# Northwestern beats Michigan State

> Northwestern wins 24-21 against Michigan State in last-second drive.
- Title: Northwestern beats Michigan State · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: Northwestern wins 24-21 against Michigan State in last-second drive. Northwestern defeats Michigan State 24-21 with a last-second touchdown to end Pat…
- Keywords: northwestern, michigan state, pat fitzgerald, aidan chiles, nfl, college football, big ten, wildcats, spartans, field goal, quarterback, linebacker
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/college-sports/2026/10/17/northwestern-wildcats-michigan-state-spartans-pat-fitzgerald-aidan-chiles-david-braun
- Published: 2026-10-17T22:13:11.04+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: northwestern, michigan state, pat fitzgerald, aidan chiles, nfl, college football, big ten, wildcats, spartans, field goal, quarterback, linebacker
## Northwestern wins 24-21
Northwestern defeats Michigan State 24-21 in a down-to-wire game with a last-second touchdown drive.
## Pat Fitzgerald's record
Fitzgerald is 2-5 with Michigan State after losing four straight games, including a 38-37 overtime loss to Illinois.
## Fitzgerald's lawsuit
Fitzgerald filed a $130 million wrongful-termination lawsuit against Northwestern after being fired in 2023.
## Aidan Chiles' performance
Chiles led Northwestern 64 yards in 58 seconds to set up a winning touchdown with two seconds left.
## Fitzgerald's comments
Fitzgerald said, 'I get paid to win and we’re not winning, so it starts and ends with me.'

> I get paid to win and we’re not winning, so it starts and ends with me.
## Fitzgerald's pride
Fitzgerald praised his team, saying 34 players were recruited by him and they are playing at a high level.
## Chiles' reaction
Chiles said, 'Never in doubt, we knew we were going to win this game.'

> Never in doubt, we knew we were going to win this game.
## Tom Izzo's support
Tom Izzo, Michigan State basketball coach, publicly supported Fitzgerald before the game.
## Fitzgerald's emotional history
Fitzgerald has shown emotion in green, including flipping the bird at refs and entering the student section.
## Fitzgerald's perspective
Fitzgerald said the game was about the teams and players, not Aidan Chiles or himself.

> It’s about the teams and [all] the players.
## Fitzgerald's record
Fitzgerald has a 110-win record at Northwestern and took 10 teams to bowls.
## Michigan State's record
Michigan State has a 4-8 record from last season with 61 new players on the roster.
## Fitzgerald's promise
Fitzgerald promised before the season, 'I know what I’m doing. The blueprint is there.'

> I know what I’m doing. The blueprint is there.
## Fitzgerald's emotional state
Fitzgerald said the game was not very emotional, just two teams respecting each other.
## Brendan Flakes' block
Flakes blocked a field goal attempt with 1:05 left to set up the winning drive.
## Key takeaway

Northwestern defeats Michigan State 24-21 with a last-second touchdown to end Pat Fitzgerald's losing streak against the Spartans.