Northwestern's Comeback Falls Short at No. 5 Indiana, 29-23

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Despite a valiant second-half effort on both sides of the ball, Northwestern football fell 29-23 to No. 5 Indiana on Friday night in Memorial Stadium.

“Congratulations to Indiana. We’re going to learn from this one,” Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. “This isn’t bulletin board material. That’s a great football team. But we have a great football team in that locker room, too.”

The Wildcats (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten) outscored the Hoosiers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) 23-17 in the game’s final 30 minutes, registering the most points against the defending national champions since Nov. 8, 2025. However, a 12-0 halftime deficit ultimately proved too much to overcome.

“What an incredible reflection of this team’s maturity, composure and resilience in terms of the way they responded in the second half, through ups and downs,” Braun said.

Fourth-year quarterback Aidan Chiles completed 22-of-29 passes for 293 yards and three total touchdowns. He is the first NU quarterback to log three games of at least 225 passing yards to start a season since C.J. Bacher did so in 2007.

Chiles found another gear in the second half, going 17-of-21 for 237 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing score in the latter two quarters.

With his Friday night showing, Chiles became the first NU first quarterback to complete 75%+ of his passes, have 250+ passing yards, 2+ passing TDs, and 1+ rushing TD against a ranked team since QB Brett Basanez on Oct. 22, 2005 against No. 22 Michigan State.

Third-year Luke Dehnicke recorded seven receptions, amassing 140 yards (20 yards per catch), to lead NU’s receiving efforts. Dehnicke’s yardage total marked the most by a Northwestern tight end against a power conference opponent since at least 1995, as well as the most by any Big Ten tight end against a conference opponent since Penn State’s TE Tyler Warren had 224 in 2024 at USC.

Senior wide receiver Griffin Wilde hauled in six catches for 56 yards and a pair of scores — all of which came in the second half. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Robert Fitzgerald recorded a team-high 13 tackles. Kobie Mckinzie added nine stops, while Braydon Brus and Jamaal Johnson both tallied a sack.

Northwestern’s defense started strong, slamming the door shut on a 15-play opening drive by IU with a goal-line stand. However, the Hoosiers’ defense answered, recording a safety on NU’s ensuing snap to take a 2-0 lead.

With 13:06 remaining in the first half, Nico Radicic made a 43-yard field goal to extend the hosts’ lead to 5-0. On the Hoosiers’ next drive, quarterback Josh Hoover hit Nick Marsh for a 12-yard touchdown, giving Indiana a 12-0 lead with 5:04 to play in the second quarter.

Midway through the third quarter, Chiles connected with Wilde for a 4-yard receiving touchdown, cutting the deficit to 12-7. The score capped off a 10-play, 75-yard drive for the ’Cats. Then, a Radicic field goal pushed the Indiana lead to 15-7 with 2:06 remaining in the quarter.

The Chiles-Wilde duo struck again for an eight-yard touchdown, taking the score to 15-13 with 14:54 left in the game. Wilde’s second score of the night marked his 10th touchdown as a Wildcat.

Indiana’s Lee Beebe Jr. provided the response on the ensuing Hoosier drive, punching in a four-yard rushing score to stretch the home lead to 22-13 with less than 10 minutes to play.

A seven-yard Chiles rushing touchdown capped off a 9-play, 78-yard scoring drive for Northwestern, which brought the game back within two points. Indiana’s signal caller answered with a touchdown of his own, handing Indiana a 29-20 lead with 1:56 remaining.

After Chiles drove the ’Cats into Indiana territory, Jackson Kleather converted a 42-yard field goal to cut the Hoosier lead to six in the final minute. NU attempted an onside kick, which Indiana recovered and ran out the clock to seal its victory.

“If you don’t believe we can play with anyone in the country, not just play with, but beat anyone in the country, you’re not looking at the same game,” Braun said.

Next up, Northwestern will open the New Ryan Field as it hosts No. 13 Penn State on Friday, Oct. 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on FOX.