Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, December 26
Detroit, Mich.
Noon CT
Northwestern
vs
Central Michigan
Detroit Bound: Wildcats to Meet Central Michigan in 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl
12/7/2025 2:05:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Northwestern Wildcats will take on the Central Michigan Chippewas in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Friday, December 26. This year's game will kick off from Ford Field at 12 p.m. CT and be televised nationally on ESPN and broadcast on WGN Radio 720.
This marks the second time in three seasons under Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun that Northwestern has reached a bowl game. Braun is the first coach in program history to secure a bowl bid in two of his first three seasons.
Northwestern has won five straight bowl games (2016 Pinstripe Bowl, 2017 Music City Bowl, 2018 Holiday Bowl, 2021 Citrus Bowl, 2023 Las Vegas Bowl), tied for the third-longest streak in the nation behind Minnesota (8) and Ohio (6).
In its most recent bowl game, Northwestern defeated Utah, 14-7, in the 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl inside Allegiant Stadium. The Wildcat defense combined to force three turnovers and allow the fewest points in a bowl game in program history, while Ben Bryant connected with Bryce Kirtz for a 19-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for the eventual game-winning touchdown.
This will be Northwestern's second trip to Detroit for a bowl game, with its last trip coming for the 2003 Motor City Bowl in which the Wildcats fell to Bowling Green, 28-24, despite Jason Wright posting 237 rushing yards on 21 carries and 336 all-purpose yards en route to being named the game's co-MVP.
Fitzgerald posted a Big Ten-best 68 solo tackles in the regular season, tallying 109 total stops, 6.0 TFLs, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery and an interception. Uihlein, a captain at linebacker, was one of just two FBS players to record at least 93 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, a forced fumble and four interceptions in regular-season play.
Behind captain Caleb Tiernan, a Second Team All-Big Ten honoree (coaches), the Northwestern offensive line has paved the way for a resurgent 2025 campaign. Fellow offensive linemen Ezomo Oratokhai and Evan Beerntsen earned all-conference honors, as well as Griffin Wilde, Caleb Komolafe and Hunter Welcing.
A dynamic rushing attack helped fuel Northwestern's return to bowl eligibility. Komolafe led the charge, amassing 886 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns on 175 carries.
Wildcat specialists Luke Akers and Jack Olsen both received all-conference nods in 2025. Akers has booted nine punts of 50-plus yards and downed nine punts within the 20-yard-line. Olsen is 14-of-14 on kicks from 30-plus yards and 20-of-20 on extra points.
Northwestern is 1-0 all-time against Central Michigan, earning a 30-25 victory on Sept. 10, 2010, at Ryan Field in Evanston.
This marks the second time in three seasons under Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun that Northwestern has reached a bowl game. Braun is the first coach in program history to secure a bowl bid in two of his first three seasons.
Motor City Bound ??
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) December 7, 2025
Northwestern will meet Central Michigan in the 2025 @GameAboveBowl! pic.twitter.com/Jj5D7TNtug
Northwestern has won five straight bowl games (2016 Pinstripe Bowl, 2017 Music City Bowl, 2018 Holiday Bowl, 2021 Citrus Bowl, 2023 Las Vegas Bowl), tied for the third-longest streak in the nation behind Minnesota (8) and Ohio (6).
In its most recent bowl game, Northwestern defeated Utah, 14-7, in the 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl inside Allegiant Stadium. The Wildcat defense combined to force three turnovers and allow the fewest points in a bowl game in program history, while Ben Bryant connected with Bryce Kirtz for a 19-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for the eventual game-winning touchdown.
This will be Northwestern's second trip to Detroit for a bowl game, with its last trip coming for the 2003 Motor City Bowl in which the Wildcats fell to Bowling Green, 28-24, despite Jason Wright posting 237 rushing yards on 21 carries and 336 all-purpose yards en route to being named the game's co-MVP.
TICKETS ON-SALE NOW!
Northwestern has boasted one of the conference's premier defensive units in the second season under defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle. Seven Wildcats — Robert Fitzgerald, Mac Uihlein, Josh Fussell, Michael Kilbane, Braden Turner, Carmine Bastone and Anto Saka — earned All-Big Ten defensive honors, the most since the 2017 season.Fitzgerald posted a Big Ten-best 68 solo tackles in the regular season, tallying 109 total stops, 6.0 TFLs, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery and an interception. Uihlein, a captain at linebacker, was one of just two FBS players to record at least 93 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, a forced fumble and four interceptions in regular-season play.
Behind captain Caleb Tiernan, a Second Team All-Big Ten honoree (coaches), the Northwestern offensive line has paved the way for a resurgent 2025 campaign. Fellow offensive linemen Ezomo Oratokhai and Evan Beerntsen earned all-conference honors, as well as Griffin Wilde, Caleb Komolafe and Hunter Welcing.
A dynamic rushing attack helped fuel Northwestern's return to bowl eligibility. Komolafe led the charge, amassing 886 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns on 175 carries.
Wildcat specialists Luke Akers and Jack Olsen both received all-conference nods in 2025. Akers has booted nine punts of 50-plus yards and downed nine punts within the 20-yard-line. Olsen is 14-of-14 on kicks from 30-plus yards and 20-of-20 on extra points.
Northwestern is 1-0 all-time against Central Michigan, earning a 30-25 victory on Sept. 10, 2010, at Ryan Field in Evanston.
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