Michigan State’s 2026 schedule just got a little more personal.
The Spartans already knew they’d line up against Noah Kim at Eastern Michigan and Katin Houser at Illinois, and now there’s another familiar face headed their way. When Northwestern comes to East Lansing, the Wildcats will be led by Aidan Chiles.
Chiles, the former prized Jonathan Smith recruit and the No. 1 transfer who followed his head coach to Michigan State, has officially been named Northwestern’s starting quarterback ahead of the 2026 regular season. Sources said he’ll make his Wildcats debut against South Dakota State on Sept. 5.
Sources: Northwestern has named Aidan Chiles the starting quarterback, and he’ll debut for the Wildcats against South Dakota State on Sept. 5. Chiles is a Michigan State Oregon State transfer with 4,126 yards and 27 passing TDs. pic.twitter.com/g8QevzYnjQ
- Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 24, 2026
From a fit standpoint, the move makes a lot of sense. Chiles should give Northwestern’s offense more room to breathe, and Chip Kelly, as the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator, should have plenty to work with.
The issue at Michigan State wasn’t a lack of talent. It was that the setup never seemed to bring out what Chiles does best.
At Northwestern, the expectation is that he’ll have more freedom as a runner, with more designed keepers built into the offense.
There’s still plenty of goodwill for Chiles in East Lansing, too. A lot of Spartans fans will be pulling for him this season - just not on Oct. 17.
Aidan Chiles needed a fresh start
Whatever the exact breakdown was between Chiles, Brian Lindgren, and Smith, it never really clicked. The connection between the quarterback and the Michigan State staff always felt a little off.
A change of scenery was necessary. That might have come under Fitzgerald, but once the coach who brought him in was dismissed by Michigan State, Chiles seemed to know it was time to move on and pass the offense to Alessio Milivojevic.
Northwestern gives him that clean slate.
He’ll be learning from one of the sharper football minds in recent college football history, at least back when Kelly was still at Oregon, and the challenge now is simple: trust that Kelly will tailor the offense to Chiles’ strengths as both a runner and a deep-ball thrower. People tend to forget just how big Chiles’ arm is.
His Michigan State run wasn’t empty. He flashed real QB1 ability and finished with 23 touchdowns, a little over 2,800 passing yards, more than 450 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns across two seasons.
But like Nate Carter, he was stuck in a rough stretch of Michigan State football. In a different era, he might’ve looked a lot more like the player Spartans fans hoped they were getting.
A career year is coming for Chiles in Evanston.
In Other News...
Central Michigan Is Starting To Change The In-State Football Conversation
Central Michigan is starting to look like more than just a neighbor on the schedule. Fox Sports recently labeled the Chippewas a dark horse in the MAC, and there is some real substance behind the buzz. Since Matt Drinkall took over after the 2024 season, the program has put together a 7-6 finish, its best mark since 2021, while also showing it can hang in tight games with a pair of one-possession losses.
The bigger reason the attention is growing is continuity. Central Michigan returns the third-most starters in the MAC, and the roster has already flashed enough on both sides of the ball to suggest another jump is possible. For Michigan State fans keeping an eye on the states football pecking order, it is another reminder that the Chippewas are becoming a more relevant part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Izzo Just Sent Another Clear Message About Michigan State's Future
Tom Izzo keeps making it plain that Michigan States future is not something hes leaving to chance. The Spartans are already putting real attention on the 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes, and an unofficial visit is lined up for a top-35 prospect in the 2028 group. Izzo has also extended an offer to Mateen Cleaves Jr., another sign that the Hall of Fame coach is still working the trail with the same energy that has long defined his program.
For Michigan State fans, the bigger takeaway is what all of this says about Izzo himself. After another stretch that reminded people why he remains one of the sports most competitive voices, he is still recruiting hard and still planning like a coach with years left, not one easing toward the finish line. Every move points the same direction, and the Spartans are acting like their next era is already being mapped out. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Is Pushing For A Top In-State TE Early
Michigan State is heading into its final week of fall camp under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and the program is already making an early push in a place it wants to strengthen. One of the names to watch is AJ Henley, a three-star tight end in the 2028 class, who has lined up an unofficial visit to East Lansing on Sept. 12 as part of a fall schedule that includes several stops around the country.
Henley still does not have an offer from Michigan State, but the visit alone says plenty about where the Spartans hope to make their presence felt. Tight end has become a position of emphasis as Fitzgerald and his staff put their stamp on the roster, and getting an in-state prospect on campus this early gives Michigan State a chance to keep building that relationship before the recruitment gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]