Hazing and sexual abuse allegations
edit
On July 7, 2023, the school announced that they had suspended head coach Pat Fitzgerald for two weeks without pay after an investigation related to hazing within the football program.[ 3] Three days later as details emerged of the allegations from a former player that included hazing and sexual abuse, the school fired Fitzgerald after 17 years as head coach.[ 4] The school named defensive coordinator David Braun the interim head coach for the season.[ 5]
The Wildcats were predicted to finish seventh in the Big Ten's West Division.[ 6]
Big Ten media poll West Division
Predicted finish
Team
Points (1st place votes)
1
Wisconsin
233 (20)
2
Iowa
232 (16)
3
Minnesota
176 (1)
4
Illinois
152
5
Nebraska
116
6
Purdue
89
7
Northwestern
38
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance Source 11:00 a.m. at Rutgers CBS L 7–2453,026 [1] [2]
September 9 2:30 p.m. UTEP * BTN W 38–714,851 [3] [4]
September 16 2:30 p.m. at No. 21 Duke * ACCN L 14–3818,141 [5] [6]
September 23 6:30 p.m. Minnesota BTN W 37–34 OT 20,148 [7] [8]
September 30 11:00 a.m. No. 6 Penn State BTN L 13–41 25,064 [9] [10]
October 7 2:00 p.m. Howard * BTN W 23–20 22,160 [11] [12]
October 21 2:30 p.m. at Nebraska BTN L 9–17 86,769
October 28 11:00 a.m. Maryland BTN W 33–27 19,286
November 4 2:30 p.m. Iowa Peacock L 7–10 38,000
November 11 2:30 p.m. at Wisconsin FS1 W 24–1076,124
November 18 11:00 a.m. Purdue BTN W 23–15 23,291
November 25 2:30 p.m. at Illinois BTN W 45–43 42,310
December 23 6:30 p.m. vs. Utah * ABC W 14–7 20,897
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
0
0
0
7
7
Scarlet Knights
7
10
7
0
24
Statistics
NU
RUTG
First downs
13
20
Total yards
201
285
Rushing yards
12
122
Passing yards
189
163
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
22:04
37:56
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
20/36, 169 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Brendan Sullivan
4 rushes, 11 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
4 receptions, 45 yards
Rutgers
Passing
Gavin Wimsatt
17/29, 163 yards, TD
Rushing
Kyle Monangai
14 rushes, 49 yards, TD
Receiving
Isaiah Washington
4 receptions, 36 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Miners
7
0
0
0
7
Wildcats
7
0
21
10
38
Statistics
UTEP
NU
First downs
18
17
Total yards
319
391
Rushing yards
104
184
Passing yards
215
207
Turnovers
3
0
Time of possession
31:21
28:39
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
UTEP
Passing
Gavin Hardison
17/25, 192 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Torrance Burgess Jr.
7 rushes, 34 yards
Receiving
Jeremiah Ballard
4 receptions, 92 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
11/17, 116 yards, TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
17 rushes, 90 yards
Receiving
Joseph Himon II
1 reception, 85 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
0
7
0
7
14
No. 21 Blue Devils
7
10
14
7
38
Statistics
NU
DUKE
First downs
19
25
Total yards
267
487
Rushing yards
104
268
Passing yards
163
219
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
28:54
31:06
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
17/34, 123 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Cam Porter
10 rushes, 49 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
5 receptions, 45 yards
Duke
Passing
Riley Leonard
15/20, 219 yards
Rushing
Riley Leonard
13 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Jalon Calhoun
5 receptions, 112 yards
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Golden Gophers
7
17
7
0 3
34
Wildcats
0
7
3
21 6
37
Statistics
MINN
NU
First downs
15
25
Total yards
397
492
Rushing yards
244
92
Passing yards
153
400
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
30:10
29:50
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Minnesota
Passing
Athan Kaliakmanis
14/19, 153 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Darius Taylor
31 rushes, 198 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Daniel Jackson
4 receptions, 53 yards, TD
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
33/49, 396 yards, 4 TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
16 rushes, 56 yards, TD
Receiving
Bryce Kirtz
10 receptions, 215 yards, 2 TD
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 6 Nittany Lions
3
7
17
14
41
Wildcats
3
7
0
3
13
Statistics
PSU
NU
First downs
19
12
Total yards
353
175
Rushing yards
134
45
Passing yards
219
130
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
32:08
27:52
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Penn State
Passing
Drew Allar
18/33, 189 yards, TD
Rushing
Nicholas Singleton
21 rushes, 80 yards, TD
Receiving
KeAndre Lambert-Smith
4 receptions, 86 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
14/25, 122 yards
Rushing
Brendan Sullivan
7 rushes, 25 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
6 receptions, 81 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Bison
0
0
7
13
20
Wildcats
9
7
7
0
23
Statistics
HOW
NU
First downs
18
21
Total yards
331
312
Rushing yards
162
181
Passing yards
169
131
Turnovers
0
0
Time of possession
29:34
30:26
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Howard
Passing
Quinton Williams
18/30, 169 yards
Rushing
Eden James
21 rushes, 177 yards, TD
Receiving
Richie Ilarraza
7 receptions, 65 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Brendan Sullivan
13/18, 131 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
18 rushes, 78 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
4 receptions, 55 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
3
3
0
3
9
Cornhuskers
3
7
0
7
17
Statistics
NU
NEB
First downs
12
14
Total yards
257
248
Rushing yards
81
163
Passing yards
176
85
Turnovers
1
2
Time of possession
30:52
29:08
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Brendan Sullivan
12/23, 176 yards, INT
Rushing
Anthony Tyus III
6 rushes, 63 yards
Receiving
Bryce Kirtz
3 receptions, 96 yards
Nebraska
Passing
Heinrich Haarberg
8/17, 85 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Emmett Johnson
12 rushes, 73 yards
Receiving
Malachi Coleman
1 reception, 44 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Terrapins
14
3
3
7
27
Wildcats
14
10
3
6
33
Statistics
MD
NU
First downs
25
19
Total yards
391
364
Rushing yards
117
99
Passing yards
274
265
Turnovers
2
0
Time of possession
29:13
30:47
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Maryland
Passing
Taulia Tagovailoa
30/47, 274 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing
Colby McDonald
5 rushes, 43 yards
Receiving
Jeshaun Jones
9 receptions, 78 yards, TD
Northwestern
Passing
Brendan Sullivan
16/23, 265 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Brendan Sullivan
14 rushes, 56 yards
Receiving
Joseph Himon II
2 receptions, 67 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Hawkeyes
0
0
7
3
10
Wildcats
0
0
0
7
7
Statistics
IOWA
NU
First downs
14
12
Total yards
169
170
Rushing yards
104
89
Passing yards
65
81
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
30:18
29:42
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Iowa
Passing
Deacon Hill
10/15, 65 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Leshon Williams
24 rushes, 79 yards
Receiving
Kaleb Brown
1 reception, 23 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Brendan Sullivan
12/19, 81 yards, TD
Rushing
Anthony Tyus III
10 rushes, 40 yards
Receiving
A. J. Henning
4 receptions, 13 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
7
17
0
0
24
Badgers
3
0
0
7
10
Statistics
NU
WIS
First downs
18
17
Total yards
324
341
Rushing yards
129
86
Passing yards
195
255
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
32:10
27:50
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
18/26, 195 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
18 rushes, 72 yards
Receiving
A. J. Henning
3 receptions, 70 yards, TD
Wisconsin
Passing
Tanner Mordecai
31/45, 255 yards
Rushing
Cade Yacamelli
9 rushes, 47 yards
Receiving
Will Pauling
10 receptions, 96 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Boilermakers
0
0
7
8
15
Wildcats
6
0
10
7
23
Statistics
PUR
NU
First downs
21
12
Total yards
443
329
Rushing yards
303
99
Passing yards
140
230
Turnovers
4
1
Time of possession
34:43
25:17
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Purdue
Passing
Ryan Browne
12/16, 104 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
16 rushes, 160 yards, TD
Receiving
Devin Mockobee
3 receptions, 44 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
13/24, 230 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Cam Porter
17 rushes, 95 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Camron Johnson
3 receptions, 88 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
7
14
7
17
45
Fighting Illini
3
17
3
20
43
Statistics
NU
ILL
First downs
20
20
Total yards
379
455
Rushing yards
145
107
Passing yards
234
348
Turnovers
2
4
Time of possession
29:50
30:10
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
24/32, 234 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Cam Porter
16 rushes, 69 yards
Receiving
Camron Johnson
7 receptions, 124 yards, TD
Illinois
Passing
John Paddock
24/34, 334 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Reggie Love III
23 rushes, 106 yards
Receiving
Casey Washington
9 receptions, 218 yards, 3 TD
Vs. Utah (Las Vegas Bowl)
edit
1
2
3
4
Total
Utes
0
0
0
7
7
Wildcats
0
7
0
7
14
Statistics
UTAH
NU
First downs
13
18
Total yards
211
290
Rushing yards
138
65
Passing yards
73
225
Turnovers
3
0
Time of possession
34:21
25:39
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Utah
Passing
Bryson Barnes
8/13, 55 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Ja'Quinden Jackson
8 rushes, 55 yards
Receiving
Micah Bernard
3 receptions, 24 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Ben Bryant
23/34, 222 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Cam Porter
10 rushes, 33 yards
Receiving
Bryce Kirtz
5 receptions, 68 yards, TD
^ Chicago Tribune staff (November 15, 2023). "David Braun named Northwestern's permanent head football coach midway through interim season" . The Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ "Northwestern's Braun named Big Ten coach of the year. Coaches vote 8 Michigan players to 1st team" . Associated Press . November 29, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023 .
^ "Northwestern Football: Pat Fitzgerald Suspended Amid Hazing Probe - Sports Illustrated" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved August 23, 2023 .
^ "Northwestern fires Fitzgerald amid hazing claims" . ESPN.com . July 10, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023 .
^ "Northwestern names defensive coordinator David Braun as interim head coach" . Yahoo Sports . July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023 .
^ Cobb, David (July 25, 2023). "Big Ten football predicted order of finish for 2023: Michigan picked to win conference title over Ohio State" . CBS Sports . Retrieved October 20, 2023 .
^ "2023 Football Schedule" . Northwestern University Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2022 .