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.
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. The Wildcats were selected to face Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, where they won 14–7.
The Northwestern Wildcats football team drew an average home attendance of 20,800 in 2023.
Hazing and sexual abuse allegations 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. 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. The school named defensive coordinator David Braun the interim head coach for the season.
Preseason Big 10 media poll The Wildcats were predicted to finish seventh in the Big Ten's West Division.
Big Ten media poll West Division 1 Wisconsin 233 (20) 2 Iowa 232 (16) 3 Minnesota 176 (1) 4 Illinois 152 5 Nebraska 116 6 Purdue 89 7 Northwestern 38
Schedule
Game summaries At Rutgers
Statistics NURUTG 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Ben Bryant 20/36, 169 yards, 2 INT Rushing Brendan Sullivan 4 rushes, 11 yards Receiving Camron Johnson 4 receptions, 45 yardsRutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 17/29, 163 yards, TD Rushing Kyle Monangai 14 rushes, 49 yards, TD Receiving Isaiah Washington 4 receptions, 36 yards
UTEP
Statistics UTEPNU 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 17/25, 192 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Torrance Burgess Jr. 7 rushes, 34 yards Receiving Jeremiah Ballard 4 receptions, 92 yardsNorthwestern Passing Ben Bryant 11/17, 116 yards, TD Rushing Cam Porter 17 rushes, 90 yards Receiving Joseph Himon II 1 reception, 85 yards, TD
At No. 21 Duke
Statistics NUDUKE 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Ben Bryant 17/34, 123 yards, TD, INT Rushing Cam Porter 10 rushes, 49 yards Receiving Camron Johnson 5 receptions, 45 yardsDuke Passing Riley Leonard 15/20, 219 yards Rushing Riley Leonard 13 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jalon Calhoun 5 receptions, 112 yards
Minnesota
Statistics MINNNU 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 StatisticsMinnesota 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, TDNorthwestern 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
No. 6 Penn State
Statistics PSUNU 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 StatisticsPenn State Passing Drew Allar 18/33, 189 yards, TD Rushing Nicholas Singleton 21 rushes, 80 yards, TD Receiving KeAndre Lambert-Smith 4 receptions, 86 yardsNorthwestern Passing Ben Bryant 14/25, 122 yards Rushing Brendan Sullivan 7 rushes, 25 yards Receiving Camron Johnson 6 receptions, 81 yards
Howard
Statistics HOWNU 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 StatisticsHoward Passing Quinton Williams 18/30, 169 yards Rushing Eden James 21 rushes, 177 yards, TD Receiving Richie Ilarraza 7 receptions, 65 yardsNorthwestern Passing Brendan Sullivan 13/18, 131 yards, 2 TD Rushing Cam Porter 18 rushes, 78 yards Receiving Camron Johnson 4 receptions, 55 yards, TD
At Nebraska
Statistics NUNEB 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Brendan Sullivan 12/23, 176 yards, INT Rushing Anthony Tyus III 6 rushes, 63 yards Receiving Bryce Kirtz 3 receptions, 96 yardsNebraska 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
Maryland
Statistics MDNU 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 StatisticsMaryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 30/47, 274 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Colby McDonald 5 rushes, 43 yards Receiving Jeshaun Jones 9 receptions, 78 yards, TDNorthwestern Passing Brendan Sullivan 16/23, 265 yards, 2 TD Rushing Brendan Sullivan 14 rushes, 56 yards Receiving Joseph Himon II 2 receptions, 67 yards
Iowa
Statistics IOWANU 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 StatisticsIowa Passing Deacon Hill 10/15, 65 yards, TD, INT Rushing Leshon Williams 24 rushes, 79 yards Receiving Kaleb Brown 1 reception, 23 yardsNorthwestern Passing Brendan Sullivan 12/19, 81 yards, TD Rushing Anthony Tyus III 10 rushes, 40 yards Receiving A. J. Henning 4 receptions, 13 yards
At Wisconsin
Statistics NUWIS 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Ben Bryant 18/26, 195 yards, 2 TD Rushing Cam Porter 18 rushes, 72 yards Receiving A. J. Henning 3 receptions, 70 yards, TDWisconsin Passing Tanner Mordecai 31/45, 255 yards Rushing Cade Yacamelli 9 rushes, 47 yards Receiving Will Pauling 10 receptions, 96 yards
Purdue
Statistics PURNU 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 StatisticsPurdue Passing Ryan Browne 12/16, 104 yards, 2 INT Rushing Tyrone Tracy Jr. 16 rushes, 160 yards, TD Receiving Devin Mockobee 3 receptions, 44 yardsNorthwestern 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
At Illinois
Statistics NUILL 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 StatisticsNorthwestern 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, TDIllinois 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)
Statistics UTAHNU 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 StatisticsUtah Passing Bryson Barnes 8/13, 55 yards, 2 INT Rushing Ja'Quinden Jackson 8 rushes, 55 yards Receiving Micah Bernard 3 receptions, 24 yardsNorthwestern Passing Ben Bryant 23/34, 222 yards, 2 TD Rushing Cam Porter 10 rushes, 33 yards Receiving Bryce Kirtz 5 receptions, 68 yards, TD
Roster
References