2024 Northwestern Wildcats football team

2024 Northwestern Wildcats football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	4–6 (2–5 Big Ten)
Head coach	David Braun (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Zach Lujan (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Tim McGarigle (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Martin Stadium Wrigley Field
Seasons ←  2023 2025 →

2024 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 Oregon y		8	–	0					11	–	0
No. 5 Indiana		7	–	0					10	–	0
No. 2 Ohio State		6	–	1					9	–	1
No. 4 Penn State		6	–	1					9	–	1
Iowa		4	–	3					6	–	4
Minnesota		4	–	3					6	–	4
No. 25 Illinois		4	–	3					7	–	3
Washington		4	–	4					6	–	5
Wisconsin		3	–	4					5	–	5
Rutgers		3	–	4					6	–	4
Michigan		3	–	4					5	–	5
USC		3	–	5					5	–	5
UCLA		3	–	5					4	–	6
Nebraska		2	–	5					5	–	5
Michigan State		2	–	5					4	–	6
Northwestern		2	–	5					4	–	6
Maryland		1	–	6					4	–	6
Purdue		0	–	6					1	–	9
Championship: Oregon vs. TBD
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant As of November 20, 2024 Rankings from CFP Rankings

The 2024 Northwestern Wildcats football team will represent Northwestern University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They are led by second-year head coach David Braun. The team will play five of its seven home games at a temporary facility constructed at the university's Martin Stadium, with two home games being played at Wrigley Field (the home of the Chicago Cubs) while a permanent replacement for the former Ryan Field is built. ^[1]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	2:30 p.m.	Miami (OH) *	Martin Stadium Evanston, IL	BTN	W 13–6	12,023
September 6	8:00 p.m.	Duke *	Martin Stadium Evanston, IL	FS1	L 20–26 2OT	11,062
September 14	6:30 p.m.	Eastern Illinois *	Martin Stadium Evanston, IL	BTN	W 31–7	10,631
September 21	6:00 p.m.	at Washington	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	FS1	L 5–24	69,788
October 5	2:30 p.m.	No. 23 Indiana	Martin Stadium Evanston, IL	BTN	L 24–41	12,023
October 11	7:00 p.m.	at Maryland	SECU Stadium College Park, MD	FS1	W 37–10	39,371
October 19	11:00 a.m.	Wisconsin	Martin Stadium Evanston, IL	BTN	L 3–23	12,023
October 26	2:30 p.m.	at Iowa	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	BTN	L 14–40	69,250
November 2	11:00 a.m.	at Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	BTN	W 26–20 OT	61,141
November 16	11:00 a.m.	No. 2 Ohio State	Wrigley Field Chicago, IL	BTN	L 7–31	38,147
November 23	2:30 p.m.	at Michigan	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (George Jewett Trophy)	FS1
November 30	11:00 a.m.	Illinois	Wrigley Field Chicago, IL (rivalry)	BTN
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll - Released prior to game All times are in Central time Source: [2] [3]

^{[4] [5]}

^[6]

Game summaries

vs Miami (OH)

See also: 2024 Miami RedHawks football team

Miami RedHawks (0-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Miami (OH)	3	0	0	3	6
Northwestern	3	0	7	3	13

at Martin Stadium • Evanston, Illinois

• Date: August 31
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 12,023
• TV announcers (BTN): Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Jared Thomas (analyst), and Kylen Mills (sideline)

Statistics	Miami (OH)	Northwestern
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Miami (OH)	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Duke

See also: 2024 Duke Blue Devils football team

Duke Blue Devils (1-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (1-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
Duke	7	0	3	3	7	6	26
Northwestern	3	7	0	3	7	0	20

at Martin Stadium • Evanston, Illinois

• Date: September 6
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 11,062
• TV announcers (FS1): Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst)

Statistics	Duke	Northwestern
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Duke	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Eastern Illinois (FCS)

See also: 2024 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team

Eastern Illinois Panthers (FCS) (1-1) vs Northwestern Wildcats (1-1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eastern Illinois (FCS)	0	7	0	0	7
Northwestern	7	7	10	7	31

at Martin Stadium • Evanston, Illinois

• Date: September 14
• Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 10,631
• Referee: Gregory Blum
• TV announcers (BTN): Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), and Kylen Mills (sideline)

Game information

First quarter (1:22) NU – Cam Porter 1 yard run, Jack Olsen kick (Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 4:57; NU 7–0) Second quarter (10:37) EIU – Eli Mirza 13 yard pass from Pierce Holley, Drew Schiller kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 5:45; TIE 7–7) (0:14) NU – Joseph Himon II 32 yard run, Jack Olsen kick (Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 1:33; NU 14–7) Third quarter (8:18) NU – Jack Olsen 46 yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards, 5:38; NU 17–7) (2:39) NU – A.J. Henning 3 yard pass from Jack Lausch, Jack Olsen kick (Drive: 7 plays, 42 yards, 4:10; NU 24–7) Fourth quarter (6:58) NU – Marshall Lang 9 yard pass from Jack Lausch, Jack Olsen kick (Drive: 6 plays, 79 yards, 4:08; NU 31–7)

Statistics	Eastern Illinois	Northwestern
First downs	13	22
Plays–yards	51–207	67–450
Rushes–yards	20–40	35–203
Passing yards	167	247
Passing: comp–att–int	17–31–1	21–32–0
Time of possession	24:28	35:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Illinois	Passing	Pierce Holley	17/31, 167 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Jay Pearson	8 carries, 29 yards
	Receiving	Cooper Willman	6 receptions, 66 yards
Northwestern	Passing	Jack Lausch	20/31, 227 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Cam Porter	15 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	A.J. Henning	7 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD

at Washington

See also: 2024 Washington Huskies football team

Northwestern Wildcats (2-1) at Washington Huskies (2-1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	2	3	0	5
Washington	7	10	0	7	24

at Husky Stadium • Seattle, Washington

• Date: September 21
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Sunny, 68 °F (20 °C)
• Game attendance: 69,788
• Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
• TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Robert Smith (analyst)

Game information

First quarter WASH - Denzel Boston 46-yard pass from Will Rogers (Grady Gross kick), 7:57. Huskies 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 2:39. Second quarter WASH – Grady Gross 21-yard field goal, 14:11. Huskies 10–0. Drive: 11 plays, 88 yards, 5:36. WASH – Denzel Boston 13-yard pass from Will Rogers (Grady Gross kick), 10:12. Huskies 17–0. Drive: 4 plays, 31 yards, 1:59; NU – 0-yard safety, 6:38. Huskies 17–2 Third quarter NU – Jack Olsen 18-yard field goal, 5:07. Huskies 17–5. Drive: 8 plays, 32 yards, 4:16. Fourth quarter WASH – Jonah Coleman 8-yard run (Grady Gross kick), 14:02. Huskies 24–5. Drive: 11 plays, 77 yards, 5:58.

Statistics	Northwestern	Washington
First downs	12	22
Plays–yards	53–112	69–391
Rushes–yards	26–59	39–144
Passing yards	53	247
Passing: comp–att–int	8–27–2	22–30–0
Time of possession	27:08	32:52

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northwestern	Passing	Jack Lausch	8/27, 53 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Jack Lausch	13 carries, 21 yards
	Receiving	A. J. Henning	5 receptions, 41 yards
Washington	Passing	Will Rogers	20/28, 223 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Jonah Coleman	15 carries, 67 yards, TD
	Receiving	Denzel Boston	7 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD

vs No. 23 Indiana

See also: 2024 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Indiana Hoosiers (5-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (2-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 23 Indiana	7	10	7	17	41
Northwestern	0	10	7	7	24

at Martin Stadium • Evanston, IL

• Date: October 5
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: SE at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
• Game attendance: 12,023
• Referee: Jerry McGinn
• TV announcers (BTN): Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), and Dannie Rogers (sideline)

Game information

First quarter (0:44) IND – Justice Ellison 5-yard run, Nicolas Radicic kick (Drive: 10 plays, 89 yards, 5:26; Indiana 7–0) Second quarter (8:48) NU – Cam Porter 5-yard run, Jack Olsen kick (Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards, 6:51; Tied 7–7) (4:28) IND – Miles Cross 7-yard pass from Kurtis Rourke, Nicolas Radicic kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:20; Indiana 14–7) (0:03) NU – Jack Olsen 32-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 3:20; Indiana 14–10) (0:03) IND – Nicolas Radicic 37-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 1:05; Indiana 17–10) Third quarter (6:44) IND – Ke'Shawn Williams 13-yard pass from Kurtis Rourke, Nicolas Radicic kick (Drive: 9 plays, 87 yards, 4:55; Indiana 24–10) (3:13) NU – A.J. Henning 38-yard pass from Jack Lausch, Jack Olsen kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:19; Indiana 24–17) Fourth quarter (14:54) IND – Nicolas Radicic 28-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 3:19; Indiana 27–17) (11:19) NU – A.J. Henning 2-yard pass from Jack Lausch, Jack Olsen kick (Drive: 6 plays, 61 yards, 3:30; Indiana 27–24) (6:23) IND – Ty Son Lawton 1-yard run, Nicolas Radicic kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:56; Indiana 34–24) (3:28) IND – Zach Horton 4-yard pass from Kurtis Rourke, Nicolas Radicic kick (Drive: 5 plays, 36 yards, 1:45; Indiana 41–24)

Statistics	Indiana	Northwestern
First downs	27	17
Plays–yards	68–529	60–336
Rushes–yards	35–149	22–93
Passing yards	380	243
Passing: comp–att–int	25–33–0	23–38–0
Time of possession	32:09	27:51

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Indiana	Passing	Kurtis Rourke	25/33, 380 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Justice Ellison	14 carries, 68 yards, TD
	Receiving	Elijah Sarratt	7 receptions, 135 yards
Northwestern	Passing	Jack Lausch	23/38, 243 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Joseph Himon II	5 carries, 35 yards
	Receiving	Bryce Kirtz	10 receptions, 128 yards

at Maryland

See also: 2024 Maryland Terrapins football team

Northwestern Wildcats (2-3) at Maryland Terrapins (3-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	0	0	0	0
Maryland	0	0	0	0	0

at SECU Stadium • College Park, Maryland

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 7:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (FS1): Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst)

Statistics	Northwestern	Maryland
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Maryland	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Wisconsin

See also: 2024 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Wisconsin Badgers (0-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wisconsin	0	14	7	2	23
Northwestern	0	0	3	0	3

at Martin Stadium • Evanston, Illinois

• Date: October 19
• Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 61 °F (16 °C) • Wind: SW at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
• Game attendance: 12,023
• Referee: Kole Knueppel
• TV announcers (BTN): Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst) and Brooke Fletcher (sideline)

Game information

First quarter No scoring Second quarter WIS – Braedyn Locke 8-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick), 14:31 Wisconsin 7–0Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 3:32. WIS – Cade Yacamelli 3-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick), 0:39 Wisconsin 14–0Drive: 1 play, 3 yards, 0:04. Third quarter NU – Luke Akers 26-yard field goal, 6:46. Wisconsin 14–3.Drive: 13 plays, 59 yards, 7:18. WIS – Tucker Ashcraft 3-yard pass from Braedyn Locke (Nathanial Vakos kick), 0:11 Wisconsin 21–3Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:28. Fourth quarter WIS – Jack Lausch sacked 9-yard loss for safety, 14:52 Wisconsin 23–3

Statistics	Wisconsin	Northwestern
First downs	19	9
Plays–yards	67–359	55–209
Rushes–yards	43–199	31–127
Passing yards	160	82
Passing: comp–att–int	14–24–1	9–24–0
Time of possession	32:51	27:09

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Wisconsin	Passing	Braedyn Locke	14/24, 160 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Tawee Walker	23 carries, 126 yards
	Receiving	Will Pauling	5 receptions, 51 yards
Northwestern	Passing	Jack Lausch	9/24, 82 yards
	Rushing	Jack Lausch	10 carries, 55 yards
	Receiving	Thomas Gordon	4 receptions, 49 yards

at Iowa

See also: 2024 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Northwestern Wildcats (3-4) at Iowa Hawkeyes (4-3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	0	0	0	0
Iowa	0	0	0	0	0

at Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa

• Date: October 26
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
• TV announcers (BTN): Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Anthony Herron (analyst)

Statistics	Northwestern	Iowa
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Purdue

See also: 2024 Purdue Boilermakers football team

Northwestern Wildcats (3-5) at Purdue Boilermakers (1-6) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Northwestern	10	7	0	0	6	23
Purdue	3	7	3	7	0	20

at Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana

• Date: November 2
• Game time: 11:00 a.m.
• Game weather: • Sunny Temperature: 51 °F (11 °C) • Wind: 5 mph
• Game attendance: 61,141
• Referee: Bryan Banks
• TV announcers (BTN): Jason Ross Jr (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst) and Kylin Mills (reporter)

Game information
1st quarter

Statistics	Northwestern	Purdue
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Purdue	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Ohio State

See also: 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1) vs Northwestern Wildcats (4-5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 2 Ohio State	0	21	10	0	31
Northwestern	0	7	0	0	7

at Wrigley Field • Chicago, Illinois

• Date: November 16
• Game time: 11:00 a.m.
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 52 °F (11 °C) • Wind: S at 11 miles per hour (18 km/h)
• Game attendance: 38,147
• Referee: Mark Kluczynski
• TV announcers (BTN): Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), and Brooke Fletcher (sideline)

Game information

First quarter No scoring plays Second quarter (12:34) NU – Jack Lausch 8-yard run, Luke Akers kick (Drive: 13 plays, 92 yards, 5:30; Northwestern 7–0) (6:59) OSU – Quinshon Judkins 1-yard run, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 12 plays, 85 yards, 5:29; Tied 7–7) (4:19) OSU – Quinshon Judkins 1-yard run, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 2 plays, 1 yard, 0:56; Ohio State 14–7) (0:47) OSU – Carnell Tate 25-yard pass from Will Howard, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 1:57; Ohio State 21–7) Third quarter (12:11) OSU – Carnell Tate 8-yard pass from Will Howard, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 5 plays, 90 yards, 2:44; Ohio State 28–7) (0:44) OSU – Jayden Fielding 28-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:14; Ohio State 31–7) Fourth quarter No scoring plays

Statistics	Ohio State	Northwestern
First downs	19	17
Plays–yards	57–420	66–251
Rushes–yards	33–173	28–50
Passing yards	247	201
Passing: comp–att–int	15–24–0	21–36–0
Time of possession	28:00	32:00

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ohio State	Passing	Will Howard	15/24, 247 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Quinshon Judkins	15 carries, 76 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Jeremiah Smith	4 receptions, 100 yards
Northwestern	Passing	Jack Lausch	21/35, 201 yards
	Rushing	Cam Porter	10 carries, 37 yards
	Receiving	Bryce Kirtz	7 receptions, 92 yards

at Michigan

See also: 2024 Michigan Wolverines football team and George Jewett Trophy

Northwestern Wildcats (4-6) at Michigan Wolverines (5-5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	0	0	0	0
Michigan	0	0	0	0	0

at Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan

• Date: November 23
• Game time: 2:30 p.m.
• TV announcers (FS1): Tim Brando (pbp) Devin Gardner (Analyst) and Josh Sims (Sideline Reporter)

Statistics	Northwestern	Michigan
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Illinois

See also: 2024 Illinois Fighting Illini football team and Illinois–Northwestern football rivalry

Illinois Fighting Illini (0-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	0	0	0	0	0
Northwestern	0	0	0	0	0

at TBD • TBD

• Date: November 30
• Game time: 11:00 AM
• TV: BTN

Statistics	Illinois	Northwestern
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. "Northwestern football 'staying home' with temporary enhancements to the Lanny and Sharon Martin facility on lakefront". Northwestern Now. April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
2. "2024 Northwestern Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
3. "Northwestern Announces 2024 Big Ten Schedule". Northwestern Athletics. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
4. "Football Finalizes 2024 Schedule". Eastern Illinois University Athletics. January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
5. "Northwestern gets green light to move forward with Ryan Field rebuild". NORTHWESTERN NOW. Northwestern Now Staff.
6. "Football: Braun elevates linebackers coach Tim McGarigle to defensive coordinator". The Daily Northwestern. January 7, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.