Northwestern University Athletics
"Fearless" Stone Delivers Best Performance as Wildcat, Leads NU to Bowl Eligibility
11/22/2025 5:14:00 PM | Football
CHICAGO — Nearly every week, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun has reverberated the same message about graduate student quarterback Preston Stone.
"Winner" is the word that Braun uses to define Stone. And that's exactly what Stone showcased to help Northwestern secure bowl eligibility in Saturday's 38-35 win over Minnesota.
Stone led a 15-point comeback by completing 83.3% of his passes (25-of-30) and throwing for a season-high 305 passing yards and two touchdowns.
In addition to becoming the first 300+ yard passer for Northwestern since the 2023 season, Stone tied the program's single-game completion percentage record (min. 30 attempts) that was set by Mike Kafka in 2009.
"He was just fearless. [He] let the game come to him," Braun said of Stone's performance. "It was just his command. He had urgency today."
Stone's path to leading the Wildcats to a bowl game began in January, when he first arrived in Evanston. He put in constant work to put himself in a position to earn the starting quarterback job.
During his first two years at the helm in Evanston, Braun hosted quarterback competitions that extended through fall camp. This year was different, as Braun announced at Big Ten Media Days in July that Stone would start for the Wildcats.
Braun lauded Stone for his ability to create relationships with his teammates. Before ever stepping onto the field donning purple and white, Stone's teammates voted him as a captain.
Even after Northwestern suffered a setback in Week 1 against Tulane, Braun emphasized Stone's status as the leader of the team's offense.
"That's our quarterback. The second I said it, the locker room echoed that. You got a locker room that believes in that guy, will ride with that guy," Braun said after Week One.
Riding with their guy, the Wildcats will return to a bowl game for the second time in three seasons.
But at one juncture in Saturday's contest, it looked like Northwestern would have to look toward next week to win its sixth game. With 21 unanswered points, the Golden Gophers took a 28-13 lead early in the third quarter.
However, Stone and the offense remained steady as they trotted back onto the field, thanks to what Stone called "one of the coolest things [he's] ever had in college football." A halftime visit from Coach Braun instilled him with the fearlessness that allowed him to complete all 15 of his pass attempts in the second half.
"It really allowed me to play free," Stone said. "And his presence on the sideline throughout the entirety of the game, through the ups and downs, really allowed our whole ball team to play free."
Stone connected with sophomore wide receiver Hayden Eligon II for 38-yard and 23-yard completions, respectively, before finding junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde on an out route for a four-yard touchdown. With its nine-play, 86-yard drive, capped off by a successful two-point conversion, Northwestern trailed by just a touchdown.
"[He's a] baller," said Wilde, who finished the game with a career-high 11 receptions for 111 yards. "That's what he does, and that's what everyone on the team is aware that he can do."
Stone completed seven passes to Eligon, who totaled 127 yards — a career-high.
With momentum building, Stone led the Wildcats to touchdowns on each of their next two drives. By the time 10 minutes remained in the game, Northwestern had scored 22 unanswered points to take a 35-28 lead.
While Minnesota scored to even the contest at 35, Stone led a meticulous drive that spanned nearly the final 7:27 of the game to set up a game-winning field goal for graduate student kicker Jack Olsen.
Stone, who took zero sacks, credits his teammates for the offensive output — 525 total yards — that the Wildcats put on display.
"This might be the most complete offensive game I've ever been a part of in college football," Stone said. "The O-line kept my jersey clean all night, receivers were making plays. The [running backs] were totally involved. Just super grateful to come out and play with these guys."
With the result, the signal caller will have the opportunity to start in a postseason game for the first time in his career. His time playing college football has been extended by one month.
"It's incredible. It almost brought a tear to my eye after the game," Stone said of the opportunity to play in a bowl game. "I said earlier — if I had it my way, I'd keep playing with these guys for the rest of my life. We have a very special locker room. I love these guys. Can't wait to keep the season going."
"Winner" is the word that Braun uses to define Stone. And that's exactly what Stone showcased to help Northwestern secure bowl eligibility in Saturday's 38-35 win over Minnesota.
Stone led a 15-point comeback by completing 83.3% of his passes (25-of-30) and throwing for a season-high 305 passing yards and two touchdowns.
In addition to becoming the first 300+ yard passer for Northwestern since the 2023 season, Stone tied the program's single-game completion percentage record (min. 30 attempts) that was set by Mike Kafka in 2009.
"He was just fearless. [He] let the game come to him," Braun said of Stone's performance. "It was just his command. He had urgency today."
Stone's path to leading the Wildcats to a bowl game began in January, when he first arrived in Evanston. He put in constant work to put himself in a position to earn the starting quarterback job.
During his first two years at the helm in Evanston, Braun hosted quarterback competitions that extended through fall camp. This year was different, as Braun announced at Big Ten Media Days in July that Stone would start for the Wildcats.
Braun lauded Stone for his ability to create relationships with his teammates. Before ever stepping onto the field donning purple and white, Stone's teammates voted him as a captain.
Even after Northwestern suffered a setback in Week 1 against Tulane, Braun emphasized Stone's status as the leader of the team's offense.
"That's our quarterback. The second I said it, the locker room echoed that. You got a locker room that believes in that guy, will ride with that guy," Braun said after Week One.
Riding with their guy, the Wildcats will return to a bowl game for the second time in three seasons.
But at one juncture in Saturday's contest, it looked like Northwestern would have to look toward next week to win its sixth game. With 21 unanswered points, the Golden Gophers took a 28-13 lead early in the third quarter.
However, Stone and the offense remained steady as they trotted back onto the field, thanks to what Stone called "one of the coolest things [he's] ever had in college football." A halftime visit from Coach Braun instilled him with the fearlessness that allowed him to complete all 15 of his pass attempts in the second half.
"It really allowed me to play free," Stone said. "And his presence on the sideline throughout the entirety of the game, through the ups and downs, really allowed our whole ball team to play free."
Stone connected with sophomore wide receiver Hayden Eligon II for 38-yard and 23-yard completions, respectively, before finding junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde on an out route for a four-yard touchdown. With its nine-play, 86-yard drive, capped off by a successful two-point conversion, Northwestern trailed by just a touchdown.
"[He's a] baller," said Wilde, who finished the game with a career-high 11 receptions for 111 yards. "That's what he does, and that's what everyone on the team is aware that he can do."
Stone completed seven passes to Eligon, who totaled 127 yards — a career-high.
With momentum building, Stone led the Wildcats to touchdowns on each of their next two drives. By the time 10 minutes remained in the game, Northwestern had scored 22 unanswered points to take a 35-28 lead.
While Minnesota scored to even the contest at 35, Stone led a meticulous drive that spanned nearly the final 7:27 of the game to set up a game-winning field goal for graduate student kicker Jack Olsen.
Stone, who took zero sacks, credits his teammates for the offensive output — 525 total yards — that the Wildcats put on display.
"This might be the most complete offensive game I've ever been a part of in college football," Stone said. "The O-line kept my jersey clean all night, receivers were making plays. The [running backs] were totally involved. Just super grateful to come out and play with these guys."
With the result, the signal caller will have the opportunity to start in a postseason game for the first time in his career. His time playing college football has been extended by one month.
"It's incredible. It almost brought a tear to my eye after the game," Stone said of the opportunity to play in a bowl game. "I said earlier — if I had it my way, I'd keep playing with these guys for the rest of my life. We have a very special locker room. I love these guys. Can't wait to keep the season going."
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