Saturday, September 13
Evanston, Ill.
11 a.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
#4 Oregon
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Hosts No. 4 Oregon in Big Ten Opener
9/12/2025 9:17:00 AM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern enters the second game of its season-long four-game homestand as it prepares to take on No. 4 Oregon at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The contest marks the conference opener for both squads.
Last time out, the Wildcats (1-1) defeated Western Illinois 42-7. Northwestern tallied 526 total yards of offense, its most since the 2022 season. The win marked Northwester's largest margin of victory since the 2020 campaign.
"There's a level of confidence building within our group," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "There's guys that haven't played a ton of college football that are starting to sense, 'Okay, this is what it feels like on gameday to see success.'"
Now, Northwestern shifts its focus to the Ducks (2-0), who come to Evanston fresh off a 69-3 win over Oklahoma State. The game will air on FOX as part of its Big Noon Kickoff. Gus Johnson (play-by-play) and Joel Klatt (analyst) will be on the call, joined by Jenny Taft on the sidelines.
The game can be heard on WGN Radio 720 with The Voice of the Wildcats, Dave Eanet, who is in his 36th season calling Northwestern football, and 32nd-year analyst Ted Albrecht. Former Wildcat defensive lineman Jake Saunders, (2016-2020) is in his first season as the duo's sideline reporter.
Stay tuned to Northwestern football's Twitter and Instagram channels (@NUFBFamily) for live highlights, photos and reactions throughout the Wildcats' home opener.
1. Stone looks to continue momentum after bounce-back performance
After Northwestern's season-opening loss, Braun confidently stood by his quarterback, graduate student Preston Stone.
Braun's response paid dividends Friday night, as Stone was efficient against the Leathernecks, completing 21-of-29 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns. He became the first Wildcat quarterback to throw for at least three touchdowns since Ben Bryant racked up four against Minnesota on September 23, 2023.
"A couple things he can take away is he's a darn good quarterback, and ultimately, he's a winner," Braun said of Stone post-game.
Stone now pivots to face what could prove to be his toughest opponent of his collegiate career, the country's No. 4-ranked squad. The lone other time that Stone has started a game against a ranked team, that being No. 18 Oklahoma in 2023, he threw for 250 yards and a touchdown.
As he gears to face the Ducks, Stone said that he will look to build on what he started against Western Illinois.
"Success always breeds more success," Stone said post-game Friday. "Any time you win a game, it's a confidence builder. I think the biggest task for us is to gain confidence from the win that we had."
2. Wildcats backfield without Cam Porter
On Monday, Braun announced that graduate student running back Cam Porter will miss the remainder of the season due to injury.
"All of us are crushed for Cam," Braun said. There's no one that's worked harder. There's no one that's invested more in this program than Cam Porter. The thing that I'll also say is there is no one more suited and prepared to still have a profound impact on their team with these types of circumstances than Cam Porter."
Running Backs Coach Aristotle Thompson said that at practice on Monday and Tuesday, Porter has had a practice script to continue being a leader — even though he is unable to practice.
Over his six-year career at Northwestern, Porter has tallied 2,333 scrimmage yards and 19 touchdowns. He is just the second player in program history to be a three-time captain.
With the loss of Porter, redshirt junior Joseph Himon II and redshirt sophomore Caleb Komolafe are set to see an increased role. Himon received eight carries in both of the first two games of the season, Komolafe is coming off a game against the Leathernecks where he set career-highs in carries (11) and rushing yards (63).
"The ball in Caleb Komolafe's hands, the ball in Joe Himon's hands, those are things we're excited about, and they're going to have to carry on a heavier load now with the loss of Cam," Braun said.
3. Defense hopes to stand strong
Last Friday, Northwestern held its opponent to just 181 yards, the fewest it has surrendered since Nov. 4, 2023 against Iowa (169). It marks the fewest during defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle's tenure.
The Wildcats nearly shut out the Leathernecks, but the visitors scored with fewer than three minutes left in the one-sided affair.
"Coach McGarigle did an incredible job on a short week of putting our guys in situations where they can play fast and play with a ton of confidence," Braun said during his Monday press conference.
Braun also mentioned that the team's two defensive captains, graduate student DL Carmine Bastone and graduate student LB Mac Uihlein, will be important to help keep the defense poised for this weekend's showdown.
Bastone is coming off a game where he set a career-high with 1.5 sacks. Uihlein also registered his first career interception off a pass that was deflected by redshirt junior DB Braden Turner.
In the secondary, graduate student DB Fred Davis II and redshirt sophomore DB Josh Fussell each tallied three pass breakups, a career-high for both.
"The thing that stood out most was our overall demeanor of play at all three levels," Braun said.
4. Griffin Wilde's playmaking talent
Through his first two games at the FBS level, junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde has shown no signs of slowing down from his production at the FCS level.
So far in the 2025 campaign, the South Dakota State transfer has brought in 11 catches for 158 yards — the most yardage over the season's first two games by a Wildcat since 2022. He ranks tied for fifth in the Big Ten in receptions and sixth in receiving yards.
Wilde's connection with Stone blossomed during his first week on campus, and since then that connection has sparked on and off the field.
"Griff came in about halfway through spring ball, and that chemistry started to build right away. I know when we got out there I got a little bit of a safety valve in Griff," Stone said.
Dating back to last season, Wilde has 10 consecutive games with 50+ receiving yards and has registered at least 60 in six consecutive contests.
5. Facing off with the Ducks
Northwestern will face Oregon for just the second time in program history this Saturday after the Wildcats earned a 14-10 win at Dyche Stadium.
Fifty-one years later, the Ducks return to Evanston for their first meeting as conference foes. Oregon is in their second year in the Big Ten and won the conference last year.
"Coach Lanning has done an exceptional job at Oregon," Braun said. "Not only are they very talented, but they are incredibly well-coached. There's not a single stone that will go unturned by him and his staff. They're going to be aggressive. They're going to try and apply pressure in a lot of different ways, in all three phases. On top of being extremely talented, they are fundamentally sound. They're physical. They play hard. They finish plays."
The No. 4 Ducks will be the second-highest ranked team that Braun has faced during his tenure leading Northwestern. Last year, Braun led the Wildcats against No. 2 Ohio State.
"We can't control Oregon, but we can control the way we go about our process and the standard we adhere to," Braun said. I think our guys have a sense of ownership in that. … We're going to prepare ourselves for the arena and Big Ten football."
Last time out, the Wildcats (1-1) defeated Western Illinois 42-7. Northwestern tallied 526 total yards of offense, its most since the 2022 season. The win marked Northwester's largest margin of victory since the 2020 campaign.
"There's a level of confidence building within our group," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "There's guys that haven't played a ton of college football that are starting to sense, 'Okay, this is what it feels like on gameday to see success.'"
Now, Northwestern shifts its focus to the Ducks (2-0), who come to Evanston fresh off a 69-3 win over Oklahoma State. The game will air on FOX as part of its Big Noon Kickoff. Gus Johnson (play-by-play) and Joel Klatt (analyst) will be on the call, joined by Jenny Taft on the sidelines.
The game can be heard on WGN Radio 720 with The Voice of the Wildcats, Dave Eanet, who is in his 36th season calling Northwestern football, and 32nd-year analyst Ted Albrecht. Former Wildcat defensive lineman Jake Saunders, (2016-2020) is in his first season as the duo's sideline reporter.
Stay tuned to Northwestern football's Twitter and Instagram channels (@NUFBFamily) for live highlights, photos and reactions throughout the Wildcats' home opener.
1. Stone looks to continue momentum after bounce-back performance
After Northwestern's season-opening loss, Braun confidently stood by his quarterback, graduate student Preston Stone.
Braun's response paid dividends Friday night, as Stone was efficient against the Leathernecks, completing 21-of-29 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns. He became the first Wildcat quarterback to throw for at least three touchdowns since Ben Bryant racked up four against Minnesota on September 23, 2023.
"A couple things he can take away is he's a darn good quarterback, and ultimately, he's a winner," Braun said of Stone post-game.
Stone now pivots to face what could prove to be his toughest opponent of his collegiate career, the country's No. 4-ranked squad. The lone other time that Stone has started a game against a ranked team, that being No. 18 Oklahoma in 2023, he threw for 250 yards and a touchdown.
As he gears to face the Ducks, Stone said that he will look to build on what he started against Western Illinois.
"Success always breeds more success," Stone said post-game Friday. "Any time you win a game, it's a confidence builder. I think the biggest task for us is to gain confidence from the win that we had."
Home Opener. Home ??.
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 8, 2025
Roll the Tape ?? pic.twitter.com/MZbt41hAwD
2. Wildcats backfield without Cam Porter
On Monday, Braun announced that graduate student running back Cam Porter will miss the remainder of the season due to injury.
"All of us are crushed for Cam," Braun said. There's no one that's worked harder. There's no one that's invested more in this program than Cam Porter. The thing that I'll also say is there is no one more suited and prepared to still have a profound impact on their team with these types of circumstances than Cam Porter."
Running Backs Coach Aristotle Thompson said that at practice on Monday and Tuesday, Porter has had a practice script to continue being a leader — even though he is unable to practice.
Over his six-year career at Northwestern, Porter has tallied 2,333 scrimmage yards and 19 touchdowns. He is just the second player in program history to be a three-time captain.
With the loss of Porter, redshirt junior Joseph Himon II and redshirt sophomore Caleb Komolafe are set to see an increased role. Himon received eight carries in both of the first two games of the season, Komolafe is coming off a game against the Leathernecks where he set career-highs in carries (11) and rushing yards (63).
"The ball in Caleb Komolafe's hands, the ball in Joe Himon's hands, those are things we're excited about, and they're going to have to carry on a heavier load now with the loss of Cam," Braun said.
We love you, Cam ?? pic.twitter.com/OIgGX9i8Jd
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 8, 2025
3. Defense hopes to stand strong
Last Friday, Northwestern held its opponent to just 181 yards, the fewest it has surrendered since Nov. 4, 2023 against Iowa (169). It marks the fewest during defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle's tenure.
The Wildcats nearly shut out the Leathernecks, but the visitors scored with fewer than three minutes left in the one-sided affair.
"Coach McGarigle did an incredible job on a short week of putting our guys in situations where they can play fast and play with a ton of confidence," Braun said during his Monday press conference.
Braun also mentioned that the team's two defensive captains, graduate student DL Carmine Bastone and graduate student LB Mac Uihlein, will be important to help keep the defense poised for this weekend's showdown.
Bastone is coming off a game where he set a career-high with 1.5 sacks. Uihlein also registered his first career interception off a pass that was deflected by redshirt junior DB Braden Turner.
In the secondary, graduate student DB Fred Davis II and redshirt sophomore DB Josh Fussell each tallied three pass breakups, a career-high for both.
"The thing that stood out most was our overall demeanor of play at all three levels," Braun said.
??? @JoshFussell11
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 7, 2025
??? @__FredDavis pic.twitter.com/npzQtDQhY6
4. Griffin Wilde's playmaking talent
Through his first two games at the FBS level, junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde has shown no signs of slowing down from his production at the FCS level.
So far in the 2025 campaign, the South Dakota State transfer has brought in 11 catches for 158 yards — the most yardage over the season's first two games by a Wildcat since 2022. He ranks tied for fifth in the Big Ten in receptions and sixth in receiving yards.
Wilde's connection with Stone blossomed during his first week on campus, and since then that connection has sparked on and off the field.
"Griff came in about halfway through spring ball, and that chemistry started to build right away. I know when we got out there I got a little bit of a safety valve in Griff," Stone said.
Dating back to last season, Wilde has 10 consecutive games with 50+ receiving yards and has registered at least 60 in six consecutive contests.
5. Facing off with the Ducks
Northwestern will face Oregon for just the second time in program history this Saturday after the Wildcats earned a 14-10 win at Dyche Stadium.
Fifty-one years later, the Ducks return to Evanston for their first meeting as conference foes. Oregon is in their second year in the Big Ten and won the conference last year.
"Coach Lanning has done an exceptional job at Oregon," Braun said. "Not only are they very talented, but they are incredibly well-coached. There's not a single stone that will go unturned by him and his staff. They're going to be aggressive. They're going to try and apply pressure in a lot of different ways, in all three phases. On top of being extremely talented, they are fundamentally sound. They're physical. They play hard. They finish plays."
The No. 4 Ducks will be the second-highest ranked team that Braun has faced during his tenure leading Northwestern. Last year, Braun led the Wildcats against No. 2 Ohio State.
"We can't control Oregon, but we can control the way we go about our process and the standard we adhere to," Braun said. I think our guys have a sense of ownership in that. … We're going to prepare ourselves for the arena and Big Ten football."
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