northwestern started fast and hot before cooling down, but picked things back up in the fourth.
It was a mixed bag through-and-through in the season opener.
Ground and Pound
Caleb Komolafe led the way in the run game with 10 carries for 46 yards and a 7-yard touchdown, but Joseph Himon II matched a career-high 87 yards after an 80-yard sprint into the end zone in the final two minutes. He finished with four carries.
Gavin Sawchuk had eight carries for 69 yards while Drew Wagner recorded one for four yards. Quarterback Aidan Chiles rushed for 18 yards and a score off a 14-yard carry.
“We take pride in running the football,” Himon said after the game. “That’s something we really want to do. We want to run it behind our O-Line and we really do believe that we have the best backs in the country.”
The ground game helped keep the Wildcats ahead as the pass game found it’s footing.
Northwestern offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is seen on the sidelines Saturday against South Dakota State. (Damien Dennis/TPM)
Chunk Plays
The Chip Kelly era began with a bang, as the transfer quarterback from Michigan State found Griffin Wilde for a 71-yard connection on the Wildcats’ first play of 2026. Chiles followed it up immediately with an 11-yard scoring pass to Alex Honig.
While that opening pass and Himon’s 80-yard score were the first and last big plays of the game, the Wildcats relied on chunk plays throughout the night as they whittled away at the SDSU defense.
Chiles had a run for 10+ yards and connected with Wilde for another 17-yard throw in the first half. Chiles finished 14-of-24 for 273 yards, averaging 19.5 yards per completion. These plays kept the Jackrabbits on the backheel, though, to compete in the Big Ten, Northwestern has to find a way to connect on the shorter gains as well.
The Wildcats’ offense converted on just 5-of-12 third down attempts and allowed two sacks. Chiles often found himself scrambling out of the pocket as he faced pressure.
Northwestern defensive back Robert Fitzgerald (6) tackles a South Dakota State receiver along the sideline Saturday in Evanston. (Damien Dennis/TPM
Bend, don’t break
The game was a lot closer than the score may indicated (game recap).
Northwestern took an early lead and never relinquished it, but the Jackrabbits cut the deficit down to just one point in the second half and remained within reach until late. The Wildcats allowed SDSU to gain 432 yards of offense, record 27 first downs and allowed them to convert all three times on fourth down attempts.
To their credit, Northwestern held firm, especially in the red zone. SDSU was within striking distance more than once, but Northwestern forced them into kicking field goals.
“We do it in practice, so obviously, number one I’d say just the confidence of doing it every day,” said linebacker Kobie McKinzie of the red zone defense. “It’s also a mentality for the defense.
McKinzie recorded nine tackles, including four solo, a pass breakup and a QB hit in his Northwestern debut.
Robert Fitzgerald anchored the defense, as he lead the team in total tackles with 14, including eight solo along with a pass breakup. Damon Walters picked off SDSU quarterback Chase Mason, as he finished with nine tackles as well.
“It’s something we practice all week,” Walters said. “Coach just put me in a great position, a great call. Just saw it and made a play on it.”
Northwestern coach David Braun gave credit to SDSU’s consistent run game and RPO, calling them tough to defend, especially with a quarterback like Mason.
“I thought we came in with a great plan, executed it well and it was pivotal to the outcome of the game,” Braun said. “I know Tim’s (McGarigle) probably in the coaches locker room right now awfully frustrated that we bent as much as we did, but we certainly found a way to not break.
“That was the difference in the game.”
Carsello update
Center Jackson Carsello left Saturday’s game after an apparent neck injury. He was taken to a local hospital to be examined, and Braun had no updates after the game on Carsello’s condition.
Sunday evening, Northwestern put out a statement on social media about the injury and confirming it was a neck injury.
“Carsello returned to the team’s facility last night and is doing well,” the statement read. “He is up and walking, feeling good overall and is focused on his continued recovery.”
There is no word on how long he’ll be out of action.
