Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, November 22
Chicago, Ill.
11 a.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Minnesota
Wildcats Welcome Minnesota to Wrigley Field
11/21/2025 11:17:00 AM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Playing at Wrigley Field for the second consecutive week, Northwestern concludes its 2025 home slate with a matchup against Minnesota at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Last time out, the Wildcats (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) lost a heartbreaker to No. 18 Michigan, 24-22. Northwestern scored 13 unanswered points to take a 22-21 lead early in the fourth quarter, but a Wolverine field goal on the final play of the game proved to be the difference. Tallying two interceptions and three fumble recoveries, the Wildcats forced five turnovers. Redshirt juniors defensive back Robert Fitzgerald and linebacker Braydon Brus logged 15 and 13 tackles, respectively. On the other side of the ball, graduate student Preston Stone threw for 184 yards.
The Golden Gophers (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) are coming off a 42-13 defeat at No. 7 Oregon last Friday night.
"Our program is looking forward to an opportunity for our last home game of the season," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "Looking forward to a great matchup against a really good Minnesota team, and ultimately, we're focused on finishing what we started. This group, this team started something back in January that they put a lot of heart, effort, energy, and intention into."
The game will air on Big Ten Network. Jack Kizer (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), and Sydney Supple (sideline) will be on the call.
It can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 160 or 195 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 for live highlights, photos and reactions throughout the Wildcats' sixth bout at Wrigley Field.
Here are five things to know as the Wildcats aim to secure bowl eligibility for the second time in three seasons.
1. Shifting the focus to Minnesota
After the Wildcats' loss against the Wolverines, Braun made it clear to reporters that his team has shifted its focus to the upcoming game against Minnesota.
Braun said that the team is responding well, as the team got into the facility for treatment Sunday, and reviewed film Monday morning before flipping the page.
"It's time for us to move on to Minnesota. We've talked about it. We've evaluated it. Our focus is on Minnesota," Braun said. "We've moved on."
Braun noted that certain aspects of the team's performance against Michigan, such as the defense's resiliency, need to translate to the coming weekend.
With a win on Saturday, Braun can become the first head coach in school history to reach a bowl game in two of his first three seasons in Evanston.
"There are no moral victories, and I'm really proud of the group that I get to coach and work with. I love this group," Braun said. "I can't wait to go finish this thing the right way, with this group."
2. 'Cats forcing turnovers in bunches
Throughout the first five games of the season, the Wildcats held opponents to just 17 points per game, but they forced only two turnovers. In the ensuing five games, Northwestern has tallied 13 turnovers — with five coming last Saturday.
"They have a tendency to come in bunches, which certainly showed up on Saturday," Braun said.
Northwestern's defense ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 15 total takeaways this season (7 fumble recoveries, 8 interceptions). The Wildcats' seven fumble recoveries mark the second most in the conference.
Northwestern's five takeaways against Michigan marked the most in a single game in the Braun era. A Wildcat defense last forced five turnovers on Oct. 1, 2022 against Penn State.
"I think it's a reflection of our players and our staff — not to be cliche — trusting the process," Braun said. "We have a process in terms of the way that we teach ball disruption. We have an emphasis constantly."
3. Fitzgerald proves status as premier safety
Fitzgerald is having one of the best seasons by a Northwestern defensive back in recent memory.
So far this season, he has registered 92 tackles — including a Big Ten-best 55 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and an interception. He is the first Wildcat defensive back to reach these numbers since 2016.
On Saturday, Fitzgerald posted a career-high 15 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one interception, becoming the first Wildcat to post the stat line since Brian Peters in 2010.
"I know what Rob can do, and how he plays just shows the work he's been putting in since January," redshirt junior defensive back Braden Turner said. "It's always great to have him on defense and great to have him on our side."
Fitzgerald has played a lot of football for Northwestern in previous years. But in his head coach's eyes, becoming an every-down starter has given him a chance to showcase his talent to the world.
"He's so gritty. He's so tough. He's instinctual," Braun said.
4. Scouting the Golden Gophers
Minnesota has one of the best pass rushes in the country, with its 3.3 sacks per game ranking atop the Big Ten and fourth nationally. Defensive lineman Anthony Smith has 9.5 sacks this season, which leads the conference and is tied for seventh in the country.
The Golden Gophers allow just 115.2 rushing yards per game, the 27th best mark in the nation.
Quarterback Drake Lindsey, in his first season as a starter, has totaled 1,881 passing yards while completing 61.9% of his passes this season.
"Minnesota's got a good one in him, for sure," Braun said. "When you watch the tape, it doesn't scream 'young quarterback.' It honestly makes you think, 'Gosh, how long has this guy been a starter in the league?' His poise, his command, his accuracy are things that really stand out."
Both Minnesota and the Wildcats rank top six nationally in penalty yards.
5. Matchup History
Last time Northwestern took on the Golden Gophers, the Wildcats erased a 21-point fourth quarter deficit to record a 37-34 overtime victory on Sept. 23, 2023. It marked the first Big Ten win in Braun's tenure.
A win on Saturday would mark the first time since 2017-18 that Northwestern has won two straight games against Minnesota. Since 2010, the Wildcats lead the series against the Golden Gophers, 7-6.
Saturday's matchup will be the first between the two teams in Wrigley Field.
Last time out, the Wildcats (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) lost a heartbreaker to No. 18 Michigan, 24-22. Northwestern scored 13 unanswered points to take a 22-21 lead early in the fourth quarter, but a Wolverine field goal on the final play of the game proved to be the difference. Tallying two interceptions and three fumble recoveries, the Wildcats forced five turnovers. Redshirt juniors defensive back Robert Fitzgerald and linebacker Braydon Brus logged 15 and 13 tackles, respectively. On the other side of the ball, graduate student Preston Stone threw for 184 yards.
The Golden Gophers (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) are coming off a 42-13 defeat at No. 7 Oregon last Friday night.
"Our program is looking forward to an opportunity for our last home game of the season," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "Looking forward to a great matchup against a really good Minnesota team, and ultimately, we're focused on finishing what we started. This group, this team started something back in January that they put a lot of heart, effort, energy, and intention into."
The game will air on Big Ten Network. Jack Kizer (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), and Sydney Supple (sideline) will be on the call.
It can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 160 or 195 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 for live highlights, photos and reactions throughout the Wildcats' sixth bout at Wrigley Field.
Here are five things to know as the Wildcats aim to secure bowl eligibility for the second time in three seasons.
1. Shifting the focus to Minnesota
After the Wildcats' loss against the Wolverines, Braun made it clear to reporters that his team has shifted its focus to the upcoming game against Minnesota.
Braun said that the team is responding well, as the team got into the facility for treatment Sunday, and reviewed film Monday morning before flipping the page.
"It's time for us to move on to Minnesota. We've talked about it. We've evaluated it. Our focus is on Minnesota," Braun said. "We've moved on."
Braun noted that certain aspects of the team's performance against Michigan, such as the defense's resiliency, need to translate to the coming weekend.
With a win on Saturday, Braun can become the first head coach in school history to reach a bowl game in two of his first three seasons in Evanston.
"There are no moral victories, and I'm really proud of the group that I get to coach and work with. I love this group," Braun said. "I can't wait to go finish this thing the right way, with this group."
2. 'Cats forcing turnovers in bunches
Throughout the first five games of the season, the Wildcats held opponents to just 17 points per game, but they forced only two turnovers. In the ensuing five games, Northwestern has tallied 13 turnovers — with five coming last Saturday.
"They have a tendency to come in bunches, which certainly showed up on Saturday," Braun said.
Northwestern's defense ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 15 total takeaways this season (7 fumble recoveries, 8 interceptions). The Wildcats' seven fumble recoveries mark the second most in the conference.
Northwestern's five takeaways against Michigan marked the most in a single game in the Braun era. A Wildcat defense last forced five turnovers on Oct. 1, 2022 against Penn State.
"I think it's a reflection of our players and our staff — not to be cliche — trusting the process," Braun said. "We have a process in terms of the way that we teach ball disruption. We have an emphasis constantly."
3. Fitzgerald proves status as premier safety
Fitzgerald is having one of the best seasons by a Northwestern defensive back in recent memory.
So far this season, he has registered 92 tackles — including a Big Ten-best 55 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and an interception. He is the first Wildcat defensive back to reach these numbers since 2016.
On Saturday, Fitzgerald posted a career-high 15 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one interception, becoming the first Wildcat to post the stat line since Brian Peters in 2010.
"I know what Rob can do, and how he plays just shows the work he's been putting in since January," redshirt junior defensive back Braden Turner said. "It's always great to have him on defense and great to have him on our side."
Fitzgerald has played a lot of football for Northwestern in previous years. But in his head coach's eyes, becoming an every-down starter has given him a chance to showcase his talent to the world.
"He's so gritty. He's so tough. He's instinctual," Braun said.
4. Scouting the Golden Gophers
Minnesota has one of the best pass rushes in the country, with its 3.3 sacks per game ranking atop the Big Ten and fourth nationally. Defensive lineman Anthony Smith has 9.5 sacks this season, which leads the conference and is tied for seventh in the country.
The Golden Gophers allow just 115.2 rushing yards per game, the 27th best mark in the nation.
Quarterback Drake Lindsey, in his first season as a starter, has totaled 1,881 passing yards while completing 61.9% of his passes this season.
"Minnesota's got a good one in him, for sure," Braun said. "When you watch the tape, it doesn't scream 'young quarterback.' It honestly makes you think, 'Gosh, how long has this guy been a starter in the league?' His poise, his command, his accuracy are things that really stand out."
Both Minnesota and the Wildcats rank top six nationally in penalty yards.
5. Matchup History
Last time Northwestern took on the Golden Gophers, the Wildcats erased a 21-point fourth quarter deficit to record a 37-34 overtime victory on Sept. 23, 2023. It marked the first Big Ten win in Braun's tenure.
A win on Saturday would mark the first time since 2017-18 that Northwestern has won two straight games against Minnesota. Since 2010, the Wildcats lead the series against the Golden Gophers, 7-6.
Saturday's matchup will be the first between the two teams in Wrigley Field.
Players Mentioned
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