After an underwhelming second season as Northwestern’s head coach, David Braun couldn’t sugarcoat it. The 2024 campaign was the antithesis to Braun’s successful debut in 2023, when the Wildcats went 8-5 and earned a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl.

With just over a week before Northwestern’s 2025 football season begins, eight Inside NU writers ranked all 12 of the games on the Wildcats’ schedule from hardest (1) to easiest (12). The overall rankings are based on the average rankings from the writer ballot, which is shown at the bottom of the article.

Northwestern is still finalizing its starting offensive line against Tulane on August 30, but David Braun noted on Wednesday that it's a good problem to have. The Wildcats' head coach revealed that four of the five position battles are either cemented or have a favorite emerging from the pack with the team's season opener just over a week away.

Northwestern comes into coach David Braun's third season looking to bounce back after going from winning eight games in 2023 to finishing 4-8 last year and near the bottom of the Big Ten with a 2-7 mark.

Ahead of another exciting home schedule in 2025, Northwestern Football announced its 2025 promotional schedule for the Wildcats' seven home

Cam Porter made history on Thursday afternoon, becoming just the second Northwestern Wildcat ever to be named a three-time football captain.

Returners: Josh Fussell (R-So.), Damon Walters (R-So.), Robert Fitzgerald (R-Jr.), Ore Adeyi (Gr.), Garner Wallace (Gr.), Braden Turner (R-Jr.), Tito Williams Jr. (R-Fy.), Jalen Lewis (R-So.), Evan Smith (R-Jr.), Cole Shivers (R-So.), J.J. Lewis (R-So.), Timi Oke (R-Fy.), Sean Martin (R-Fy.), Jack Oyola (R-Jr.), Terrion Curry-Hicks (R-Fy.)