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Northwestern football defeated Colorado 41-7 on Saturday night, giving coach David Braun his first win following a contract extension to 2031. 

The Wildcats got 128 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns from running back Joseph Himon II in their big win, setting up a showdown at Memorial Stadium against the No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers this coming weekend. 

The Wildcats also appeared in this week's Coaches Poll, garnering votes after their impressive performance against Deion Sanders' Buffaloes. 

Wildcats on the Board

Northwestern received four votes in this week's poll, placing them 17th among a list of teams in the 'Others Receiving Votes' category. 

Eight Big Ten teams made the Top 25 including the Hoosiers and Ohio State Buckeyes in the top ten. Fellow Big Ten teams UCLA and Nebraska got 18 and 11 votes, respectively, placing them just above the Wildcats this week. 

Braun is listed among the voters along with next week's opponent, Curt Cignetti of the Hoosiers. A win over the Hoosiers would almost certainly vault coach Braun's team into the top 20, but even a competitive game would give them traction with voters considering how well Indiana has played so far this season. 

Northwestern in the Polls a Long Time Coming 

Northwestern has not been ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll since 2020, when they finished ranked 10th in the AP Poll and 14th in the College Football Playoff ranking. 

That season also marked the program's last win over a top ten opponent as Pat Fitzgerald's team beat No. 10 Wisconsin 17-7. 

The Wildcats have a great mix of veterans and youth this season and a coaching staff that looks to be among the Big Ten's best. Braun is considered an up-and-coming talent in the coaching ranks and Chip Kelly is less than two years removed from coordinating Ohio State's national championship winning offense.

In 2024-25, Kelly coached former Kansas State Wildcats transfer Will Howard to one of the greatest playoff runs in College Football history as the Buckeyes reeled off four straight wins en route to a national championship win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 

The Wildcats' starting quarterback, Aidan Chiles, looks as if he has as much or perhaps even more talent than Howard and now Kelly has a chance to help him develop his considerable natural gifts. Chiles doesn't have an offensive weapon quite like Jeremiah Smith, but the Wildcats' running backs have stepped up so far while Griffin Wilde gives his team one of the best receivers in the Big Ten.

Northwestern has a real shot to become ranked, and stay ranked, this season starting with next weekend in Bloomington. Braun and Kelly's vision is starting to come true, and this week's four votes are a big indicator that something special may be brewing. 

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