Takeaways from Big Ten Football Media Days 2026

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With one month remaining until the start of Northwestern’s football season, head coach David Braun and his team are officially in fall camp and making final preparations for September.

The Big Ten Media Days in downtown Chicago have officially concluded after all 18 coaches and their players shared their thoughts on the upcoming season. Along with Coach Braun, Griffin Wilde, Caleb Komolafe and Robert Fitzgerald made an appearance to discuss their thoughts on the upcoming season.

After hearing from some of the biggest names on the roster, here are the biggest takeaways from the afternoon:

Northwestern wants to be a Big Ten Championship winning team

While easier said than done, Coach Braun laid out his vision for the future of Northwestern football. While he thanked the previous coaches of the ‘Cats, he made it very clear that he wants to change the course of Northwestern football. He no longer wants the status quo of a mid-tier football team that makes a bowl game; he wants it all.

“What’s been achieved over the last three decades under Coach Barnett, Coach Walker and Coach Fitz is something we will always talk about as a program,” Braun said in his opening statement. “I have a level of appreciation of what has been accomplished. But there is also an acknowledgement and an ‘and’ proposition that we have expectations to do it better than we’ve ever done it before.”

There appears to be a perspective shift in the locker room. One of the hardest but most important aspects of a championship-caliber team is that each player believes they can and will win. It is exactly the mentality that Braun and his staff have brought to this team. Trust the process and victory will follow.

“If you don’t believe that that can be done at Northwestern, you shouldn’t be here,” Braun said later in the conference. “And that’s not personal. That’s not attacking. That’s just setting a very clear standard of expectations that we have, and it’s posted in our building. New era, bold expectations… people weren’t expecting Indiana to be competing for Big Ten championships nor a national championship, why can’t we achieve at the same level?”

During a media day interview with Wilde, he shared this same confidence in the team, building on the sentiment from Braun.

“We talk about making the Big Ten championship, and then look at our schedule, and you’re like, ‘Holy cow! Like this is the schedule to go do that.’ We can go prove ourselves this year,” Wilde said.

Braun unable to name a starting quarterback as of now

While Michigan State transfer Aidan Chiles was long presumed to be the starting quarterback for the Wildcats in the upcoming season, Braun was unable to officially name him as QB1 for the upcoming season.

When asked about the starting quarterback, Braun said:

“The depth in that quarterback room is the best I’ve ever felt since I’ve been here at Northwestern,” Braun said when asked about who will start under center. “I think that applies to our entire roster and specifically our quarterback room. We’re not in a position right now to name a starter, but we won’t be going into week one worrying about our quarterback. We’re going to allow these guys to develop in Coach Kelly’s system.”

Given NU’s investment in Chiles in the transfer portal, coupled with how excited the coaching staff seemed when they acquired him, it seems unlikely that Chiles wouldn’t be the starting quarterback. It is unclear exactly why the ‘Cats don’t want to announce a starter yet, but it’s possible that Braun wants all the players in the quarterback room to stay ready and show their best so his staff can make a fully educated choice during fall camp.

Regardless, Wilde emphasized how the rest of the offense will be prepared for whichever quarterback Braun names as starter.

“In terms of starting, any of the four quarterbacks, whoever ends up being the starter, we’re going to be happy with whoever that is, and just excited to build timing with those guys,” Wilde said.

New Ryan Field will create a home field advantage unlike any other the Wildcats have had before

After two years playing on the lake and over $870 million invested into the most modern stadium in college football, Northwestern football will return to Central Street with a newfound home field advantage.

Both Braun and the players expressed their excitement and anticipation to pack the building in purple when it opens on Oct. 2.

“When you step into the New Ryan Field, if you’re ever fortunate to stand at field level, I mean, you truly feel like you’re in a new-age Roman Colosseum,” Braun said.

 Komolafe, Wilde and Fitzgerald all echoed this sentiment. 

“It almost feels like a coliseum when you’re running out, and it’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere,” Wilde said. “And the students are going to be able to show up, be loud and just support us.”

The biggest takeaway from their comments about the new stadium is that they believe it will legitimize Northwestern football. Braun and the players acknowledged that while the lakeside stadium was a fun place to play, a Big Ten program like Northwestern needs a high-quality football facility. The Wildcats believe the new stadium will not only strengthen recruiting and retention but also increase fan engagement and create a better home-field advantage.

Overall, the Big Ten Media Day gave fans noteworthy information about the Wildcats. Northwestern football heads into 2026 with championship ambitions, a new stadium and a roster built to compete at the highest level of the Big Ten.

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