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.

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

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.

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

Northwestern came in at No. 55 on the list. While the Wildcats have been placed near the bottom of the Big Ten in many preseason predictions, they are above five other Big Ten teams on this list (Rutgers, Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, Maryland).

The Wildcats come into David Braun’s third season looking to bounce back after going from winning eight games in 2023 to finishing 4-8 last year.