Northwestern hosted the Western Illinois Leathernecks in Evanston on Friday night for its home opener of the 2025 season. In stark contrast to their opening loss to Tulane, the ‘Cats rendered WIU useless on both sides of the ball en route to a 42-7 victory.
Stock Up
Preston Stone
After a disastrous Wildcat debut that saw him throw four interceptions to the Tulane defense, Preston Stone looked more like the former All-AAC Third Team selection that Northwestern fans were expecting. The graduate transfer from
SMU threw for 245 yards with a 72% completion percentage, in addition to three scores through the air. What was most reassuring, however, was the fact that Stone threw zero interceptions just one week after throwing a trio of them in the first half alone. Stone took better care of the ball, and it was evident throughout the night.
Perhaps more important than the stats themselves, Stone seemed confident and comfortable throughout NU’s home opener, establishing rapport with receivers Griffin Wilde, Ricky Ahumaraeze and Hayden Eligon Jr. He still had a bit of trouble with his throwing accuracy, especially during the first half. A 46-yard pass to wide receiver Griffin Wilde would have cashed in for a score had Stone not slightly underthrown it, and Wilde saved several other passes from being intercepted with some impressive grabs. But, for the most part, Stone looked poised in the pocket and assertive with his throws, putting on a much better showing than he did last week.
Griffin Wilde
Wilde’s solid Northwestern debut already earned him a nod in last week’s stock report. An even more impressive showing in Week 2 boosts his stock even higher. The South Dakota State transfer broke out for 94 yards on five receptions against the Leathernecks. The highlight of the day for Wilde was his 46-yard reception in the first quarter that he likely would have scored on if Stone had thrown slightly harder, but he made nearly all of his catches look highlight-worthy. In particular, he caught a shaky pass in double coverage in the first quarter that would have otherwise probably been intercepted. Wilde continues to cement himself as Stone’s most reliable target, and his continued success will be crucial as the ‘Cats head into Big Ten play.
Defense, defense, defense
It’s impossible to pick one, two, or even three defensive players alone to recognize in this piece, so why not give the entire unit some props? Northwestern’s defense virtually shut out Western Illinois Friday night, with the Leathernecks’ lone score taking place in garbage time when many starters had already been subbed out. Western Illinois could muster just 181 total yards of offense, with 110 gained through the air and the other 71 on the ground. For Northwestern, captain linebacker Mac Uihlein recorded a strong showing with four total tackles and an interception. Carmine Bastone also recorded four total tackles in addition to 1.5 sacks. NU’s defense looked impenetrable from start to finish, and that kind of momentum is significant as the ‘Cats gear up for one of their toughest tests of the season next week against Oregon.
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Boe, Mac Uihlein, Caleb Komolafe
Stock Down
Cam Porter’s Injury
Cam Porter was a shoe-in for the “Stock Up” portion of this piece at halftime. The sixth-year running back set the tone for the ‘Cats early in the first quarter with a 43-yard touchdown run and did not look back from there. Porter recorded 91 yards on 12 carries, good for an effective 7.6 yards per carry, as well as his early score. Unfortunately, a lower-body in the third quarter saw Porter taken to the locker room, and he did not return. Porter is an integral component of Northwestern’s offense, and the ground game would take a significant hit should he miss time. While the extent of his injury is still largely unknown, the presence of crutches does not inspire much confidence.
Quarter System
Such a triumphant showing by Northwestern on both sides of the ball would typically call for a hearty celebration. But alas, not many students are around to celebrate. With the first day of classes not until Sept. 16, a majority of students are not in Evanston, and the sparsely populated NU student section directly reflected this. The unfortunate reality is that the college football schedule will never be fully compatible with that of the quarter system, and ‘Cats fans will have to keep dreaming of the day they can witness a home opener victory in person.
Honorable Mentions: N/A
