Total Yards
Northwestern400
Michigan State511
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Data sourced from NCAA game stats archive (2021)
Game Center
Michigan State at Northwestern
Sep 4, 2021 • Completed
Season 2021RegularWeek 1
Away
Michigan State
Big Ten
Final Score
38 - 21
MSN
Home
Northwestern
Big Ten
Game Pulse
Immediate edge indicators from the box score.
Passing Yards
Northwestern283
Michigan State185
Rushing Yards
Northwestern117
Michigan State326
Turnovers
Northwestern0
Michigan State1
Game Conditions
ConditionCloudy
Temperature72°F
Wind7 mph SE
Humidity
61%
Precipitation
0.01 in
Player Game Leaders
Top individual performers and full player box data.
Full Player Box
Box Score Comparison
Northwestern vs Michigan State box score comparison chart
Possession Split
Possession split chart
Northwestern35:42
Michigan State24:18
Stat Dominance
Team comparison across key performance areas
Radar chart comparing team performance across key metrics
Game Story
Michigan State beats Northwestern 38-21
Michigan State defeated Northwestern 38-21 in Week 1 of the 2021 regular slate, finishing with a 511-400 edge in total yards, and scoring 1 passing touchdowns and 4 rushing touchdowns.
Michigan State set the terms early in a game that finished 38-21. Kenneth Walker III run for 75 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK) came with {'seconds': 47, 'minutes': 14} left in the first quarter, giving Michigan State the first major swing.
Michigan State's box score carried the story: 511 total yards, 326 rushing yards, and 185 passing yards. Northwestern finished with 400 total yards, including 117 on the ground and 283 through the air.
Michigan State converted 4-10 on third down, went 1-1 on fourth down, the turnover count was 1-0, Michigan State led 21-7 at halftime. The explosive highlight was Kenneth Walker III run for 75 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK).
Key Moments
Rushing Touchdown
Kenneth Walker III run for 75 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK) (Michigan State led 7-0 over Northwestern).
Rushing Touchdown
Kenneth Walker III run for 3 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK) (Michigan State led 14-0 over Northwestern).
Passing Touchdown
Hunter Johnson pass complete to Trey Pugh for 1 yd for a TD, (Charlie Kuhbander KICK) (Northwestern led 7-21 over Michigan State).
Passing Touchdown
Payton Thorne pass complete to Jordon Simmons for 14 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK) (Michigan State led 21-0 over Northwestern).
Rushing Touchdown
Kenneth Walker III run for 5 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK) (Michigan State led 28-7 over Northwestern).
Field Goal Good
Matt Coghlin 37 yd FG GOOD (Michigan State led 31-14 over Northwestern).
Stat Callouts
Final score
38-21
Michigan State defeated Northwestern.
Total yards
511-400
Michigan State held the yardage advantage.
Rushing yards
326
Michigan State averaged 8.8 yards per rush attempt.
Passing yards
185
Michigan State averaged 7.1 yards per pass attempt.
Third downs
4-10
Michigan State's conversion rate helped sustain possessions.
Opponent third downs
8-19
Northwestern's offense worked through that conversion rate.
Turnovers
1-0
Turnover totals are listed winner first.
Analysis
Game Breakdown
| Statistic | Northwestern | Michigan State |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 400 | 511 |
| Passing Yards | 283 | 185 |
| Rushing Yards | 117 | 326 |
| First Downs | 20 | 23 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 8-19 | 4-10 |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 4-5 | 1-1 |
| Total Penalties (Yards) | 6-40 | 5-50 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Completions / Attempts | 30-43 | 15-26 |
| Rushing Attempts | 38 | 37 |
| Passing TDs | 3 | 1 |
| Rushing TDs | 0 | 4 |
| Kicking Points | 3 | 8 |
| Possession Time | 35:42 | 24:18 |