Before every game, I ask a reporter who covers the Gophers upcoming opponent to give us a view from the opponent’s perspective.
I asked Anna Watson from The Daily Northwestern six questions about the Northwestern Wildcats.
Minnesota travels to Chicago, Illinois for their final road game of the season to take on Northwestern. The game will be played at Wrigley Field.
Huge thanks to Anna for giving us her thoughts!
GH: The 2025 season marks the third year under head coach David Braun for the Northwestern Wildcats. Vegas had this team winning around 3 to 4 games this year before the season. They have clearly beaten those expectations by already winning five games this year. What were the team’s expectations locally in Evanston before the season? What has been the biggest surprise for this team this year?
AW: While others in Evanston were a bit more optimistic before the season, I agreed with Vegas. The Big Ten schedule looked daunting and there were a lot of question marks on the offensive side of the ball. While I do think reaching five wins is largely due to the fact that Penn State and Purdue did not put up the fight expected ahead of the season, there are a few things that went right to achieve this result. One of the biggest surprises is the emergence of running back Caleb Komolafe and Northwestern’s offensive line. The Wildcats returned sixth-year running back Cam Porter, but he suffered a season-ending injury in the second game of the season. Komolafe has excelled taking over from Porter, and the offensive line has made a massive jump into one of the best units in the Big Ten.
GH: The Northwestern Wildcat offense is averaging 21.9 points and 340.7 yards per game. What is the strength of this offense? What are some areas opposing defenses have had success against Northwestern?
AW: As mentioned, the strength of this offense is the ground game. Komolafe is looking like the best running back Northwestern has had in years. Standouts on the offensive line include left tackle Caleb Tiernan and center Jackson Carsello. They’ve been instrumental in Komolafe’s success. Opposing defenses have had success in stopping Stone through the year. It has been the most inconsistent part of the offense. Stone misses throws, and the receiving talent is not game-changing. Stone is also very turnover prone, which should be a huge point of emphasis for defenses. Northwestern has lost every game where Stone has thrown multiple interceptions.
GH: On the defensive side, the Wildcats are allowing 19.6 points and 341.1 yards per game. If you’re Minnesota, how would you attack this Wildcat defense? Who should Gophers fans know on the Wildcat defense?
AW: The past two games have been difficult for the Northwestern defense. Two weeks ago, USC dominated the Wildcats on the ground and in the air. A five turnover day against Michigan kept NU in the game, but the struggles that appeared in Los Angeles were still evident. The Wildcats were strong against the passing attack earlier this season, and they will hope to return to form this weekend. Stopping the run proves to be the more consistent issue. If I were Minnesota, I would try to establish the run early to wear out the Wildcat defense. From there, you can open up the offense and try to attack through the air. Two key names to know from the Wildcat defense are linebacker Mac Uihlein and safety Robert Fitzgerald. Uihlein is a true leader of this unit on and off the field. He has four interceptions on the season and has stood out in coverage. Fitzgerald just buzzes around the field. He leads the team in tackles and has the tools to make a difference wrapping up players in the backfield. Fitzgerald has improved in coverage throughout the campaign, grabbing his first interception of the season against Michigan.
GH: This time of the year, no team is 100% healthy. Are there any impact players in jeopardy of missing the game this Saturday due to injury?
AW: The two most important players with injury concerns are defensive back Damon Walters and defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard. On Monday, Braun said Walters is more week-to-week while Hubbard is more day-to-day. Walters has missed a good amount of time this season and last played against Nebraska. Hubbard picked up his injury after sacking Bryce Underwood on Saturday. Hubbard leads the Wildcats with 4.5 sacks on the year. In 2024, he was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
GH: Could you give Minnesota fans a few impact players they should keep an eye on this Saturday?
AW: On the offensive side of the ball, Minnesota fans should watch out for Komolafe. He is the most consistent part of the offense. Komolafe ranks sixth in the Big Ten in rushing yards and has nine rushing touchdowns on the year. If the Wildcats will make a dent through the air, it will likely be through wide receiver Griffin Wilde. He transferred to NU from South Dakota State and has become Stone’s favorite target. On the defensive side, besides Uihlein and Fitzgerald, defensive back Braden Turner has been a turnover machine as of late. Against Michigan, he had an interception, fumble recovery and a pass breakup. He also forced fumbles in consecutive games versus Purdue and Nebraska.
GH: Minnesota and Northwestern meet for the 99th time on Saturday. The Golden Gophers lead the all-time series, 56-37-5. This Saturday will be the Gophers’ final road game, as they play Northwestern at Wrigley Field as underdogs. What does Northwestern need to do to win against Minnesota? What is your prediction for the game?
AW: Northwestern has to stay consistent through four quarters and get Stone rolling. The Wildcats were right there with USC in the first half, until the offense sputtered out and the defense could not defend Jayden Maiava’s aerial assault. The defense forced five turnovers against Michigan, but the offense was painful to watch for most of the contest. It’s pretty safe to assume Komolafe will bring what he has to offer. But can Stone and his receivers hit their stride? I think they will do enough to get it done and Northwestern pulls out the win, 24-17