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David Braun makes a ‘horrible decision’ vs. Michigan State and Pat Fitzgerald — but Northwestern wins anyway

Northwestern’s David Braun faced a pivotal moment late in Saturday’s game against Michigan State, choosing a fake punt on fourth-and-8 at his own 28-yard line with just over three minutes left and the score tied. The play fell incomplete, handing the Spartans the ball in field-goal range—but Northwestern’s defense rallied to block the kick and spark a game-winning drive.

Quarterback Aidan Chiles and running back Caleb Komolafe led the charge, covering 64 yards in under a minute before kicker Jackson Kleather sealed the 24-21 victory with a 34-yard field goal as time expired. The win marked Northwestern’s first Big Ten road victory of the season and denied Pat Fitzgerald his first conference win as Michigan State’s head coach, while also salvaging Braun’s reputation after a controversial call that he later called a “horrible decision.”

The Wildcats overcame a shaky start, including a pregame meeting between Braun and Fitzgerald, who had previously coached at Northwestern and hired Braun as defensive coordinator in 2023. Northwestern’s resilience—highlighted by a dramatic field-goal block and clutch scoring—demonstrated the team’s composure in high-pressure situations, as Braun noted the group’s ability to recover from setbacks.

The victory also came amid lingering distractions, including Fitzgerald’s recent hiring amid a hazing scandal at his former program.

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