Northwestern and Western Illinois square off Friday night in Champaign, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. EDT in Week 1 action.
For Northwestern, the season got off to a rocky start with a 23-3 loss at Tulane. The Wildcats turned the ball over five times, failed to generate any real offensive momentum, and were effectively out of the game by the end of the opening quarter. It was the type of performance that screamed “tune-up,” and this matchup serves exactly that purpose with Oregon looming on the schedule next week.
As for Western Illinois, the Leathernecks are cashing in on their second straight Big Ten matchup after being overwhelmed 52-3 by Illinois in their opener. The offense showed little spark in Champaign, though there’s more talent than the scoreline suggested. Still, this contest sets up as little more than a get-right opportunity for Northwestern.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the Northwestern vs the Western Illinois NCAAF game, plus plenty more.
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Northwestern vs Western Illinois: Date and kick-off time
Northwestern will take on Western Illinois in a highly anticipated NCAAF game on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 7:30 pm ET or 4:30 pm PT at Northwestern Medicine Field in Evanston, Illinois.
| Date | Friday, September 5, 2025 |
| kick-off Time | 7:30 pm ET or 4:30 pm PT |
| Venue | Northwestern Medicine Field |
| Location | Evanston, Illinois |
How to watch Northwestern vs Western Illinois on TV & stream live online
- TV channel: BTN
- Streaming service: Fubo
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Northwestern vs Western Illinois team news & key players
Northwestern Wildcats team news
For Northwestern, Preston Stone had a forgettable outing against Tulane, completing 19-of-36 throws for 161 yards but tossing four interceptions. Cam Porter managed 46 yards on six carries, and Griffin Wilde led the receiving corps with six catches for 64 yards. On defense, Robert Fitzgerald paced the Wildcats with 13 tackles, while the group managed a single sack and three tackles for loss in the defeat.
Western Illinois Leathernecks team news
Against the Illini, WIU quarterback Chris Irvin completed 14 of 29 passes for 134 yards, while Markell Holman was bottled up for just 20 yards on 12 carries. Demari Davis was a bright spot with four receptions for 65 yards. Defensively, Keith Moko led the Leathernecks with nine tackles, and the unit tallied three sacks despite being outmatched.