Northwestern Football: “Why Not Us?”
What we heard from the Wildcats at Big Ten Football Media Days presented by Discover
Entering year four of the David Braun regime, there’s optimism in Evanston that Northwestern is about to take a big leap in their new stadium. After finishing 7-6 in 2025 with a bowl win over Central Michigan, the Wildcats want to elevate to the top of the Big Ten.
Braun’s message at media day? Why not us.
“We have expectations to do it better than we've ever done it before,” Braun said. “Big Ten Championship, why not us? Host a college football playoff game at New Ryan Field, why not us? Aspire to chase down a national championship, why not us?”
The Wildcats felt last year’s offense left something to be desired. To change that, Braun hired longtime offensive mind and former NFL and college head coach Chip Kelly. In 10 years as a college head coach, Kelly only posted three losing seasons and is known for ushering in a new style of offense in the early 2010s that resulted in him twice being named PAC-10 Coach of the Year and also AP National Coach of the Year. More recently, Kelly was the offensive coordinator for one season in Columbus, which resulted in a national championship for the Buckeyes. Braun is excited to unleash Kelly’s offense on the Big Ten.
“Hiring Chip Kelly [is] a transformative change,” Braun said. “It's the experience that he brings. It's his outside-the-box thinking. It's his understanding of how we can position our guys to suit their strengths within the offense, and I think the thing that stands out to me most… the why behind the way that we're doing things on offense.”
Aidan Chiles Takes over at QB
Northwestern landed one of the top quarterback transfers in the 2026 cycle, acquiring senior Aidan Chiles, who’s had stops at both Oregon State and Michigan State. Chiles brings a change of pace to a quarterback room that’s historically seen a number of pocket passers. Chiles’ ability to use his legs, as well as his accuracy, stack up to make him a threat going into his fourth season of college football.
Chiles threw for 1,392 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, while scrambling for 227 additional yards and six more scores in a season where he was replaced by Alessio Milivojevic in the final weeks. Chiles has thrown for over 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns in his career and looks to add to those stats in 2026, with his teammates relying on him to take charge.
Redshirt junior running back Caleb Komolafe noted Chiles’ abilities on and off the field, saying his personality made the two connect right away.
“He's a funny dude,” Komolafe said. “I feel like we gelled together pretty quick, and he's really good at talking and being with our team.”
On the field, Komolafe said Chiles’ raw athletic ability has been something to take in.
“He can do multiple things,” Komolafe said. “It's shocking to see what he can do on the field.”
Komolafe was a big part of the Wildcat offense a year ago, rushing for 941 yards and 11 touchdowns in a breakout year. And now he looks to assert himself as a leader.
“I'd say something I've been working on speaking up,” Komolafe said. “It's something that I'm still working on, but it's been a big aspect to my game that I'm trying to improve [this offseason].”
A Defense Ready for an Encore
Defensively, it will be Tim McGarigle back for his third season in Evanston as defensive coordinator. In three years, he’s helped Braun and the Wildcats turn heads around the country with a number of stellar defenders in his tenure.
McGarigle guided the Wildcats to the 23rd-best scoring defense in the country in 2025, allowing just 19.8 points per game, including holding Penn State to just 21 in an upset win early in the season.
Leading McGarigle’s defense will be redshirt senior Robert Fitzgerald. The safety burst onto the scene in 2025 with a 115-tackle season. Coach Braun complimented Fitzgerald’s ability on the field, as well as his leadership.
“[Fitzgerald] emerged, in my opinion, as one of not only the best performers in the Big Ten, but truly one of the best football players in the Big Ten,” Braun said. “He's a great tackler. He's a great leader. He's physical. He's instinctual, and to have him back leading our defense is something that all of us are really excited about.”
Fitzgerald will be joined by a transfer portal addition at linebacker in former Oklahoma Sooner Kobie McKinzie. McKinzie, ranked as a four-star transfer, will bring one year of eligibility to Evanston coming off three productive years with the Sooners. Fitzgerald has enjoyed getting to know the grad student in the offseason and is excited to share the field with him this fall.
“Kobie's been great,” Fitzgerald said. “He brings a veteran presence. He's an alpha male and brings a lot of experience to the defense. He’s already a leader… I’m just very excited to play with him, and I think we're going to do some great things on defense this year.”
The Wildcats will face a tough schedule in 2026, facing the likes of Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon all on the road. With the potential for Chiles to settle in at quarterback and the defense to duplicate last year’s success, the Wildcats can make some noise in a competitive Big Ten.
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