With Northwestern football’s 2025 season beginning on Saturday, members of the Inside NU staff predicted the Wildcats’ 2025 season results. It’s safe to say that nobody is high on the team to finish above .500, but there was a range of predictions going from 4-8 to 6-6. But without further ado, here are each of our writers’ predictions.
Charlie Jacobs: 4-8 (2-7 B1G)
Do I like the roster this year? Yes. Do I still think Northwestern finishes below .500? Also yes.
The main reason is the gauntlet of a schedule
the Wildcats face in 2025. Across multiple platforms, NU is anywhere from the 20th to 30th hardest-ranked schedule in the entire country. Penn State and Oregon were in the Big Ten Championship last season – both are on the schedule. Michigan and Illinois are ranked in the Top 25 to open the season – these teams are also on the schedule. USC, Minnesota and Nebraska are all darkhorse teams in the Big Ten – all three are on the schedule. Tulane is a top Group of 5 contender – the Green Wave are the Week 1 matchup for the ‘Cats. Northwestern has talent and arguably the best quarterback it’s had in a while, but this schedule is grueling with practically every game looking to be a dogfight.
Miguel Muñoz: 5-7 (2-7 B1G)
At a glance, this roster looks more than capable of making a bowl game. Between the budding QB-WR connection between transfers Prestone Stone (SMU) and Griffin Wilde (South Dakota State), and a matured defensive group that includes linebacker Mac Uihlein and corner Josh Fussell, NU looks really good on paper. The issue lies in a gauntlet of a schedule, especially once Big Ten play picks up. After an opener on the road against Tulane, the ‘Cats will have to face No. 7 Oregon, No. 2 Penn State, No. 14 Michigan and No. 12 Illinois (not to mention fringe-Top 25 teams in USC and UCLA). Unfortunately, I just don’t think NU has the talent or experience quite yet to compete with the top of the B1G.
Ascher Levin: 6-6 (3-6 B1G)
Northwestern should be a better team in 2025, but the challenge will be turning that improvement into more wins against a very tough schedule. I see the ‘Cats opening with a tight victory over Tulane and sweeping the rest of the non-conference slate. They can also take down UCLA and Purdue and add another win against either Minnesota or Nebraska. The roster has legitimate talent with Preston Stone, Anto Saka, Caleb Tiernan and Griffin Wilde leading the way, and Stone could be the best quarterback NU has had in years. The offensive line should be a strength, the defense has the potential to improve, the running back room is deep, but the receiving room will need to step up behind Wilde. The opener against Tulane will be a key test and could serve as a preview of what is to come. While a bowl bid may be a little optimistic, I believe this team has enough to make it happen.
Calvin Kaplan: 5-7 (3-6 B1G)
The Wildcats’ defense is underrated entering 2025, with a ton of depth at defensive line, linebacker and in the secondary. The issue comes on offense, particularly at wide receiver, where I don’t see a standout second option behind Wilde. Stanford transfer Chase Farrell doesn’t look to be the game-breaking option in year one like many hoped, and Frank Covey IV and Ricky Ahumaraeze are both highly unproven. Maybe one of them can still break out, but as of now, the lack of depth at receiver projects to drastically limit Stone’s upside. If the ‘Cats can find a good second option at wideout, a bowl game is in the cards, but without one, it’s hard to imagine they exceed five wins in 2025.
Brendan Preisman: 6-6 (3-6 B1G)
The consensus I’ve seen on this team thus far is as follows: Oregon, Penn State, USC and Michigan are all definite losses. Western Illinois, ULM and Purdue should all be definite wins. That leaves five games — at Tulane, vs. UCLA, at Nebraska, vs. Minnesota, and at Illinois — for the Wildcats to claw three wins out of. I don’t think that task is impossible — Minnesota is starting a freshman at QB, UCLA is relying on Nico Iamaleava, and we still don’t know who Tulane will start at quarterback less than five days before kickoff. If Northwestern can pull off the upset in New Orleans to kick off the season, the Wildcats should be back in the postseason for the second time in David Braun’s tenure.
Harris Horowitz (6-6, 3-6 B1G)
On paper, Northwestern has a better quarterback, offensive line and secondary than it did going into 2024. There are arguments to be made that the defensive line and linebacker group are better as well. I’m especially high on the NU o-line to reach its ceiling in 2025 (probably a top 10/top eight unit in the conference). Braun’s decision to potentially start two young returners in Ezomo Oratokhai and Deuce McGuire speaks very strongly the depth and development of coach Bill O’Boyle’s unit. Yes, the schedule is difficult, but if Stone is as good as he was during his redshirt sophomore season at SMU and the big guys in the trenches can keep him safe, this team can and should get back to the postseason.
Yanyan Li: 6-6 (3-6 B1G)
I’m with the rest of our staff here – Northwestern definitely has an upgraded team compared to last season, especially on offense, but the schedule just makes me bullish about an outcome that’s better than .500. With opponents like Oregon, Penn State, Michigan and Illinois on its schedule, it’s not going to be like the 2023 season where the ‘Cats faced a schedule mostly filled with Big Ten West teams. Like Brendan alluded to, I do think Northwestern can pull an upset or two with teams like Tulane and UCLA (hence why I’m with the 6-6 crew here) but I’m not confident in its chances to do more.