A rare trip to the shores of Lake Michigan is not a bad way for Deion Sanders and Colorado to close out the nonconference portion of the 2026 schedule.
The Chicago area will be crawling with Buffaloes fans when CU has a rare meeting against Northwestern. Saturday’s game (5:30 p.m. FOX) is only their third meeting the first since 1978 and the first in Evanston for 75 years.
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It’s the first time the Buffs will travel to face a Big Ten team since a matchup against Nebraska in Lincoln in 2024. CU is 19-18-1 against active Big Ten teams but without a win against a team from the conference other than the rival Huskers since 1995, when it beat Wisconsin 43-7 in Madison.
Coach Prime is looking to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2023. A perfect nonconference record with a pair of road wins against Power 4 opponents would do plenty to raise the Buffs’ profile heading into a slate of nine Big 12 games.
Here’s what you need to know about the Wildcats, who are coming off a bye week:
Last time out
As Northwestern prepares to say goodbye to its temporary home steps from the water and into a reconstructed Ryan Field in October, the Buffs will be the final opposing football team to visit Martin Stadium, which hosts the university’s lacrosse and soccer programs and seats around 15,000 fans.
The second-to-last visitor was South Dakota State. The elite FCS program, which won back-to-back national championships in 2022-23, was the Wildcats’ opener in the Sept. 5 season opener.
A four-point game at halftime, Northwestern pulled away with 17 points in the fourth quarter to pick up a 34-18 win to open the season.
The Wildcats outgained the Jackrabbits 497-432 in the game, using a solid rushing attack (224 yards, 7.2 yards per carry) that was capped off by an 80-yard touchdown run by Joseph Himon II in the final 2 minutes.
On offense
The last time CU faced an offense led by Chip Kelly, things did not go well.
The new Northwestern offensive coordinator has made a few stops in between final last season at UCLA, when the Bruins had 515 yards and a 45-17 blowout win at Folsom Field in late Sept. 2022.
Kelly won’t have nearly the same personnel advantage as he did four years ago. But he will have dynamic quarterback Aidan Chiles, a Michigan State transfer who completed 14-of-24 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown, adding 18 rushing yards and a touchdown, during his Northwestern debut.
Northwestern’s new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, right, speaks as head coach David Braun listens during an NCAA college football press conference, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A pair of running backs split the majority of the workload in Week 1. Returner Caleb Komolafe led the team with 10 carries (totaling 46 yards), while Colorado native and former Valor Christian star Gavin Sawchuk had 69 yards on eight attempts. Himon led the team with 87 yards, but he had just 7 yards on three carries outside of his long touchdown run.
Out wide, Griffin Wilde caught a 71-yard pass from Chiles on the Wildcats’ first offensive play. That set up an 11-yard touchdown to tight end Alex Honig on the next play.
On defense
A veteran Northwestern defense will have its hands full Saturday night.
The Buffs showed in both of their wins they can beat teams on the ground and through the air. A similar game plan to the one at Georgia Tech in Week 1 wouldn’t be surprising, but if the Wildcats try to load up near the line of scrimmage to stop the run, Julian Lewis and his stable of speedy wide receivers can beat you deep, too.
The Wildcats were susceptible to long drives by the South Dakota State offense in Week 1, too, with the Jackrabbits winning the time of possession battle thanks to four drives of 10-plus plays.Â
Northwestern defensive back Robert Fitzgerald (6) runs during an NCAA football game against Southern California on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Northwestern linebacker Robert Fitzgerald, a senior who has spent his entire career in Evanston, will be a player to watch. He was all over the field in Week 1, leading the team with 14 tackles.
The Northwestern Wildcats file
Record: 1-0
Head coach: David Braun (4th season, 20-19 record)
Offensive coordinator: Chip Kelly (1st season)
Defensive coordinator: Tim McGarigle (9th season at NW, 3rd as DC)
Names to know: QB Aidan Chiles, RB Gavin Sawchuk, RB Caleb Komolafe, WR Griffin Wilde, TE Luke Dehnicke, LB Kobie McKinzie, DB Robert Fitzgerald,
Betting line: Colorado +3.5 (BetMGM)