The Wildcats took down the Central Michigan Chippewas, 34-7, in Detroit.
For the second time in three seasons under head coach David Braun, Northwestern (7-6, 4-5 Big Ten) has secured a winning record and a bowl game victory.
The Wildcats' defense forced four turnovers to cruise past Central Michigan (7-6, 5-3 MAC) in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Friday, 34-7. Three of those takeaways came on consecutive drives in the second quarter, each resulting in a touchdown.
Northwestern has now won its last six bowl games, dating back to 2016. Four of those came with Pat Fitzgerald, while Braun is 2-0 at the helm.
Quarterback Preston Stone had a rough start to the game, but the graduate transfer rallied to end his final collegiate game strong. No. 8 closed out his five-year run by completing 19 of his 31 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. He is the first Northwestern quarterback to start every game in a season since Peyton Ramsey in 2020 and the first to start at least 13 games in a season since Clayton Thorson in 2018.
Griffin Wilde was Stone's primary target, as he has been all season. The All-Big Ten wideout brought in 10 catches for 97 yards and a pair of scores to cap off his first year in Evanston with the game's MVP award.
On the defensive side, Aidan Hubbard was a game-wrecker. The fifth-year senior finished with three sacks and a forced fumble to lead a stallwart Northwestern defense that frustrated the Chippewas from the jump. Cornerback Braden Turner also made several big plays, recording an interception and taking a fumble recovery 47 yards for a touchdown.
Braun was aggressive on fourth down, including on the opening drive. The third-year head coach went for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 34, but paid the price for it when Caleb Komolafe was tackled for a loss. Central Michigan couldn't capitalize, though, as a third-down sack by Hubbard led to a missed Chippewas field goal.
Both squads traded punts until a big play from Northwestern's secondary turned the tide. Turner picked off CMU's Angel Flores, thanks to some pressure from the Wildcats' defensive line. Three plays later, Wilde hauled in a 23-yard shot from Stone to put the first score on the board.
The 'Cats took it away again on the ensuing possession. This time, Hubbard stripped the ball from QB Joe Labas, and captain Carmine Bastone fell on the fumble for the recovery. Komolafe punched it in on fourth-and-goal from the two, and on the very next play, the Chippewas coughed it up once more. Labas lost the ball on an option play, then Stone found a wide-open Lawson Albright in the end zone just seconds later to make it 21-0.
Central Michigan's turnover woes continued into the second half. Safety Robert Fitzgerald blew up Flores on a designed run, forcing the fumble for the Chippewas' fourth giveaway of the game. Turner swept the loose ball up and navigated through traffic en route to a 47-yard scoop-and-score.
Stone and the Wildcats kept their foot on the gas pedal. Northwestern's graduate passer led his team on a 10-play, 92-yard drive that ended in another Wilde touchdown catch.
The Chippewas added a late score with a three-yard touchdown pass from Labas to Brock Townsend, erasing Northwestern's bid at a shutout.
Ryan Boe, thought to be the leading candidate to start under center for Northwestern in 2026, did not see the field until there was 6:10 left in the fourth quarter. The redshirt freshman went 1-for-4 with 10 passing yards and threw an interception on a fourth-down attempt.
Northwestern will have many holes to fill in the transfer portal ahead of the 2026 season, but for now, the Wildcats can celebrate a successful season that ended with a victory.