Northwestern Wildcats Preview 2024
But … but how?
Northwestern was awful in 2022 going into the 2023 season.
Actually, it was worse than awful. It was in complete disarray, coming off a scandal, and everything imploded just late enough in the process to assume that 2023 would be a lost season before the program figured it all out.
After all, this wasn’t, say, Ohio State, or Alabama when it comes to football. Northwestern usually had success over the years when everyone else stunk, and it was coming off a miserable 1-11 run without a lot to look forward to.
Pat Fitzgerald was let go, David Braun was a hurried hire, and the Wildcats started out just like everyone expected with nothing happening in losses to Rutgers and Duke. And then a funny thing happened that was just so Northwestern.
Minnesota gagged, the Wildcats pulled off a thriller, and the season just sort of stayed alive in time for the defense to get really, really good late. The program that won a total of seven games in its previous three full seasons - throwing out the partial 2020 campaign - went 8-5 with a bowl victory.
Now Northwestern is literally rebuilding. The new football stadium is going up, the team will be playing in a gorgeous makeshift setting on Lake Michigan - seriously, it’s going to be one of the coolest settings in college football - and … absolutely no one will think 2023's success can be repeated.
Braun and his bunch will have to defy expectations once again, because …
Northwestern Preview 2024: Offense
- Of all the things that didn’t make any sense in 2023, the offense was front and center. The 2022 team that went 1-11 couldn’t score - it didn’t hit double-digit points in six of its last eight games, and came up with 4,025 yards of total offense in 12 games. Last year? In 13 games, 3,951 yards.
There wasn’t any running game, the pass protection was miserable, and overall the O averaged 304 yards per outing. Three starters are expected to be back up front, and OT Caleb Tiernan and C Ben Wrather should be terrific - but the overall production has to be far better because the line lost a few key parts to the transfer portal, and …
- The running backs are good enough to carry the attack under new offensive coordinator Zach Lujan. Cam Porter had his moments over the last four years - he was out in 2021 - and led the way with 651 yards and four scores. He should be averaging over four yards per carry, but he needs room. The quick Joseph Himon has to add more with second-leading rusher Anthony Tyus bolting for Ohio.
- The quarterback situation is about to be stronger. Four threw at least three passes, and now the top two are gone. Ryan Hilinski is a veteran who has been through way too much, and Jack Lausch and Aidan Gray are relatively untested. So in comes transfer Mike Wright with all the pressure possible to take over right away - more on him in a moment.
Two of the top three wide receivers return - Bryce Kirtz has big play ability - and the tight ends are good, but the consistent explosion isn’t guaranteed. Fortunately …
Northwestern Preview 2024: Defense
- The defense that carried the team became amazing at taking the ball away. The Northwestern D overall defined the idea of bending without breaking. It’ll have to do it again, and that starts by doing more to get into the backfield and by living off of opponent mistakes.
That’s where the linebackers come in. They were all over the takeaways last year, and now it’s up to veteran Xander Mueller to become the star of the D after making 110 stops and three picks.
- The defensive front has to keep fighting. It wasn’t bad against the run, and it managed to survive even in games when it was gouged. Adrian Hubbard returns as the team’s best pass rusher, but the tackle combination of Carmine Bastone and Najee Story has to shine.
- The secondary took a hit. Top corner Rod Heard left for Notre Dame, and fellow corner Garnett Hollis, along with the versatile Jaheem Joseph, are off to West Virginia. Nickel defender Devin Turner and safety Coco Azema are good hitting playmakers, but the corners will be an easy question mark.
Northwestern Key To The Season
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.
Okay, so here’s your answer to how Northwestern could be so mediocre and yet still win as much as it did. When it was +2 or better in turnover margin it went 5-0.
The offense lost one fumble all year. One. Three of the eight interceptions were in the first three games. Overall, the team was third in the nation in turnover margin. Now it has to do that again.
Northwestern Key Player
C Ben Wrather, Sr.
The offensive line has to give Mike Wright room to operate. There’s help coming in from the transfer portal, but the 6-6, 310-pound Wrather is the leader up front for a line that has to be far better. The veteran center has the size and experience to be in for a huge season.
Northwestern Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: QB Mike Wright
There might be several other options still in the hunt for the job - it’s Northwestern; somehow a slew of quarterbacks will end up playing - but Wright was brought in to be the franchise. At Vanderbilt and later for a year at Mississippi State, he threw for a combined 2,520 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 1,229 yards.
Top Transfer Out: CB Rod Heard
Former starting guard Josh Priebe (Michigan) is right up there, but Heard is a tougher loss for what he brought to the secondary. He made 152 tackles with two picks and six broken up passes in his two years, and now he’s at Notre Dame.
Northwestern Key Game
Duke, Sept. 7
Let’s just say Northwestern isn’t always great at getting off to a good start. It needs a base of wins early, and this has to be one of them.
The opener against Miami University will be tough, but it’s winnable. The date against Eastern Illinois has to be a must win. Beat Duke - the Cats lost 38-14 last year - and there’s a shot to go 3-0 for the first time since 2020.
Northwestern 10 Best Players
1. Xander Mueller, LB Sr.
2. Mike Wright, QB Sr.
3. Coco Azema, S Sr.
4. Aidan Hubbard, DE Jr.
5. Cam Porter, RB Sr.
6. Devin Turner, S Jr.
7. Caleb Tiernan, OT Jr.
8. Bryce Kirtz, WR Sr.
9. Ben Wrather, C Sr.
10. AJ Henning, WR Sr.
Northwestern 2023 Fun Stats
- 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 13-of-26 (50%), Northwestern 3-of-14 (21%)
- Fumbles: Opponents 21 (lost 9), Northwestern 13 (lost 1)
- Field Goals: Opponents 14-of-19, Northwestern 14-of-19
Northwestern 2024 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Northwestern will get more out of the offense, the defense will still be outstanding, and the turnovers will be there again, too.
But there’s a big, big problem with the improved schedule.
The Cats catch a break by missing Oregon, USC, and UCLA from the former Pac-12, and they also don’t have to deal with Penn State.
However, they have to go to Washington, Maryland, Iowa and Michigan. All four will be tough, forget about beating Ohio State, and Wisconsin and Illinois should be stronger.
Getting to at least six wins and a bowl game is a given of a goal, but in a strange season in a makeshift stadium, don’t be shocked by anything this program can do.
Set The Northwestern Win Total At … 6
Likely Wins: Eastern Illinois, Indiana, Miami University
50/50 Games: Duke, Illinois, at Maryland, at Purdue, Wisconsin
Likely Losses: at Iowa, at Michigan, Ohio State, at Washington
- 2024 Northwestern Schedule: 3 Things To Know
Most Popular
Comments / 0