Northwestern beat UCLA this weekend 17-14 in somewhat ugly fashion, dominating the first half and limping to a victory in the second. There were positives and negatives for a team that presented two entirely different versions of itself in one game.
But a win is a win is a win, as they say, and this was a big one. The 'Cats improved to 2-2 on the season and solidified themselves as a team capable of beating lower-level Big Ten opponents.
The beginning of this season has been hard to watch at times. The Tulane game, when Preston Stone threw four picks, for example, was brutal. The Oregon loss, while expected, was frustrating. But Braun made it clear in his post game press conference that he's focused on the future, as he should be.
"I would love to be 4-0 ... ultimately, you can't look in the rearview. Coming out of the first quarter, we were frustrated ... excited to get our first Big Ten win ... the truth of the matter is we have to focus on daily improvement," Braun said.
This may sound like classic coach speak, but Braun is bringing up a good point. Northwestern needs to get better. Stone has improved since the disaster in New Orleans, but he hasn't improved enough to consistently win football games.
Northwestern's starting passer finished 12-of-18 with 115 yards passing against the Bruins. The biggest improvement was that he didn't turn the ball over, but those numbers still leave something to be desired. They still aren't what many Wildcat fans were expecting at the beginning of the season.
The receiver room, too, needs to improve. To Northwestern's credit, it seems the team is trying to adjust. Players like Hayden Eligon II and Drew Wagner got more run on Saturday as the 'Cats search for consistency outside of Griffin Wilde.
Sep 27, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive back Rodrick Pleasant (18) defends Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver Hayden Eligon II (80) during the second half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesThe bottom line is, though, if Northwestern stayed at the level it was playing against Tulane, it wouldn't win any football games. If it stays at the level it is now, it will win a few, but not many. If it continues to improve, then it might be in business.
"Last season we weren't playing our best football at the end of the season. This group has to have the mentality to deliver on consistent improvement," Braun said.