Wildcats · Big Ten
Head coach David Braun Year 4 with Northwestern
Year-4 HCs (2015-2024) averaged -0.65 W vs. preseason expectation
No remaining game changes Northwestern's playoff odds. Make playoff 0%
Full 2026 slate. Tap a row for the matchup breakdown.
| Week | Opponent | Result or win prob.Result or win probability |
|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 Sep 6 | vs South Dakota State Non-FBS | Win, 34-18 Final |
| Wk 2 | Bye | |
| Wk 3 Sep 19 | vs Colorado Big 12 | Win, 41-7 Final |
| Wk 4 Sep 26 | at Indiana Big Ten | Loss, 23-29 Final |
| Wk 5 Oct 3 | vs Penn State Big Ten | Win, 34-13 Final |
| Wk 6 Oct 10 | vs Ball State Mid-American | Win, 45-14 Final |
| Wk 7 Oct 17 | at Michigan State Big Ten | Win, 24-21 Final |
| Wk 8 Oct 24 | vs Rutgers Big Ten | Win, 42-14 Final |
| Wk 9 Oct 31 | at Oregon Big Ten | Loss, 26-34 Final |
| Wk 10 Nov 7 | vs Iowa Big Ten | |
| Wk 11 Nov 14 | at Ohio State Big Ten | |
| Wk 12 Nov 21 | at Minnesota Big Ten | |
| Wk 13 Nov 28 | vs Illinois Big Ten | |
More coming. Per-team pages get the full treatment in Phase 3: current rating, season projection histogram, schedule with win probabilities, and live overlays on Pylon stream days. For now, this page exists so stories and news have a permanent home as content rolls in.
83 score
Share of last season's production each unit returns. Higher means more continuity: 70%+ is healthy, 45–70% a normal rebuild, under 45% a major turnover.
−0.4 rating
16 proven transfers in, carrying the production below from their prior school.
| Player | From | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Brenden DeasfernandesDB From Central Michigan | Central Michigan | 87 |
| Gavin SawchukRB From Florida State | Florida State | 85 |
| Alex HonigTE From UConn | UConn | 74 |
| Aidan ChilesQB From Michigan State | Michigan State | 67 |
| Kobie McKinzieLB From Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 64 |
| Jamaal JohnsonDL From UCF | UCF | 34 |
Impact scores offensive skill additions (QB/RB/WR/TE) — prior-season production normalized within position (100 ≈ a 90th-percentile producer at that spot) and discounted for non-FBS competition, so a top back counts alongside a top quarterback. Defensive and O-line additions count as transfers but aren't box-score measurable, so they carry no impact score. The rating figure is this class's portal contribution vs. the FBS average, capped at ±2.5.
Percentile is across all FBS teams with play-by-play data for the season. "Late & close" is yards per play in Q4+ with a one-score margin — a proxy for clutch offensive performance.
