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

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2029 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME



Georgia holds off Stanford rally,
wins 2029 national championship

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The glass slipper ultimately didn’t fit Stanford.

The Cardinal made a Cinderella run to the national championship game, winning three College Football Playoff games, including a four-overtime classic against Northwestern in the quarterfinals.

But Georgia was just a bit too much for Stanford, building a 21-7 lead after three quarters and holding on for a 21-18 victory in the same stadium the Cardinal rallied to beat Northwestern.

Georgia utilized a running game not often seen in simmed College Football 25 statistics, running 35 times for 128 yards. Garrison Diamond ran 21 times for 101 yards and a touchdown for his second straight 100-yard game.

Stanford quarterback Daquan Pears, who scrambled for the winning score against Northwestern, was 17-for-29 for 235 yards and one touchdown. Vondree Dayes caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.

It’s the second national championship in the six-year history of this dynasty for Georgia, which beat Penn State 42-36 for the 2025 title.

Stanford was trying to break the grip the Big Ten and SEC have had on natties. The Big Ten and SEC have won all the national championships in this dynasty, winning three apiece.



2029 BOWL GAMES
WEEK 1
LA Bowl: Hawaii 49, Washington 28
Frisco Bowl: Charlotte 34, Appalachian State 7
Fenway Bowl: Duke 34, North Texas 13
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Toledo 35, Arkansas State 27
Bahamas Bowl: Marshall 17, Western Kentucky 14
CFP first round: Stanford 16, Kansas 14
Cure Bowl: Georgia State 27, Ball State 9
CFP first round: Notre Dame 31, Alabama-Birmingham 28
New Mexico Bowl: UNLV 31, Sam Houston 27
Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska 55, Utah 0
CFP first round: Ohio State 31, Tulsa 10
68 Ventures Bowl: South Alabama 41, Akron 20
CFP first round: Oregon 56, Southern Methodist 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Louisiana 31, Connecticut 28
Boca Raton Bowl: California 24, East Carolina 14
Detroit Bowl: Michigan State 20, Oregon State 0
New Orleans Bowl: Liberty 33, Southern Miss 21
Hawaii Bowl: Boise State 39, Troy 37
Gasparilla Bowl: North Carolina State 31, Kansas State 28
Independence Bowl: Baylor 31, Iowa 17
Armed Forces Bowl: Fresno State 42, Old Dominion 24
First Responder Bowl: Colorado State 34, Memphis 24
Birmingham Bowl: Boston College 34, Massachusetts 10
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Jacksonville State 24, Cincinnati 21
Camellia Bowl: Louisiana Tech 29, Florida International 17
WEEK 2
Orange Bowl: Ohio State 17, The U 13
Cotton Bowl: Oregon 49, Brigham Young 10
Peach Bowl: Georgia 28, Notre Dame 23
Fiesta Bowl: Stanford 38, Northwestern 36 (4 OT)
Texas Bowl: Texas 32, Iowa State 21
Liberty Bowl: Middle Tennessee 17, Tulane 14
Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma 24, UCLA 19
Military Bowl: Virginia Tech 26, Army 21
Pop-Tarts Bowl: Louisville 21, Houston 9
Alamo Bowl: Penn State 45, TCU 20
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Syracuse 38, West Virginia 22
Sun Bowl: Central Florida 17, Central Michigan 9
Music City Bowl: Kentucky 27, USC 24
Arizona Bowl: San Jose State 34, Ohio 21
Reliaquest Bowl: Michigan 31, Auburn 28
Citrus Bowl: Arkansas 28, Wisconsin 27
Gator Bowl: Clemson 27, Tennessee 24
WEEK 3
Rose Bowl: Stanford 35, Oregon 23
Sugar Bowl: Georgia 34, Ohio State 17
WEEK 4
The Natty: Georgia 21, Stanford 18

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FINAL 2029 RANKINGS, SEASON RECAP

FINAL 2029 ASSOCIATED PRESS RANKINGS

1. Georgia (65), 15-1
2. Stanford, 12-4
3. Brigham Young, 12-2
4. Ohio State, 11-4
5. Notre Dame, 11-3
6. Oregon, 12-4
7. Alabama-Birmingham, 11-3
8. NORTHWESTERN, 10-4
9. Southern Methodist, 9-4
10. The U, 10-4
11. Syracuse, 10-3
12. Tulsa, 11-3
13. Kansas, 10-4
14. Hawaii, 11-2
15. Nebraska, 9-4
16. Tennessee, 8-6
17. Louisville, 9-4
18. San Jose State, 12-2
19. West Virginia, 8-5
20. Missouri, 8-4
21. Connecticut, 10-3
22. Houston, 8-5
23. Akron, 9-4
24. Clemson, 9-5
25. Michigan, 9-4


FINAL 2029 COACHES’ POLL

1. Georgia (61), 15-1
2. Stanford, 12-4
3. Brigham Young, 12-2
4. Ohio State, 11-4
5. Notre Dame, 11-3
6. Oregon, 12-4
7. Alabama-Birmingham, 11-3
8. NORTHWESTERN, 10-4
9. Syracuse, 10-3
10. The U, 10-4
11. Southern Methodist, 9-4
12. Kansas, 10-4
13. Tulsa, 11-3
14. Hawaii, 11-2
15. Tennessee, 8-6
16. Nebraska, 9-4
17. San Jose State, 12-2
18. Missouri, 8-4
19. West Virginia, 8-5
20. Akron, 9-4
21. Connecticut, 10-3
22. Houston, 8-5
23. Louisville, 9-4
24. Clemson, 9-5
25. Central Michigan, 10-4





Nazir Kush was a first-team All-American in 2029, rushing for 1,642 yards and 22 touchdowns.

2029 RECAP

Team ratings: 85 OVR, 85 offense, 85 defense
Preseason ranking: No. 2 AP, No. 2 coaches
Final ranking: No. 8 AP, No. 8 coaches
Record: 10-4, 7-2 Big Ten (1st)
Playoff game: Stanford 38, Northwestern 36 (quarterfinals, Fiesta Bowl)
Award winners: HB Nazir Kush (Best Running back), OLB David Diggs (Best Linebacker), CB Jayvon Hope (Best Defensive Back), WR Andres Nickey (Best Returner)
First-team All-America: HB Nazir Kush
Second-team All-America: HB Prince Hoke
Freshman All-America: None
First-team All-Big Ten: HB Nazir Kush, HB Prince Hoke
Second-team All-Big Ten: DT Damarius Tolson
Freshman All-Big Ten: WR Andres Nickey, K Jay Olsen
Passing leader: Vernon Starr 216-for-333, 3,135 yards, 18 TD, 13 int.
Rushing leader: Nazir Kush 338 carries, 1,642 yards, 22 TD
Receiving leaders: J.C. Cantwell 90 catches, 1,301 yards, 9 TD; Andres Nickey 77 catches, 1,161 yards, 5 TD
Defense: Tavon Lenon 117 tackles; David Diggs 21 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 2 FR; Soni Motuapuaka 7 interceptions; Jayvon Hope 14 deflections; Carl Sermon 2 FF
Synopsis: This one will hurt a while. Northwestern was coming off its third straight Big Ten championship and looking to make its third consecutive trip to the natty when it faced Stanford in the College Football Playoff quarters. The Wildcats blew a 21-3 third-quarter lead and lost 38-36 in four overtimes, matching the longest game in B-Dawg’s career. The future is extremely bright for the Wildcats, however, as they landed the No. 1 recruiting class, featuring eight five-star recruits. There was an early quarterback controversy, with Vernon Starr taking over from senior Forrest Edmond after four games. Late-season losses to Michigan and Penn State left Northwestern needing a victory over Illinois for the second straight year to get a shot at the playoffs. That game produced the play of the year, Quin Ford’s 34-yard touchdown catch with five seconds left to give the Wildcats a 48-43 victory. That got Northwestern into the Big Ten championship game where it also needed to win to make the playoffs. A defense that had been lit up late in the season came to play, forcing three fumbles in a 20-10 victory over Oregon.

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DEARLY DEPARTED AFTER 2029 SEASON




Cornerback Jose Watford, Northwestern’s first recruit, is among the dearly departed following the 2029 season.

B-Dawg’s first recruit among
players leaving Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. — B-Dawg was licking his wounds from a 34-26 loss at Maryland in the sixth game of the 2024 season when he got some good news.

He’d finally landed his first recruit as head coach at Northwestern.

There was much fanfare surrounding the commitment of three-star cornerback Jose Watford of Crystal Lake, Ill. He would have a special place in B-Dawg’s heart, but he didn’t have a special place on the team’s roster during his five seasons with the Wildcats.

As much as B-Dawg would have loved to have featured his first recruit, Watford never amounted to much.

Watford came into college rated 65 OVR, just one point lower than cornerback Soni Motuapuaka in the same Northwestern Class of 2025 recruiting class. Both players redshirted in 2025 before the difference in their potential was immediately evident in 2026, with Motuapuaka blossoming to 80 OVR while Watford moved up to 70 OVR. He would go up only five more points over the next three seasons.

Motuapuaka would go on to intercept 16 passes and make 253 tackles for the Wildcats, while Watford barely saw the field.

Watford leaves Northwestern after five years in which he made only two solo tackles and three assisted tackles in 16 appearances. He played 122 downs, 56 of which came during his only game in 2028 when B-Dawg started him on senior day, mistakenly believing he was on his way out.

Watford was the 45th-ranked cornerback and 527th overall prospect in the Class of 2025. He visited Northwestern for its fifth game in this dynasty against Indiana before committing the following week. He chose the Wildcats over Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan.

While Watford won’t be missed, the Wildcats will mourn the loss of several other key players who helped them become a national power.

First and foremost is running back Nazir Kush, who finished with 5,230 yards and 48 touchdowns on 1,138 carries. Injuries kept him from potentially breaking B-Dawg’s all-time rushing record of 6,192 yards set by Michigan’s Joey McBride over three seasons in NCAA 2005.

Northwestern had two receivers flirt with the transfer portal in junior Dell Choice and freshman Montrell Murray, both of whom wanted to go somewhere with better pro potential. Choice was considered a low persuasion chance, while Murray was considered medium.

As it turned out, Choice is staying and Murray is moving on. Given his choice (get it? Choice!) B-Dawg would rather keep Choice. The 81 OVR Choice was the team’s third-leading receiver with 58 catches for 629 yards and one touchdown, while the 73 OVR Murray had only 16 catches for 159 yards and no touchdowns.

NAZIR KUSH, HB, 88 OVR
Career stats: 1,138 carries, 5,230 yards, 48 TD; 70 catches, 557 yards, 2 TD

CALVIN CLAYBROOKS, OT, 86 OVR
Career stats: 7 sacks allowed in two years at Northwestern; six sacks allowed in two years at Iowa State

PRINCE HOKE, HB, 85 OVR
Career stats: 254 carries, 1,376 yards, 12 TD and 68 catches, 768 yards, 5 TD in two years at Northwestern; 166 carries, 646 yards, 5 TD and 36 catches, 214 yards, 0 TD in two years at Michigan State

SONI MOTUAPUAKA, CB, 84 OVR
Career stats: 113 solos, 140 assists, 253 total tackles, 5 TFL, 16 interceptions, 30 deflections, 1 FF

DEON BARRY, OG, 84 OVR
Career stats: 7 sacks allowed in three years at Northwestern; 0 sacks allowed in one year at Purdue

DAMARIUS TOLSON, DT, 84 OVR
Career stats: 38 solos, 27 assists, 65 total tackles, 19 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 deflections at Louisville, Western Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern; 8 solos, 13 assists, 21 total tackles, 7 TFL, 1 sack in only season at Northwestern

HUNTER SCHILENS, OT, 82 OVR
Career stats: 1 sack allowed

CLINT SUTTLE, DE, 81 OVR
Career stats: 22 solos, 48 assists, 70 total tackles, 27 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 interception, 3 deflections

FORREST EDMOND, QB, 81 OVR
Career stats: 138-for-215, 1,402 yards, 7 TD, 8 int.; 36 carries, 6 yards, 0 TD; 3 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD

LAMAR BAKHTIARI, SS, 79 OVR
Career stats: 82 solos, 150 assists, 232 total tackles, 10 TFL, 4 interceptions, 17 deflections, 1 FF, 1 FR

CHANCE SHORT, OLB, 79 OVR
Career stats: 30 solos, 39 assists, 69 total tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 deflections

BROCK CASTONZO, C, 77 OVR
Career stats: 0 sacks allowed

HOWIE BRAZZELL, HB, 76 OVR
Career stats: 30 carries, 112 yards, 5 TD and 2 catches, 6 yards, 0 TD in two years at Northwestern; 165 carries, 674 yards, 9 TD and 8 catches, 59 yards, 1 TD in three years at Texas A&M

JOSE WATFORD, CB, 75 OVR
Career stats: 2 solos, 3 assists, 5 total tackles

JOSH STEPHEN, TE, 75 OVR
Career stats: 15 catches, 203 yards, 1 TD in 2 years at Northwestern; 80 catches, 920 yards, 9 TD in two years at Oregon State

QUIN FORD, WR, 73 OVR
Career stats: 36 catches, 413 yards, 4 TD

JIMMY NORTMAN, DE, 73 OVR
Career stats: 5 solos, 2 assists, 7 total tackles, 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks at Indiana and Northwestern; 1 assisted tackle, 1 TFL in two years at Northwestern

MONTRELL MURRAY, WR, 73 OVR (transfer)
Career stats: 16 catches, 159 yards, 0 TD

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CLASS OF 2030 NATIONAL SIGNING DAY




Kansas State offensive tackle Cooper Garror was the third-ranked overall player in the transfer portal.

Northwestern has top-ranked group
for Class of 2030 recruiting cycle

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern has become a national football powerhouse under coach B-Dawg without landing elite recruits on a consistent basis.

Imagine how dominant the Wildcats could be now that they’ve raked in the top-ranked recruiting class for the Class of 2030?

Northwestern has a total of 27 recruits, 24 of whom are high school players and three who are arriving via the transfer portal. That includes eight five-star players and 10 four-star players.

Oregon ranks second with 35 total recruits, including five five-star and 27 four-star players. The top four classes were recruited by Big Ten Conference teams, with Penn State ranking third and Wisconsin fourth.

The Wildcats’ recruiting success has lagged behind their success on the field. After winning the national championship in 2027, they followed up with the 34th-ranked class for the next recruiting cycle. Northwestern’s highest-ranked class before this year was 23rd for the Class of 2028.

“There were a few weeks during the season where it seemed like we got a flood of five-star guys come on board out of nowhere,” B-Dawg said. “That really created a buzz around our program and got other guys interested.”

B-Dawg’s high school recruiting was completed by the end of the season, so his only job during the offseason was to add to his team through the portal.

He targeted five players and landed three. He hoped to add experience at running back with nothing but six freshmen at that position for the upcoming season. The biggest target was sophomore running back Steve Wilhoite of Kansas State, but Wilhoite returned to his home state to play for Oklahoma. He was the second-ranked running back and eighth-ranked player overall in the portal.

He also lost junior Georgia Southern transfer Ricky Keenoy, the second-ranked cornerback, to Ohio State.

Joining the Wildcats were Kansas State junior offensive tackle Cooper Garror, Cincinnati junior defensive tackle Darin Bohanon and Virginia Tech junior outside linebacker Angelo Sauer. All three were ranked second at their positions among portal players. Garror was the third-ranked overall player in the portal.

NORTHWESTERN’S CLASS OF 2030 RECRUITS

JABU NEWCOMB, CB-1; 5-11, 191; West Point, Miss.; No. 2 overall; 5 stars
AIDEN McKNIGHT, RE-1; 6-4, 281; Middle Village, N.Y.; No. 4 overall; 5 stars
RICARDO RUSTON, MLB-2; 6-0, 237; Fayetteville, N.C.; No. 10 overall; 5 stars
AUSTIN MONTY, RE-4; 6-6, 274; Grand Blanc, Mich.; No. 15 overall; 5 stars
ERIC KUHN, RE-5; 6-6, 243; Des Plaines, Ill.; No. 17 overall; 5 stars
THOMAS PIFER, RT-1; 6-5, 329; Batavia, Ill.; No. 18 overall; 5 stars
DEANDRE STUMPH, RE-7; 6-5, 259; Louisville, Ky.; No. 29 overall; 5 stars
J.T. McHUGH, DT-3; 6-1, 287; Mashpee, Mass.; No. 31 overall; 5 stars
JUAN GORE, RT-5; 6-8, 328; Fishers, Ind.; No. 68 overall; 4 stars
DANIEL KING, RG-3; 6-1, 303; Detroit, Mich.; No. 158 overall; 4 stars
WALTER FLANAGAN, TE-6; 6-6, 258; Teachey, N.C.; No. 189 overall; 4 stars
STAN BARON, HB-20; 6-0, 197; Barberton, Ohio; No. 233 overall; 4 stars
JAMIE STACK, WR-31; 6-3, 207; Louisville, Ky.; No. 274 overall; 4 stars
HAYDEN DiMARCO, C-11; 6-4, 282; South Bend, Ind.; No. 368 overall; 4 stars
JOEY SCIOLI, HB-41; 6-0, 207; Weare, N.H.; No. 396 overall; 4 stars
BRYCE MALONEY, TE-20; 6-5, 243; Glen Ellyn, Ill.; No. 502 overall; 3 stars
PAT CHILDRESS, HB-61; 5-11, 180; Mobile, Ala.; No. 599 overall; 3 stars
GEORGE ENECHUKWU, HB-66; 5-9, 234; Durham, N.C.; No. 645 overall; 3 stars
LARRY EDDS, HB-74; 5-11, 202; Frederick, Md.; No. 739 overall; 3 stars
DAVE MARTINDALE, HB-76; 6-0, 181; Lehigh Acres, Fla.; No. 754 overall; 3 stars
NAZIR SMALL, SS-25; 5-11, 192; New Palestine, Ind.; No. 820 overall; 3 stars
AVERY CARSWELL, SS-27; 6-0, 209; New Orleans, La.; No. 942 overall; 3 stars
BRIAN CUMMINS, DT-70; 6-1, 321; Oak Lawn, Ill.; No, 1,445 overall; 3 stars
FREDRICK SLADE, ATH-69; 6-3, 235; Saraland, Ala.; No. 1,611 overall; 3 stars


NORTHWESTERN’S TRANSFER PORTAL ACQUISITIONS

COOPER GARROR, RT-2; 6-5, 322; Marshalltown, Iowa; junior; No. 3 overall; Kansas State
DARIN BOHANON, DT-2; 6-6, 316; Crystal Lake, Ill.; junior; No. 16 overall; Cincinnati
ANGELO SAUER, ROLB-2; 6-2, 227; Jacksonville, Ark.; No. 18 overall; junior; Virginia Tech


TOP CLASS OF 2030 RECRUITING CLASSES

1. NORTHWESTERN
2. Oregon
3. Penn State
4. Wisconsin
5. The U
6. Georgia
7. Texas Christian
8. Alabama
9. Oklahoma
10. Duke
11. Michigan
12. Tennessee
13. North Carolina State
14. LSU
15. Clemson
16. Notre Dame
17. Arkansas
18. Mississippi
19. Nebraska
20. Texas
21. UCLA
22. Ohio State
23. Auburn
24. Florida
25 Alabama-Birmingham
29. Washington
36. Iowa
41. USC
52. Indiana
54. Michigan State
55. Illinois
92. Maryland
103. Minnesota
107. Purdue
134. East Carolina


TOP 25 RECRUITS IN CLASS OF 2025

1. IMMANUEL AVERY, OLB, 6-5, 262, Lexington, Miss. (MISSISSIPPI STATE)
2. JABU NEWCOMB, CB, 5-11, 191, West Point, Miss. (NORTHWESTERN)
3. J.C. PRIDE, WR, 6-2, 174, Cornelius, N.C. (NORTH CAROLINA STATE)
4. AIDEN McKNIGHT, DE, 6-4, 281, Middle Village, N.Y. (NORTHWESTERN)
5. MALIK DUMERVIL, WR, 6-3, 207, Bronx, N.Y. (PENN STATE)
6. BRYCE SHEAD, MLB, 6-3, 220, Charlotte, N.C. (DUKE)
7. JOSH CORDERO, CB, 6-1, 207, Las Vegas, Nev. (BRIGHAM YOUNG)
8. J.J. BARR, DE, 6-4, 257, Miami, Fla. (NEBRASKA)
9. CLARK RHODES, DT, 6-4, 301, Scottsbluff, Neb. (NEBRASKA)
10. RICARDO RUSTON, MLB, 6-0, 237, Fayetteville, N.C. (NORTHWESTERN)
11. BRIAN FUENTES, DE, 6-2, 239, Highland Springs, Va. (NORTH CAROLINA STATE)
12. BRETT RETKOFSKY, DE, 6-1, 267, West Chester, Ohio (WISCONSIN)
13. SAM MADDEN, ATH (DE), 6-4, 269, Moultrie, Ga. (ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM)
14. GERALD AWASOM, CB, 6-2, 182, Westlake Village, Calif. (OREGON)
15. AUSTIN MONTY, DE, 6-6, 274, Grand Blanc, Mich. (NORTHWESTERN)
16. DERRON WILKES, CB, 6-0, 200, Covington, La. (MISSISSIPPI STATE)
17. ERIC KUHN, DE, 6-6, 243, Des Plaines, Ill. (NORTHWESTERN)
18. THOMAS PIFER, DT, 6-5, 329, Batavia, Ill. (NORTHWESTERN)
19. MOSES AMERSON, DE, 6-6, 282, Jefferson, Iowa (OREGON)
20. THAD BURROW, QB, 6-4, 208, Port Orange, Fla. (GEORGIA)
21. LUIS RICH, HB, 5-11, 182, West Palm Beach, Fla. (THE U)
22. AVERY TEAMER, DE, 6-2, 245, Clayton, N.C. (NORTH CAROLINA STATE)
23. AMARI YAZZIE, ATH (QB), 6-5, 192, Lawrenceville, Ga. (WEST VIRGINIA)
24. MARCO BATTLE, OT, 6-5, 307, Southlake, Texas (ALABAMA)
25. RICKY SUMNER, TE, 6-5, 235, Rochester, N.Y. (PENN STATE)


NORTHWESTERN CLASS RANKINGS

2025: No. 62
2026: No. 85
2027: No. 41
2028: No. 23
2029: No. 34
2030: No. 1

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PLAYERS ENCOURAGED TO TRANSFER BEFORE 2030

Northwestern cuts 8 no-names
to reach roster limit for 2030

EVANSTON, Ill. — The only other time B-Dawg had to resort to encouraging players to transfer out of Northwestern, there were some semi-noteworthy players involved.

He had to essentially cut 19 players heading into the 2028 season to meet the roster limit of 85 after recruiting like a drunken sailor for a couple of years to replenish a roster gutted by graduation following the first season.

Among the players let go that time around were 78 OVR redshirt freshman quarterback Gideon Pena, who was one of B-Dawg’s first four-star recruits, and junior halfback Carl Erdman, who was the third-leading rusher on the 2027 national championship team.

B-Dawg was in a position to cut eight players heading into the 2030 season to meet the roster limit. This time around, they are players who have done little to nothing in their time with Northwestern.

The highest-rated player is 75 OVR redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Tony Doman. Doman didn’t register a statistic last season. Neither did any of the other defensive players who were let go: 73 OVR redshirt sophomore free safety Sam Neilon, 71 OVR redshirt freshman defensive tackle Connor Nordin or 60 OVR redshirt sophomore strong safety Rudy Cobb.

Rishard Vilain, a 66 OVR redshirt sophomore fullback, didn’t play in 2029 after B-Dawg recruited two freshman fullbacks. As a true freshman in 2028, he had one carry for one yard, one catch for 12 yards and 15 pancakes.

Three redshirt sophomore offensive linemen who are being let go never registered a pancake: 74 OVR guard Shane DeLuca, 69 OVR tackle Devon Dwumfour and 68 OVR tackle Carlos Mallory.

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2030 SEASON PREVIEW


Vernon Starr will start again as Northwestern’s quarterback in 2030, but has competition from two players with
nearly identical OVR ratings.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
Six freshmen expected to start
for Northwestern in 2030 season

EVANSTON, Ill. — It’s time for the kids to take over at Northwestern in 2030.

When you land the top-rated recruiting class in the nation, you don’t stash those players away to ripen for a year or two. That’s not really realistic in this era of college football anyway, with every five-star player ready to bolt for the exit if they don’t start right away.

B-Dawg will start five true freshmen and get playing time for others this coming season, while one redshirt freshman will also start for a team coming off three straight Big Ten Conference championships. He would start more true freshmen if so many of them didn’t play the same position.

Even with the youth movement, this is B-Dawg’s most talented team by far. The Wildcats are rated 89 OVR, 89 on offense and 89 on defense. Last year’s team was 85 across the board, the previous highest-rated Northwestern team coached by B-Dawg.

Here’s a position-by-position look at the 2030 Wildcats:

QUARTERBACKS

There’s not much of a difference in the OVR ratings of the three quarterbacks on Northwestern’s roster. Floyd Keenan is 80 OVR with an 82 OVR boost, Vernon Starr is 80-81 and Kristian Brown is 79-81. Although Starr is ever-so-slightly rated second on the depth chart, he will be the starter going into the season based on the way he ran the offense after taking over in the fifth game last season. Starr was 216-for-333 for 3,135 yards, 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. While that TD-to-INT ratio isn’t great, it’s much better than senior Ryan Boe’s 21 touchdowns and 20 picks the previous year. Starr has mobility with his 86 SPD rating, although B-Dawg hasn’t found a way to exploit quarterback speed in this version of the game.


RUNNING BACKS

The Nazir Kush era is over. Kush ran for 5,230 yards and 48 touchdowns in four seasons at Northwestern. Now there are six true freshmen hoping to become the next Kush. In fact, all six halfbacks on the roster are true freshmen after all three of last year’s running backs graduated. If nothing else, B-Dawg won’t be in a bind if wear and tear spins out of control as it has in the past. Stan Baron has emerged from the pack of freshmen as the starter, equipped with a 74 OVR rating, 92 SPD and 83 CAR. Joey Scioli (73 OVR, 91 SPD, 83 CAR) will get plenty of carries as his backup. There’s a drop-off to 67 OVR Larry Edds after that. Brady Ellington, who is 76 OVR, returns as the starting fullback. Ellington had only 18 carries for 52 yards last year, but that makes him the top returning rusher. Nate Barr will get plenty of time at fullback in the Maryland-I.


WIDE RECEIVERS

B-Dawg is salivating at the prospect of beating teams over the top with the fastest group of receivers he’s coached at Northwestern. Somehow, B-Dawg was unaware that Eric Gibbs has 97 SPD and 99 ACC when he buried him on the depth chart last year. Gibbs had only three catches for 17 yards in mop-up duty, but will start as one of the two wideouts along with J.C. Cantwell. Cantwell is 88 OVR with 95 SPD and 85 CTH. That leaves sophomore Andres Nickey, who had 77 catches for 1,161 yards last year, using his 95 SPD in the slot. Nickey’s production is expected to take a hit, as most of B-Dawg’s passes have been thrown to his two outside receivers. Sitting notably at No. 6 on the depth chart is 73 OVR senior Kerry Hanoian, who hasn’t gained any traction in his career after catching the game-winning touchdown in the 2027 national championship game as a redshirt freshman.


TIGHT ENDS

The tight end position has been nonexistent in this dynasty, as B-Dawg hasn’t found a way to consistently get them the ball. He hopes to give some more love to that position in the coming years. Freshman Walter Flanagan is 72 OVR with 82 SPD and 82 CTH. B-Dawg had a tight end with similar receiving ability in Josh Stephen the past two years and barely got him the ball, so don’t hold your breath that Flanagan will be the next Travis Kelce.


OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Northwestern may be going with a true freshman running back, but the backfield has the opportunity to shine because the Wildcats have by far their best offensive line during B-Dawg’s tenure. Northwestern has 15 offensive linemen rated 80 OVR or higher compared to only six last season and just one in B-Dawg’s first season in 2024. The starting group will be 83 OVR left tackle J.D. Amatova, 84 OVR left guard Alex Jameson, 83 OVR center Alex Estes, 84 OVR right guard Niles Mount and 86 OVR transfer right tackle Cooper Garror.


DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Here’s where things could get really fun for B-Dawg this season and beyond. The Wildcats signed four five-star defensive ends and one five-star defensive tackle. Because of the glut of uber-talented defensive end, Aiden McKnight was moved to outside linebacker, even though he was the top-ranked right end in the country. Freshman Eric Kuhn, who has 86 SPD and 88 ACC, will get the coveted left end position from which B-Dawg gets most of his sacks. Freshman Austin Monty will play right end. The acquisition of 82 OVR Darin Bohanon in the transfer portal will keep five-star defensive tackle J.T. McHugh waiting a year to start. Redshirt freshman Nick Kiernan, who was flagged as a transfer risk all of last season, stuck around and will be the other starter at defensive tackle.


LINEBACKERS

One area in which Northwestern has veteran experience is linebacker. Middle linebacker Tavon Lenon, who is 79 OVR with 83 SPD and 90 TAK, led the Wildcats with 117 tackles last season. Outside linebacker David Diggs led the team with 21 tackles for losses and 9.5 sacks while inexplicably lining up at left defensive end most of the time when B-Dawg didn’t have him slotted there. True freshman Ricardo Ruston, the top-ranked middle linebacker in the 2030 recruiting class, with see plenty of time at middle and outside linebacker. He has 87 SPD, 90 ACC and 90 TAK. Redshirt freshman outside linebacker Ross Stewart will start because of his 83 OVR, 82 SPD and 86 TAK.


DEFENSIVE BACKS

Northwestern returns the reigning Thorpe Award winner in senior cornerback Jayvon Hope. Hope, who is 84 OVR with 87 SPD, had 85 tackles and five interceptions last season. Levi Ingram moved from safety to take the No. 2 corner position. Although true freshman Jabu Newcomb is seventh on the depth chart, he will move up to No. 3 as a slot corner because B-Dawg is excited to have landed the top-ranked cornerback coming out of high school. Newcomb has 92 SPD. Xavier Tubbs takes over as the starting free safety, while Montell Feeley (73 tackles) is back as the starting strong safety.


SPECIAL TEAMS

Northwestern returns its special teams duo of kicker Jay Olsen and punter Cortez Duarte. As true sophomores, they’ll be around for a while. Olsen is 79 OVR with 92 KPW and 69 KAC. Duarte is 60 OVR with 84 KPW and 68 KAC. Olsen was 10-for-16 on field goals last year and put 66 of 81 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. Duarte averaged 47.1 yards per punt, but only eight of 40 went inside the 20-yard line. Receiver Andres Nickey was the national Returner of the Year last year, based on returning two kicks for touchdowns against Illinois, but he’ll be bumped as the main return man by Eric Gibbs, he of the 97 SPD and 99 ACC. Nickey will be the No. 2 kick return man.









2030 PRESEASON AP RANKINGS

1. Georgia (43)
2. Oregon (2)
3. Ohio State
4. NORTHWESTERN
5. Stanford
6. Notre Dame
7. Brigham Young
8. Nebraska
9. Southern Methodist
10. The U
11. Syracuse
12. Tennessee
13. Michigan
14. Missouri
15. Kansas
16. Louisville
17. Clemson
18. Wisconsin
19. West Virginia
20. Arkansas
21. Alabama-Birmingham
22. Tulsa
23. Houston
24. Auburn
25. Boston College


2030 PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

1. Georgia (40)
2. Ohio State (21)
3. Oregon
4. Stanford
5. NORTHWESTERN
6. Nebraska
7. Notre Dame
8. Syracuse
9. The U
10. Brigham Young
11. Tennessee
12. Southern Methodist
13. Missouri
14. Kansas
15. Louisville
16. Clemson
17. Michigan
18. Wisconsin
19. Alabama-Birmingham
20. West Virginia
21. Tulsa
22. Auburn
23. Houston
24. Arkansas
25. Boston College




Unknown South Carolina QB is
2030 preseason Heisman favorite

Leo Provo has thrown only eight passes in his first three seasons at South Carolina, but has somehow emerged as the favorite to win the 2030 Heisman Trophy.

Provo has two things going for him:

1. At 94 OVR, he’s the highest-rated quarterback in college football this season.

2. He’s taking over an offense that was run by Marquis Fontaine, who set a national record with 162 touchdown passes during his four-year career.

Provo was 5-for-8 for 80 yards and one touchdown last season.

1. LEO PROVO, South Carolina, QB, Sr., 94 OVR
2029 stats: 5-for-8, 80 yards, 1 TD, 0 int.; 3 carries, 8 yards, 0 TD

2. NICK GUMBS, Notre Dame, HB, rSr., 94 OVR
2029 stats: 236 carries, 1,001 yards, 8 TD; 40 catches, 325 yards, 5 TD

3. RUDY SOTO, Oregon, WR, rSr., 93 OVR
2029 stats: 76 catches, 1,189 yards, 16 TD; 27 carries, 261 yards, 3 TD

4. SPENCER CANTWELL, Oregon, HB, Sr., 92 OVR
2029 stats: 227 carries, 1,076 yards, 11 TD; 26 catches, 273 yards, 1 TD

5. ANTHONY BREWER, Ohio State, WR, Jr., 92 OVR
2029 stats: 9 catches, 92 yards, 2 TD; 1 carry, 3 yards, 0 TD



NATION’S TOP PLAYERS

QUARTERBACKS

LEO PROVO, South Carolina, rSr.
Ratings: 94 OVR, 83 SPD, 91 THP, 99 SAC, 90 MAC, 97 DAC
2029 stats: 5-for-8, 80 yards, 1 TD, 0 int.; 3 carries, 8 yards, 0 TD

RICKY CARNEY, Penn State, rJr.
Ratings: 89 OVR, 86 SPD, 91 THP, 92 SAC, 85 MAC, 89 DAC
2029 stats: None

KEENAN BARRY, Auburn, rSr.
Ratings: 89 OVR, 79 SPD, 93 THP, 92 SAC, 88 MAC, 90 SAC
2029 stats: 242-for-374, 3,271 yards, 32 TD, 6 int.; 87 carries, 338 yards, 6 TD

DARIUS ATWELL, USC, rJr.
Ratings: 89 OVR, 84 SPD, 96 THP, 96 SAC, 92 MAC, 90 SAC
2029 stats: None
2028 stats: 232-for-413, 3,084 yards, 25 TD, 3 int.; 69 carries, 182 yards, 0 TD


RUNNING BACKS

NICK GUMBS, Notre Dame, rSr.
Ratings: 94 OVR, 93 SPD, 93 CAR, 86 BTK, 77 CTH
2029 stats: 236 carries, 1,001 yards, 8 TD; 40 catches, 325 yards, 5 TD

SPENCER CANTWELL, Oregon, Sr.
Ratings: 92 OVR, 95 SPD, 91 CAR, 91 BTK, 82 CTH
2029 stats: 227 carries, 1,076 yards, 11 TD; 26 catches, 273 yards, 1 TD

CALVIN BUZBEE, Notre Dame, rJr.
Ratings: 91 OVR, 92 SPD, 95 CAR, 86 BTK, 86 CTH
2029 stats: 63 carries, 375 yards, 6 TD; 47 catches, 536 yards, 7 TD

DASHAWN DICKER, Clemson, rJr.
Ratings: 91 OVR, 91 SPD, 86 CAR, 81 BTK, 91 CTH
2029 stats: 19 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD; 5 catches, 38 yards, 1 TD


RECEIVERS

RUDY SOTO, Oregon, rSr.
Ratings: 93 OVR, 94 SPD, 99 CTH
2029 stats: 76 catches, 1,189 yards, 16 TD; 27 carries, 261 yards, 3 TD

DAVE HARVIN, Auburn, Sr.
Ratings: 92 OVR, 90 SPD, 89 CTH
2029 stats: 49 catches, 721 yards, 5 TD

ANTHONY BREWER, Ohio State, Jr.
Ratings: 92 OVR, 92 SPD, 88 CTH
2029 stats: 9 catches, 92 yards, 2 TD; 1 carry, 3 yards, 0 TD

JAMES MANUEL, Texas A&M,, Sr.
Ratings: 92 OVR, 93 SPD, 89 CTH
2029 stats: 46 catches, 825 yards, 8 TD

[redsox907]

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

With that offensive line I'm anticipating another old school offensive year for the Kats. Schedule isn't brutal outside of the b2b games against tOSU and Michigan. Avoiding USC, Oregon, and Penn State will help ease pressure as the offense figures it out with new pieces

[BDawg35]

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

With that offensive line I'm anticipating another old school offensive year for the Kats. Schedule isn't brutal outside of the b2b games against tOSU and Michigan. Avoiding USC, Oregon, and Penn State will help ease pressure as the offense figures it out with new pieces

I'm looking forward to seeing what the holes look like for my running backs behind those guys. We also have injury insurance with all those 80-plus OVR guys, though injuries seem to have been toned down in the past year or two. Maybe it's because I've built up my coach to be a recruiter and motivator. Keeping guys healthy seems to be a trait of a motivator.

Those back-to-back games against Ohio State and Michigan could determine our season. The rest of our Big Ten schedule isn't as daunting. The U will be a tough road game in the second game. I've lost my big nonleague road games the last two years at Tennessee in 2028 and at West Virginia in 2029. I have trouble reading my plays through the home-field advantage squiggles. I wanted a somewhat easy nonleague game to start out to get used to my new players. I also thought it would be cool to play at Liberty. I've never played Liberty in a dynasty. I haven't played Charlotte either; hence, that's my third game. I'm trying to schedule teams for the first time ever with my nonleague games. I checked off Kennesaw State early in this dynasty.

[BDawg35]

2030 SEASON - GAME 1




Northwestern freshman Eric Kuhn celebrates his second career sack.


Northwestern freshman Eric Kuhn gets his first career sack.


Northwestern redshirt freshman Kalon Hamrick celebrates his first career sack.


Northwestern freshman Stan Baron scores his first career touchdown.


Northwestern sophomore Eric Gibbs hauls in a 69-yard pass for his first career touchdown.


Northwestern receiver J.C. Cantwell is in the clear for a 58-yard touchdown catch.


Linebacker Tavon Lenon grabs the first of his two interceptions.


Northwestern cornerback Jayvon Hope intercepts a pass.


Liberty running back Marco Boudreaux dives for one of his two touchdowns.


Liberty running back Ernie Thorne caught nine passes for 173 yards and one touchdown lining up in the slot.

SHINY NEW TOYS
Northwestern’s newest weapons excel
in season-opening win over Liberty

LYNCHBURG, Va. — There is nothing more fun as a football coach than having bright, shiny new toys with which to play.

Toys like sophomore receiver Eric Gibbs.

Toys like freshman defensive end Eric Kuhn.

Toys like freshman running back Stan Baron.

All three players used their college debuts (in the cases of Kuhn and Baron) or first significant playing time (in Gibbs’ case) to announce their presence to the football world during fourth-ranked Northwestern’s 37-28 victory over Liberty on Aug. 24, 2030.

Let’s start with Gibbs.

Gibbs is a receiver with 97 SPD and 99 ACC, attributes B-Dawg somehow didn’t notice when he buried him on the depth chart last season. Gibbs had only three catches for 17 yards as a true freshman, but showed he will be a big-play threat to reckon with when he caught four passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown was a 69-yard connection from Vernon Starr.

“I have no idea why I didn’t use him last year, other than I just looked at OVR’s and didn’t see his SPD rating,” B-Dawg said. “I am so giddy to have a weapon like Eric Gibbs at my disposal this year.”

Let’s move on to Kuhn, one of five five-star defensive linemen signed by B-Dawg in the Class of 2030. Kuhn didn’t take long to make his presence felt, getting his first sack on the third play of his career on third-and-two. Kuhn finished with two sacks and four tackles for losses.

“He’s not the biggest D-end in the world, but he has that quick burst I like to see from my left defensive ends,” B-Dawg said. “I’m already salivating over the potential numbers this guy could rack up.”

Last, but not least, is Baron. Baron is one of six running backs signed by B-Dawg in the last recruiting cycle, as the Wildcats graduated all three of their halfbacks. Baron emerged from the pack to earn the starting job and proved himself by running 26 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three catches for 28 yards.

“Nice start for the young man,” B-Dawg said. “I didn’t have super high expectations for him, but Liberty has an 84 defense, so they’re decent. I like that he was able to get the ball that much without having to tap out too much. We had only three other carries by our other backs, so he looks to be durable.”

Liberty, rated 84 across the board, proved to be a pesky opponent. The Flames led 21-17 at halftime on two touchdown runs by Marco Boudreaux and a 73-yard touchdown catch by backup running back Ernie Thorne, who was a THORN in the Wildcats’ side lining up in the slot. Thorne caught nine passes for 173 yards. Liberty’s Emanuel Bodine threw for 268 yards in the first half.

Two Jay Olsen field goals in the third quarter gave Northwestern a 23-21 lead going into the fourth. The 69-yard bomb to Gibbs with 6:05 left in the game gave Northwestern some breathing room.

“He was WIDE OPEN!” B-Dawg said. “My eyes got big when I hit the button to throw his way. I just didn’t want him to drop it.”

While the newcomers garnered a lot of the attention, an O.G. played the game of his career. Senior middle linebacker Tavon Lenon had the first two interceptions of his career and forced a fumble.

“I don’t know if we win this game without Tavon Lenon,” B-Dawg said. “Liberty moved the ball almost at will against us, but he came up with three huge turnovers on drives that could have produced points. The last interception came at the end, so really two huge turnovers came when the game was hanging in the balance.”





NORTHWESTERN BLOCKING
J.D. Amatova 11 pancakes, 0 sacks; Niles Mount 9-0; Alex Estes 4-0; Brady Ellington 3-0; Alex Jameson 2-0; Cooper Garror 2-0; Walter Flanagan 2-0; Nate Barr 1-0; Nick Stoddard 1-0.

[redsox907]

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

They gave you a run for your money in the 1st half, but the young guys started showing out as the game wore on.

What abilities does Gibbs have, if any? Speedsters with high change of direction AND shifty are deadly

[BDawg35]

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

They gave you a run for your money in the 1st half, but the young guys started showing out as the game wore on.

What abilities does Gibbs have, if any? Speedsters with high change of direction AND shifty are deadly

I will have to dig into that the next time I fire up the game (hopefully this afternoon). I think you just explained to me what COD is. I've seen that and didn't know what it was. COD has always meant "cash on delivery" to me.

[BDawg35]

2030 SEASON - GAME 2




Northwestern freshman running back Stan Baron caught five passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.


Northwestern receiver Eric Gibbs catches a pass he took to the end zone for a 28-yard score.


Northwestern safety Montell Feeley intercepts a third-down pass in the end zone in the third quarter.


Northwestern cornerback Jayvon Hope intercepts a pass in the first half.


Northwestern freshman defensive end Eric Kuhn sacks The U quarterback Trey Bias.


Linebacker Raheem Jells celebrates after tackling The U running back Rafael Huerta for a loss.


Quarterback Trey Bias scrambled 16 yards for The U’s only touchdown.


Sebastian the Ibis tries to get The U fired up heading into the fourth quarter, but to no avail.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Northwestern halfback showcases
receiving skillz in win over The U

MIAMI — Northwestern had the top running back tandem in college football last season, with Nazir Kush pounding out 22 touchdowns on the ground and Prince Hoke being a threat as a receiver out of the backfield.

Kush was on the field in the Wildcats’ power sets, while Hoke entered the game in most shotgun sets, catching 38 passes for 555 yards and four touchdowns.

In freshman Stan Baron, Northwestern may have all of those qualities wrapped up in one awesome package.

Baron not only had his second 100-yard rushing performance in as many career games, but he was fourth-ranked Northwestern’s leading receiver during a 21-13 victory over 17th-ranked Miami on Sept. 7, 2030.

Baron ran 30 times for 141 yards and caught five passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. It’s only the second time in the seven-year history of this dynasty that Northwestern has had a running back lead the team in receiving yardage. Cam Porter had 76 receiving yards against Ohio State in the first season.

The two touchdown catches by Baron matched the entire four-year total accumulated by Kush, who scored 48 of his 50 touchdowns on the ground.

One reason Baron is a do-it-all back has to do with his usage. B-Dawg is old school and still doesn’t have a grasp on the extra spots on the depth chart beyond just normal positions. Hoke was the team’s third-down back, giving him more opportunities to catch the ball. B-Dawg made sure Baron is the No. 1 back in all situations when he set up his depth chart this season.

“Teams who have played us in the past aren’t used to having to cover the running back in the passing game,” B-Dawg said. “They’d better start being aware of Stan, because it was really fun chucking the ball to him on angle routes and wheel routes. It adds a refreshing change to our offense, which has been stagnant in terms of creativity.”

Not only is it rare that a Northwestern running back leads the team in receiving, but it’s rare to have a game that is scoreless for the entire second half.

This looked like it would be a shootout when three Vernon Starr touchdown passes gave Northwestern a 21-13 halftime lead. But there would be no more scoring in the second half, with an interception in the end zone by Wildcats safety Montell Feeley on third-and-five ending The U’s biggest threat with 2:50 left in the third quarter.

Starr hit a 28-yard touchdown pass to Eric Gibbs on a drag route to open the scoring. His touchdown passes to Baron were on plays of 44 and 28 yards, giving the Wildcats a 21-3 lead with 4:38 left in the second quarter. Northwestern wouldn’t score again and The U got its only touchdown on a 16-yard scramble by quarterback Trey Bias to make it 21-10 with 1:20 left in the first half. Justice Turpin boomed a 55-yard field goal to end the half, getting the Hurricanes within 21-13 and ending the day’s scoring.

Five-star true freshman defenders continued to shine for Northwestern, with middle linebacker Ricardo Ruston getting three tackles for losses and defensive end Eric Kuhn getting a sack to give him three in the first two games. They were part of a defense that shut down two 88 OVR running backs in Jamie Mingo and Rafael Huerta, who combined for 30 yards on 14 carries.

Starr was an efficient 20-for-28 for 222 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. YAC proved to be a quarterback’s best friend, with Wildcat receivers getting 116 yards after catches.

The U started the season ranked No. 9 by the coaches and No. 10 by the media, but a second straight loss to open the season could drop the Hurricanes from playoff contention. They will probably have to win the ACC championship game to qualify. Auburn beat The U 43-41 in the opener.





NORTHWESTERN BLOCKING
Cooper Garror 9 pancakes, 0 sacks; J.D. Amatova 6-0; Alex Estes 3-0; Alex Jameson 3-0; Niles Mount 2-0; Brady Ellington 2-0; Walter Flanagan 2-0; Nate Barr 2-0; Nick Stoddard 1-0.

[BDawg35]

2030 SEASON - GAME 3




Northwestern running back Stan Baron ran 27 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes
for 77 yards and one score.


Northwestern defensive tackle Christian Runyan celebrates a sack of Charlotte quarterback Matt Bess.


Northwestern defensive end Eric Kuhn bears down on Charlotte quarterback Matt Bess for a sack.


Northwestern receiver Andres Nickey snares a touchdown catch.


Northwestern receiver Eric Gibbs makes a touchdown catch.


Northwestern freshman cornerback Jabu Newcomb grabs his first career interception.


Northwestern running back Larry Edds takes off on a 56-yard reception.


Northwestern safety Montell Feeley picks off a pass in the end zone.

KIDS ARE A’IGHT
Northwestern freshmen continue
to shine in victory over Charlotte

EVANSTON, Ill. — Through three games, it’s been established that much of Northwestern’s success in the 2030 football season will rest on the performances of its incredible freshmen.

It might seem risky putting so much on the shoulders of players with so little experience in college football, but this appears to be a special group of true and redshirt freshmen.

Five touchdowns, one interception and 3.5 sacks were racked up by five different freshmen during the second-ranked Wildcats’ 48-34 victory over Charlotte on Sept. 21, 2030.

True freshman running back Stan Baron flirted with a 100/100 game for the second straight contest, running 27 times for 121 yards and a touchdown while catching five passes for 77 yards and a score. Against The U, Baron ran for 141 yards and had 92 receiving yards to go with two touchdown catches.

Five-star true freshman cornerback Jabu Newcomb grabbed his first career interception, true freshman defensive end Eric Kuhn had a sack for the third straight game, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Ofisa Hand had 1.5 sacks and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Nick Kiernan had one sack.

Even third-string true freshman running back Larry Edds had a moment to shine, grabbing a 56-yard pass. True freshman middle linebacker Ricardo Ruston had two tackles for losses.

“These are exciting times in Evanston, because you are seeing future superstars emerge before your very eyes,” Northwestern coach B-Dawg said. “Guys like these make me want to put the pedal to the metal and crank out four more seasons before College Football 26 drops, just to see what kind of production they end up with.”

A game that Northwestern looked to have put away early got more interesting than it needed to be because of the amazing performance of Charlotte receiver Frank Mangen. Mangen, an 80 OVR redshirt sophomore, had 13 catches for 253 yards and two touchdowns.

Both touchdown catches came in the second quarter after Northwestern built a 17-0 lead. The 49ers aired it out throughout the game, with Matt Bess going 37-for-51 for 464 yards, three touchdowns and two picks.

Two field goals in the third quarter cut the Northwestern lead to 31-20 entering the fourth.

It might have been closer had Northwestern not forced a field goal try which went wide right after Charlotte had first-and-goal from the 3-yard line early in the second quarter. Kuhn’s sack came on third-and-goal from the 6-yard line.





NORTHWESTERN BLOCKING
Niles Mount 10 pancakes, 0 sacks; J.D. Amatova 8-0; Alex Estes 8-0; Connor Garror 7-0; Alex Jameson 5-0; Walter Flanagan 2-0; Brady Ellington 2-0; Nick Stoddard 1-0; J.C. Cantwell 1-0; Nate Barr 1-0.

[redsox907]

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

Trail by fire is sometimes the best for progression. I've had players with similar dev traits progress drastically different, with the one that improved by leaps and bounds getting early PT.

Nice wins to get the momentum going before conference play opens up

[BDawg35]

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

Trail by fire is sometimes the best for progression. I've had players with similar dev traits progress drastically different, with the one that improved by leaps and bounds getting early PT.

Nice wins to get the momentum going before conference play opens up

I hope that works for my guys. I have a bunch of freshmen playing, so a few of them should get nice progression if that’s how it works.