Evanston, IL (AP) – 2025 record: 7-6
Expectations
Playing in the rough-and-tumble Big Ten is a tough situation for Northwestern, but it got some high-profile help when Chip Kelly was hired as offensive coordinator in December and Jerry Neuheisel joined the staff as quarterbacks coach in January. The Wildcats averaged 346.1 yards per game last season, ranking 12th in the Big Ten.
Michigan State transfer Aidan Chiles is expected to take over at quarterback. The 6-foot-4 Chiles passed for 1,392 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games with the Spartans last season, and he also rushed for six TDs. Chiles will be joined in the Northwestern backfield by Caleb Komolafe, who rushed for 941 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.
The schedule includes road games against Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon, and a potentially awkward reunion with former coach Pat Fitzgerald on Oct. 17 at Michigan State. The Wildcats also could get a lift from the long-awaited opening of the new Ryan Field, which has a seating capacity of 35,000 and cost an estimated $870 million.
Strengths include wide receivers
Senior Griffin Wilde leads an experienced group of wide receivers. The 6-2 Wilde had 71 receptions for 880 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games last season. Hayden Eligon II, Ricky Ahumaraeze and Drew Wagner are also back. Eligon caught 37 balls for 521 yards and three TDs in 12 games last year, including 10 starts. Ahumaraeze had 10 catches for 200 yards last season.
Weaknesses include depth on the offensive and defensive lines
There are major questions along the lines on each side of the ball. Offensive linemen Caleb Tiernan, Evan Beerntsen and Martes Lewis are all gone, but center Jackson Carsello is back after his eligibility was restored by a court injunction in June. Grant Seagren, a 6-7 transfer from Oklahoma State, is a major addition, and Ezomo Oratokhai returns after starting all 13 games last season. The Wildcats are looking to replace Aidan Hubbard and Anto Saka on their defensive line. Michael Kilbane could take on a more prominent role after he had 3 1/2 sacks and 7 1/2 tackles for loss in 13 games last year. Jamaal Johnson, a transfer from UCF, also is worth watching.
New faces
QB Aidan Chiles (transfer from Michigan State), LB Kobie McKinzie (transfer from Oklahoma), DL Jamaal Johnson (transfer from UCF), TE Alex Honig (transfer from UConn) and DB Montae Pate (transfer from Weber State).
Key losses
DL Anto Saka (transferred to Texas A&M), QB Preston Stone, DL Aidan Hubbard, OL Caleb Tiernan (NFL draft) and OL Evan Beerntsen (NFL draft).
Biggest games for the Wildcats
Vs. Penn State (Oct. 2), at Michigan State (Oct. 17), vs. Illinois (Nov. 28).
___
Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here.
