The Wildcats are entering their fourth season under Braun.
Northwestern head football coach David Braun understands that the Wildcats have historically been looked at as bottom-feeders in the Big Ten. Regardless of the results on the field, NU will always be the underdog to the conference's larger, more highly regarded programs.
That isn't stopping him from dreaming big.
Braun has led the 'Cats to a winning record and a bowl game victory in two of his three seasons at the helm in Evanston. The logical next step for Northwestern is to be in contention for a Big Ten Championship and a trip to the College Football Playoff, and Braun let everyone know during an impassioned speech at Big Ten Media Days.
The 41-year-old head coach announced that his program was entering a new era in Northwestern football.
"We have reverence and appreciation for the past," Braun said on Thursday. "What's been achieved over the last three decades under Coach Barnett, Coach Walker and Coach Fitz is something that we will always talk about as a program. I have a level of appreciation of what has been accomplished, but there's also an acknowledgement and an 'and' proposition that we have expectations to do it better than we've ever done it before. Big Ten Championship? Why not us? Host a College Football Playoff game at the New Ryan Field? Why not us? Aspire to chase down a National Championship? Why not us?"
As an interim head coach in 2023, Braun brought the 'Cats to an 8-5 record and beat Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. The surprising run earned him the full-time job, but Northwestern took a step back in 2024 after inconsistent quarterback play led to a 4-8 season. Preston Stone brought stability to the position in 2025 — though not perfection — as the Wildcats went 7-6 and beat Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
Nov 15, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coachDavidBrauntakes the field against the Michigan Wolverines at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit:DavidBanks-Imagn Images Braun believes his team can take that next step and continue its upward trajectory. Especially after seeing Indiana ascend from one of the worst programs in the FBS to the 2026 National Champions, the Wildcats' head coach is left asking, "Why not us?"
Northwestern has certainly appeared to have supplied Braun with the necessary resources. The program's $855 million football stadium — the New Ryan Field — will debut on Oct. 2 against Penn State as the premier venue in all of college sports. Braun and the 'Cats welcomed in a program record 17 players from the transfer portal this offseason, including four-star players like quarterback Aidan Chiles (Michigan State), linebacker Kobie McKinzie (Oklahoma) and tight end Luke Dehnicke (Minnesota-Duluth).
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly also brings a wealth of experience as he looks to revolutionize the Wildcats' woeful scoring attack. Kelly led the Ohio State Buckeyes to the National Championship just two years ago, and although the names on the jerseys may be regarded very differently across the country, Kelly will hope to produce similar on-field results.
Outside the program, "Why not us?" may seem like a silly mantra. There are several reasons why Northwestern historically hasn't been in the same tier as the Ohio States and Michigans of the Big Ten, from the school's incredibly tough academic standards to the top-10 institution's lack of funding for athletics to the lack of alumni support in the local area.
Don't tell that to David Braun, though. In his eyes, and in his locker room, the sky's the limit for the Northwestern Wildcats.
"Why such belief? Ultimately, because we're Northwestern," Braun said. "We're a top-10 university that plays in the Power Two. We're the only institution that can claim that. This isn't just a value proposition at Northwestern; it's an 'and' proposition. Come to Northwestern and receive a world-class education and compete for Big Ten championships."
