Early 2026 Northwestern Season Preview | Cover 3 Summer School

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B

Indiana can can sort of cement itself as we are no longer this team that's going to be fighting for six wins anymore.

C

Malachi, Tony, is he going to be ready? Dante Moore, he showed improvement. Better command. What's going on, y'?

B

All?

C

I'm Bud Elliott. This is the COVID 3 podcast Summer School edition. We are back in session. That's Charlie Jacobs joining us from inside in you one of our ESP Nation sites and going out of network for this one. Charlie kind enough to join us from vacation in Italy. So man, I really appreciate the time and good to meet you.

D

Yeah, Nice to meet you too. I can't wait to talk some Northwestern sports here with. I mean one of the, I would say one of the Power 5 schools that maybe goes a little bit under the radar in football especially. But, but really two national championships last year across some women's sports. So shout out field hockey, shout out lacrosse, but yeah, those are my shout outs.

C

Absolutely, man. So Northwestern, like I would say probably even under the radar season last year on the gridiron. I mean 7 and 6, 4 and 5 in the big Ten. Obviously, you know, they won the, won their bowl game as well. Had the big upset over, over at the time, you know, number seven, Penn State. What, what did you take away from last season?

D

Well, going into the season I was the most pessimistic, I'd say, out of anyone in my inside and you crew. I was like, oh, this is going to be a four and eight season. And after the two lane game, it really looked like that. Especially when Caleb Tiernan got beat on the first play of the game. This is your all American left tackle ends up going in the third round of the NFL draft, gets beat on the first play and then Preston Stone has a down game there the rest of the season. I think for Northwestern fans specifically, it may be the season wasn't up to their standards. But if you compare Preston Stone to the rest of the college football world, he had a decent season and yes, he's coming. He came off some big injuries and Caleb Komalafi really had a huge breakout year. Griffin Wilde established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the Big Ten and that's with some really loaded names towards the top. Plus the defense looks really good. Good. And I, I mean a lot of some of those players are back and there were some guys like Josh Fussell who I thought would have had a better season, who I think could be a real breakout candidate and be one of the top defensive backs in the entire. Not, not just in the entire Big Ten, but in the entire country.

C

So looking at this, I mean last year, first of all, I think David Braun might be a pretty good head coach. Like I obviously like cbs. We covered the Big Ten extensively. He kind of finds a way to win games, man, it's exciting to watch. He did go in a different direction this year with the offensive coordinator with Chip Kelly come to town, you know, just what in 24oC of course, for Ohio State as they won the national title. Then, you know, not so successful stretch with the Raiders. But the guy's been a pretty good Coach in college for quite a while. How do you expect to see this offense change under Chip?

D

I think with the addition of coach Kelly it brings about a new sense of with under coach Braun because obviously Braun three seasons now going to his fourth in those first seasons he really was more hands on at least with the offense it felt like. But it seems like he kind of handed the keys over to Chip but still kept some of his more favored offensive coaches like kept coach wide receiver Armand Benz, kept Arizona Thompson the running backs coach but then allowed Chip Kelly to bring in some of his staff, brought in Jerry Neuheisel, brought in some other guys. I forget the names off the top of my head but really kind of the best of both worlds because last season the two strongest parts of Northwestern team. I mean obviously offensive line was a big. Was a big strong point but outside of that running back look good receiver. I mean Griffin Wildy like I mentioned before, great season. But those two coaches are back and then you've Kelly bringing this whole new staff kind of revitalize the offense. And he also brings a lot of experience. He brings a lot of Big Ten experience. Yes, Oregon was packed 12 and UCLA was packed well but. But some of that kind of transformed especially when you had these, these 10:00pm or whatever Big Ten games Eastern time and it's Washington versus Oregon and it feels like a Pac 12 After Dark game when it's just a shootout like I always think back to it was still packed all the time. But Michael Penix when he was just just chalking things up to Roma Dunes and that whole receiving core. But it's kind of taking his experience from there, taking his experience from Ohio State. Combining that with a coach of David Braun who the team just seems to rally behind like you said and is I think when I when I've seen him, when I've been around him, he just gives up such a leader presence that is so impressive especially for someone who bec head coach in the way he did. And a lot of times FTs to FBs doesn't always translate the best and so far for Braun especially in what no, no no shame to the SEC but the best college football conference right now. He's been doing a heck of a job and not just against teams that are maybe lower on the lower end of the spectrum, but good teams too. I mean Michigan last season Minnesota was awesome at home and then they had a. I mean on the road they were different but that was a game that I really thought was a. Was a big performance from Brawn because especially just to keep that team composed at Wrigley Field where they hadn't ever won a game. And I think you bring that. You pair that with Kelly's experience, you pair that with some, with a lot of returners on offense, but also some new pieces. And I think it, I think the ceiling is high. It just depends on the schedule too, because the schedule is brutal.

C

It really is. So you mentioned some new pieces on offense. Obviously Aiden Chiles from Michigan State being, being one of those, why Aiden Charles? Like, why was he, or at least in their opinion, maybe in your opinion, the right fit for this new offense? And you know, very different from a guy like a Preston Stone in terms of his mobility and ability to threaten with both the arm and I mean, he's more of a pastor than a runner, but he can scoot a little bit. How do you see him fitting into what they want to do here?

D

I think this will be the season that Childs runs the most in his career. When he has run in the past, he has shown very flashes and I think with Chip Kelly's history with quarterbacks and such, he likes to have a quarterback who can move if a play breaks down. Or maybe some more design runs. Last year with Northwestern, there were some times when Preston Stone had to do a couple of design runs and sometimes they'd even throw Ryan Bowen there for some other design quarterback runs. But it was almost, oh, every time Ryan Bow is coming in the game, if he throws the ball, it's a 1 in 100 chance and just because that was the way the offense operated. But now with Childs, there's that aspect of oh, is he going to tuck it and run it? Maybe we have to have a defender and a QB spy and then now we have only 10 guys plus whoever's rushing the quarterback. We can't put as many people into coverage because we need to account for that other threat and it allows some of the weapons on the outside to get open. Plus, with Childs, I think he's. When I've, when I've watched him, he struggles a little bit in the middle of the field is what I've noticed. But throwing deep on the outside, especially when you had guys last year, I mean, Nick Morrison, Amar. Amari. I forget his last name.

C

From Michigan State.

D

Yeah, yeah, for Michigan State. But he was. Childs is good at throwing outside of the numbers. Inside the numbers is I think an area where he needs to work on. But other than that, I think he fits perfectly into what Kelly would want. And also just as Someone who has experience in the Big Ten, played at Oregon State before that, has been around different coaches has been around. I mean, at Michigan State wasn't necessarily the best of situations, but looking to bounce back and really to turn that corner and live up to the potential he was when he was first recruited.

C

As far as who he's throwing to, I mean, Griffin's back. You lose one of the tight ends to Ohio State, they didn't add a whole lot of stuff in the portal. I feel like, I mean, you're returning almost, almost 80% of your receiver production. They got to feel pretty good about this group, right?

D

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that every single receiver, apart from one who was a return specialist that was a grad student, is back. Plus you have some new freshmen and one of them is, I believe the highest ever recruit in Northwestern football history. One of them. And Jaden McDuffie, he's a little bit smaller. I think he's six, three, about 170. But if he could, he, he could be someone who makes an impact very early on. Hayden Ellagon II was awesome down the stretch of last season and really arguably was better than Griffin Wilde towards the end of that season especially. I mean you look at the game against Illinois, he was fantastic. But you return all these pieces. These guys who maybe didn't see the field as much or these guys who just were able to learn and still have that same wide receiver coach. And then you talk about tight end. With Hunter Wilson going to Ohio State, I didn't think he had any more eligibility left. Him going there was like, huh, I guess he's still playing more. But Northwestern did bring in two guys from the transfer portal at tight end. They brought in Alex Hoenig from UConn who did show some flashes. I think he had like 150 yards last year, but did look good and will probably be the main tight end. But also with Chip Kelly, how he tends to like to use two tight ends, especially with this time at UCLA, they brought in another guy, Luke Denicke from D2, who as a redshirt freshman, even though breadshirts basically are absolute now, which I think is still, it's still, it's still adjustment with, with the whole five year thing. Denneki was second in the country in the, in D2 in receiving yards. I think he won like the D2 freshman of the year. This guy's a tight end who I, I mean I, I could be wrong about this, but I wouldn't be surprised if he acts almost as a pseudo slot receiver for Chip Kelly or maybe honing does, because I think you bring in a guy from D2 and it's different from an FCS to FBS standpoint because those I, I've talked to people and it's like a 30 for maybe like a 11 in 3 chance that it'll, it'll work. With D2, it's really a coin flip. You never know. And if it does hit, I think it will hit and I think it'll hit tremendously to the point where Denneke could be one of the best options on this Northwestern team, maybe even the number two or number three behind Wilde and Elliot.

C

That makes sense to me. Offensive line, they did lose two, two NFL draft picks for the first time in more than 50 years for the same season I did. See, we waited to record this. So Carcelo, the center did get his injunction from a judge there in Cook County. So that's a fairly big deal, at least from what I've been reading from y'. All. Can this group be okay? Like, I mean two, two NFL draft picks is a fairly big deal. A new offensive line coach as well comes in Chip Kelly, bringing in Tim Drevno and, and those two know each other, you know, quite well, obviously. What, what are your thoughts here on they went D2 again, which, I mean, maybe they got something there. Honestly, there's been some schools that have done a pretty good job kind of cherry picking D2.

D

I, I think it's not even going to be the D2 guy who's going to play because obviously with Carcelo back, originally a ZOMO erotic guy who was even last year with, with the play of Caleb Tiering and Evan Bearson, I think there was a chance Eroticai was even the best offensive lineman on that line. And he really, I, he was awesome last year. He was actually set to move to center and he was going to play center this year. But now with Carcelo back, I believe he's going to move back out to guard. That gives more flexibility. Right tackle, I think will be Deuce McGuire. Last year it was him and Martez Lewis kind of switching. And Deuce McGuire, he did show some flash. He does have playing experience in the Big Ten again in some big games. I think he had like 300 something snaps last year, if I remember off the top of my head. But you have him. You bring in transfers at left tackle. They brought in Grant Seagran from Oklahoma State, who I believe didn't allow a single sack last season for the Cowboys. Was One of the only real bright spots on that team. And he also. I talked him, wrote an article actually for Insight and knew about the offensive line. And he was saying, and Seagram was saying that he's dealt with kind of coaching turnover because he was there for the whole Mike Gundy thing. So this is something he's kind of used to. So he could just slot in and play a left tackle. I mean, huge dudes, he's 6 foot 7, like 300 something pounds. He's a massive guy, massive presence. Also brought in Arkel Anuguam from Alabama, another guy, left tackle, who again, yes, it is a transfer, didn't play at Alabama. But still, with the pedigree that Alabama has, seeing someone go from Alabama, Northwestern to potentially be a backup on the offensive line is something that really stands out. There are also a couple good guys who. That Northwestern took from the recruiting class. I believe there was someone, I forget his name. I think Jack, Jack Fuse. Jack, Jack Fuse. I might be pronouncing, mispronouncing that, but his dad is an offensive line coach in the NFL, I believe for the Packers, Bills, one of those two. He flipped from Penn State after James, after James Franklin was fired. There's another guy who's, who's a recruit at guard, Owen Forrest, who could get some playing time. And then obviously with Carcelo back courselove center, erratic. I'll be a guard. And then something that Northwestern has really prided itself over is Tiernan was one of these guys who just got drafted who stayed with Northwestern for his entire career and was able to develop. And that's something that this group, this coaching staff, this team throughout its history has really put an emphasis on. You look back to Peter Skaranski, Rashawn Slater, these guys who become high NFL impact players who start out not playing in the first few seasons and then they slowly ramp up and it's about that developmental pipeline. So there are going to be more guys from that likely. For Northwestern names, I look out for Anthony Biersa and Dennis Rahowski. Those are the two that got thrown around. This was before the whole Carcello injunction injunction especially too. It's funny because at pro day for Northwestern's pro Day, people were talking to Carcelo and he was saying that one of, one of my colleagues, Harris Horowitz, did a whole story on Carcello and this was before the waiver because he got his waiver denied at this point and then now he got it, he got it reapproved. So that's a Huge ad and then again just having the cohesiveness and because last season the offensive line was one of the best in the Big Ten. And that's. I, I would even say that's more of an, that's an unbiased thing. That's not just a Northwestern perspective. This offensive line is very good. Caleb Komalafi had a great season running behind them. Preston Stone, as the season went on, had more time in the pocket than he did earlier on. And I think it's really just about kind of coming together, having these pieces on the offensive line who have been there, who've played in big games, who have experience helping out those who are newer or those who haven't really played yet. And I think that is something.

B

Something.

D

So I'm not as worried about the offensive line as I was at first.

C

I like that. All right, so last one on the offense. We'll hit our first break. Is there anybody on this offense we haven't discussed yet who. It's like, all right, we think they have really game changing talent. Not really projecting to make an impact this year. But if for some reason the light comes on, you know, earlier than expected, maybe they just, they kind of wake up in preseason camp or maybe early in the season, the, the light bulb, it just, just happens to flick on that. It kind of changes how you feel about this offense.

D

I mean, I think I kind of said it with tight end. I think Luke Denicky is the guy who. I think if he is, if he is even 70% of what his production said he was in D2, then I think he could be immediately one of the better big, one of the better tight ends in the Big Ten also. I mean, you go to running back and I mean we, I know we didn't really talk about running back, but Caleb Konlafi, obviously, huge season last year. Joseph Hyman, Yeah, yeah. Komalafi was awesome. Him and Erratica, both two stars out of the state of Texas and just seems to be something where working there for Northwestern. Joseph Hyman, who is a speed guy, finally will be, I believe, with an offensive coordinator who might be able to use his talent on the outside because when he had the ball in space, he was very dangerous. He just didn't have. He was more so sometimes used as like an inside the tackle. Running back Gavin Sawchuck, another name that, that we didn't bring up. Transfer from Florida State. If you remember back to when Florida State beat Alabama, he was really the cog of that offense other than Tommy Castellanos. But but another piece on this offense that I want to bring up is is again outside of Denike, who I said Jada McDuffie again is the name who I think out of any of these people in this freshman class, if he is able to play early, I think there's a chance that he could be one of the better receivers on this team because there's a reason you'd be playing a freshman when you have so many people coming back. I think that would speak volume and I think that must mean that there's either some trust there or just the talent is that good.

C

Certainly a lot a lot of signal. If you beat, you beat out that many guys who are returning. All right, we've got our first break here, talking to Charlie Jacobs inside a new All Things Northwestern for us.

B

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A

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C

hey guys, welcome back in here to summer school on the COVID 3 college football podcast. That's Charlie Jacobs of Inside, and you just gave us a great breakdown of the offense. Now let's turn to the defense. So. So I kind of feel like I know what I'm getting with the backers and the secondary. Like, they got a lot of really important pieces back. That was a pretty solid group last year. My question here on the defense is really up front. So, you know, soccer goes to the Texas A and M. Two guys off. I mean, not drafted, but off to the NFL. Hubbard got picked up by the Seahawks. I don't have my notes where Story got picked up if he did, but I mean, they do return some guys on the interior who have played pass rush wise. I'm like, I'm gonna have to ask Charlie because I don't really know where the pass rush is coming here. Maybe you can help me fill in those gaps.

D

Yeah, for sure. I think the first name who arguably was, I mean, I think he, he was better than soccer last year, potentially even had a better season than Hubbard. If you just look at the, I mean, the numbers. Hubbard had more sacks, but Michael Kilbane was fantastic last season. Even though he was really that third pass rusher. Really, he, I mean, he, he was second on and he was just a presence on the defensive line. And now he is going to be that leader on this defensive line here on the outside, at least you have him at edge rusher. Bringing a tr. I know transfer from ucf, Jamal Johnson. There are high expectations for him. Dominic Kirks was brought in from Ohio State. And again, like I said, with Alabama on the offensive side, bringing in a left tackle, if you bring an edge rusher, interior defensive lineman from Ohio State, usually it's a good sign that, oh, this person, I mean they were recruited high, so maybe their impact, they just haven't had the chance to play because of going behind guys who are literally going to be taken within the first five picks of the NFL draft in some of these loaded classes that we've seen lately. But I think Kilbane is the name to know on this defensive line, especially the edge group. I think he, I think last season, if you also just watch the tape, he's, he's just, he's very powerful and he's, he's becoming more of a leader on this defensive line and that's something that's huge, especially with the loss of Hubbard, who was so kind of vocal in that way.

C

Killbane, along with, with Charles, by the way, two guys who are going to be a beneficiary of the new five for five rule. Right. Because neither of them have red shirted. So I mean, obviously decent chance Killbane's off to the NFL after this year anyway. But if for some reason he's not, we could be talking about him with the 2027 Summer School Edition too. Is there anybody like, obviously I know there's some guys we should probably highlight in, in the back seven. I mean, you know, Bruce. Is it Bruce or Bruss?

D

Braden Bruss also actually on the defensive line, someone, something else I, I went over is that there's another name too, especially at edge, Callan Campbell. He's. He's going to be a red shirt software. I guess that's technically a junior now because I, I don't know what's what because the new 5 for 5, but he was someone who got some playing time last year, got some playtime in the, in a little bit in this Freshwood season. And he really is just a name that, that these, these defensive line coaches, coach Ross Kagi was talking about him a good amount. And then I mean also defensive tackle Brendan Flakes last season was, I mean if. I think it was the USC game where he had that, where he almost had that fumble run back and then he got, he got it knocked out of him. He's someone coming back Tyler Gant is another name. If he's finally healthy, he'll be good. But yeah, this defensive line, a lot of young guys and a lot of veterans too to really just compliment. But yeah, sorry again, again back to the front seven. I just wanted, wanted to get that there for sure.

C

I. So, I mean they really lose what Fred Davis and that's it. In, in the back seven, is there a name that we should know who like was already good or already played a lot or maybe like a newcomer who like, oh, this guy's got a real chance to, you know, to push for a sizable role.

D

So the, I mean they also did lose. They, they did lose at safety. I'm forgetting his name off the top of my head. Garner Wallace. They also lost in safety who was the starting safety for most of the year. But that was also because one of the names, Damon Walters was hurt for most of the season and was supposed to play a huge role next to Robert Fitzgerald on this team. But unfortunately he had lingering injuries throughout the season. Barely played. He's someone who really can make an impact. I remember back because this year they didn't host an open spring practice. But last year, this was before the 2025 season, him and Walters and Josh Fussell were the two players who stood out the most. And that was when we saw to Preston Stone, to Griffin Wilde. Those two guys on defense were really the stars of the show. Linebacker also brought in Kobe McKenzie from Oklahoma who he's definitely shown some flashes in his career. I think McKinsey will probably be the Mike linebacker but I still think even though Brussels be the kind of that outside linebacker still might have the green dot. Unless maybe it's Fitzgerald. Still not sure that. But McKinsey and Bruss would going to complement each other very well. Backup linebacker is something that's a little bit of a question. You have Jack Sadowski, Nigel Glover potential. Peyton Roth. There's a bunch of names who play in special teams. Had some to run a little bit last year, but yeah, again and then actually another big transfer that they brought in. So Northwestern beat Central Michigan in the game above Sports bowl and then after that Central Michigan's top defensive player in that game, Brendan DEZ Fernandez, his transfer to Northwestern cornerback. And he'll. I think he's going to be the guy starting opposite of Fossil. And then bringing Braden Turner back is also huge. Braden Turner had a very good end to last season. He'll most likely be the nickel or slot cornerback. Maybe if they're gonna use the rover position, you bring Fitzgerald down, he throws someone else up at safety like John. John. John Stevens also looked pretty good last season when he did play. But. But really I think this group, like you said, it's a lot of guys who are coming back, but also you have some of these transfers who have played five, six years and it's really just a whole cohesive team that if healthy, can be very hard to get past. I mean Fitzgerald tacking wise is fantastic. Walters like I said, is very, very good, at least from what I've seen. And unfortunately the injury Fossil I do think could really be one of the lockdown corners in the Big Ten. I was kind of comparing him last season at like an AJ Harris level and obviously AJ Harris had a bit of a down season looking to get back at Indiana, but again, this defensive backfield, this back seven and I think that there's a good chance that it could be even look a little bit different that it has new safeties coach too and honestly was surprised that Fitzgerald didn't follow his safeties coach to Pitt. And I think that's a good thing for this Northwestern team. Also going back to what you asked me at the opening part was going back to that leadership that Braun has built as head coach even with some of these guys who were recruited by Pat Fitzgerald. And I think that's a huge, huge thing. Especially when the schedule is this tough just to have someone like that, that commanding presence where o maybe we will go into Oregon and win at Austin Stadium and nobody's going to expect it or maybe. Oh my God. Ohio State has one loss this season. They won the national championship. That one loss was Northwestern. It was a weird brain game, something like that. I think this team has, I think the ceiling is higher than it's been in a while. It's just because of the schedule and I know we're going to get into that. The floor seems a little bit lower.

C

That makes a lot of sense. Like a higher variance potential team here, schedule. I don't know who they pissed off but they, they take somebody off here. So for our audio listeners, South Dakota State comes to town to start and then they get their bye week in week two. And then Colorado comes to town at Indiana host Penn State on a Friday night. The, the Indiana games also on a Friday should be noted. So what short rest there after Colorado, uh, to go play Indiana on the road, uh, on Friday. That's uh, a little bit annoying. And then Ball State, you know, hopefully a breather there at Michigan State, Rutgers at Oregon, Iowa at Ohio, State, at Minnesota and then finish of course with Illinois if I want to try to like have the, you know, positive take on this. Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State on the road for a team that I think, hey, right it. But also if you had to play those at home, it makes it so that some of the games that are more winnable in theory have to be played on the road. You know what I'm saying? Like if you're, I guess if your goal is to win the Big Ten, like a reasonable goal, you want those games at home because you get like you, you got to go kind of what, seven and two in the league at least to get to get to the championship game. If you're trying to like comfortably make a bowl game again, you know, and maybe you know, get to that 8, 9 win mark somehow like you know, during a regular season. And I think I'd kind of rather play those on the road because the trade off is getting some more winnable at home. But then also like, you know, Penn State comes to town that that will be. I think I'd rather get them early than late just given, you know, how new that team is. Although probably not new to each other because they basically just imported Iowa State plus plus a couple of others there. I like that you get Colorado early with all the new pieces that Colorado has. But yeah, Charlie, this is brutal. I mean at Minnesota is like they are as you notice, very difficult to play up there. Rutgers at home is pretty winnable. Like you could get Michigan State on the road. I'd much rather play Iowa at home than have to play them in Kenneth. Certainly. Yeah, man, I. What are like when. When this came out, like what was the fans reaction?

D

I I mean at least for me when I first saw that our FCS game or Northwestern's FCS came out of all teams was South Dakota State. You have one of the two that now North Dakota State in the fbs but one of the four schools that has been always in the top four. Really for in the fcs. One of those top, top teams. And yes the FCS is the talent has kind of been diluted because of the transfer Portland and Al. Still it's not fun to open your season against South Dakota State. The early bye week I actually think is good because Northwestern does run on trimesters and students don't come to school until. Until actually like the weekend. The weekend after the Colorado game is when classes start. Classes start on September 21st, 23rd this year, which is very late compared to other schools. But having that I think is honestly good because you'll get students on campus, you'll get the new freshman on campus and that will be the supposedly last ever football game at the Lakeside Field. Then at Indiana, I think that is, that, that, that's what I'm marking off as a, as a loss automatically. No, no shame to Northwestern's team, Indiana. I think there's a chance that they might be even better this year than last year. But I'm not sure that the best team in the country still. That's how good some of the talent is around the league, especially in the Big Ten. I mean there are who could probably be 1, 2, 3 in preseason rankings and potentially even finish that way. And then also, I mean Texas, Notre Dame too. Those are, those are the five, I'd say. But, but really you have that game and then that three game stretch where it's Oregon, Iowa State, Ohio, Oregon, Iowa and Ohio State is brutal. But again, I think, I think that mentality, I mean this team, it's a lot of the same players, a lot of the same coaching staff just did this in, in at Beaver Stadium. And that was again, that was the game that Drew Aller went down with injury. But still that game that they lost to UCLA and that game that they lost to Oregon at Penn State, I'm talking about, they were close games. And yes, the UCLA one was a crazy upset, but it was also the new coach thing and Jerry Newheisel who was the UCLA offensive coordinator is now the Northwestern quarterbacks coach. So I think that's funny. And that Penn State game on Friday is what's supposed to be the first game ever in the new Ryan Field field.

C

Oh, there you go.

D

Which is why. Yeah.

C

Have you guys toward it?

D

No, but there's been pictures. If it is done on time, I think that'll be amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a little bit later than that. But I, I do think that if it is done for October, for that October 5th game, it'll be an awesome atmosphere on a Friday night. It'll get that Friday night prime time game. And I think there's a reason that Northwestern had two back to back Friday night games is because I, I guess around the TV scheduling world they're saying, oh, maybe the team they're playing is good, but this team might also be one of those teams. It's like, huh, how did this team get to eight wins? Like I was, I would say last year with Iowa especially, that was maybe the best 8 and 4 team we've ever seen. And I think if they were in the playoffs. Yes, maybe they go out in round one, but I still think they would have been, would have been a pain to play and potentially could have been, oh wait, I would just be Texas A and M in round one, seven to six. What? But you take, you take that Iowa season from last year and the reason I bring it up because that's what I think this Northwestern season could be like. You have some of these games that are automatically marked basically as losses, but the other ones just find a way to claw out a weird win. I also think the game at Michigan State is tougher than people are saying because it's against Pat Fitzgerald, because it's going and playing your old coach and maybe there's some pent up aggression he has there and something happens. I think the at Minnesota game is probably the fourth hardest game on this schedule. Even harder than the home for Penn State and Iowa because of just how good that team was was at home last season and because I think Drake Lindsay might be one of the better quarterbacks in the country. That just doesn't get talked about enough. I was very high in that Minnesota team last year too and I guess if, if we didn't look at their away schedule that, that must have, that would have been good. Illinois, I think that's a winnable game and I think, I think a lot of these games are winnable. It's just whether or not this team can, can really just score because that's been a problem with Northwestern teams in the past. Can they score to keep up with high powered offenses when their defense is still playing well? Like there have been times last season, I mean they held Purdue scoreless. That was Purdue. But against Minnesota it was a shootout, it was a missed field goal. Is the reason that Northwestern won that game was 38, 35 and that was the best offensive game they played all season. But they still gave up 35 points. So if when the offense is firing all cylinders and the defense is too, I think that's the best version and I think that's the version that can maybe get to nine wins.

C

Love it. Charlie, man, really appreciate you taking the time today and certainly enjoy the rest of your case in Italy.

D

Dude. Yes, thank you so much. Appreciate it. It'll be, it'll be a fun start to college football season. There's some great weeks and I know you're going through every power power conference team. I'm sure you've seen some of these other schedules and, and just like there's some weeks where I think there's just game after game after game and it's going to be a fun season. I'm excited. Looking forward to it. Again, thank you so much for this. I really appreciate it and yeah, I will talk again.

C

Appreciate it.

B

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