American college football season
The 2023 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season . They were led by first-year head coach David Braun and played their home games at Ryan Field (in its final season) in Evanston, Illinois . Braun began the season as interim head coach and was elevated to permanent head coach on November 15 following the team's 24–10 road win over Wisconsin .[ 1]
The Wildcats finished the regular season with a record of 7–5 and went 5–4 in conference play to finish second in the Big Ten West. Braun was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.[ 2] The Wildcats were selected to face Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl , where they won 14–7.
Hazing and sexual abuse allegations [ edit ]
On July 7, 2023, the school announced that they had suspended head coach Pat Fitzgerald for two weeks without pay after an investigation related to hazing within the football program.[ 3] Three days later as details emerged of the allegations from a former player that included hazing and sexual abuse, the school fired Fitzgerald after 17 years as head coach.[ 4] The school named defensive coordinator David Braun the interim head coach for the season.[ 5]
The Wildcats were predicted to finish seventh in the Big Ten's West Division.[ 6]
Big Ten media poll West Division
Predicted finish
Team
Points (1st place votes)
1
Wisconsin
233 (20)
2
Iowa
232 (16)
3
Minnesota
176 (1)
4
Illinois
152
5
Nebraska
116
6
Purdue
89
7
Northwestern
38
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance Source 11:00 a.m. at Rutgers CBS L 7–2453,026 [1] [2]
September 9 2:30 p.m. UTEP * BTN W 38–714,851 [3] [4]
September 16 2:30 p.m. at No. 21 Duke * ACCN L 14–3818,141 [5] [6]
September 23 6:30 p.m. Minnesota BTN W 37–34 OT 20,148 [7] [8]
September 30 11:00 a.m. No. 6 Penn State BTN L 13–41 25,064 [9] [10]
October 7 2:00 p.m. Howard * BTN W 23–20 22,160 [11] [12]
October 21 2:30 p.m. at Nebraska BTN L 9–17 86,769
October 28 11:00 a.m. Maryland BTN W 33–27 19,286
November 4 2:30 p.m. Iowa Peacock L 7–10 38,000
November 11 2:30 p.m. at Wisconsin FS1 W 24–1076,124
November 18 11:00 a.m. Purdue BTN W 23–15 23,291
November 25 2:30 p.m. at Illinois BTN W 45–43 42,310
December 23 6:30 p.m. vs. Utah * ABC W 14–7 20,897
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
0
0
0
7
7
Scarlet Knights
7
10
7
0
24
Statistics
NU
RUTG
First downs
13
20
Total yards
201
285
Rushing yards
12
122
Passing yards
189
163
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
22:04
37:56
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
20/36, 169 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Brendan Sullivan
4 rushes, 11 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
4 receptions, 45 yards
Rutgers
Passing
Gavin Wimsatt
17/29, 163 yards, TD
Rushing
Kyle Monangai
14 rushes, 49 yards, TD
Receiving
Isaiah Washington
4 receptions, 36 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Miners
7
0
0
0
7
Wildcats
7
0
21
10
38
Statistics
UTEP
NU
First downs
18
17
Total yards
319
391
Rushing yards
104
184
Passing yards
215
207
Turnovers
3
0
Time of possession
31:21
28:39
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
UTEP
Passing
Gavin Hardison
17/25, 192 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Torrance Burgess Jr.
7 rushes, 34 yards
Receiving
Jeremiah Ballard
4 receptions, 92 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
11/17, 116 yards, TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
17 rushes, 90 yards
Receiving
Joseph Himon II
1 reception, 85 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
0
7
0
7
14
No. 21 Blue Devils
7
10
14
7
38
Statistics
NU
DUKE
First downs
19
25
Total yards
267
487
Rushing yards
104
268
Passing yards
163
219
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
28:54
31:06
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
17/34, 123 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Cam Porter
10 rushes, 49 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
5 receptions, 45 yards
Duke
Passing
Riley Leonard
15/20, 219 yards
Rushing
Riley Leonard
13 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Jalon Calhoun
5 receptions, 112 yards
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Golden Gophers
7
17
7
0 3
34
Wildcats
0
7
3
21 6
37
Statistics
MINN
NU
First downs
15
25
Total yards
397
492
Rushing yards
244
92
Passing yards
153
400
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
30:10
29:50
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Minnesota
Passing
Athan Kaliakmanis
14/19, 153 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Darius Taylor
31 rushes, 198 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Daniel Jackson
4 receptions, 53 yards, TD
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
33/49, 396 yards, 4 TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
16 rushes, 56 yards, TD
Receiving
Bryce Kirtz
10 receptions, 215 yards, 2 TD
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 6 Nittany Lions
3
7
17
14
41
Wildcats
3
7
0
3
13
Statistics
PSU
NU
First downs
19
12
Total yards
353
175
Rushing yards
134
45
Passing yards
219
130
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
32:08
27:52
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Penn State
Passing
Drew Allar
18/33, 189 yards, TD
Rushing
Nicholas Singleton
21 rushes, 80 yards, TD
Receiving
KeAndre Lambert-Smith
4 receptions, 86 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
14/25, 122 yards
Rushing
Brendan Sullivan
7 rushes, 25 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
6 receptions, 81 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Bison
0
0
7
13
20
Wildcats
9
7
7
0
23
Statistics
HOW
NU
First downs
18
21
Total yards
331
312
Rushing yards
162
181
Passing yards
169
131
Turnovers
0
0
Time of possession
29:34
30:26
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Howard
Passing
Quinton Williams
18/30, 169 yards
Rushing
Eden James
21 rushes, 177 yards, TD
Receiving
Richie Ilarraza
7 receptions, 65 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Brendan Sullivan
13/18, 131 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
18 rushes, 78 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
4 receptions, 55 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
3
3
0
3
9
Cornhuskers
3
7
0
7
17
Statistics
NU
NEB
First downs
12
14
Total yards
257
248
Rushing yards
81
163
Passing yards
176
85
Turnovers
1
2
Time of possession
30:52
29:08
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Brendan Sullivan
12/23, 176 yards, INT
Rushing
Anthony Tyus III
6 rushes, 63 yards
Receiving
Bryce Kirtz
3 receptions, 96 yards
Nebraska
Passing
Heinrich Haarberg
8/17, 85 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Emmett Johnson
12 rushes, 73 yards
Receiving
Malachi Coleman
1 reception, 44 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Terrapins
14
3
3
7
27
Wildcats
14
10
3
6
33
Statistics
MD
NU
First downs
25
19
Total yards
391
364
Rushing yards
117
99
Passing yards
274
265
Turnovers
2
0
Time of possession
29:13
30:47
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Maryland
Passing
Taulia Tagovailoa
30/47, 274 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing
Colby McDonald
5 rushes, 43 yards
Receiving
Jeshaun Jones
9 receptions, 78 yards, TD
Northwestern
Passing
Brendan Sullivan
16/23, 265 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Brendan Sullivan
14 rushes, 56 yards
Receiving
Joseph Himon II
2 receptions, 67 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Hawkeyes
0
0
7
3
10
Wildcats
0
0
0
7
7
Statistics
IOWA
NU
First downs
14
12
Total yards
169
170
Rushing yards
104
89
Passing yards
65
81
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
30:18
29:42
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Iowa
Passing
Deacon Hill
10/15, 65 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Leshon Williams
24 rushes, 79 yards
Receiving
Kaleb Brown
1 reception, 23 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Brendan Sullivan
12/19, 81 yards, TD
Rushing
Anthony Tyus III
10 rushes, 40 yards
Receiving
A. J. Henning
4 receptions, 13 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
7
17
0
0
24
Badgers
3
0
0
7
10
Statistics
NU
WIS
First downs
18
17
Total yards
324
341
Rushing yards
129
86
Passing yards
195
255
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
32:10
27:50
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
18/26, 195 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
18 rushes, 72 yards
Receiving
A. J. Henning
3 receptions, 70 yards, TD
Wisconsin
Passing
Tanner Mordecai
31/45, 255 yards
Rushing
Cade Yacamelli
9 rushes, 47 yards
Receiving
Will Pauling
10 receptions, 96 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Boilermakers
0
0
7
8
15
Wildcats
6
0
10
7
23
Statistics
PUR
NU
First downs
21
12
Total yards
443
329
Rushing yards
303
99
Passing yards
140
230
Turnovers
4
1
Time of possession
34:43
25:17
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Purdue
Passing
Ryan Browne
12/16, 104 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
16 rushes, 160 yards, TD
Receiving
Devin Mockobee
3 receptions, 44 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
13/24, 230 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Cam Porter
17 rushes, 95 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Camron Johnson
3 receptions, 88 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
7
14
7
17
45
Fighting Illini
3
17
3
20
43
Statistics
NU
ILL
First downs
20
20
Total yards
379
455
Rushing yards
145
107
Passing yards
234
348
Turnovers
2
4
Time of possession
29:50
30:10
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
24/32, 234 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Cam Porter
16 rushes, 69 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
7 receptions, 124 yards, TD
Illinois
Passing
John Paddock
24/34, 334 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Reggie Love III
23 rushes, 106 yards
Receiving
Casey Washington
9 receptions, 218 yards, 3 TD
Vs. Utah (Las Vegas Bowl)[ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Utes
0
0
0
7
7
Wildcats
0
7
0
7
14
Statistics
UTAH
NU
First downs
13
18
Total yards
211
290
Rushing yards
138
65
Passing yards
73
225
Turnovers
3
0
Time of possession
34:21
25:39
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Utah
Passing
Bryson Barnes
8/13, 55 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Ja'Quinden Jackson
8 rushes, 55 yards
Receiving
Micah Bernard
3 receptions, 24 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
23/34, 222 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
10 rushes, 33 yards
Receiving
Bryce Kirtz
5 receptions, 68 yards, TD
^ Chicago Tribune staff (November 15, 2023). "David Braun named Northwestern's permanent head football coach midway through interim season" . The Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "Northwestern's Braun named Big Ten coach of the year. Coaches vote 8 Michigan players to 1st team" . Associated Press . November 29, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023 .
^ "Northwestern Football: Pat Fitzgerald Suspended Amid Hazing Probe - Sports Illustrated" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved August 23, 2023 .
^ "Northwestern fires Fitzgerald amid hazing claims" . ESPN.com . July 10, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023 .
^ "Northwestern names defensive coordinator David Braun as interim head coach" . Yahoo Sports . July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023 .
^ Cobb, David (July 25, 2023). "Big Ten football predicted order of finish for 2023: Michigan picked to win conference title over Ohio State" . CBS Sports . Retrieved October 20, 2023 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Northwestern University Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
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