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Northwestern heads into East Lansing at 2-3 on the season coming off a win, but the depth looks a little different defensively. While everything is the same on offense, the Wildcats officially welcome back defensive backs Kyle Queiro and Alonzo Mayo into the depth chart at first string safety and second string cornerback respectively (both played versus Iowa but were not listed).
The only other changes are that Jordan Thompson is now listed as the starter at defensive tackle, and Alex Miller has supplanted Greg Kuhar as the backup to Tyler Lancaster.
Changes are in bold italics
| Starter/1st String | Backup/2nd String | |
| Quarterback | Clayton Thorson | Matt Alviti |
| Running Back | Justin Jackson | John Moten IV |
| X-Receiver | Austin Carr | Andrew Scanlan |
| Y-Receiver | Flynn Nagel | Macan Wilson |
| Z-Receiver | Solomon Vault | Bennett Skowronek |
| Superback | Garrett Dickerson | Cameron Green |
| Left Tackle | Blake Hance | Sam Coverdale |
| Left Guard | Connor Mahoney | Andrew Otterman |
| Center | Brad North | J.B. Butler |
| Right Guard | Tommy Doles | Jared Thomas |
| Right Tackle | Eric Olson | Ben Oxley |
| Starter/1st String | Backup/2nd String | |
| Defensive End | C.J. Robbins | Joe Gaziano |
| Defensive Tackle | Jordan Thompson | Fred Wyatt |
| Defensive Tackle | Tyler Lancaster | Alex Miller |
| Defensive End | Xavier Washington | Ifeadi Odenigbo |
| SAM Linebacker | Jaylen Prater | Brett Walsh |
| MIKE Linebacker | Anthony Walker Jr. | Nathan Fox |
| WILL Linebacker | Joseph Jones | Nate Hall |
| Cornerback | Montre Hartage | Roderick Campbell |
| Safety | Godwin Igwebuike | Parrker Westphal |
| Safety | Kyle Queiro | Jared McGee |
| Cornerback | Trae Williams | Alonzo Mayo |
| Starter/1st String | Backup/2nd String | |
| Kicker | Jack Mitchell OR Matt Micucci | |
| Punter | Hunter Niswander | Matt Micucci |
| Kickoff Specialist | Jack Mitchell | Matt Micucci |
| Kick Returner | Solomon Vault | |
| Punt Returner | Flynn Nagel | |
| Long Snapper | Chris Fitzpatrick |