South Dakota State JackrabbitsvsNorthwestern Wildcats
SDST 18/NU 34
Things to say
Northwestern beat South Dakota State 34-18 at home to open 1-0.
01
opener
Northwestern took care of business, 34-18 over South Dakota State. Closer than it looked for a while, but they pulled away late. FCS team hung around into the fourth.
02
key player
Aidan Chiles was the real deal — 273 through the air with a touchdown, then broke off a 14-yard scramble for another. Efficient, 14 of 24, didn't force anything.
03
hot take
Don't let the score fool you, that defense bailed them out early. Chase Mason threw for 285 on them. You can't let an FCS quarterback move the ball like that.
04
deep cut
Joseph Himon II only touched it four times but ripped off an 80-yard house call to ice it. Four carries, 87 yards — that's the run that flipped the whole game feel.
05
exit
One down, now we see what they've got when the real Big Ten schedule kicks in. This one was just a tune-up.
The recap
Northwestern took care of business against an FCS South Dakota State team that hung around longer than the final score suggests. The Jackrabbits actually clawed within 20-18 in the second half, but Aidan Chiles answered with a 14-yard scramble for a score and the Wildcats pulled away for good.
The dagger was Joseph Himon II ripping off an 80-yard touchdown run to blow it open at 34-18. Chiles threw for 273 and added the rushing TD, and Griffin Wilde went for 104 through the air while the defense clamped down late to bail out any nerves.