Money is the name of the game in college sports right now, and Northwestern football is about to get a lot more of it.
On Tuesday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that the school has received a $35 million gift from the family of Liz and Dick Uihlein. The gift, which targets "holistic football success," will be given over three years and includes funding for recruiting and "broader program needs."
The gift comes amid increased investment in the Wildcat football program. The team is debuting the new Ryan Field this fall, a project funded by private donations with a price tag over $850 million.
Sources: Northwestern football has received a commitment for a $35 million gift from the family of Liz and Dick Uihlein, which is set to come the next three years.
The donation is intended for holistic football success – including recruiting support and broader program needs. pic.twitter.com/qs51qR6O3k
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 11, 2026
"As multigenerational Chicagoans, we love this city and want to see it thrive," the Uihlein family said in a statement, per Thamel. "To us, Northwestern University is Chicago. Chicago loves sports, and we need Wildcat Football to be competitive. We are pleased to support the university as it enters an exciting new era.”
Northwestern enters its fourth season under coach David Braun this fall, and he has mostly maintained the consistency his predecessor, Pat Fitzgerald, established. Braun is 19-19 overall with a pair of bowl wins, and with investment in the program ramping up, the ceiling could be even higher in the years to come.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Northwestern receives massive donation for football program
