2023 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Last updated

2023 Northwestern Wildcats football
Northwestern Wildcats logo.svg
Las Vegas Bowl champion
Las Vegas Bowl, W 14–7 vs. Utah
Conference Big Ten Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record8–5 (5–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian (4th season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Base defense Multiple 4–3
Home stadium Ryan Field
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 1 Michigan xy$#^  9 0   15 0  
No. 10 Ohio State  8 1   11 2  
No. 13 Penn State  7 2   10 3  
Maryland  4 5   8 5  
Rutgers  3 6   7 6  
Michigan State  2 7   4 8  
Indiana  1 8   3 9  
West Division
No. 24 Iowa xy  7 2   10 4  
Northwestern  5 4   8 5  
Wisconsin  5 4   7 6  
Minnesota  3 6   6 7  
Illinois  3 6   5 7  
Nebraska  3 6   5 7  
Purdue  3 6   4 8  
Championship: Michigan 26, Iowa 0
  • # College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach David Braun and played their home games at Ryan Field (in its final season) in Evanston, Illinois. Braun began the season as interim head coach and was elevated to permanent head coach on November 15 following the team's 24–10 road win over Wisconsin. [1]

Contents

The Wildcats finished the regular season with a record of 7–5 and went 5–4 in conference play to finish second in the Big Ten West. Braun was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. [2] The Wildcats were selected to face Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, where they won 14–7.

The Northwestern Wildcats football team drew an average home attendance of 20,800 in 2023.

Hazing and sexual abuse allegations

On July 7, 2023, the school announced that they had suspended head coach Pat Fitzgerald for two weeks without pay after an investigation related to hazing within the football program. [3] Three days later as details emerged of the allegations from a former player that included hazing and sexual abuse, the school fired Fitzgerald after 17 years as head coach. [4] The school named defensive coordinator David Braun the interim head coach for the season. [5]

Preseason

Big 10 media poll

The Wildcats were predicted to finish seventh in the Big Ten's West Division. [6]

Big Ten media poll West Division
Predicted finishTeamPoints (1st place votes)
1Wisconsin233 (20)
2Iowa232 (16)
3Minnesota176 (1)
4Illinois152
5Nebraska116
6Purdue89
7Northwestern38

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 311:00 a.m. at Rutgers CBS L 7–2453,026
September 92:30 p.m. UTEP * BTN W 38–714,851
September 162:30 p.m.at No. 21 Duke * ACCN L 14–3818,141
September 236:30 p.m. Minnesota
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTNW 37–34 OT 20,148
September 3011:00 a.m. No. 6 Penn State
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTNL 13–41 25,064
October 72:00 p.m. Howard *Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTN W 23–20 22,160
October 212:30 p.m.at Nebraska BTNL 9–17 86,769
October 2811:00 a.m. Maryland
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTNW 33–27 19,286
November 42:30 p.m. Iowa Peacock L 7–10 38,000
November 112:30 p.m.at Wisconsin FS1 W 24–1076,124
November 1811:00 a.m. Purdue
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTNW 23–15 23,291
November 252:30 p.m.at Illinois BTN W 45–43 42,310
December 236:30 p.m.vs. Utah * ABC W 14–7 20,897

Game summaries

At Rutgers

1234Total
Wildcats00077
Scarlet Knights7107024
StatisticsNURUTG
First downs1320
Total yards201285
Rushing yards12122
Passing yards189163
Turnovers21
Time of possession22:0437:56
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NorthwesternPassing Ben Bryant 20/36, 169 yards, 2 INT
RushingBrendan Sullivan4 rushes, 11 yards
Receiving Camron Johnson 4 receptions, 45 yards
RutgersPassing Gavin Wimsatt 17/29, 163 yards, TD
Rushing Kyle Monangai 14 rushes, 49 yards, TD
ReceivingIsaiah Washington4 receptions, 36 yards

UTEP

1234Total
Miners70007
Wildcats70211038
StatisticsUTEPNU
First downs1817
Total yards319391
Rushing yards104184
Passing yards215207
Turnovers30
Time of possession31:2128:39
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UTEPPassing Gavin Hardison 17/25, 192 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingTorrance Burgess Jr.7 rushes, 34 yards
ReceivingJeremiah Ballard4 receptions, 92 yards
NorthwesternPassingBen Bryant11/17, 116 yards, TD
RushingCam Porter17 rushes, 90 yards
ReceivingJoseph Himon II1 reception, 85 yards, TD

At No. 21 Duke

1234Total
Wildcats070714
No. 21 Blue Devils71014738
StatisticsNUDUKE
First downs1925
Total yards267487
Rushing yards104268
Passing yards163219
Turnovers10
Time of possession28:5431:06
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NorthwesternPassingBen Bryant17/34, 123 yards, TD, INT
RushingCam Porter10 rushes, 49 yards
ReceivingCamron Johnson5 receptions, 45 yards
DukePassing Riley Leonard 15/20, 219 yards
RushingRiley Leonard13 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Jalon Calhoun 5 receptions, 112 yards

Minnesota

1234OTTotal
Golden Gophers71770334
Wildcats07321637
StatisticsMINNNU
First downs1525
Total yards397492
Rushing yards24492
Passing yards153400
Turnovers01
Time of possession30:1029:50
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MinnesotaPassing Athan Kaliakmanis 14/19, 153 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Darius Taylor 31 rushes, 198 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingDaniel Jackson4 receptions, 53 yards, TD
NorthwesternPassingBen Bryant33/49, 396 yards, 4 TD
RushingCam Porter16 rushes, 56 yards, TD
ReceivingBryce Kirtz10 receptions, 215 yards, 2 TD

No. 6 Penn State

1234Total
No. 6 Nittany Lions37171441
Wildcats370313
StatisticsPSUNU
First downs1912
Total yards353175
Rushing yards13445
Passing yards219130
Turnovers11
Time of possession32:0827:52
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Penn StatePassing Drew Allar 18/33, 189 yards, TD
Rushing Nicholas Singleton 21 rushes, 80 yards, TD
Receiving KeAndre Lambert-Smith 4 receptions, 86 yards
NorthwesternPassingBen Bryant14/25, 122 yards
RushingBrendan Sullivan7 rushes, 25 yards
ReceivingCamron Johnson6 receptions, 81 yards

Howard

1234Total
Bison0071320
Wildcats977023
StatisticsHOWNU
First downs1821
Total yards331312
Rushing yards162181
Passing yards169131
Turnovers00
Time of possession29:3430:26
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
HowardPassingQuinton Williams18/30, 169 yards
RushingEden James21 rushes, 177 yards, TD
ReceivingRichie Ilarraza7 receptions, 65 yards
NorthwesternPassingBrendan Sullivan13/18, 131 yards, 2 TD
RushingCam Porter18 rushes, 78 yards
ReceivingCamron Johnson4 receptions, 55 yards, TD

At Nebraska

1234Total
Wildcats33039
Cornhuskers370717
StatisticsNUNEB
First downs1214
Total yards257248
Rushing yards81163
Passing yards17685
Turnovers12
Time of possession30:5229:08
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NorthwesternPassingBrendan Sullivan12/23, 176 yards, INT
RushingAnthony Tyus III6 rushes, 63 yards
ReceivingBryce Kirtz3 receptions, 96 yards
NebraskaPassing Heinrich Haarberg 8/17, 85 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingEmmett Johnson12 rushes, 73 yards
ReceivingMalachi Coleman1 reception, 44 yards, TD

Maryland

1234Total
Terrapins1433727
Wildcats14103633
StatisticsMDNU
First downs2519
Total yards391364
Rushing yards11799
Passing yards274265
Turnovers20
Time of possession29:1330:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MarylandPassing Taulia Tagovailoa 30/47, 274 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingColby McDonald5 rushes, 43 yards
Receiving Jeshaun Jones 9 receptions, 78 yards, TD
NorthwesternPassingBrendan Sullivan16/23, 265 yards, 2 TD
RushingBrendan Sullivan14 rushes, 56 yards
ReceivingJoseph Himon II2 receptions, 67 yards

Iowa

1234Total
Hawkeyes007310
Wildcats00077
StatisticsIOWANU
First downs1412
Total yards169170
Rushing yards10489
Passing yards6581
Turnovers10
Time of possession30:1829:42
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IowaPassing Deacon Hill 10/15, 65 yards, TD, INT
RushingLeshon Williams24 rushes, 79 yards
Receiving Kaleb Brown 1 reception, 23 yards
NorthwesternPassingBrendan Sullivan12/19, 81 yards, TD
RushingAnthony Tyus III10 rushes, 40 yards
Receiving A. J. Henning 4 receptions, 13 yards

At Wisconsin

1234Total
Wildcats7170024
Badgers300710
StatisticsNUWIS
First downs1817
Total yards324341
Rushing yards12986
Passing yards195255
Turnovers01
Time of possession32:1027:50
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NorthwesternPassingBen Bryant18/26, 195 yards, 2 TD
RushingCam Porter18 rushes, 72 yards
ReceivingA. J. Henning3 receptions, 70 yards, TD
WisconsinPassing Tanner Mordecai 31/45, 255 yards
RushingCade Yacamelli9 rushes, 47 yards
Receiving Will Pauling 10 receptions, 96 yards

Purdue

1234Total
Boilermakers007815
Wildcats6010723
StatisticsPURNU
First downs2112
Total yards443329
Rushing yards30399
Passing yards140230
Turnovers41
Time of possession34:4325:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PurduePassing Ryan Browne 12/16, 104 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Tyrone Tracy Jr. 16 rushes, 160 yards, TD
Receiving Devin Mockobee 3 receptions, 44 yards
NorthwesternPassingBen Bryant13/24, 230 yards, TD, INT
RushingCam Porter17 rushes, 95 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingCamron Johnson3 receptions, 88 yards, TD

At Illinois

1234Total
Wildcats71471745
Fighting Illini31732043
StatisticsNUILL
First downs2020
Total yards379455
Rushing yards145107
Passing yards234348
Turnovers24
Time of possession29:5030:10
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NorthwesternPassingBen Bryant24/32, 234 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingCam Porter16 rushes, 69 yards
ReceivingCamron Johnson7 receptions, 124 yards, TD
IllinoisPassing John Paddock 24/34, 334 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingReggie Love III23 rushes, 106 yards
Receiving Casey Washington 9 receptions, 218 yards, 3 TD

Vs. Utah (Las Vegas Bowl)

1234Total
Utes00077
Wildcats070714
StatisticsUTAHNU
First downs1318
Total yards211290
Rushing yards13865
Passing yards73225
Turnovers30
Time of possession34:2125:39
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UtahPassing Bryson Barnes 8/13, 55 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Ja'Quinden Jackson 8 rushes, 55 yards
Receiving Micah Bernard 3 receptions, 24 yards
NorthwesternPassingBen Bryant23/34, 222 yards, 2 TD
RushingCam Porter10 rushes, 33 yards
ReceivingBryce Kirtz5 receptions, 68 yards, TD

Roster

2023 Northwestern Wildcats football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 0Cole FreemanJr
WR 1Jack KennedySr
QB 2 Ben Bryant GS
QB 3 Ryan Hilinski Sr
RB 4Cam PorterSr
WR 5Jacob GillJr
QB 6Brendan SullivanJr
WR 8 A. J. Henning Sr
QB 9Aidan GrayFr
WR 10Ricky AhumaraezeFr
WR 11Donnie GrayJr
QB 12 Jack Lausch So
WR 13Preston BaconSr
WR 14Cam JohnsonGS
WR 15Calvin Johnson IIJr
WR 16Frank Covey IVFr
WR 17Bryce KirtzSr
TE 18Camp MageeFr
WR 19Reggie FleurimaSo
RB 20Joseph Himon IISo
WR 23Raymond Niro IIIGS
RB 25Caleb KomolafeFr
RB 27Anthony Tyus IIIJr
RB 29Marcus CiscoSr
RB 31Jake ArthursSr
RB 36Payton RothFr
RB 39Albert Kunickis IIISo
OL 56Josh ThompsonJr
OL 62Alex DoostFr
OL 63Dom D'AntonioSr
OL 64Anthony BirsaFr
OL 65Jackson CarselloJr
OL 66Braeden EdwardsJr
OL 68 Josh Priebe Sr
OL 71Ben WratherSr
OL 72 Caleb Tiernan Jr
OL 73Deuce McGuireSo
OL 74Nick HerzogSo
OL 75Jordan KnoxFr
OL 78Luke TrifunovicSr
OL 79Zachary FranksSr
TE 81Chris PetrucciSo
WR 82Quintin O'ConnellGS
TE 83Blake Van BurenSo
TE 84Hunter WelcingSr
TE 86Lawson AlbrightJr
TE 87Jack FitzgeraldFr
TE 87Thomas GordonSr
TE 88Marshall LangSr
TE 89Charlie MangieriGS
TE 98Duke OlgesSr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 0Coco AzemaSr
DB 2Garnett Hollis Jr.Sr
DB 3Jaheem JosephSr
DB 6Robert FitzgeraldSo
DB 7Ore AdeyiJr
DB 9Devin TurnerSo
DB 10Theran JohnsonJr
DB 12Nigel WilliamsSr
DB 13Josh FussellFr
DB 16Cole ShiversFr
DB 18Garner WallaceJr
DB 19J. J. LewisFr
DB 21Damon WaltersFr
DB 22Evan SmithSo
DB 24 Rod Heard II Sr
DB 26Jalen LewisFr
DB 27Jack OyolaSo
DB 28Braden TurnerSo
LB 32Bryce GallagherSr
LB 33Braydon Brus Redshirt.svg  So
LB 34Xander MuellerSr
LB 35Kenny Soares Jr.So
LB 37Mac UihleinJr
DB 38Joe DeHaanSr
LB 40Jason Reynolds IISo
DL 41Jaylen PateGS
DL 42Anto SakaSo
LB 44Khalid JonesSr
LB 45Cullen ColemanSr
LB 46Johnny McGuireFr
LB 48Owen BerginSr
DL 50P. J. SpencerSr
LB 51Miles CrutchleySo
DL 52Richie HagartyGS
DL 53Jaiden CameronSr
DL 54Tyler GantFr
DL 55Dylan RobertsFr
LB 57Greyson MetzSr
DL 59Mason GreenFr
DL 90Carmine BastoneJr
DL 91Aidan HubbardJr
DL 92Matt LawsonGS
DL 93Brendan FlakesSo
DL 94R. J. PearsonGS
DL 95Najee StoryJr
DL 96Michael KilbaneFr
DL 97Sean McLaughlinSr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
LS 43Will HalkyardSr
P 47Luke AkersSr
K 49Jacob TabibianJr
K 82Jack OlsenSr
K 94Henry HelmsFr
P 99Hunter RennerSr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Armon BinnsWide receivers
  • Chris Foster – Running backs
  • LaMarcus HicksCornerbacks
  • Tim McGarigleLinebackers
  • Christian Smith – Defensive linemen
  • D. J. Vokolek – Assistant coach
  • Skip HoltzSpecial assistant to the head coach
  • Chris Batti – Defensive quality control
  • Zach Opsal – Offensive quality control
  • Duke DeRae – Graduate assistant
  • Riley Lees – Graduate assistant

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster

References

  1. Chicago Tribune staff (November 15, 2023). "David Braun named Northwestern's permanent head football coach midway through interim season". The Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  2. "Northwestern's Braun named Big Ten coach of the year. Coaches vote 8 Michigan players to 1st team". Associated Press . November 29, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  3. "Northwestern Football: Pat Fitzgerald Suspended Amid Hazing Probe - Sports Illustrated". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  4. "Northwestern fires Fitzgerald amid hazing claims". ESPN.com. July 10, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  5. "Northwestern names defensive coordinator David Braun as interim head coach". Yahoo Sports. July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  6. Cobb, David (July 25, 2023). "Big Ten football predicted order of finish for 2023: Michigan picked to win conference title over Ohio State". CBS Sports . Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  7. "2023 Football Schedule". Northwestern University Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2022.