With time running out on Northwestern football’s postseason hopes, the Wildcats (6-5, 4-4 B1G) won in dramatic fashion 38-35 against the Golden Gophers (6-5, 4-4 B1G). Northwestern’s first-ever win at Wrigley Field was monumental, as it could very well stamp the ‘Cats’ bowl game eligibility.
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Hot Starts
If Northwestern was going to have any shot of winning Saturday morning, it would have to seize every opportunity. That is exactly what the offense did on its first drive. Quarterback Preston Stone was razor-focused
on the ‘Cats’ opening series, accurately reading and reacting to Minnesota’s defensive coverage. Caleb Komolafe followed his QB’s lead, finding the right gaps on his two first-drive runs. The second of those was a 46-yard touchdown gallop to put Northwestern ahead less than three minutes into the contest.
The offense got another opportunity only a couple minutes later. On the Gophers’ first drive, junior defensive lineman Michael Kilbane found Minnesota QB Drake Lindsay for a six-yard sack on third down, giving possession back to Stone & Co. Northwestern head coach David Braun was determined to take advantage, keeping his offense on the field on fourth-and-1 from the 42-yard line. NU converted, and went on to put three more points on the board.
Receiving Core
Stone opened the game strong, throwing for 10-of-15 for 131 yards over the first 30 minutes. He gave 74 of those yards to Wilde, who made three catches of 15+ yards. The first two of those catches, on the ‘Cats’ first two drives, moved Northwestern into Minnesota’s half of the field. The third brought NU into the redzone. Wilde was not the only wide receiving threat to make an impact for Northwestern.
Hayden Eligon also logged a pair of big catches in the first half, but his biggest contributions came in the second half. Down 28-13 with 11:56 remaining in the third, Eligon caught a six-yard pass from Stone and scampered down the left side of the field for 32 yards after the catch. Just three plays later, Eligon mossed Jai’Onte’ McMillan on a 23-yard fade to get Northwestern back into the red zone. Wilde finished out the drive with a four-yard touchdown reception. Northwestern’s top receivers combined for 238 yards and a touchdown.
Time of Possession
On a day when the ‘Cats defense could not stop QB Drake Lindsey (264 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs) through the air, the offense stayed on the field as long as possible. Northwestern held onto the ball for 40:48, more than doubling Minnesota’s time of possession of 19:12.
That much time on the field meant a lot of yards for the ‘Cats, as they racked up 220 yards on the ground and 305 yards through the air for a combined 525 yards. The ‘Cats final drive ate 7:37 off the clock, forcing the Gophers into a rushed, and ultimately botched, final possession.
Honorable Mentions: Luke Aker’s TD-saving tackle, Caleb Komolafe, Dan Farris’ final home game as marching band director.
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Offensive Penalties
Usually, this criticism would be limited to false starts and holdings – and the ‘Cats did have some of those early. However, miscues and fouls plagued Northwestern’s attack from head to toe. NU’s offense had six penalties for 40 yards in the first quarter alone, including a delay of game, offensive pass interference and false start on wide receiver Hayden Eligon II. The latter of those penalties moved a second-and-goal from the five-yard line to the 20. Northwestern would only manage a field goal as a result.
Northwestern’s penalty problems persisted in the second quarter, as a redzone holding call on Evan Beerntsen derailed five consecutive gains of eight-plus yards. Another drive which was headed for the endzone ended through the goal posts.
The Secondary
Minnesota’s ground game was nonexistent through the first half, and for the first 20 minutes, its passing game followed suit. After allowing only 15 receiving yards, however, the ‘Cats passing defense finally showed signs of weakness. Lindsey shredded the secondary left, right and center, passing for 60 yards in a single drive, ending with a five-yard TD toss. That trend continued on the Golden Gophers’ last drive of the half, as Lindsey put up four passes of 8-plus yards, culminating in a 24-yard strike to Tracy for six points.
On the plurality of these completions, NU’s defense looked lost. Cornerbacks would not figure out where the ball was going until it was in the hands of a Minnesota receiver (generally Javon Tracy and running back Darius Taylor who combined for 124 yards and 3 touchdowns).
NU partially staunched the bleeding in the third quarter, as the team held Lindsey to 31 yards. However, Lindsey threw another touchdown pass to Tracy for 28 yards. However, Minnesota’s QB was back at it in the fourth, tossing an eight-yard score to Le’Meke Brockington.
Special Teams
The Wildcats’ special teams has been Northwestern’s least effective unit of the 2025 season. Over the first 10 games, the ‘Cats missed field goals, allowed a fake punt and ceded a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Saturday was no different.
Following NU kicker Jack Olsen’s first field goal of the day, the ‘Cats sent the ball back to Minnesota up 10-0. The double digit lead lasted less than three minutes, however, as kick returner Koi Perich blitzed across the field toward the pylon, making it 93 yards before kicker Luke Akers stopped him at the five. Minnesota punched it in a few plays later.
Why limit mistakes to kickoffs? Punts were equally sloppy for Northwestern on Saturday afternoon. The defense forced a fourth-and-1 for Minnesota on the opening drive of the second half. On the punt, however, returner Chase Farrell failed to locate the ball in time, muffing the punt and giving the Gophers the ball back just outside the redzone. The next play, Lindsay tossed another touchdown.
With less than a minute to play in the contest, the special teams unit fell through once more, as Koi returned a kickoff for 44 yards to position Northwestern at midfield. The Gophers did miss the field goal, but the nail-biter finish was completely avoidable.
And no, scoring a fake extra point does not make up for the unit’s performance.
Honorable Mentions: First play injuries, officials double-clutching, Willie the Wildcat not knowing where the camera was (we love you anyway Willie).
