Get to Know Northwestern's New Starting Quarterback Nicco Marchiol

With Aidan Chiles expected to miss Saturday’s matchup against Iowa, Northwestern will turn to Nicco Marchiol at quarterback as the Wildcats look to overcome a major setback and get back on track.

Marchiol now has an opportunity to make his mark in Evanston, stepping into one of the most important roles on the team at a critical point in the season. While he has not received many opportunities to showcase his abilities at Northwestern, the redshirt junior brings several years of college football experience and previous starting experience at West Virginia.

Before arriving in Evanston, Marchiol spent four seasons with the Mountaineers, appearing in 23 games and making several starts. 

Marchiol began seeing more opportunities during the 2023 season, appearing in nine games and making his first career start against Texas Tech. He finished that season with 247 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding 133 rushing yards and another score.

His role continued to grow in 2024, when he appeared in eight games and made two starts. He completed 66.1% of his passes for 434 yards and five touchdowns, helping West Virginia finish 2-0 in games he started. One of his best performances came against Arizona, where he completed 18 of 22 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of the season.

Marchiol entered the 2025 season as West Virginia’s starting quarterback and opened the year with an impressive performance against Robert Morris. He completed 17 of 20 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown while adding 56 rushing yards and another score.

He also helped lead West Virginia to an overtime comeback victory against rival Pittsburgh, completing 19 of 25 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown while helping the Mountaineers score 17 unanswered points. 

Unfortunately, a foot injury in September cut his season short. He finished the year with 720 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in four starts before receiving a medical redshirt.

Marchiol eventually entered the transfer portal and committed to Northwestern in March 2026, bringing valuable experience to a quarterback room that already featured Chiles. He joined the Wildcats looking for another opportunity to compete and contribute at the next level of his college career.

His playing time has been limited during his first season in Evanston. Through Northwestern’s first eight games, Marchiol has appeared in four contests, recording 22 rushing yards on two carries and attempting one pass. However, his previous experience at West Virginia gives him a foundation to draw from as he prepares for his first opportunity to lead the Wildcats.

Now, that opportunity has arrived.

Marchiol will face a difficult first assignment against an Iowa defense coming off a dominant 30-0 victory over Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes present a physical challenge, meaning Northwestern will need its new starting quarterback to make smart decisions, protect the football and take advantage of opportunities when they are available.

This is a major opportunity for Marchiol to show what he can bring to the program. He was brought to Northwestern with starting experience and the ability to compete for the position. Now, with Chiles sidelined, he has the chance to earn the confidence of his teammates, coaches and the Wildcat fan base.

Northwestern enters Saturday with a 6-2 record and plenty still to play for. The Wildcats are looking to return to the national rankings and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive, but they will need to respond after their loss to Oregon.

Losing Chiles is certainly not how Northwestern wanted to enter such an important matchup. However, Marchiol now has the opportunity to step up, lead the offense and help the Wildcats continue their pursuit of a successful season.

All eyes will be on the West Virginia transfer Saturday to see how he handles his first start in purple.