Matchup Index

Michigan State Spartans vs Northwestern Wildcats

Michigan State Spartans 41
Michigan State Spartans leads 41-20
wins
1905 to 2026
Northwestern Wildcats won the last meeting
Northwestern Wildcats 20

Series timeline

▲ Michigan State Spartans ahead (peak +22) ▼ Northwestern Wildcats ahead (peak +3)
1905: Northwestern Wildcats 37-111917: Northwestern Wildcats 39-61924: Northwestern Wildcats 13-91959: Michigan State Spartans 15-101960: Michigan State Spartans 21-181961: Michigan State Spartans 21-131962: Michigan State Spartans 31-71963: Michigan State Spartans 15-71964: Michigan State Spartans 24-61965: Michigan State Spartans 49-71966: Michigan State Spartans 22-01967: Michigan State Spartans 41-271968: Michigan State Spartans 31-141969: Michigan State Spartans 39-71970: Northwestern Wildcats 23-201971: Northwestern Wildcats 28-71972: Michigan State Spartans 24-141973: Northwestern Wildcats 14-101974: Michigan State Spartans 41-71975: Michigan State Spartans 47-141976: Northwestern Wildcats 42-211977: Michigan State Spartans 44-31978: Michigan State Spartans 52-31979: Michigan State Spartans 42-71980: Michigan State Spartans 42-101981: Michigan State Spartans 61-141982: Northwestern Wildcats 28-241983: Michigan State Spartans 9-31984: Michigan State Spartans 27-101985: Michigan State Spartans 32-01986: Northwestern Wildcats 24-211987: Michigan State Spartans 38-01988: Michigan State Spartans 36-31989: Michigan State Spartans 76-141990: Michigan State Spartans 29-221991: Northwestern Wildcats 16-131992: Michigan State Spartans 27-261993: Michigan State Spartans 31-291994: Michigan State Spartans 35-171997: Northwestern Wildcats 19-171998: Michigan State Spartans 29-51999: Michigan State Spartans 34-02000: Northwestern Wildcats 37-172001: Northwestern Wildcats 27-262002: Michigan State Spartans 39-242005: Northwestern Wildcats 49-142006: Michigan State Spartans 41-382007: Northwestern Wildcats 48-412008: Michigan State Spartans 37-202009: Michigan State Spartans 24-142010: Michigan State Spartans 35-272011: Michigan State Spartans 31-172012: Northwestern Wildcats 23-202013: Michigan State Spartans 30-62016: Northwestern Wildcats 54-402017: Northwestern Wildcats 39-312018: Northwestern Wildcats 29-192019: Michigan State Spartans 31-102020: Michigan State Spartans 29-202021: Michigan State Spartans 38-212026: Northwestern Wildcats 24-21

Michigan State Spartans Northwestern Wildcats Tie Postseason One meeting per cell

Longest streaks: Michigan State Spartans 11 (1959–1969), Northwestern Wildcats 3 (1905–1924). Current: Northwestern Wildcats 1.

Splits

SplitMichigan State Spartans record
Regular season41-20
Hosted by Michigan State Spartans19-10
Hosted by Northwestern Wildcats22-10
Last 10 seasons (2011 to 2026)5-5
Largest Michigan State Spartans win76-14 (1989)
Largest Northwestern Wildcats win49-14 (2005)

Every meeting

2020s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
2026 Oct 17, 2026 Northwestern Wildcats 24-21 at Michigan State Spartans Week 7
2021 Sep 3, 2021 Michigan State Spartans 38-21 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 2
2020 Nov 28, 2020 Michigan State Spartans 29-20 at Michigan State Spartans Week 13
2010s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
2019 Sep 21, 2019 Michigan State Spartans 31-10 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 5
2018 Oct 6, 2018 Northwestern Wildcats 29-19 at Michigan State Spartans Week 7
2017 Oct 28, 2017 Northwestern Wildcats 39-31 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 10
2016 Oct 15, 2016 Northwestern Wildcats 54-40 at Michigan State Spartans Week 8
2013 Nov 23, 2013 Michigan State Spartans 30-6 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 13
2012 Nov 17, 2012 Northwestern Wildcats 23-20 at Michigan State Spartans Week 12
2011 Nov 26, 2011 Michigan State Spartans 31-17 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 13
2010 Oct 23, 2010 Michigan State Spartans 35-27 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 8
2000s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
2009 Oct 17, 2009 Michigan State Spartans 24-14 at Michigan State Spartans Week 7
2008 Oct 11, 2008 Michigan State Spartans 37-20 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 7
2007 Oct 6, 2007 Northwestern Wildcats 48-41 at Michigan State Spartans Week 6
2006 Oct 21, 2006 Michigan State Spartans 41-38 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 8
2005 Oct 22, 2005 Northwestern Wildcats 49-14 at Michigan State Spartans Week 8
2002 Sep 28, 2002 Michigan State Spartans 39-24 at Michigan State Spartans Week 6
2001 Sep 29, 2001 Northwestern Wildcats 27-26 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 5
2000 Sep 30, 2000 Northwestern Wildcats 37-17 at Michigan State Spartans Week 6
1990s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
1999 Nov 13, 1999 Michigan State Spartans 34-0 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 12
1998 Oct 31, 1998 Michigan State Spartans 29-5 at Michigan State Spartans Week 10
1997 Oct 18, 1997 Northwestern Wildcats 19-17 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 9
1994 Nov 5, 1994 Michigan State Spartans 35-17 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 11
1993 Nov 6, 1993 Michigan State Spartans 31-29 at Michigan State Spartans Week 11
1992 Oct 31, 1992 Michigan State Spartans 27-26 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 10
1991 Nov 2, 1991 Northwestern Wildcats 16-13 at Michigan State Spartans Week 10
1990 Nov 17, 1990 Michigan State Spartans 29-22 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 13
1980s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
1989 Nov 18, 1989 Michigan State Spartans 76-14 at Michigan State Spartans Week 12
1988 Oct 15, 1988 Michigan State Spartans 36-3 at Michigan State Spartans Week 8
1987 Oct 17, 1987 Michigan State Spartans 38-0 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 8
1986 Nov 15, 1986 Northwestern Wildcats 24-21 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 12
1985 Nov 16, 1985 Michigan State Spartans 32-0 at Michigan State Spartans Week 12
1984 Nov 3, 1984 Michigan State Spartans 27-10 at Michigan State Spartans Week 11
1983 Nov 5, 1983 Michigan State Spartans 9-3 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 11
1982 Nov 6, 1982 Northwestern Wildcats 28-24 at Michigan State Spartans Week 10
1981 Nov 7, 1981 Michigan State Spartans 61-14 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 10
1980 Nov 8, 1980 Michigan State Spartans 42-10 at Michigan State Spartans Week 11
1970s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
1979 Nov 3, 1979 Michigan State Spartans 42-7 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 10
1978 Nov 18, 1978 Michigan State Spartans 52-3 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 12
1977 Nov 11, 1977 Michigan State Spartans 44-3 at Michigan State Spartans Week 11
1976 Nov 13, 1976 Northwestern Wildcats 42-21 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 11
1975 Nov 15, 1975 Michigan State Spartans 47-14 at Michigan State Spartans Week 11
1974 Sep 14, 1974 Michigan State Spartans 41-7 at Michigan State Spartans Week 2
1973 Sep 15, 1973 Northwestern Wildcats 14-10 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 3
1972 Nov 25, 1972 Michigan State Spartans 24-14 at Michigan State Spartans Week 12
1971 Nov 20, 1971 Northwestern Wildcats 28-7 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 11
1970 Nov 21, 1970 Northwestern Wildcats 23-20 at Michigan State Spartans Week 13
1960s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
1969 Nov 22, 1969 Michigan State Spartans 39-7 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 11
1968 Nov 23, 1968 Michigan State Spartans 31-14 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 11
1967 Nov 25, 1967 Michigan State Spartans 41-27 at Michigan State Spartans Week 12
1966 Oct 29, 1966 Michigan State Spartans 22-0 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 8
1965 Oct 30, 1965 Michigan State Spartans 49-7 at Michigan State Spartans Week 8
1964 Oct 24, 1964 Michigan State Spartans 24-6 at Michigan State Spartans Week 7
1963 Oct 26, 1963 Michigan State Spartans 15-7 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 7
1962 Nov 17, 1962 Michigan State Spartans 31-7 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 10
1961 Nov 18, 1961 Michigan State Spartans 21-13 at Michigan State Spartans Week 10
1960 Nov 12, 1960 Michigan State Spartans 21-18 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 10
1950s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
1959 Nov 14, 1959 Michigan State Spartans 15-10 at Michigan State Spartans Week 10
1920s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
1924 Oct 25, 1924 Northwestern Wildcats 13-9 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 6
1910s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
1917 Nov 10, 1917 Northwestern Wildcats 39-6 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 9
1900s
SeasonDateWinnerScoreSiteRound
1905 Nov 18, 1905 Northwestern Wildcats 37-11 at Northwestern Wildcats Week 10

Sources

Records are computed from every final game result in the Matchup Index database. About the data.

College football results follow Sports Reference coverage, which omits some early games against non-major opponents.