How Northwestern could shake up Big Ten Football hierarchy
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In the rapidly changing college football landscape, programs can quickly rise to prominence and dominate — the Big Ten knows that all too well after Indiana won a national championship last season during Curt Cignetti’s second season as IU’s head coach.
As impressive as Indiana’s championship run was last season, and as good as they’ve been thus far in 2026 (5-0 and ranked No. 5 in the nation), there are other teams in the Big Ten who could soon be powerhouses in the conference — one of those is Northwestern.
A new era is underway at Northwestern. This is head coach David Braun’s fourth season on the job and most promising yet. Northwestern’s new Ryan Field opened earlier this month and is the most expensive college football stadium ever built at over $870 million. After experiencing the stadium myself last Saturday, I can say it’s the nicest in the Big Ten with modern amenities for fans, alumni, and recruits to enjoy.
It’s not just Northwestern’s new stadium that is bringing a lot of excitement and energy to the program and fanbase; they’re one of the most entertaining teams to watch right now in college football. Northwestern is now 4-1 and ranked No. 25 in the nation, and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is running arguably the most creative offense in college football. Some formations are reminiscent of the Canadian Football League; others are more evolved versions of the Wing-T formation.
Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles has been effective this year after transferring from Michigan State, and the Wildcats also have a stout rushing attack that can win games. The Wildcats had 413 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in a 34-13 win over Penn State earlier this month.
Northwestern hasn’t had a ten-win season since 2017, but they have more than a fighting chance this year. Many tough tests remain for Northwestern, including a three-game stretch facing Oregon, Iowa and Ohio State — but they’re looking hard to beat. In Northwestern’s lone loss this season, they took Indiana down to the wire before falling 29-23.
“Northwestern is a good football team,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said. “I tried telling everyone that. No one wanted to believe me, but two years ago if someone would have said Indiana at this point of the season was a good football team, no one would have believed that either.”
No one believed a lot of things about the current state of college football ten years ago. And ten years from now, it will be even harder to tell which teams will be dominant and which will be left in the ash heap of history.
Northwestern has an alumni network of wealthy and philanthropic donors, a construct that’s needed in the NIL era. In August, Northwestern announced a three-year, $35 million commitment from the Uihlein family to support the football program. Further, the Ryan family donated $480 million towards the new Ryan Field. Between major donations and Northwestern’s announcement last Friday of a 10-year extension of its apparel deal with Under Armour, things are trending upward for the Wildcats in every direction.”
David Braun made a bold statement in downtown Chicago in July at Big Ten Media Days. The message has continued to be a battle cry for Northwestern this season, and likely for seasons to come under his leadership.
“We have expectations to do it better than we’ve ever done it before,” Braun said in July. “Big Ten Championship? Why not us? Hosting a College Football Playoff game at new Ryan Field? Why not us? Aspire to chase down a national championship? Why not us?”
Why not is right. And Northwestern is putting itself in the right position to have sustained success in the Big Ten Conference. A Northwestern team in the playoffs isn’t a far-fetched idea, and as each week goes by and Northwestern keeps winning, that goal will be all the more attainable.
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