Northwestern Wildcats 2025 College Football Preview
Posted July 29, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 4-8
ATS – 4-8
The Cats couldn’t follow up the success of the 2023 campaign (8-5) and struggled from start to finish en route to a four-win season. There were a couple of bright moments like taking down a scrappy Miami Ohio team in the home opener (W 13-6) and blowing Maryland out of the water as double-digit dogs (W 37-10), but overall there wasn’t much excitement around the program in 2024.
Does Northwestern have the MINERALS to get back to a bowl game this season?
Northwestern Wildcats 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Northwestern offense was disgusting LY (18 PPG, #128) and they averaged less than 20 PPG for the 3rd time in four years. Excitement is in the air as Northwestern may finally have a decent QB with the addition of former SMU star QB Preston Stone who dominated in 2023 with the Mustangs (3,197, 28-6 TD to INT; 4 rush TD). That gives the offense some instant STREET CRED but the problem is that the WR/TE cupboard looks bare after the departure of their top-three targets. The Cats picked up a legit #1 WR from South Dakota St in Griffin Wilde (1,154, 12 TD) but they’ll obviously need some other doods to emerge if they want to threaten opponents through the air. The RB room is nothing special but it’s a deep group led by #1 rusher Cam Porter (501, 6 TD) who’s back for his seemingly 11th season with Northwestern. The offensive line looks very promising on paper as they’ve got impressive size and experience, and note that they cut the sack total from 51 to 24 LY. We anticipate improvement on offense but don’t expect any miracles.
DEFENSE
The Wildcats were an average bunch on defense LY (#10 Big Ten run D, #12 pass efficiency D) but there’s reason for optimism heading into 2025. The DL retains three starters including a dangerous set of DEs (Saka, Hubbard) that combined for 9.5 sacks and 11 QBH LY, and #1 tackler Mac Uhlein and Purdue transfer Yanni Karlaftis headline a solid LB corps. The secondary appears to be the weak link on defense and we’re hoping that CB Fred Davis (Jax St) and safety Dillon Tatum (Purdue) can make a difference on the back end. We project mild to moderate improvement on defense, particularly if they can heat up the pass rush (23 sacks LY, #80).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Things are in good shape as they retain punter Luke Akers, PK Jack Olsen (career 21/30 FG), and dangerous KR Joseph Himon (24.0).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – We like the look of the non-conference docket as they’ve got layups vs Western Illinois and ULM, and they’ve got a PUNCHER’S CHANCE of taking Tulane down on the road in week one. The Big Ten schedule is tough as whilst they avoid Ohio St, the road assignments are nasty (Penn St, CORN, USC, Illinois) and they also have to battle Oregon in Evanston on Sept 13.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – ULM (Oct 4)
This game is sandwiched between a pair of Big Ten contests (UCLA, Penn St) and note that the Cats are just 14-19-1 ATS (42%) as a home favorite over the L10Y (1-3 in 2024). ULM has the look of a Sun Belt bottom feeder but we don’t plan on laying a ton of points with Northwestern in this one.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 29
Over 3.5 -180
Under 3.5 +140
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
The Cats are a MORTAL LOCK to book at least two wins in non-conference action and there are a small handful of winnable games on the Big Ten slate. Northwestern is also usually good to SHOCK the WORLD once a year, so there’s that too.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Cats are on a major BOWL GAME HEATER as they’ve won five in a row, and six of their last seven.
Northwestern continues to be CASH MONEY in Big Ten games as they’re 52-37 ATS (58%) over the L10Y.
Remember the hazing scandal of 2023 that led to the firing of Pat Fitzgerald? Who knew it wasn’t a great idea to drag freshmen behind a cement truck for 12 miles during their “initiation” period? Man, we’ve gone soft.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
The Cats look better on both sides of the football this season as the defense should be closer to Northwestern’s typical standards, and it’s great to have a legit quarterback in Preston Stone. The Wildcats will need to earn every Big Ten win they get but they’ll be a tough out for almost every opponent on the schedule. We’ll call for four or five wins but hope they can find their way to a bowl game, although that may be a stretch.
GO U NORTHWESTERN!