Opportunistic NU Defense Fuels 34-7 GameAbove Sports Bowl Win

12/27/2025 12:30:00 PM | Football

By: Jake Epstein, NUSports.com

After a scoreless first quarter in Friday afternoon's GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field, the matchup's outlook remained firmly up for grabs. But the Northwestern defense soon seized the moment, forcing three takeaways on consecutive Central Michigan offensive plays.

Throughout the Wildcats' (7-6, 4-5 Big Ten) 34-7 bowl victory over the Chippewas (7-6, 5-3 MAC), Northwestern delivered a menacing defensive performance. For Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun, the group's preparation left him confident that players would leave nothing to chance in Detroit.

"To see how important it was to our captains, our seniors and our team to finish what we started with a bowl championship, we talked about leaving a legacy," Braun said. "Part of that tangible legacy [is the] eighth team in Northwestern Football history to win a bowl championship."

With the game deadlocked at 0-0 midway through the second quarter, redshirt junior defensive back Braden Turner dove to pick off Angel Flores for his second interception of the season. On Central Michigan's next play from scrimmage, graduate student defensive lineman Carmine Bastone pounced on a fumble.

Just as the Chippewas attempted to recapture momentum with less than four minutes remaining in the first half, their next drive began with the ball on the turf, and junior defensive lineman Michael Kilbane corralled the fumble.

Less than five minutes after Turner's takeaway, a tie-game escalated into a 21-0 Wildcat lead. Turner further elevated his standout display with a 47-yard defensive touchdown in the third quarter. Turner's scoop and score followed redshirt junior safety Robert Fitzgerald's forced fumble.

Turner, a standout on special teams during Northwestern's Las Vegas Bowl win in 2023, became the first Big Ten player to post an interception and a fumble return touchdown in a bowl game since at least 2005.

"With the pressure of the defensive line, [the quarterback] kind of had to loft it to me," Turner said of his interception. "Without the blocks from [my teammates], I wouldn't have been able to score. It's really a testament to the whole defense and what we've worked on throughout the year."

Braun, who has long preached the mantra of complementary football, saw defense turn into near-instant offense in the win. The 'Cats racked up four takeaways and amassed 27 points off turnovers.

The defensive line wreaked havoc in the trenches, guiding Northwestern to a season-high five sacks, as well as five tackles for loss.

Making his final start as a Wildcat, graduate student defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard recorded his first sack of the game in the opening quarter. Hubbard, who returned for Friday's bowl game after missing two consecutive games due to injury, tied his career-high with three sacks and forced a fumble.

"For Aidan Hubbard, it would've been easy to say 'It's not in my best interest [to play],'" Braun said. "To see him perform like he did today was just remarkable."

Graduate student Migo Jackson and redshirt sophomore Mason Green each recorded the first sacks of their Northwestern careers in the win.

Hubbard said the bowl's result and season as a whole serves as a testament to NU's leadership and camaraderie this year.

"The standard this player leadership group has set, it's the best player-led team I've ever been a part of," Hubbard said. "I want these guys to take that with them."

For the Wildcats, who built much of their 2025 identity on a stellar defensive unit, Friday afternoon's postseason finale crafted a fitting conclusion to Braun's third season at the helm. Defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle's unit held the Chippewas to 269 total yards, a season-low against FBS competition.

"Our goals are always loftier than a bowl game," Hubbard said. "We wanted to compete for the Big Ten championship. But to come in and win like this is special."