B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

[RyanLeaf16]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

Time to put belt to *** on Penn State

Get into the CFP and bring another trophy back to Evanston!

I'm curious what traits KeKe Adams has - if any. I'm assuming he has some if he's gonna be around the ball that much. 4 defensive TDs is pretty incredible for a single defensive player in a season.

[BDawg35]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

That's a great answer following a tough loss to Washington. Started out a little rocky but you settled down and took care of business. Being able to have the CPU bench the QB had to have been a good feeling.

Love the Keke Adams story. This game has some odd tendencies like that (showing up the field out of nowhere) but you don't ask questions following four pick sixes haha.

It's worked out, but in this game and in Madden 2024 it was frustrating that guys I put in the depth chart at certain places don't necessarily show up on the field as they should. I am either missing something or the depth charts don't work as they should. I miss having the ability to do formations subs.

Time to put belt to *** on Penn State

Get into the CFP and bring another trophy back to Evanston!

I'm curious what traits KeKe Adams has - if any. I'm assuming he has some if he's gonna be around the ball that much. 4 defensive TDs is pretty incredible for a single defensive player in a season.

I'll have to look when I fire up the game next, probably tomorrow. I don't usually look at anything beyond OVR and SPD, to be honest, but I'll give him a deeper dive.

[BDawg35]

2028 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK




Northwestern defensive lineman Izaiah Bush sacks Penn State quarterback Randy Atogwe in the end zone for a safety.


Bush then gets his celly on after the safety.


Northwestern linebacker Matthew Smith tackles Penn State running back Fame Ijeboi in the end zone for the
second safety of the game.


Northwestern center Idrys Cotton lays a pancake block while quarterback Ryan Boe runs for a touchdown.


Northwestern receiver Carson Grove flexes after scoring a touchdown.


Penn State’s Ryan Willingham intercepts a pass intended for running back Nazir Kush.

SAFELY IN PLAYOFF
NW defense smothers No. 1 Penn State,
wins Big Ten title to qualify for CFP

INDIANAPOLIS — What’s the most exciting play in football?

Here’s a clue: Men Without Hats.

Still baffled?

Well, it’s not the Hail Mary, a pick-six, a strip sack or a walk-off field goal.

It’s a safety.

Duh!

For the first time in a coaching career that dates back to NCAA 2004, Northwestern coach B-Dawg had two safeties in the same game as the Wildcats secured a berth in the 2028 College Football Playoff with a 21-3 victory over No. 1 Penn State in the Big Ten Conference championship game.

Safeties have been a rarity for B-Dawg over the years. In his last two NCAA 2014 dynasties, he had only eight in 23 seasons at Air Force and Vanderbilt. In only one of those seasons did he have more than one safety.

“My only regret is that we can’t put our own music tracks in the game like we could on the PlayStation 3 so I can hear Safety Dance blaring from the sound system when I get a tackle in the end zone,” B-Dawg said.

“It’s worth only two points, but it’s really deflating for the other team. Plus, you get the ball back with a chance to make it essentially a nine-point possession.”

Northwestern held a rare 2-0 lead when defensive lineman Izaiah Bush sacked Penn State quarterback Randy Atogwe in the end zone with 5:23 left in the first quarter. It was one of four straight snaps by the Nittany Lions that resulted in a sack.

The other safety came after a fourth-and-goal run by quarterback Ryan Boe from the 2-yard line was stopped inches short of the end zone. B-Dawg even challenged the spot, but to no avail.

The defense took the field fired up to go after another safety, which happened when linebacker Matthew Smith tackled running back Fame Ijeboi in the end zone with 5:05 left in the third quarter to make it an 11-3 game.

The safeties were just part of a dominant defensive performance by the Wildcats, who held Heisman front-runner Atogwe to 123 passing yards and minus-38 rushing yards. Defensive end Braxton Strong had six tackles for losses.

Penn State’s offense got in the red zone only once, moving to the 6-yard line before settling for a field goal for its only points. Ijeboi had three runs of 20-plus yards, gaining 112 yards on 16 carries, but the Nittany Lions didn’t ride him enough.

Northwestern’s offense struggled much of the game, but came through late in the first half to take a 9-3 halftime lead. Carson Grove caught a 40-yard pass on third-and-12, then caught a third-and-eight 13-yard touchdown pass with 36 seconds left in the half. Grove caught 11 passes for 116 yards.

The Wildcats have needed to win their last two games to reach the playoff. Now they’re in as an automatic top-four seed as a conference champion with a 10-3 record.

“We just needed to get into the dance,” B-Dawg said. “We can beat anyone on a neutral field, which is where these games will be played. There will be no struggle squiggles to help out the other team.”





NORTHWESTERN BLOCKING
Calvin Claybrooks 14 pancakes, 1 sack; Shawn Boyett 9-0; Idrys Cotton 7-0; Cornell Kafka 5-0; Deon Barry 5-0; Jaelen Camarda 4-0; Josh Stephen 3-0; Nick Stoddard 1-0; J.C. Cantwell 1-0.


2028 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

Conference USA: Jacksonville State 31, Liberty 24
MAC: Bowling Green 50, Eastern Michigan 24
Big XII: Iowa State 36, Brigham Young 25
Sun Belt: Old Dominion 16, Troy 13
American: East Carolina 24, Tulane 20
Mountain West: UNLV 25, Nevada 24
SEC: Arkansas 31, South Carolina 24
Big Ten: Northwestern 21, Penn State 3
ACC: Duke 24, Pittsburgh 20

[BDawg35]

2028 COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS


Defensive end Braxton Strong gives Northwestern the Best Defensive Player winner for the fourth straight year.


Northwestern free safety Keke Adams won the Thorpe Award after taking four picks to the house.

Safety who gets about 50% of snaps
is named best defensive back in 2028

Keke Adams made the most of reduced playing time for Northwestern’s football team this season.

Adams is the 2028 winner of the Thorpe Award for the best defensive back in the nation, despite not technically being a starting free safety for the Wildcats.

Adams appears where an outside linebacker should be playing in the strong nickel formation B-Dawg uses in passing situations. From there, Adams has intercepted five passes, four of which he’s returned for touchdowns to tie B-Dawg’s single-season record for defensive touchdowns.

Adams has 19 solos, 33 assists, 11 tackles for losses and eight deflections while playing only 391 downs. Starting free safety Tito Williams, who finished fifth in Thorpe voting, has played 731 downs. Northwestern cornerback Jameel Croft was second and strong safety Sean Martin 10th, as user-controlled teams seem to retain the advantage in Thorpe voting they had in NCAA ’14.

Another advantage for user-controlled teams is winning awards for top defensive player and top defensive lineman.

The latest recipient from Northwestern is senior defensive end Braxton Strong, who won Best Defensive Player, Best Defensive End and the Lombardi Award.

It’s the fourth straight year a Northwestern defensive lineman has won Defensive Player of the Year. Defensive end Anto Saka won in 2025, defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth in 2026 and defensive tackle Troy Regovich in 2027.

Strong has 26 solos, 38 assists, 30 tackles for losses and 17.5 sacks.

Northwestern defensive tackle Izaiah Bush was third in voting for the Lombardi and Defensive Player of the Year. Linebacker Matthew Smith was second for the Butkus and seventh for Defensive Player of the Year.

The Wildcats actually had a punter get some love, as Larry Hurley was third in voting for the Ray Guy Award.

Also finishing third for their respective awards were Idrys Cotton for the Rimington and Nazir Kush for Best Running Back.




PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dell Denson, Penn State, QB, rJr., 82 OVR
HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR: Jeff Singleton, Duke
BEST QUARTERBACK: Dell Denson, Penn State, QB, rJr., 82 OVR
BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Braxton Strong, Northwestern, DE, rSr., 82 OVR
BEST DEFENSIVE BACK: Keke Adams, Northwestern, FS, rSr., 83 OVR
BEST RUNNING BACK: Anfernee Philbin, Michigan, HB, rJr., 93 OVR
BEST RECEIVER: Tank Hawkins, Florida, WR, rSr., 84 OVR
LOMBARDI: Braxton Strong, Northwestern, DE, rSr., 82 OVR
UNITAS GOLDEN ARM: Connor Moberly, Iowa State, QB, rSr.
BEST DEFENSIVE END: Braxton Strong, Northwestern, DE, rSr., 82 OVR
BEST INTERIOR LINEMAN: Enrique Bandy, OG, Southern Methodist, Sr., 91 OVR
BEST TIGHT END: Joey Olsen, USC, TE, rSr., 82 OVR
BROYLES AWARD: Todd Clark, Duke, OC
BEST LINEBACKER: Amari Henderson, Duke, MLB, Jr., 89 OVR
BEST CENTER: Jason Zandamela, Air Force, C, rSr., 91 OVR
LOU GROZA: Miguel Mendez, Iowa, K, Jr., 78 OVR
BEST PUNTER: C.J. Jaimes, Temple, P, rSoph., 75 OVR
BEST RETURNER: Alani Moeung, Virginia Tech, WR, Jr., 80 OVR




Note: The redshirt seniors are the last real-life players to be honored in this dynasty. Remember them fondly.

FIRST TEAM
QB, Craig Arnold, Georgia, rSoph.
HB, Anfernee Philbin, Michigan, rJr.
HB, Nazir Kush, Northwestern, Jr.
WR, Tank Hawkins, Florida, rSr.
WR, Quan Stevens, Oklahoma, rSoph.
WR, Trevor Bruggeman, Iowa State, rJr.
TE, Joey Olsen, USC, rSr.
LT, Iosefa Iloka, Stanford, rJr.
LG, Keke Oweh, Texas Tech, rJr.
C, Devyn Poutasi, Michigan, Sr.
RG, Lorenzo Turner, Oregon, rJr.
RT, Ezekiel Semple, Michigan, rJr.
LE, Bryce Young, Notre Dame, rSr.
RE, Quincy Heggie, Tulane, rJr.
DT, Tevin Sorsdal, LSU, Sr.
DT, Peter Pesansky, North Carolina, rSr.
LOLB, James Nesta, Oklahoma, rSr.
MLB, Payton Pierce, Ohio State, rSr.
ROLB, Devin Mihlhauser, Alabama, rJr.
CB, Ify Obidegwu, Oregon, rSr.
CB, Marcelles Williams, USC, rSr.
FS, Addison Lewis, Clemson, rJr.
SS, Peyton Morgan, Texas Tech, rSr.
K, Aeron Burrell, LSU, rSr.
P, Storm Bettis, Nebraska, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
QB, Dell Denson, Duke, rJr.
HB, Nakai Amachree, Bowling Green, rSr.
HB, Kevin Hunt, West Virginia, rJr.
WR, Jared Lamp, Western Michigan, rSr.
WR, Nitro Tuggle, Georgia, rSr.
WR, Damion Kerrigan, Texas Christian, Jr.
TE, Dominique Kearns, South Carolina, rJr.
LT, Vonn Webb, Michigan, Sr.
LG, Spencer Coker, Georgia, rSoph.
C, Jason Zandamela, Air Force, rSr.
RG, Enrique Bandy, SMU, Sr.
RT, Fletcher Westphal, Florida, rSr.
LE, Ernest Willor, Wisconsin, rSr.
RE, James Mills, Kentucky, Sr.
DT, Marcus Downs, Central Florida, rSr.
DT, Jericho Johnson, Oregon, rSr.
LOLB, Preston Ries, Iowa, rSr.
MLB, Henry Cahill, Oregon, Sr.
ROLB, Nicholas Vildor, LSU, Sr.
CB, Eddie Pleasant, Buffalo, rSr.
CB, Jaylen Mbakwe, Alabama, rSr.
FS, Tate Hamby, Vanderbilt, rSr.
SS, Sean Martin, Northwestern, rSr.
K, Brian Folkerts, Air Force, Sr.
P, Eric Virgin, Texas Tech, Jr.

FRESHMAN
QB, Darius Atwell, USC, rFr.
HB, Russell Godfrey, Houston, rFr.
HB, Carlos Arrollo, Nebraska, Fr.
WR, Emanuel Manziel, Arizona, rFr.
WR, Addison Dowdle, Missouri, rFr.
WR, Hugh McNulty, Central Michigan, rFr.
TE, Romeo Lemon, Charlotte, rFr.
LT, Colton Casey, Michigan, rFr.
LG, George Marks, Wisconsin, rFr.
C, Michael Anthony, Georgia, rFr.
RG, Gabriel McCollum, North Texas, rFr.
RT, Lorenzo Chamblin, Iowa State, rFr.
LE, Josh Euhus, Clemson, rFr.
RE, Daniel Durant, Louisville, rFr.
DT, Diego Alcantara, West Virginia, rFr.
DT, Sua Tuel, Penn State, rFr.
LOLB, Quinterrius Huntley, Boise State, rFr.
MLB, Bradley Carreon, Notre Dame, rFr.
ROLB, Steve O’Connor, BYU, rFr.
CB, Jeremiah Alba, Duke, rFr.
CB, Fredrick Durbin, Penn State, rFr.
FS, Trevor Godwin, Oklahoma State, rFr.
SS, Tomas Garcon, Utah, rFr.
K, Miles Funk, UCLA, rFr.
P, Rico Bakhtiari, Oregon State, rFr.



FIRST TEAM
QB, Dermaricus Davis, UCLA, rSr.
HB, Anfernee Philbin, Michigan, rjr.
HB, Nazir Kush, Northwestern, Jr.
WR, Jay Miles, Oregon, rJr.
WR, DeMarco Jewel, UCLA, Soph.
WR, Reece Vander Zee, Iowa, rSr.
TE, Joey Olsen, USC, rSr.
LT, Von Webb, Michigan, Sr.
LG, Abdul Whitehead, Penn State, rSr.
C, Devyn Poutasi, Michigan, Sr.
RG, Lorenzo Turner, Oregon, rJr.
RT, Ezekiel Semple, Michigan, rJr.
LE, Ernest Willor, Wisconsin, rSr.
RE, Eddie Tuerk, Illinois, rSr.
DT, Jericho Johnson, Oregon, rSr.
DT, Jeremiah Hagans, Oregon, rJr.
LOLB, Preston Ries, Iowa, rSr.
MLB, Payton Pierce, Ohio State, rSr.
ROLB, Juan Banks, Wisconsin, rSoph.
CB, Ify Obidegwu, Oregon, rSr.
CB, Marcelles Williams, USC, rSr.
FS, Taylor Medina, Wisconsin, rSr.
SS, Sean Martin, Northwestern, rSr.
K, Enrique Swaim, Northwestern, Sr.
P, Storm Bettis, Nebraska, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
QB, Joshua Roe, Nebraska, Sr.
HB, Emery Godfrey, Minnesota, rSr.
HB, Fame Ijeboi, Penn State, rSr.
WR, Josiah Brown, Penn State, rSr.
WR, Jordan Anderson, USC, rSr.
WR, J.P. Rubin, Nebraska, rJr.
TE, Dave Ruggs, Oregon, rSoph.
LT, Cole Wake, Ohio State, Sr.
LG, Preston Taumua, Nebraska, rSr.
C, Idrys Cotton, Northwestern, rSr.
RG, Jacques Mauldin, Ohio State, Sr.
RT, Mercer Luniewski, Michigan State, rSr.
LE, Mylachi Williams, Penn State, rSr.
RE, Jamie Rossouw, Iowa, rJr.
DT, Jide Abasiri, USC, rSr.
DT, Johnny Faulk, Michigan, Sr.
LOLB, Sam Pilof, Rutgers, rSr.
MLB, Henry Cahill, Oregon, Sr.
ROLB, Juan Newcomb, Oregon, rSoph.
CB, Shakim Howard, Nebraska, rSr.
CB, Benji Ochi, Indiana, rJr.
FS, Jacob Oden, Michigan, rSr.
SS, Sharrif Ricks, Iowa, Jr.
K, Frank Carruthers, Michigan, rSoph.
P, Nick McLarty, Ohio State, rSr.

FRESHMAN
QB, Darius Atwell, USC, rFr.
HB, Carlos Arrollo, Nebraska, Fr.
HB, Morgan LaRue, Iowa, rFr.
WR, Cam Guidry, Michigan State, rFr.
WR, J.C. Cantwell, Northwestern, Fr.
WR, Sammy Hawkins, Illinois, rFr.
TE, Mac Wade, Michigan, rFr.
LT, Colton Casey, Michigan, rFr.
LG, George Marks, Wisconsin, rFr.
C, Jarius Genus, Oregon, rFr.
RG, Gregory Helu, Washington, rFr.
RT, Gregory Cleveland, Illinois, rFr.
LE, Jimmie Wilkinson, Wisconsin, rFr.
RE, Spencer Hurley, Penn State, rFr.
DT, Sua Tuel, Penn State, rFr.
DT, Ramon Casas, Ohio State, rFr.
LOLB, Vai Manuwai, UCLA, Fr.
MLB, Landon Jennings, Michigan, rFr.
ROLB, George Gainwell, Wisconsin, rFr.
CB, Fredrick Durbin, Penn State, rFr.
CB, Cordell Randall, Oregon, rFr.
FS, Julian Lockett, Iowa, rFr.
SS, Luis Marrero, Oregon, Fr.
K, Miles Funk, UCLA, rFr.
P, Iosefa Mokofisi, Oregon, Fr.

[BDawg35]

2028 HEISMAN WINNER



DELL DENSON, Duke, QB, rJr., 82 OVR
2028 stats: 262-for-372, 3,325 yards, 37 TD, 8 int.; 122 carries, 701 yards, 4 TD

TANK HAWKINS, Florida, WR, rSr., 84 OVR
2028 stats: 78 catches, 1,220 yards, 16 TD; 15 carries, 303 yards, 3 TD

CRAIG ARNOLD, Georgia, QB, rSoph., 90 OVR
2028 stats: 296-for-424, 4,216 yards, 40 TD, 3 int.; 54 carries, 208 yards, 3 TD

FINAU TOILOLO, Texas A&M, QB, rJr., 84 OVR
2028 stats: 220-for-323, 3,056 yards, 27 TD, 3 int.; 131 carries, 607 yards, 6 TD

JAYDEN MOORE, Duke, WR, rSr., 88 OVR
2028 stats: 63 catches, 726 yards, 10 TD; 17 carries, 257 yards, 4 TD

[BDawg35]

2028 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF BRACKET

[BDawg35]

2028 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND



2028 FIRST ROUND

WISCONSIN 38, MIAMI 34: Wisconsin earned a trip to the Rose Bowl to play Northwestern in the quarterfinals. Mabrey Mettauer was 19-for-30 for 277 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for Wisconsin. Charles Nowaske caught three passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, while receiver Spencer Devey had a 70-yard touchdown run. Steve Epenesa was 28-for-39 for 315 yards, four touchdowns and a pick for The U.

STANFORD 31, CLEMSON 20: Stanford jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter and the game was a stalemate after that. Ramon Roos was 25-for-35 for 292 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Stanford. Tre Sperry was 26-for-39 for 288 yards, three touchdowns and two picks for Clemson. Antwon Vick caught six passes for 88 yards and two scores for the Tigers. Stanford will face Duke in the Orange Bowl.

MICHIGAN 31, BOWLING GREEN 23: Michigan beat a Mid-American Conference team in the first round for the second year in a row, having knocked off Ball State last season. Anfernee Philbin ran 21 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns, Trae Lyons caught eight passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, and Jadyn Davis was 19-for-28 for 264 yards and a touchdown for Michigan. Chad Cleeland was 16-for-27 for 220 yards, two touchdowns and two picks for Bowling Green, which had to make a short trip up U.S. 23 to play at the Big House. Michigan will face Iowa State in the Cotton Bowl.

PENN STATE 45, NOTRE DAME 42: Penn State overcame a huge performance by Notre Dame quarterback Sergio Lamur, who was 22-for-34 for 383 yards and five touchdowns. Penn State quarterback Randy Atogwe was 24-for-36 for 333 yards, three touchdowns and a pick. Jose Bigsby caught 10 passes for 115 yards and a score. Receiver Walter Rowe ran four times for 91 yards and a 79-yard touchdown. Starting running back Fame Ijeboi was injured after only two carries. Backup Kevin Blumberg had only 20 yards on 13 carries. The Nittany Lions will face Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.

[redsox907]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

Wisconsin has been iffy the few times I'd played them, but after the beatdown you have PSU you should roll right through them.

Arkansas gave me a run in my dynasty in my last natty, watch out for them. OR a potential rematch against PSU with something to prove, either matchup should be exciting!

[RyanLeaf16]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

Duke the #1 seed!?!?! Manny Diaz doing some great work in Durham, NC.

Glad to see you in the CFP and with a bye week. Just keep the boys focused. No looking at the periphery...just football. No dames or broads around the facility!

[BDawg35]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

Wisconsin has been iffy the few times I'd played them, but after the beatdown you have PSU you should roll right through them.

Arkansas gave me a run in my dynasty in my last natty, watch out for them. OR a potential rematch against PSU with something to prove, either matchup should be exciting!

Yeah, Arkansas just doesn't seem like the team that should emerge from the SEC, but Northwestern shouldn't be the Big Ten champs either, so we're living in bizarro world.

In my friend BigJ's UNLV dynasty, Jacksonville State has somehow become a power to be reckoned with. You've gotta love dynasty mode!

Duke the #1 seed!?!?! Manny Diaz doing some great work in Durham, NC.

Glad to see you in the CFP and with a bye week. Just keep the boys focused. No looking at the periphery...just football. No dames or broads around the facility!

DAMES!!! BROADS!!! You must be as old as I am to know those terms!!! Straight out of All in the Family!!!

[BDawg35]

CFP QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW



B-Dawg has personal vendetta
in quarterfinal against Wisconsin

PASADENA, Calif. — Northwestern coach B-Dawg would like nothing better than to end Mabrey Mettauer’s college football career.

Yeah, it’s that personal.

For all the success the Wildcats have had since Mettauer beat them on the most B.S. robo-QB play you’ll ever see, B-Dawg has never let it go.

It still gnaws away at every fiber of his being that Mettauer someone broke free from a sack and fired a perfect dime down the field for the game-winning 70-yard touchdown pass against Northwestern last season.

It was the only blemish for the Wildcats, who bounced back nicely by winning their final 10 games to capture the national championship.

Northwestern got revenge earlier this season, beating the Badgers 20-17.

But that victory will ring hollow if the Wildcats can’t beat Wisconsin again, this time in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 2029.

It’s the first of what could be three straight playoff games for the Wildcats against Big Ten Conference opponents. The Northwestern-Wisconsin winner will play the Penn State-Arkansas winner in the semifinals. Michigan is still alive in the other bracket.

The last two games between Northwestern and Wisconsin have been decided by a total of four points. The team ratings suggest another close battle. Fourth-ranked Wisconsin is 84 OVR, 84 offense and 85 defense. Twelfth-ranked Northwestern is 83 OVR, 82 offense, 85 defense.

Wisconsin had three losses by mid-October, but has won its last six games to reach the quarterfinals.

Northwestern quarterback Ryan Boe will be under pressure from left end Ernest Willor (11 sacks), right end Calvin Kugbila (10.5 sacks) and right outside linebacker Kirk Kennedy (nine sacks).

Mettauer is 266-for-418 for 3,176 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He had two No. 1 receivers in Spencer Devey (60 catches, 719 yards, 10 TD’s) and Hunter Doss (66 catches, 908 yards, 4 TD’s).

[BDawg35]

2028 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS




Northwestern receiver Hayden Eligon celebrates the winning touchdown in overtime.


Northwestern receiver Hayden Eligon barely crosses the goal line with the winning 9-yard catch in overtime.


Northwestern quarterback Ryan Boe throws the winning touchdown pass in overtime.


Running back Jakori McFarland gives Northwestern the lead with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter.


Northwestern running back Nazir Kush celebrates a touchdown.


Northwestern receiver Dell Choice catches a touchdown pass.


Northwestern linebacker Matthew Smith intercepts a pass.


Northwestern cornerback Soni Motuapuaka intercepts a pass.

GUTLESS COACHING
NW beats Wisconsin in overtime,
advances to national semifinals

PASADENA, Calif. — Wisconsin didn’t play to win, but rather played not to lose against Northwestern in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 2029.

You know what happens when a team does that — it loses any way.

The Badgers got too conservative late in the game, settling for field goals in a 28-25 overtime loss to Northwestern.

Wisconsin forced overtime by kicking a 29-yard field goal with 1:21 left in the fourth quarter, but curiously chose to run a draw play on third-and-nine from Northwestern’s 15 prior to the kick. The Wildcats stopped the run for a two-yard gain.

The Badgers got the ball first in overtime and faced fourth-and-three from the three-yard line. They didn’t hesitate to send out kicker Louis Fowler to kick a 20-yard go-ahead field goal, knowing Northwestern was getting the ball next.

The Wildcats certainly didn’t play it close to the vest, going 2-for-3 on fourth down while the Badgers never went for it on fourth down. So, any time Northwestern has the ball, it’s likely all four downs will be used to move the chains to get the ball in the end zone.

For a moment, it looked like the Badgers’ tactics would pay off. Tight end Nick Stoddard got a 10-yard holding penalty on the first play of Northwestern’s possession, pushing the ball back to the 35.

But it took only two passes for the Wildcats to get a first down at the Wisconsin 11. It wasn’t a matter of if Northwestern would score, but how they would score.

“We weren’t settling for no stinkin’ field goals, that’s for sure,” Northwestern coach B-Dawg said. “I couldn’t look my guys in the eye if I coached the way Wisconsin’s coach did today. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Facing second-and-eight, B-Dawg dialed up the old Monster formation, giving Ryan Boe the option to hand it off or throw it quickly to the outside. With only two defenders on the outside and two big blockers in front of receiver Hayden Eligon, Boe quickly fired a dart in his direction and Eligon did the rest, battling his way over the goal line for the game-winning nine-yard touchdown catch.

Northwestern overcame three turnovers by cashing in for touchdowns after both of Wisconsin’s turnovers.

The game may not have gone to overtime had a touchdown catch to J.C. Cantwell counted with 10:06 left in the fourth quarter, but he was called for illegal touching. The drive stalled when Eligon caught a pass at the two-yard line on fourth down and was stopped there.

Northwestern kept its hopes alive for a repeat national championship, advancing to the semifinals for a rematch with Penn State. The Wildcats beat the Nittany Lions 21-3 in the Big Ten Conference championship game, a victory Northwestern needed to even get in the playoff field.

The Penn State-Northwestern winner will face the Michigan-Duke winner for the natty.





NORTHWESTERN BLOCKING
Deon Barry 7 pancakes, 1 sack; Shawn Boyett 6-0; Idrys Cotton 4-0; Cornell Kafka 4-0; Calvin Claybrooks 4-1; Nick Stoddard 2-0; Rishard Vilain 2-0; Quin Ford 1-0.





2028 QUARTERFINALS

DUKE 30, STANFORD 20: Heisman Trophy winner Dell Denson of Duke was 24-for-31 for 267 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Orange Bowl. Ramon Roos of Stanford was 24-for-36 for 262 yards, one touchdown and one pick. Duke led 14-10 at halftime, then outscored Stanford 9-0 in the third quarter.

PENN STATE 35, ARKANSAS 21: In the Sugar Bowl, Penn State’s Randy Atogwe threw five touchdown passes even though this wasn’t an aerial circus. He was 20-for-26 for 185 yards and two picks. Walter Rowe caught seven passes for 39 yards and two scores. Backup running back Kelvin Blumberg, playing in place of injured Fame Ijeboi, ran 13 times for 85 yards for Penn State. Arkansas’ KJ Jackson threw three interceptions.

MICHIGAN 45, IOWA STATE 3: In the Cotton Bowl, Anfernee Philbin of Michigan ran 27 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Jadyn Davis went 13-for-21 for 249 yards and one touchdown. Trae Lyons caught three passes for 116 yards and a score. Iowa State quarterback Connor Moberly was 15-for-33 for 192 yards, no touchdowns and one pick.

[BDawg35]

SLIDER UPDATE

I tweaked my All-American sliders before playing Penn State in the national semifinal, bumping CPU pass block from 60 to 70 because I seem to get an awful lot of sacks. Here’s where my sliders stand now:

[RyanLeaf16]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

Fortune favors the bold brotha! Keep that foot on the gas pedal and bring home National Championship #2!

[redsox907]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

I always choose to go for the win instead of playing for the tie or overtime. Gotta risk it to get the biscuit!

Nice win b-dawg