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Northwestern Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes: Week 10 Predictions
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- Northwestern Wildcats vs. Iowa Hawkeyes: Week 10 Predictions
Northwestern faces another major test in Week 10 as the 6-2 Wildcats welcome Iowa to Ryan Field on Saturday. Coming off a 34-26 loss to Oregon , Northwestern will look to bounce back against a tough Hawkeyes team while trying to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive.
The Wildcats will face an added challenge with starting quarterback Aidan Chiles expected to miss the matchup due to an upper-body injury. Redshirt junior transfer Nicco Marchiol is set to make his first start for Northwestern, giving him a major opportunity to step up against one of the Big Ten's toughest defenses.
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Iowa enters the matchup at 6-2 after shutting out Wisconsin 30-0 last week. With both teams looking to make a statement, our Roundtable Sports writers share their predictions for Saturday's matchup.
Alex Kwiatkowski (7-1): Northwestern 21, Iowa 17
I expect this to be a low-scoring, physical matchup between two teams with plenty on the line. Marchiol now has an opportunity to prove himself in his first start for Northwestern, but he faces a difficult challenge against a strong Iowa defense. How he handles the pressure and manages the offense will be one of the biggest factors in this game.
Northwestern's defense has struggled recently, particularly when it comes to limiting explosive plays. However, the Wildcats have gotten several of their key defensive contributors back this week and will look to get back on track against Iowa. If the defense can limit big plays and make life difficult for the Hawkeyes' offense, Northwestern will have a chance to control the game.
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I also think the home crowd at Ryan Field will play a major role. With the Wildcats looking to bounce back and keep their playoff chances alive, I expect the atmosphere to give them an extra boost. Marchiol and the defense will have to step up, but I like Northwestern to pull out a close win.
Oct 2, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; the student section during the first quarter in a game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Penn State Nittany Lions at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Prediction: Northwestern 21, Iowa 17
Nick Meyer (4-2): Northwestern 23, Iowa 20
This game looks like a toss-up due to Aidan Chiles' injury and the several injuries Iowa has been dealing with lately. With Chiles sidelined, Nicco Marchiol will take the reins of Chip Kelly's offense, bringing a dependable and versatile dual-threat option at quarterback. I like the Wildcats to win this one on the strength of their offense after some early struggles.
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Marchiol will have a difficult assignment against Iowa's defense, but Northwestern has enough offensive weapons to make plays and put points on the board. If the Wildcats can establish their rhythm and avoid costly mistakes, they should be in a position to pull out a close victory at home.
Prediction: Northwestern 23, Iowa 20
Gavin Dorsey (5-1): Iowa 17, Northwestern 13
Northwestern hasn't scored fewer than 23 points all season, but it's hard to imagine a bigger absence for Chip Kelly and the Wildcats' offense than Aidan Chiles. The senior quarterback is why Kelly is able to call the plays he can, and as talented as Caleb Komolafe, Joseph Himon, Griffin Wilde and company are, it cannot be overstated how important Chiles' arm talent and scrambling ability are to Northwestern's success.
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The Hawkeyes are just as scary on defense as they always are, which could cause problems for Nicco Marchiol in his first start in Evanston.
I expect Kelly to lean on his run game without Chiles, which could bode well for the Hawkeyes. Iowa has the fourth-best rushing defense in the FBS and is allowing an average of just 79 yards on the ground per game. The Wildcats will need some Marchiol Magic to pull this one off and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Prediction: Iowa 17, Northwestern 13
Alex Kirschenbaum (0-1): Iowa 30, Northwestern 21
At quarterback, Northwestern will be swapping in redshirt junior transfer Nicco Marchiol for an injured Aidan Chiles. One would naturally expect innovative offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to lean on the Wildcats' run game with a more unproven signal-caller. But Chip Kelly loves to lean into the unexpected, as we've seen so far during his first year on the Ryan Field sidelines.
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No. 19-ranked Iowa, meanwhile, has been humming along. The Hawkeyes are coming off a dominant 30-0 shutout of Wisconsin and have one of the toughest defenses in the country. Marchiol will have his hands full in his first start, and Northwestern could struggle to find the same offensive rhythm it had with Chiles under center.
Look for the Wildcats to record their second straight loss in as many weeks on Saturday.
Prediction: Iowa 30, Northwestern 21
Luke Slabaugh (4-0) Iowa 38, Northwestern 31
If the reports are true and Aidan Chiles can't play, then Iowa is the side. It's one thing to write off Chip Kelly's scheme; that's heresy. It's another thing to question whether NU can replicate those results with WVU transfer Nicco Marchiol, or whoever the flavor of the month is. We just don't know what he can do in a Wildcat uniform.
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Iowa boasts the nation's fourth-best scoring defense. Like Indiana, they stifle the run game, barely trailing the Hoosiers for the Big Ten lead in rushing defense (79 yards per game). The Hawkeyes just posted their first shutout over a ranked opponent since 1960 – ironically, it was Northwestern back then.
Like any legitimate Kirk Ferentz team, they play great complementary football. They're a program that has been able to run the ball effectively against NU for years. The only obvious shortcoming is the occasional recklessness from their own quarterback play, with Hank Brown throwing picks in their losses to Ohio State and Minnesota.
It's a tough, hard-nosed team. That's why I originally wrote last week that the Oregon game would set the thermostat, so to speak. These next four games are going to be a slugfest. Two opponents have an outside shot at the playoff, with the Hawkeyes needing significant help and divine intervention to make it work. NU could've been in the thick of it, too.
Still … the 'Cats have an opportunity to improve to 7-2 in-season for the first time in 30 years. Anytime you can make comparisons to the 90s teams, you've had a good year.
Prediction: Iowa 38, Northwestern 31
