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Michigan State Preview and Prediction
By The Lowes Line Staff
Matchup: #25 Northwestern Wildcats (4-1, 1-1 B1G) at Michigan State Spartans (2-4, 0-3 B1G)
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11:00 am CDT, Spartan Stadium
TV: Peacock
Line: Northwestern (-7.5, started at 8.5 but has come down); O/U 48.5
Last Week in Review:
Final: Last week was all Aidan Chiles as the NU QB
threw for 3 tuddies while running in another. Griffin Wilde
had 144 receiving yards, catching a touchdown. Komolafe rushed
one in while captain Robert Fitzgerald returned an INT for one as
well. One of the highlights for long suffering Wildcat fans was a
52 yard field goal make by Jackson Kleather. Many a year, NU fans
have wondered out loud “seriously, the Wildcats cannot find anyone to
kick a ball”. Well this year, NU apparently has. The
Lowes Line staff was all over this game picking a 31 point victory
41-10 just off from the 45-14 final. Well done!!
The Spartans had their own issues last week hosting Illinois losing
38-37 in OT. New coach Pat Fitzgerald (yes, that Pat
Fitzgerald) has had a rough start to his return to the B1G, now
0-3. Last week was especially disheartening as Illinois
jumped out to a 16 point lead but big game Bret went for it on 4th and
1 and the UofI QB was stuffed, giving the Spartans a chance. The
game went into OT and Fitz went for a 2 pt conversion, getting denied
the winning score. The game was marred by an officiating gaffe
earlier in the 4th, as Sparty went for an onside kick. Initially,
declared out of bounds, replay revealed the MSU player had recovered
the ball. However, the player who recovered was declared offsides
and Fitz was told he couldn’t challenge that aspect. Replay
cleared showed the play was onside. Let’s just say Pat was not
happy as clearly demonstrated by the following:
Coach
Fitzgerald was all 'Cats for nearly 30 years. Anchoring the Rose
Bowl and Citrus Bowl teams, he was a leader for the ‘Cats. Coming
on board with the ‘Cats in 2001, he was promoted to head coach after
the untimely passing of Coach Walker in 2006. Leading the
Wildcats to multiple bowl appearances (and first wins in a bowl) as
well the B1G Championship Game TWICE, the thought of Fitz and a statue
outside Ryan Field was almost a no brainer. Then 2023
came. Fitz and the defense had struggled and Coach Braun was
hired to be defensive coordinator. A few former players
came out alleging sexual assault. FORMER University
President Michael Schill initially suspended Fitz for 2 weeks, but
after “further scrutiny” which I imagined like this - you can guess my
inspiration
Investigator Hickey:
A moment ago, you said that you ordered your upperclassmen to leave the freshmen alone and to not be touched.
Fitzgerald: That's right.
Investigator Hickey: And the Upperclassmen were clear on what you wanted?
Fitzgerald: Crystal.
Investigator Hickey: Any chance the Upperclassmen ignored the order?
Fitzgerald: Ignored the order?
Investigator Hickey: Any chance they forgot about it?
Fitzgerald: No.
Investigator Hickey: Any chance the Upperclassmen left your office and said, "the old man is wrong"?
Fitzgerald: No.
Investigator Hickey: When the Upperclassmen spoke to the platoon and
ordered them not to touch the Freshmen, any chance they ignored him?
Fitzgerald: You ever played on a team, son?
Investigator Hickey: No, sir.
Fitzgerald: Ever served in a forward area?
Investigator Hickey: No, sir.
Fitzgerald: Ever put your life in another man's hands and asked him to put his life in yours?
Investigator Hickey: No, sir.
Fitzgerald: We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear?
Investigator Hickey: Yes, sir.
Fitzgerald: Are we clear?!
Investigator Hickey: Crystal. Colonel, I just have one more question.
If you gave an order that the Freshmen were not to be
touched, and your orders are always followed, then why would the
Freshmen be in danger?
Fitzgerald: The Freshmen were making mistakes. These could lead to turnovers, injuries, LOSSES
Investigator Hickey: That's not what you said. You said he was in grave danger.
Fitzgerald: That's correct.
Investigator Hickey: You said he was in danger. I said "grave danger"? You said...
Fitzgerald: I recall what I said.
Investigator Hickey: I could have the court reporter read back to you...
Fitzgerald: I know what I said! I don't have to have it read back to me, like I'm...
Investigator Hickey: Then why the two orders? Coach?
Fitzgerald: Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.
Investigator Hickey: No, sir. You made it clear just a moment ago that
your men never take matters into their own hands. Your men follow
orders or games are lost. So the Freshmen shouldn't have been in any
danger at all, should he have, Coach?
Investigator Hickey: I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.
Judge: The court will wait for an answer.
Investigator Hickey: If the Upperclassmen weren’t to be touched, then
why the danger? Colonel? The Upperclassmen ordered the Code Red, didn't
they? Because that's what you told the Upperclassmen to do!
Investigator Hickey: Colonel Fitzgerald, did you order the Code Red?!
Judge: You don't have to answer that question!
Fitzgerald: I'll answer the question. You want answers?
Investigator Hickey: I think I'm entitled!
Fitzgerald: You want answers?!
Investigator Hickey: I want the truth!
Fitzgerald: You can't handle the truth!
Son, we live in a world that has end zones, and those end zones have to
be guarded by strong disciplined men. Can NU stop Ohio State,
Michigan or these other B1G teams without this training? Who's gonna do
it? You? You, President Schill? I have a greater responsibility than
you can possibly fathom. You weep for the Freshmen and you curse the
Wildcats. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what
I know, that the Freshmen's actions, while tragic, probably saved
lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you,
saves lives! You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you
don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on
that wall. We use words like "honor", "code", "loyalty". We use these
words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them
as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain
myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the bowl wins
and championships that I provide, and then questions the manner in
which I provide it! I would rather you just said "thank you", and went
on your way. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are
entitled to!
Investigator Hickey: Did you order the Code Red?
Fitzgerald: I did the job that—- -
Forgive the blatant appropriation of a movie, most of us have seen
multiple times and apologies to Aaron Sorkin who wrote the play and the
movie. I honestly believe that Fitz did not order the Code
Red. Regardless, was it time for a change? Seemingly, Fitz
was getting a bit stale at NU and the new era has been
exciting. Coach Braun has brought on Chip Kelly as OC and
the Wildcats are riding a high with the new stadium and new found
offensive energy. Let’s just keep it going this week!!
Pick: ‘Cats win, but it’s a nail biter
Northwestern 24, Michigan State 21. Take the ‘Cats straight up, but Sparty and the points, along with the under.
Season to date: 5-0; Against the spread: 2-3.
The Lowes Line is an
e-mailed description of NU's
next
football game, with an invariably fearless prediction of the outcome
and
how NU will fare against what the other "experts" predict. Our
good
friend and Brother Marcus Lowes began the broadcast mailing in 1996.
The crack Lowes Line Staff (alumni Lone Star Cat,
GallopingGrapes, P.S. O'Briant, Eric Cockerill, Joel Kanvik, Charlie Simon, and
MO'Cats) have continued the Line in memory of Marcus.
For
the 2026 season it has returned to HailToPurple.com,
for anyone to enjoy. Thanks to the gridiron brain trust at the Lowes
Line!
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