Wildcats blank Boilermakers for first shutout in eight years

Field Level Media|published: Sat 18th October, 18:42 2025

Oct 18, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Robert Fitzgerald (6) reacts after intercepting a pass against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Quarterback Preston Stone passed for two touchdowns and the Northwestern Wildcats piled up 232 rushing yards to extend their winning streak to four games with a 19-0 Big Ten victory over Purdue on Saturday afternoon in Evanston, Ill.

Joseph Himon Jr. had 87 yards rushing -- one of three Wildcats with at least 50 -- and Northwestern (5-2, 3-1) posted its first shutout since a 39-0 home victory over Minnesota on Nov. 18, 2017.

Purdue (2-5, 0-4), which lost starting quarterback Ryan Browne to injury on the first play of the second half, has lost 13 straight Big Ten games since earning a 35-31 victory over Indiana for the Old Oaken Bucket in the final game of the 2023 season.

Northwestern dominated from the outset, scoring on its first three drives for a 13-0 lead. Jack Olsen's 27-yard field goal capped a 14-play, 66-yard drive with the opening kickoff.

Stone's 3-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Welcing concluded a 14-play, 74-yard drive two minutes into the second quarter. The Wildcats ran 28 of the game's first 31 plays.

Olsen's 38-yard field capped a 60-yard drive to make it 13-0 with 8:38 left in the first half. The Wildcats had 16 first downs and 203 total yards in the first half while Purdue had two first downs and 57 yards.

Purdue quarterback Malachi Singleton completed 11 of 20 passes for 187 yards and one interception after replacing Browne at the start of the second half. Browne, who was 5 of 10 for 31 yards, was averaging 256.8 yards passing per game.

Stone's 12-yard touchdown pass to Griffin Wilde made it 19-0 with 4:01 left in the third quarter, the only scoring in the second half. The Wildcats finished with 364 total yards and 37 minutes, 39 seconds of possession.

Calen Komofale had 67 yards rushing and Dashun Reeder added 51 for the Wildcats, who average 190.1 rushing yards per game.

The Boilers drove inside Northwestern's 30 three times in the second half, but they turned over the ball on downs all three times as they sought touchdowns instead of field goals to accelerate a potential comeback. Purdue recorded 248 of its 305 total yards in the second half.

The Wildcats' last four-game winning streak was in 2023, when they won their last four.

--Field Level Media