We’ll preface these predictions with one quick admission of guilt: we might have all been a bit too confident in Northwestern football headed into Week One. Five of our seven writers who made predictions for the Wildcats’ matchup at Tulane had head coach David Braun and Co. winning it on the road as underdogs. In short, that didn’t happen. But a shot at redemption has already arrived back in Evanston, where Northwestern faces off against FCS opponent Western Illinois tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT. Our
writers make their picks on how this Week Two affair will fair for NUFB.
Yanyan Li: Northwestern 17, Western Illinois 3
I’m not sure if Northwestern’s offense will magically reinvent itself after what happened last weekend, but the Leathernecks are not Tulane. Two touchdowns and a field goal in a pick-me-up game with little implications for Big Ten play feels reasonable.
Charlie Jacobs: Northwestern 24, Western Illinois 6
After Northwestern seemingly didn’t show up in New Orleans, the pessimism is definitely growing about this team. However, this game SHOULD be a cakewalk, especially considering how Illinois wiped the floor with the Leathernecks, only allowing three points (it was in the fourth quarter too). The rest of NU’s schedule combined with the showing in Week One doesn’t bode well for the future, but it could be a Rutgers situation like how the ‘Cats got rolled in Week One of 2023. In order for any hope to be gained, Northwestern needs to (and likely will) get the win at home.
Calvin Kaplan: Northwestern 24, Western Illinois 10
The ‘Cats should win this one easily, but after last week’s disastrous performance, it’s not crazy to wonder how long the Leathernecks can hang around in this game. Expect Northwestern to lean heavily on the run, which may lead to offensive success but could also slow this game down early. I’ll predict a slow start and a two-score victory for the Wildcats, who should ultimately pull away in the second half.
Ascher Levin: Northwestern 28, Western Illinois 10
After a disastrous showing against Tulane, the Wildcats will look to regroup against Western Illinois. The Leathernecks are coming off a 52–3 beatdown loss to Illinois, and this matchup shapes up as a much-needed opportunity for Northwestern to reset. More than anything, the focus will be on Preston Stone, who struggled in his debut and needs a strong performance to build confidence and establish rhythm. This should be a get-right game for the ‘Cats, and I expect them to handle it comfortably and pick up their first win of the season.
Miguel Muñoz: Northwestern 24, Western Illinois 7
Frankly, if Northwestern doesn’t win this game, it can be considered a lost season for David Braun and the ‘Cats. After suffering a beatdown in New Orleans, NU should be motivated to bounce back in a big way, and gets the perfect chance to do so in a tuneup game against the FCS Leathernecks. Preston Stone should improve after one of the worst games of his collegiate career; I’m guessing Northwestern runs up the score early before a slow-moving second half cruises to a win.
Sai Trivedi: Northwestern 20, Western Illinois 3
Despite last week’s disappointing loss, this game provides the perfect opportunity for NU to pick up a momentum-shifting win and get its season – and team morale – back on track. The lackluster offensive performance against Tulane likely won’t be replicated, but I don’t expect this to be an onslaught by any stretch as Preston Stone’s squad still needs time to build chemistry and make improvements. The good news is, the Leathernecks offense poses no formidable threat, so the ‘Cats should win this game even if their offense isn’t as top-notch as we hope it to be.
