Our sincere apologies for the delay on this prediction article. I know the several of you out there with strong opinions on Northwestern were eagerly awaiting it, but uh. I forgot to run it. Much like a locker room in Evanston circa 2019, I will be punished accordingly!
Alright, let's get to this thing and close out HAT Week.
Schedule
Predictions
Thumpasaurus: The result against Illinois depends entirely on whether or not Illinois is any good. Northwestern has no agency in this. If Illinois is good, they will beat Northwestern. That's just the way it is.
Transient Buckeye: If the Wildcats want to go bowling again this season, they're going to have to make hay in September and October, because that November schedule is....woof. The most winnable game in November looks to be the contest with Minnesota, and the Wildcats have to go on the road for that one.
Can Northwestern get to six wins before November? Maybe. SDSU was a solid FCS team last year, but Northwestern should get a win there. Colorado was cheeks last season, but this is the sort of non-con game where it's hard to trust Northwestern, because they have a history of blowing similar contests. Indiana and Oregon are auto-losses. The most crucial game of the season might be the October 3 showdown with Penn State in Evanston. If Northwestern can pull the upset there, there's a viable path to 5 wins by the end of October, and a 1-3 November would still get them to a bowl game.
I don't think they get there. Northwestern has their bye during Week 2, then they play eleven games in a row. That's no bueno. Their first team may be okay, but if their depth gets tested during that 11-game stretch, I'm not confident that they'll rise to the challenge. Let's say Northwestern goes 5-7 (2-7), though if they win the games they should win and pull one mild upset (PSU and Minnesota being the most likely candidates), there's a realistic path to 6-6. Even at 5-7, Northwestern might get a shot at an APR bowl bid.
Kind of...: I'm probably higher on the Wildcats than most. I like the defense, and don't think Chip Kelly as OC actually means a radical restructuring of the offense. His approach has basically become much more common, always featured plenty of running the ball, and he's mellowed a bit in terms of tempo. Schedule is tough for sure, but the revitalized stadium will open, there's $$$ flowing in the program, and I think there will be some surprising results. I could see them losing to Michigan State, but beating Iowa. I do think they'll beat Illinois. Add it all up, and I'm going to say 7-5/4-5 with Penn State being the only home loss and Minnesota the only road win.
PAW: First, I want to state for the record that I hate that schedule color choice of white and gray or whatever the fuck. Use purple, dorks.
It's an uphill climb back to a bowl game – I don't know if I'm as optimistic as Kind of... here, as I think 7-5 is going to require most of the coin flips going right.
Biggest question mark, as for the last decade or so, is going to be quarterback play. Is Aidan Chiles going to be a turnover monster, or will he be the second coming of Payton Ramsey? He'll key an offense where we'll have to see if Chip Kelly can bring the best out of him and find ways to get the ball in the hands of a talented backfield with Caleb Komolafe, Joseph Himon II, and transfer RB Gavin Sawchuk. (We're still uncertain as to whether the receiving corps of Griffin Wilde and 6'4" Hayden Eligon will be able to find space for themselves with a season's tape on them.)
Gut reaction right now is 5-7 (2-7). Say Rutgers and one of Michigan State or Minnesota.
