Northwestern hosts South Dakota State for the Wildcats' season opener
South Dakota State at Northwestern, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET
How to watch: Big Ten Network
Key stats
South Dakota State
Overall offense: 628 yards per game (2nd in FCS)
Passing: 235 yards per game (tied for 50th)
Rushing: 393 yards per game (2nd)
Scoring: 70 points per game (4th)
Overall defense: 265 yards allowed per game (25th in FCS)
Passing: 157 yards allowed per game (27th)
Rushing: 108 yards allowed per game (42nd)
Scoring: 7 points allowed per game (tied for 10th)
Northwestern (2025)
Overall offense: 346.1 yards per game (96th in FBS)
Passing: 185.9 yards per game (106th)
Rushing: 160.2 yards per game (65th)
Scoring: 23.4 points per game (96th)
Overall defense: 329.8 yards per game (31st)
Passing: 193.5 yards allowed per game (30th)
Top Stories
Rushing: 136.2 yards allowed per game (48th)
Scoring: 19.8 points allowed per game (tied for 23rd)
Team leaders
South Dakota State
Passing: Chase Mason, 157 yards, 1 TD, 50 completion percentage
Rushing: James Basinger, 110 yards on 8 carries, 1 TD
Receiving: Landon Dulaney, 89 yards on 2 catches, 1 TD
Northwestern (2025)
Passing: Preston Stone, 2,400 yards, 17 TDs, 12 INTs, 60 completion percentage
Rushing: Caleb Komolafe, 941 yards on 190 carries, 11 TDs
Receiving: Griffin Wilde, 880 yards on 71 catches, 8 TDs
Last game
South Dakota State beat Stetson 70-7 on Aug. 29.
Northwestern finished a 7-6 season with a 34-7 victory over Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Dec. 26.
Next game
South Dakota State hosts New Haven on Sept. 12.
Northwestern hosts Colorado on Sept. 19.
------
Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
