Michigan State vs Northwestern
Michigan State41series60 meetings
19Northwestern
Michigan State leads the series · Michigan State on a 3-game winning run.
| Season | Site | Result | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 38-21 |
| 2020 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 29-20 |
| 2019 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 31-10 |
| 2018 | Northwestern win | East Lansing | L | 19-29 |
| 2017 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 31-39 |
| 2016 | Northwestern win | East Lansing | L | 40-54 |
| 2013 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 30-6 |
| 2012 | Northwestern win | East Lansing | L | 20-23 |
| 2011 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 31-17 |
| 2010 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 35-27 |
| 2009 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 24-14 |
| 2008 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 37-20 |
| 2007 | Northwestern win | East Lansing | L | 41-48 |
| 2006 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 41-38 |
| 2005 | Northwestern win | East Lansing | L | 14-49 |
| 2002 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 39-24 |
| 2001 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 26-27 |
| 2000 | Northwestern win | East Lansing | L | 17-37 |
| 1999 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 34-0 |
| 1998 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 29-5 |
| 1997 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 17-19 |
| 1994 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 35-17 |
| 1993 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 31-29 |
| 1992 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 27-26 |
| 1991 | Northwestern win | East Lansing | L | 13-16 |
| 1990 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 29-22 |
| 1989 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 76-14 |
| 1988 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 36-3 |
| 1987 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 38-0 |
| 1986 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 21-24 |
| 1985 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 32-0 |
| 1984 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 27-10 |
| 1983 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 9-3 |
| 1982 | Northwestern win | East Lansing | L | 24-28 |
| 1981 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 61-14 |
| 1980 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 42-10 |
| 1979 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 42-7 |
| 1978 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 52-3 |
| 1977 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 44-3 |
| 1976 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 21-42 |
| 1975 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 47-14 |
| 1974 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 41-7 |
| 1973 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 10-14 |
| 1972 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 24-14 |
| 1971 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 7-28 |
| 1970 | Northwestern win | East Lansing | L | 20-23 |
| 1969 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 39-7 |
| 1968 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 31-14 |
| 1967 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 41-27 |
| 1966 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 22-0 |
| 1965 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 49-7 |
| 1964 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 24-6 |
| 1963 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 15-7 |
| 1962 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 31-7 |
| 1961 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 21-13 |
| 1960 | Michigan State win | Evanston | W | 21-18 |
| 1959 | Michigan State win | East Lansing | W | 15-10 |
| 1924 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 9-13 |
| 1917 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 6-39 |
| 1905 | Northwestern win | Evanston | L | 11-37 |
The head-to-head series, every meeting on record since 1905.
See the Michigan State vs Northwestern rivalry breakdown for by-decade splits, trends and the next meeting.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the all-time record between Michigan State and Northwestern?
Michigan State is 41-19 against Northwestern across 60 meetings on record since 1905. Michigan State leads the series.
When did Michigan State last play Northwestern?
They last met in 2021, a 38-21 win for Michigan State.